California is replacing its entire California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) with a modernized, cloud-based platform called CERS NextGen. The project is being rolled out in two phases: the first covering underground storage tanks, the second covering all remaining programs, including Hazardous Materials Business Plans. Businesses are not required to transition until Phase 2 is complete, expected in January 2027.
What facilities should know
For California facilities, this is worth planning for well ahead of the 2027 deadline, given the manual re-entry requirement.
- Existing chemical inventory data will not automatically carry over to the new system, so facilities will need to re-enter inventory information manually.
- Seven years of historical data is expected to transfer.
- Other changes include visible Hazardous Materials Business Plan due dates and new timelines for submitting test results.