Mission
To protect and promote the health, safety, and well-being of Contra Costa residents as they are affected by hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
To provide and promote a forum for building consensus on environmental issues affecting Contra Costa residents related to hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
To provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the Board's respective Committees and Commissions regarding policies concerning the storage, use, and management of hazardous materials and hazardous waste as they affect health, safety, and the environment, including land-use planning and economic effects.
History
The Hazardous Materials Commission was established in 1983 by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Its charge is to develop policy recommendations for hazardous materials and wastes and advise the Board, local elected officials, and county and city staff.
Meetings
Public meeting documents related to the Hazardous Materials Commission can be found at Contra Costa County’s Public Meetings website.
All meetings are open to the public. For information please call Adam Springer at 925-655-3200 or email adam.springer@cchealth.org.
Membership and Bylaws
County Board and Commissions Details
Committees
The Operations Committee oversees the Commission's organizational business, provides guidance to county department programs and management, and addresses public education and communication issues.
The Planning and Policy Development Committee provides technical assistance on the update of the land use ordinance and other long-term policy and planning issues.
777 Arnold Dr., Martinez, CA 94553 - Paramount Room https://cchealth.zoom.us/j/98031936341 Meeting ID: 980 3193 6341
4th Thursdays at 4pm
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Staff Offers to Show HazMat Facility Map at Next Meeting but Public Access Faces ADA Hurdles
Commissioners pressed for a public hazardous materials inventory map; staff confirmed one exists internally but ADA website compliance rules delay online publication.
Why it matters: Recent incidents in Los Angeles and Washington highlighted gaps in knowing what hazardous materials are stored where; commissioners want the same transparency for Contra Costa's industrial corridors.
Commissioners Unanimously Oppose Dissolution, Push for Retooled Mission and Formal Advisory Role
Every commissioner who spoke rejected the staff proposal to sunset the 40-year-old HazMat Commission, instead advocating for clearer mission, more products to the Board of Supervisors, and a formal advisory role to the ISO committee.
Why it matters: The commission's unique mix of labor, business, environmental, engineering and city representatives is unmatched on any other county body; dissolving it would eliminate the county's only broadly diverse citizen panel focused on hazardous materials.
County HazMat Programs Moving to Fire District July 1 with Cal EPA Hearing Set for July 17
Contra Costa's hazardous materials programs will transfer from the health department to ConFire on July 1, with a Cal EPA public hearing on the amended CUPA application scheduled for July 17.
Why it matters: The structural shift affects how hazardous materials oversight, emergency response, and regulatory programs are administered for a county with major refinery and industrial corridors.
Contra Costa County
AB 2184Hazardous Materials Commission26d agoMay 27, 2026
Commissioners Share Research on Nature-Based Climate Solutions and Novel Carbon Capture
Commissioners flagged AB 2184 on nature-based climate solutions and shared articles on hydrogen from breadcrumbs, urban algae forests, Chevron's lithium mining, and cavern hydrogen storage.
Why it matters: These emerging technologies and legislative proposals could reshape local climate policy, offering alternatives to industrial carbon capture at nearby refineries.
Forum Venue Booking at IBEW Hall Still Pending Confirmation
Staff has not yet confirmed IBEW hall reservation for the commission's upcoming public forum; logistics and layout to be discussed at the next meeting.
Commission Codifies Step-by-Step Interview and Selection Procedures
The operations committee spent most of the meeting drafting formal procedures for interviewing commissioner candidates and student interns, covering pre-interview, interview, and post-interview steps.
Why it matters: Formalizing these procedures addresses past inconsistencies in candidate handling and ensures transparent, defensible appointment processes for an advisory body with multiple vacant seats.
Rodeo Wastewater Facility Shows PFAS Levels Three Times Bay Area Average
Commissioners revealed alarming PFAS contamination data at the Rodeo wastewater facility and planned presentations from water and wastewater agencies.
Why it matters: Rodeo's wastewater PFAS levels are triple any other facility in the nine-county Bay Area, and emerging regulations could impose significant compliance costs on local agencies.
Commission Tracks CEQA Exemption Bill Threatening Environmental Review Near Refineries
Commissioners amended meeting minutes to explicitly track SB954's proposed CEQA exemptions for advanced manufacturing facilities, citing local refinery and green empowerment zone implications.
Why it matters: CEQA exemptions for advanced manufacturing could weaken environmental protections in areas near refineries and within the Contra Costa-Solano green empowerment zone.
Contra Costa County
Published Reports
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