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Butte County, California: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Butte County is 167.7 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Melanoma of the skin deaths at 2 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,035 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (432), Small hazardous waste generator (218), Rail grade crossing (80). One correctional facility operates in the county. EPA AirToxScreen estimates a lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics of 50 in a million, driven mainly by formaldehyde.

Rates are age-adjusted per 100,000 people. A cancer signal is marked significant when the lower bound of its 95 percent confidence interval is above the U.S. rate. Facility counts use active federal records located inside the county boundary. Approximate county center: 39.7241, -121.5792.

How this county ranks in California

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Cancer deaths and new cases versus the United States

Source: NCI and CDC State Cancer Profiles, both sexes, all ages. Sorted by the ratio of the county rate to the U.S. rate.

Cancer rates for Butte County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Melanoma of the skinDeaths3.921.95xSignificant2.9 to 5.22020-2024
Melanoma of the skinNew cases37.323.81.57xSignificant33.9 to 412019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)New cases21.616.41.32x15.3 to 29.72019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths4.43.41.29x3.3 to 5.72020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths6.14.81.27x4.8 to 7.62020-2024
LeukemiaDeaths75.71.23x5.6 to 8.62020-2024
Brain & nervous systemNew cases7.66.21.23x6.1 to 9.52019-2023
BladderDeaths54.11.22x3.9 to 6.42020-2024
Brain & nervous systemDeaths5.34.41.2x4 to 6.82020-2024
All cancerDeaths167.7143.21.17xSignificant160.7 to 1752020-2024
PancreasDeaths1311.31.15x11.1 to 15.22020-2024
Liver & bile ductNew cases9.98.71.14x8.3 to 11.72019-2023
BladderNew cases20.918.71.12x18.6 to 23.62019-2023
PancreasNew cases15.513.91.12x13.5 to 17.92019-2023
LeukemiaNew cases16.114.51.11x13.9 to 18.62019-2023
Lung & bronchusDeaths33.330.21.1xSignificant30.3 to 36.52020-2024
All cancerNew cases495.8453.41.09xSignificant483.3 to 508.52019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases2018.51.08x17.5 to 22.72019-2023
Liver & bile ductDeaths7.16.61.08x5.8 to 8.72020-2024
StomachDeaths2.92.71.07x2 to 4.12020-2024
EsophagusNew cases4.84.61.04x3.7 to 6.22019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases18.617.91.04x16.3 to 21.32019-2023
EsophagusDeaths3.83.71.03x2.8 to 52020-2024
Lung & bronchusNew cases49.951.80.96x46.1 to 53.82019-2023
StomachNew cases6.26.60.94x4.9 to 7.82019-2023
ThyroidNew cases11.4130.88x9.4 to 13.72019-2023

Mortality measures versus the U.S. county median

Source: County Health Rankings, built from CDC National Vital Statistics System death records. The comparison value is the median of all U.S. counties.

Mortality measures for Butte County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death9,315.69,842.6-5%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy75.775.3+1%years
Child mortality44.159.8-26%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality46.2-35%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths113.696.9+17%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths47.928.6+67%deaths per 100,000

Air toxics and air quality

EPA AirToxScreen 2020

Lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics: 50 in a million. EPA treats 100 in a million as the upper end of acceptable risk and 1 in a million as the goal.

  • Formaldehyde38.41 per million
  • Acetaldehyde4.61 per million
  • Naphthalene2.96 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.9 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 238 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 46, peak 96.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,035 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit432
  • Small hazardous waste generator218
  • Rail grade crossing80
  • Large hazardous waste generator63
  • Gas station (mapped facility)56
  • Industrial wastewater discharge50
  • Hazardous waste transporter30
  • Brownfield property27
  • Hydroelectric plant14
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)13
  • Wastewater plant (mapped facility)13
  • Public airport6
  • Air permit holder (minor source)5
  • Major air pollution source3
  • EPA air quality monitor3
  • Solar power plant3
  • Commercial airport2
  • Dry cleaner (mapped facility)2
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter2
  • Heliport2
  • Gas power plant2
  • Scrapyard (mapped facility)2
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)2
  • Airfield1
  • Correctional facility (prison or jail)1
  • Biomass power plant1
  • Pumped storage plant1
  • Superfund (NPL) site1

Highest-severity records

The 25 records with the highest Envyrofax severity in the county, with the agency identifier to cite in a records request.

  1. Koppers Co., Inc. (Oroville Plant), Oroville

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 33.7. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID CAD009112087 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  2. City Of Chico Wpcp, Chico

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000730754 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  3. Chico-East Avenue, Chico

    EPA air quality monitor.

    Record ID 060070008 (U.S. EPA AirData)

    Severity 5.2

  4. Chico Rgnl, Chico

    Commercial airport. O.

    Record ID CIC (FAA / U.S. DOT)

    Severity 5

  5. Federal Cartridge Company-Oroville Operations, Oroville

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens.

    TRI facility ID 95965RCBSX605OR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  6. Neal Road Landfill, Paradise

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006529514 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  7. Pacific Oroville Power, Inc., Oroville

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000527733 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

  8. Kinder Morgan Chico Terminal, Chico

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002334368 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

  9. Neal Road Landfill, Paradise

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006529514 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.3

  10. Sewerage Commission - Oroville Region, Oroville

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039792711 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.3

  11. Sewerage Commission - Oroville Region, Oroville

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039792711 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.3

  12. Oroville Cogeneration Lp, Oroville

    Gas power plant.

    Record ID 54477 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

    Severity 3

  13. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co Hybrid, Chico

    Gas power plant.

    Record ID 58585 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

    Severity 3

  14. Victor Site, Chico

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002664331 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  15. John'S Marina, Oroville

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002799231 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  16. Pg&E Mfg Gas Plant #2, Oroville

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110057002461 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  17. Mid Counties Oil, Oroville

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110057002470 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  18. Turk Trucking, Oroville

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110059659347 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  19. Auto Doctor, Chico

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110066165660 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  20. Veatch Street Extension, Oroville

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071964437 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  21. Former Caltrans/ Advanced Soil And Garden Supply, Oroville

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071964438 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  22. Dress-Neitling Vacant Properties, Oroville

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071964439 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  23. Econ Gas Mart/Mcferrin, Oroville

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071964544 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  24. Chico Park Avenue Site, Chico

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071966625 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  25. Fm C&R Auto Repair, Oroville

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071969504 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

Correctional facilities

Prisons, jails and corrections operations with an EPA facility record, and the drinking water and wastewater compliance attached to them.

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Butte County

  • California state cancer registry

    Cancer incidence counts by census tract or ZIP code, by cancer type and year (de-identified). Any cancer cluster inquiries or investigations in Butte County, and their findings.

  • California vital statistics office

    Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.

  • California health department, environmental epidemiology

    Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.

  • California environmental agency and the U.S. EPA regional office

    Compliance history, inspection reports, notices of violation, penalties and enforcement actions for each facility above, cited by EPA FRS registry ID.

  • California drinking water program

    Violation notices, sampling results and sanitary surveys for the public water systems serving the county, including any system serving a correctional facility.

  • Department of corrections or county sheriff

    Water testing, grievances and environmental health inspections for the correctional facilities listed above.

Each Envyrofax address report includes a printable records request worksheet with the custodian and the exact request wording per finding.

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