(a) For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) (A) “Certified Unified Program Agency” or “CUPA” means the agency certified by the secretary to implement the unified program specified in this chapter within a jurisdiction.

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(B) “Participating Agency” or “PA” means a state or local agency that has a written agreement with the CUPA pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 25404.3, and is approved by the secretary, to implement or enforce one or more of the unified program elements specified in subdivision (c), in accordance with Sections 25404.1 and 25404.2.

(C) “Unified Program Agency” or “UPA” means the CUPA, or its participating agencies to the extent each PA has been designated by the CUPA, pursuant to a written agreement, to implement or enforce a particular unified program element specified in subdivision (c). The UPAs have the responsibility and authority to implement and enforce the requirements listed in subdivision (c), and the regulations adopted to implement the requirements listed in subdivision (c), to the extent provided by Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100), Chapter 6.67 (commencing with Section 25270), Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 25280), Chapter 6.95 (commencing with Section 25500), and Sections 25404.1 to 25404.2, inclusive. After a CUPA has been certified by the secretary, the unified program agencies and the state agencies carrying out responsibilities under this chapter shall be the only agencies authorized to enforce the requirements listed in subdivision (c) within the jurisdiction of the CUPA.

(2) “Department” means the Department of Toxic Substances Control.

(3) “Minor violation” means the failure of a person to comply with a requirement or condition of an applicable law, regulation, permit, information request, order, variance, or other requirement, whether procedural or substantive, of the unified program that the UPA is authorized to implement or enforce pursuant to this chapter, and that does not otherwise include any of the following:

(A) A violation that results in injury to persons or property, or that presents a significant threat to human health or the environment.

(B) A knowing, willful, or intentional violation.

(C) A violation that is a chronic violation, or that is committed by a recalcitrant violator. In determining whether a violation is chronic or a violator is recalcitrant, the UPA shall consider whether there is evidence indicating that the violator has engaged in a pattern of neglect or disregard with respect to applicable regulatory requirements.

(D) A violation that results in an emergency response from a public safety agency.

(E) A violation that enables the violator to benefit economically from the noncompliance, either by reduced costs or competitive advantage.

(F) A class I violation, as provided in Section 25110.8.5.

(G) A violation that hinders the ability of the UPA to determine compliance with any other applicable local, state, or federal rule, regulation, information request, order, variance, permit, or other requirement.

(4) “Secretary” means the Secretary for Environmental Protection.

(5) “Unified program facility” means all contiguous land and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land that are subject to the requirements listed in subdivision (c).

(6) “Unified program facility permit” means a permit issued pursuant to this chapter. For purposes of this chapter, a unified program facility permit encompasses the permitting requirements of Section 25284, and permit or authorization requirements under a local ordinance or regulation relating to the generation or handling of hazardous waste or hazardous materials, but does not encompass the permitting requirements of a local ordinance that incorporates provisions of the California Fire Code or the California Building Code.

(b) The secretary shall adopt implementing regulations and implement a unified hazardous waste and hazardous materials management regulatory program, which shall be known as the unified program, after holding an appropriate number of public hearings throughout the state. The unified program shall be developed in close consultation with the director, the Director of Emergency Services, the State Fire Marshal, the executive officers and chairpersons of the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards, the local health officers, local fire services, and other appropriate officers of interested local agencies, and affected businesses and interested members of the public, including environmental organizations.

(c) The unified program shall consolidate the administration of the following requirements and, to the maximum extent feasible within statutory constraints, shall ensure the coordination and consistency of any regulations adopted pursuant to those requirements:

(1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the requirements of Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100), and the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to that chapter, that are applicable to all of the following:

(i) Hazardous waste generators, persons operating pursuant to a permit-by-rule, conditional authorization, or conditional exemption, pursuant to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) or the regulations adopted by the department.

(ii) Persons managing perchlorate materials.

(iii) Persons subject to Article 10.1 (commencing with Section 25211) of Chapter 6.5.

(iv) Persons operating a collection location that has been established under an architectural paint stewardship plan approved by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery pursuant to the architectural paint recovery program established pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 48700) of Part 7 of Division 30 of the Public Resources Code.

(v) A transfer facility, as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 25123.3, that is operated by a door-to-door household hazardous waste collection program or household hazardous waste residential pickup service, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 25218.1.

(vi) Persons who receive used oil from consumers pursuant to Section 25250.11.

(B) The unified program shall not include the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25200.3, the requirements of Sections 25200.10 and 25200.14, and the authority to issue an order under Sections 25187 and 25187.1, with regard to those portions of a unified program facility that are subject to one of the following:

(i) A corrective action order issued by the department pursuant to Section 25187.

