San Benito, CA

Moderate Risk (38/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for San Benito in California · Population: 66,056

TRI sites such as Fujifilm Electronic Materials USA Inc.; Trical Inc; Royal Circuit Solutions Inc.; SDWIS systems such as HOLLISTER, CITY OF; SUNNYSLOPE COUNTY WATER DIST; SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, CITY OF; NPL sites such as New Idria Mercury Mine anchor San Benito, CA's EPA extract. Derived burden score 38/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in San Benito include HOLLISTER, CITY OF; SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, CITY OF; THOUSAND TRAILS SAN BENITO PRESERVE, while Fujifilm Electronic Materials USA Inc. leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 43 / peak 105 in 2024.

Burden score 38/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for San Benito -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for San Benito, CA: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

+200.3%

4 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

+203.3%

12.9 thousand lb → 39.2 thousand lb, every facility that filed

Between the two reporting years, 1 facility filed for the first time and 0 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.

  • San Benito, CA's total reported releases rose from 12.9 thousand lb in 2022 to 38.8 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • San Benito, CA's land releases rose from 0 lb in 2022 to 28.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • San Benito, CA's off-site transfers rose from 2.2 thousand lb in 2022 to 6.2 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • San Benito, CA's air releases fell from 10.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 4.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
66,056
TRI Facilities
5
Water Systems
25
Superfund Sites
1
Total Releases
67.4K lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 260 (71%) 105 1 105
2023 316 (87%) 48 1 111
2022 297 (81%) 68 0 97
2021 295 (81%) 70 0 100
2020 271 (74%) 78 8 174
2024 Good Air Quality: 71% of days
Unhealthy days: 1
Median AQI: 43

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in California, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (25)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
HOLLISTER, CITY OF 26,017 17
SUNNYSLOPE COUNTY WATER DIST 24,954 0
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, CITY OF 2,335 5
THOUSAND TRAILS SAN BENITO PRESERVE 1,017 11
TRES PINOS CWD 350 0
CASA DE FRUTA WATER SYSTEM 250 2
CSA NO. 31 STONEGATE WS 230 3
SAN JUSTO MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 160 1
HOLLISTER RANCH ESTATES 150 8
ROSA MORADA MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 138 0
ASHFORD HIGHLANDS MWC 132 0
DUNNEVILLE ESTATES CSA #50 120 0
MISSION FARM R.V. PARK 110 1
MCMAHON ROAD MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 102 0
COMSTOCK MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 100 0
UNION HEIGHTS MWC 98 0
VINEYARD ESTATES MWC 90 0
CREEKBRIDGE MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 69 0
CASA DE FRUTA ORCHARDS 53 0
VENTURE ESTATES MWC 50 0
SPRINGWOOD ESTATES MWC 50 0
BETABEL RV RESORT 49 1
WHISPERING PINES INN 38 0
LOS MADRONES MWC 36 0
SAN BENITO COUNTY WATER DISTRICT 25 0

TRI Facilities (5)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Fujifilm Electronic Materials USA Inc. 40.8K lbs
2 Trical Inc 15.2K lbs
3 Royal Circuit Solutions Inc. 6.3K lbs
4 Pacific Scientific Energetics Materials Co California 4.8K lbs
5 Pride Conveyance Systems 397 lbs

Superfund Sites (1)

Site Name Status HRS Score
New Idria Mercury Mine NPL Site 31.66

Cities in San Benito (5)

Hollister
5 facilities · 21 water
San Juan Bautista
0 facilities · 4 water
Paicines
0 facilities · 1 water
Tres Pinos
0 facilities · 1 water
Idria
0 facilities · 0 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in San Benito, California?
San Benito, CA has an environmental risk score of 38/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 5 TRI facilities, 1 Superfund sites, and 25 water systems on record. 9 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in San Benito?
Yes, San Benito, CA has 1 Superfund site on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in San Benito?
San Benito, CA has 5 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 67.4K lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in San Benito?
In 2024, San Benito, CA recorded a median AQI of 43 and a peak AQI of 105. 71% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in San Benito?
San Benito, CA has 25 EPA-regulated water systems. 9 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover San Benito?
Environmental compliance in San Benito, California is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the California state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro