Article 8. Enforcement of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 20. >> Chapter 6.5. >> Article 8.
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the standards
in this chapter and the regulations adopted by the department to
implement this chapter shall be enforced by the department, and by
any local health officer or any local public officer designated by
the director.
(2) The standards of this chapter listed in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (c) of Section 25404, and the regulations adopted to
implement the standards of this chapter listed in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (c) of Section 25404, shall be enforced by the department
and one of the following:
(A) If there is no CUPA, the officer or agency authorized,
pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 25404.3, to implement and
enforce the requirements of this chapter listed in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (c) of Section 25404.
(B) Within the jurisdiction of a CUPA, the unified program
agencies, to the extent provided by this chapter and Sections 25404.1
and 25404.2. Within the jurisdiction of a CUPA, the unified program
agencies shall be the only local agencies authorized to enforce the
requirements of this chapter listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision
(c) of Section 25404.
(b) (1) In addition to the persons specified in subdivision (a),
any traffic officer, as defined by Section 625 of the Vehicle Code,
and any peace officer specified in Section 830.1 of the Penal Code,
may enforce Section 25160, subdivision (a) of Section 25163, and
Sections 25250.8, 25250.18, 25250.19, and 25250.23. Traffic officers
and peace officers are authorized representatives of the department
for purposes of enforcing the provisions set forth in this
subdivision.
(2) A peace officer specified in subdivision (a) of Section 830.37
of the Penal Code may, upon approval of the local district attorney,
enforce the standards in this chapter and regulations adopted by the
department to implement this chapter. A peace officer authorized to
enforce those standards and regulations pursuant to this paragraph
shall perform these duties in coordination with the appropriate local
officer or agency authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant to
subdivision (a), and shall complete a training program which is
equivalent to that required by the department for local officers and
agencies authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision
(a).
(c) Notwithstanding any limitations in subdivision (b), a member
of the California Highway Patrol may enforce Sections 25185, 25189,
25189.2, 25189.5, 25191, and 25195, and Article 6 (commencing with
Section 25160) and Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 25167.1), as
those provisions relate to the transportation of hazardous waste.
(d) In enforcing this chapter, including, but not limited to, the
issuance of orders imposing administrative penalties, the referral of
violations to prosecutors for civil or criminal prosecution, the
settlement of cases, and the adoption of enforcement policies and
standards related to those matters, the department and the local
officers and agencies authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall exercise their enforcement authority in such a
manner that generators, transporters, and operators of storage,
treatment, transfer, and disposal facilities are treated equally and
consistently with regard to the same types of violations.
For purposes of this chapter, "permit" includes matters
deemed to be permits pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 25198.6.
The department shall prioritize an enforcement action
authorized by this chapter affecting communities that have been
identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency as being
the most impacted environmental justice communities.
(a) The department, the State Water Resources Control
Board, and the California regional water quality control boards shall
notify the local health officer and director of environmental health
of a county, city, or district, and the CUPA for the jurisdiction as
specified in subdivision (b), within 15 days after any of the
following occur:
(1) The department's or board's employees are informed or discover
that a disposal of hazardous waste has occurred within that county,
city, or district and that the disposal violates a state or local
law, ordinance, regulation, rule, license, or permit or that the
disposal is potentially hazardous to the public health or the
environment.
(2) The department or board proposes to issue an abatement order
or a cease and desist order, to file a civil or criminal action, or
to settle a civil or criminal action, concerning a disposal of
hazardous waste within that county, city, or district.
(b) The notice given by the department or board pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall include all test results and any relevant
information which the department or board has obtained and which do
not contain trade secrets, as defined by Section 25173, as determined
by the department or board. If the department or board determines
that the test results or information cannot be disseminated because
of current or potential litigation, the department or board shall
inform the local health officer, the director of environmental
health, and the CUPA for the jurisdiction that the test results and
information shall be used by the local health officer, the director
of environmental health, and the unified program agencies, only in
connection with their statutory responsibilities and shall not
otherwise be released to the public.
(c) The department, the State Water Resources Control Board, and
the California regional water quality control boards shall coordinate
with the unified program agencies regarding violations of this
chapter, or violations of regulations adopted pursuant to this
chapter, at a unified program facility.
(a) Within the meaning of this section, a "designated
government employee" is any person defined as a "designated employee"
by Government Code Section 82019, as amended.
