Summary: Require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of Emergency Services, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control, in consultation with education and research entities, to form a workgroup related to exposure of toxic heavy metals after a wildfire. The bill would require the workgroup establish best practices and recommendations for wildfire-impacted communities and first responders to avoid exposure to heavy metals after a wildfire. The bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of Emergency Services, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control to report their findings to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026.
Click here to read the bill language.
Article: New California Legislation Would Help Us Better Understand Wildfire Health Impacts (The Equation, April 29, 2024)