As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Administering agency” means any agency designated pursuant to § 25502 of the Health and Safety Code.

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(b) “Environmental assessor” means an environmental professional as defined in Section 312.10 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(c) “Handle” has the meaning the term is given in Article 1 (commencing with Section 25500) of Chapter 6.95 of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code.

(d) “Hazardous air emissions” means emissions into the ambient air of air contaminants that have been identified as a toxic air contaminant by the State Air Resources Board or by the air pollution control officer for the jurisdiction in which the project is located. As determined by the air pollution control officer, hazardous air emissions also means emissions into the ambient air from any substance identified in subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive, of § 44321 of the Health and Safety Code.

(e) “Hazardous material” has the meaning the term is given in subdivision (d) of § 25260 of the Health and Safety Code.

(f) “Operation and maintenance,” “removal action work plan,” “respond,” “response,” “response action,” and “site” have the meanings those terms are given in Article 3 (commencing with Section 78035) of Chapter 1 of the state act.

(g) “Phase I environmental assessment” means a preliminary assessment of a property to determine whether there has been or may have been a release of a hazardous material, or whether a naturally occurring hazardous material is present, based on reasonably available information about the property and the area in its vicinity. A phase I environmental assessment shall meet the most current requirements adopted by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) for Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process or meet the requirements of Part 312 (commencing with Section 312.1) of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. That ASTM Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments or the requirements of Part 312 (commencing with Section 312.1) of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations shall satisfy the requirements of this article for conducting a phase I environmental assessment unless and until the Department of Toxic Substances Control adopts final regulations that establish guidelines for a phase I environmental assessment for purposes of schoolsites that impose different requirements.

(h) “Preliminary endangerment assessment” means an activity that is performed to determine whether current or past hazardous material management practices or waste management practices have resulted in a release or threatened release of hazardous materials, or whether naturally occurring hazardous materials are present, which pose a threat to children’s health, children’s learning abilities, public health, or the environment. A preliminary endangerment assessment requires sampling and analysis of a site, a preliminary determination of the type and extent of hazardous material contamination of the site, and a preliminary evaluation of the risks that the hazardous material contamination of a site may pose to children’s health, public health, or the environment, and shall be conducted in a manner that complies with the guidelines published by the Department of Toxic Substances Control entitled “Preliminary Endangerment Assessment: Guidance Manual,” including any amendments that are determined by the Department of Toxic Substances Control to be appropriate to address issues that are unique to schoolsites.

(i) “Proposed schoolsite” means real property acquired or to be acquired or proposed for use as a schoolsite, prior to its occupancy as a school.

(j) “Regulated substance” means any material defined in subdivision (i) of § 25532 of the Health and Safety Code.

(k) “Release” has the same meaning the term is given in Article 3 (commencing with Section 78035) of Chapter 1 of the state act, and includes a release described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of § 78105 of the Health and Safety Code.

(l) “Remedial action plan” means a plan approved by the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to Article 12 (commencing with Section 79195) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 45 of the Health and Safety Code.

(m) “State act” means the Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substance Account Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 78000) of Division 45 of the Health and Safety Code).

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 258, Sec. 11. (AB 2327) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, pursuant to Sec. 130 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 258.)