BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2877
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 13, 2004

           ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND TOXIC MATERIALS
                                  John Laird, Chair
               AB 2877 (Aghazarian) - As Introduced:  February 20, 2004
           
          SUBJECT  :   Hazardous waste: regulation.

           SUMMARY  :   Extends to January 1, 2008, the authorization of the  
          Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to adopt  
          regulations establishing alternative management standards for a  
          limited universe of hazardous wastes including: 1) electronic  
          hazardous waste, 2) hazardous waste batteries, 3) hazardous  
          wastes containing mercury, 4) hazardous waste lamps, and 5)  
          lead-painted wood debris that is a hazardous waste.
           
           EXISTING LAW:

           1)Authorizes DTSC to adopt standards and regulations for the  
            management and control of hazardous waste.

          2)Granted DTSC temporary authority to establish alternative  
            hazardous waste management standards from 1997 through 2002  
            for a limited universe of hazardous wastes including: a)  
            electronic hazardous waste, b) hazardous waste batteries, c)  
            hazardous wastes containing mercury, d) hazardous waste lamps,  
            and e) lead-painted wood debris that is a hazardous waste.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown.

           COMMENTS  :   

          1)DTSC administers the State's hazardous waste management  
            program, which is governed by the Hazardous Waste Control Law.  
             DTSC's ability to tailor regulatory standards to specific  
            hazardous wastes and activities is limited by numerous  
            specific hazardous waste management requirements contained in  
            the Hazardous Waste Control Law.

          2)From 1997 through 2002, DTSC was granted temporary authority  
            by the Legislature to establish alternative hazardous waste  
            management standards.  DTSC used this authority to provide  
            alternatives to requirements concerning recordkeeping and  
            reporting, hazardous waste transporter registration, and  
            permitting requirements for collection points that temporarily  








                                                                  AB 2877
                                                                 Page  2

            store certain hazardous wastes.  The purpose of DTSC's  
            universal waste regulations is to encourage and facilitate,  
            through streamlined management standards, safe collection,  
            recycling, and disposal of a limited number of hazardous  
            wastes.  This authority expired on January 1, 2003, which  
            prevents DTSC from adding to or modifying its universal waste  
            regulations.  The sponsor, California Manufacturers and  
            Technology  Association, proposes to extend this sunset date  
            to January 1, 2008, without making any other changes to the  
            program.

          3)Related/Similar Legislation:  AB 1367 (Laird), pending on the  
            Senate Floor, reinstates DTSC's authority to adopt regulations  
            establishing alternative management standards for a limited  
            universe of hazardous wastes that meet specified criteria.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          CA Manufacturers and Technology Association  (Sponsor)

           Opposition 
           
          None on file
          

          Analysis Prepared by  :    Joanne Wong / E.S. & T.M. / (916)  
          319-3965