(b) Any designated government employee who obtains information in
the course of his or her official duties revealing the illegal
discharge or threatened illegal discharge of a hazardous waste within
the geographical area of his or her jurisdiction and who knows that
the discharge or threatened discharge is likely to cause substantial
injury to the public health or safety must, within 72 hours, disclose
that information to the local Board of Supervisors and to the local
health officer. No disclosure of information is required under this
subdivision when otherwise prohibited by law, or when law enforcement
personnel have determined that this disclosure would adversely
affect an ongoing criminal investigation, or when the information is
already general public knowledge within the locality affected by the
discharge or threatened discharge.
(c) Any designated government employee who knowingly and
intentionally fails to disclose information required to be disclosed
under subdivision (b) shall, upon conviction, be punished by
imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year or by
imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal
Code. The court may also impose upon the person a fine of not less
than five thousand dollars ($5000) or more than twenty-five thousand
dollars ($25,000). The felony conviction for violation of this
section shall require forfeiture of government employment within
thirty days of conviction.
(d) Any local health officer who receives information pursuant to
subdivision (b) shall take appropriate action to notify local news
media and shall make that information available to the public without
delay.
(a) When the department determines that any person has
engaged in, is engaged in, or is about to engage in any acts or
practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of this
chapter, or any rule, regulation, permit, covenant, standard,
requirement, or order issued, promulgated, or executed thereunder,
and when requested by the department, the city attorney of the city
in which those acts or practices occur, occurred, or will occur, the
district attorney of the county in which those acts or practices
occur, occurred, or will occur, or the Attorney General may apply to
the superior court for an order enjoining those acts or practices, or
for an order directing compliance, and upon a showing by the
department that the person has engaged in or is about to engage in
those acts or practices, a permanent or temporary injunction,
restraining order, or other order may be granted.
(b) When the unified program agency determines that any person has
engaged in, is engaged in, or is about to engage in any acts or
practices which constitute or will constitute a violation of this
chapter, or any rule, regulation, permit, covenant, standard,
requirement, or order issued, promulgated, or executed thereunder,
and when requested by the unified program agency, the city attorney
of the city in which those acts or practices occur, occurred, or will
occur, the district attorney of the county in which those acts or
practices occur, occurred, or will occur, or the Attorney General,
may apply to the superior court for an order enjoining those acts or
practices, or for an order directing compliance, and upon a showing
by the unified program agency that the person has engaged in or is
about to engage in those acts or practices, a permanent or temporary
injunction, restraining order, or other order may be granted.
A registered waste transporter transporting medical waste
who is not subject to Section 25097 shall be subject to penalties for
violations pursuant to this article.
Every civil action brought under this chapter at the request
of the department or a unified program agency shall be brought by
the city attorney, the county attorney, the district attorney, or the
Attorney General in the name of the people of the State of
California, and any such actions relating to the same processing or
disposal of hazardous wastes may be joined or consolidated.
Any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter shall be
brought in the county in which the processing or disposal of
hazardous waste is made or proposed to be made, the county in which
the principal office of the defendant is located, or the county in
which the Attorney General has an office nearest to the county in
which the principal office of the defendants, or any of them, is
located in this state.
In any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter in
which a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or
permanent injunction is sought, it shall not be necessary to allege
or prove at any stage of the proceeding that irreparable damage will
occur should the temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction,
or permanent injunction not be issued; or that the remedy at law is
inadequate, and the temporary restraining order, preliminary
injunction, or permanent injunction shall issue without such
allegations and without such proof.
If any administrative order or decision that imposes a
penalty is issued pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 6.8 (commencing
with Section 25300), the administrative order or decision has become
final, and, if applicable, a petition for judicial review of the
final order or decision has not been filed within the time limits
prescribed in Section 11523 of the Government Code, the department
may apply to the clerk of the appropriate court for a judgment to
collect the administrative penalty. The department's application,
which shall include a certified copy of the final administrative
order or decision, constitutes a sufficient showing to warrant
issuance of the judgment. The court clerk shall enter the judgment
immediately in conformity with the application. The judgment so
entered has the same force and effect as, and is subject to all the
provisions of law relating to, a judgment in a civil action, and may
be enforced in the same manner as any other judgment of the court in
which it is entered.
