María Elena Durazo is an American politician serving in the California State Senate. A Democrat, she represents the 24th State Senate district, which encompasses Central Los Angeles and East Los Angeles. Prior to being elected to the State Senate, she was an American trade union official.
SACRAMENTO – A state department whose responsibilities include monitoring hazardous waste facilities will itself be monitored by independent experts, according to provisions sought by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León in the recently approved budget.
The 2015-16 budget signed by Governor Brown last week established a 3-person panel to monitor the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC), in addition to a $13 million budget increase to boost its permitting process and hazardous waste oversight operations.
“The establishment of an oversight board to scrutinize DTSC is a critical first step in making sure industries that handle hazardous and toxic materials do so by the books,” De León said. “Failure to do so puts the public at serious risk.”