(ii) An order issued by the department pursuant to Chapter 6.86 (commencing with Section 25396) of this division or Part 2 (commencing with Section 78000) of Division 45.

(iii) A remedial action plan approved pursuant to Chapter 6.86 (commencing with Section 25396) of this division or Part 2 (commencing with Section 78000) of Division 45.

(iv) A cleanup and abatement order issued by a California regional water quality control board pursuant to § 13304 of the Water Code, to the extent that the cleanup and abatement order addresses the requirements of the applicable section or sections listed in this subparagraph.

(v) Corrective action required under subsection (u) of Section 6924 of Title 42 of the United States Code or subsection (h) of Section 6928 of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(vi) An environmental assessment pursuant to Section 25200.14 or a corrective action pursuant to Section 25200.10 or paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25200.3, that is being overseen by the department.

(C) The unified program shall not include the requirements of Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100), and the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to that chapter, applicable to persons operating transportable treatment units, except that any required notice regarding transportable treatment units shall also be provided to the CUPAs.

(2) The requirements of Chapter 6.67 (commencing with Section 25270) concerning aboveground storage tanks.

(3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the requirements of Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 25280) concerning underground storage tanks and the requirements of any underground storage tank ordinance adopted by a city or county.

(B) The unified program shall not include the responsibilities assigned to the State Water Resources Control Board pursuant to Section 25297.1.

(C) The unified program shall not include the corrective action requirements of Sections 25296.10 to 25296.40, inclusive.

(4) The requirements of Article 1 (commencing with Section 25500) of Chapter 6.95 concerning hazardous material release response plans and inventories.

(5) The requirements of Article 2 (commencing with Section 25531) of Chapter 6.95, concerning the accidental release prevention program.

(6) The requirements for the hazardous materials plan and hazardous materials inventory statement of the California Fire Code, as adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13143.9.

(d) To the maximum extent feasible within statutory constraints, the secretary shall consolidate, coordinate, and make consistent these requirements of the unified program with other requirements imposed by other federal, state, regional, or local agencies upon facilities regulated by the unified program.

(e) (1) The secretary shall establish standards applicable to CUPAs, participating agencies, state agencies, and businesses specifying the data to be collected and submitted by unified program agencies in administering the programs listed in subdivision (c).

(2) (A) The secretary shall establish a statewide information management system capable of receiving all data collected by the unified program agencies and reported by regulated businesses pursuant to this subdivision, in a manner that is most cost efficient and effective for both the regulated businesses and state and local agencies. The secretary shall prescribe an XML or other compatible web-based format for the transfer of data from CUPAs and regulated businesses and make all nonconfidential data available on the internet.

(B) The secretary shall establish milestones to measure the implementation of the statewide information management system and shall provide periodic status updates to interested parties.

(3) (A) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in addition to any other funding that becomes available, the secretary shall increase the oversight surcharge provided for in subdivision (b) of Section 25404.5 by an amount necessary to meet the requirements of this subdivision for a period of three years, to establish the statewide information management system, consistent with paragraph (2). The increase in the oversight surcharge shall not exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) in any one year of the three-year period. The secretary shall thereafter maintain the statewide information management system, funded by the assessment the secretary is authorized to impose pursuant to Section 25404.5.

(ii) No less than 75 percent of the additional funding raised pursuant to clause (i) shall be provided to CUPAs and PAs through grant funds or statewide contract services, in the amounts determined by the secretary to assist these local agencies in meeting these information management system requirements.

(B) A facility that is owned or operated by the federal government and that is subject to the unified program shall pay the surcharge required by this paragraph to the extent authorized by federal law.

(C) The secretary, or one or more of the boards, departments, or offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency, shall seek available federal funding for purposes of implementing this subdivision.

(4) No later than three years after the statewide information management system is established, each CUPA, PA, and regulated business shall report program data electronically. The secretary shall work with the CUPAs to develop a phase-in schedule for the electronic collection and submittal of information to be included in the statewide information management system, giving first priority to information relating to those chemicals determined by the secretary to be of greatest concern. The secretary, in making this determination shall consult with the CUPAs, the California Emergency Management Agency, the State Fire Marshal, and the boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency.

(5) The secretary, in collaboration with the CUPAs, shall provide technical assistance to regulated businesses to comply with the electronic reporting requirements and may expend funds identified in clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) for that purpose.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 258, Sec. 94) by Stats. 2023, Ch. 131, Sec. 116. (AB 1754) Effective January 1, 2024.)