The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District on Oct. 23 received its 2025 Air Toxic Hot Spots Report after a public hearing that produced no public speakers.

Matt Baldwin of the district's engineering and compliance division presented the report, describing the Air Toxic Hot Spots Act and the district's process for inventorying emissions, prioritizing facilities, and conducting or requiring health risk assessments. Baldwin said the California Air Toxics Assessment estimated Sacramento County's total cancer risk at about 3.95 per million, down from about 7.06 per million in 2012; the statewide average was cited at about 5.98 per million.

Baldwin told the board the district had identified three core facilities as high priority for further work, 11 intermediate-priority facilities, and three low-priority facilities; seven facilities were pending prioritization. Of previously high-priority facilities that were re-assessed, five were carried forward as intermediate risk and five were categorized as low risk. For industry-wide sources, the district reported it analyzed 363 gas stations (about 40% intermediate risk, 60% low risk) and approximately 810 diesel-only engine facilities (about 57% intermediate, 43% low; two facilities were identified as high risk and will be asked to complete refined health risk assessments). The district also noted three chrome-plating shops in the county, two using hexavalent chromium (subject to the program) and one using trivalent chromium (not associated with a cancer risk value). Baldwin said the 2025 report was published on Oct. 7 and noticed on the district website and permitting and community listservs.

Chair Cynthia Aquino opened the public hearing at the end of the presentation and the clerk reported there were no requests to speak. The hearing was closed and the board recorded the item as a receiving file; Baldwin had asked the board to open the hearing and direct staff to distribute the report as required by state health and safety law.

Director Kennedy asked what differentiates an intermediate-risk gas station from a low-risk one; Baldwin answered that proximity to nearby receptors, dispersion characteristics (including vent placement and downwash), and available buffer between the facility and residences are primary factors. Kennedy also asked about Executive Airport; district staff said permitting is in progress for that facility and that existing buffers currently keep the airport's tanks at low risk, with staff returning next year with more detail.

The report and its supporting materials will be disseminated to local governing boards and public health officials as required by the Air Toxic Hot Spots Act and the applicable provisions of the California Health and Safety Code.