(a) In order to carry out the purposes of this chapter, any
authorized representative of the department or the local officer or
agency authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a)
of Section 25180, may, at any reasonable hour of the day, or as
authorized pursuant to Title 13 (commencing with Section 1822.50) of
Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, do any of the following:
(1) Enter and inspect a factory, plant, construction site,
disposal site, transfer facility, or any establishment or any other
place or environment where hazardous wastes are stored, handled,
processed, disposed of, or being treated to recover resources.
(2) Carry out any sampling activities necessary to carry out this
chapter, including obtaining samples from any individual or taking
samples from the property of any person or from any vehicle in which
any authorized representative of the department or the local officer
or agency authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision
(a) of Section 25180 reasonably believes has transported or is
transporting hazardous waste. However, upon request, split samples
shall be given to the person from whom, or from whose property or
vehicle, the samples were obtained.
(3) Stop and inspect any vehicle reasonably suspected of
transporting hazardous wastes when accompanied by a uniformed peace
officer in a clearly marked vehicle.
(4) Inspect and copy any records, reports, test results, or other
information required to carry out this chapter.
(5) Photograph any waste, waste container, waste container label,
vehicle, waste treatment process, waste disposal site, or condition
constituting a violation of law found during an inspection.
(b) During the inspection, the inspector shall comply with all
reasonable security, safety, and sanitation measures. In addition,
the inspector shall comply with reasonable precautionary measures
specified by the operator.
(c) (1) At the conclusion of the inspection, the inspector shall
deliver to the operator of the facility or site a written summary of
all violations alleged by the inspector. The inspector shall, prior
to leaving the facility or site, deliver the written summary to the
operator and shall discuss any questions or observations that the
operator might have concerning the inspection.
(2) (A) The department or the local officer or agency authorized
to enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25180
shall prepare an inspection report which shall fully detail all
observations made at the facility or site, all alleged violations,
the factual basis for alleging those violations, and any corrective
actions that should be taken by the operator of the facility or site.
The department or the local officer or agency shall provide a copy
of the inspection report to the operator within five days from the
date of the preparation of the inspection report, and, in any event,
not later than 65 days from the date of the inspection. The
inspection report shall include all pertinent information, including,
but not limited to, documents, photographs, and sampling results
concerning the alleged violations. The department or the local
officer or agency shall provide this information to the operator with
the inspection report, including all photographs taken by the
department in the course of the inspection and all laboratory results
obtained as a result of the inspection. If sampling or laboratory
results are not available at the time that the inspection report is
prepared, that fact shall be contained in the report. Those results
shall be provided to the operator within 10 working days of their
receipt by the department or the local officer or agency.
(B) The time period required by subparagraph (A) may be extended
as a result of a natural disaster, inspector illness, or other
circumstances beyond the control of the department, or the local
officer or agency, if the department or the local officer or agency
so notifies the operator within 70 days from the date of the
inspection and provides the inspection report to the operator in a
timely manner after the reason for the delay is ended.
(C) Information from the inspection report, or the report itself,
may be withheld by the department or the local officer or agency if
necessary to a criminal investigation or other ongoing investigation
in which the department or the local officer or agency determines, in
writing, that disclosure of the information will result in a
substantial probability of destruction of evidence, intimidation of
witnesses, or other obstruction of justice.
(D) The department or the local officer or agency shall, at the
operator's request, discuss the inspection report with the operator
and shall, upon the request of the operator, review the inspection
report and determine whether the operator's responses and documented
or proposed corrective actions would be sufficient to comply with
this chapter, or if any allegation of a violation is unwarranted.
(3) The operator of the site or facility which receives an
inspection report pursuant to paragraph (2) shall submit a written
response to the department or the local officer or agency authorized
to enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25180
within 60 days of receipt of the inspection report, or within a
shorter time as the department or the local officer or agency may
reasonably require, which shall include a statement documenting
corrective actions taken by the operator or proposing corrective
actions which will be taken by the operator, for purposes of
compliance with this chapter, or disputing the existence of the
violation. Upon receiving the written response from the operator, the
department or the local officer or agency shall, upon the request of
the operator, meet and confer with the operator regarding any
questions, concerns, or comments that the operator may have
concerning the inspection report. The department or the local officer
or agency shall, within 30 working days from the date of receipt of
a response which documents or proposes corrective action, or which
disputes the existence of a violation, determine whether the
corrective actions documented or proposed to be taken by the
operator, if implemented as stated or proposed, will achieve
compliance with this chapter, or whether a violation is still
alleged, as applicable, and shall submit a written copy of that
determination to the operator, in the form of a report of violation
or other appropriate document. If the department or the local officer
or agency fails to make the determination and submit a copy of the
determination within 30 working days from the date of receipt of the
operator's response, the department or the local officer or agency
may not seek penalties for continuing violations or any alleged new
violations caused by the corrective actions taken by the operator,
until the department or the local officer or agency submits the
determination to the operator and provides the operator with a
reasonable time in which to make necessary operational modifications
which differ from those proposed to the department or local officer
or agency.
(d) Whenever information, including, but not limited to,
documents, photographs, and sampling results, has been gathered
pursuant to subdivision (a), the department or the local officer or
agency shall comply with all procedures established pursuant to
Section 25173 and shall notify the person whose facility was
inspected prior to public disclosure of the information, and, upon
request of that person, shall submit a copy of any information to
that person for the purpose of determining whether trade secret
information, as defined in Section 25173, or facility security would
be revealed by the information. "Public disclosure," as used in this
section, shall not include review of the information by a court of
competent jurisdiction or an administrative law judge. That review
may be conducted in camera at the discretion of the court or judge.
For a property that is designated as a hazardous waste
property or border zone property pursuant to the former Article 11
(commencing with Section 25220), an authorized representative of the
department may, at any reasonable hour of the day, or as authorized
pursuant to Title 13 (commencing with Section 1822.50) of Part 3 of
the Code of Civil Procedure, enter and inspect any real property that
is within 2,000 feet of a deposit of hazardous waste or a hazardous
waste property and do any of the following:
(a) Obtain samples of the soil, vegetation, air, water, and biota
on or beneath the land.
(b) Set up and maintain monitoring equipment for the purpose of
assessing or measuring the actual or potential migration of hazardous
wastes on, beneath, or toward the land.
(c) Survey and determine the topography and geology of the land.
(d) Photograph any equipment, sample, activity, or environmental
condition described in subdivision (a), (b), or (c). The photographs
shall be subject to the requirements of subdivision (d) of Section
25185.
(e) This section does not apply to any hazardous waste facility
that is required to be permitted pursuant to this chapter and that is
subject to inspection pursuant to Section 25185.
(f) An inspector who inspects pursuant to this section shall make
a reasonable effort to inform the owner or his or her authorized
representative of the inspection and shall provide split samples to
the owner or representative upon request and shall comply with the
provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 25185.
(a) (1) The department or a local officer or agency
authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 25180, in connection with any action authorized by this
chapter, may require any of the following persons to furnish and
transmit, upon reasonable notice, to the designated offices of the
department or the local officer or agency any existing information
relating to hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, or hazardous
materials:
(A) Any person who owns or operates any hazardous waste facility.
(B) Any person who generates, stores, treats, transports, disposes
of, or otherwise handles hazardous waste.
(C) Any person who has generated, stored, treated, transported,
disposed of, or otherwise handled hazardous waste.
(D) Any person who arranges, or has arranged, by contract or other
agreement, to store, treat, transport, dispose of, or otherwise
handle hazardous waste.
(E) Any person who applies, or has applied, for any permit,
registration, or certification under this chapter.
(2) (A) The department, or a local officer or agency authorized to
enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25180,
may require a person described in paragraph (1) to furnish and
transmit, upon reasonable notice, to the designated offices of the
department or the local officer or agency, any information relating
to the person's ability to pay for, or to perform, a response action.
(B) This paragraph applies only if there is a reasonable basis to
believe that there has been or may be a release or threatened release
of a hazardous substance, and only for the purpose of determining
under this chapter how to finance a response action or otherwise for
the purpose of enforcing this chapter.
(b) (1) The department may require any person who has information
regarding the activities of a person described in subparagraphs (A)
to (E), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) relating to
hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, or hazardous materials, to
furnish and transmit, upon reasonable notice, that information to the
designated offices of the department.
(2) (A) The department may require any person who has information
regarding the activities of a person described in subparagraphs (A)
to (E), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), relating to
the ability of the person described in those subparagraphs to pay
for, or to perform, a response action, upon reasonable notice, to
furnish and transmit that information to the designated offices of
the department.
(B) This paragraph applies only if there is a reasonable basis to
believe that there has been or may be a release or threatened release
of a hazardous substance, and only for the purpose of determining
under this chapter how to finance a response action or otherwise for
the purpose of enforcing this chapter.
(c) Any person required to furnish information pursuant to this
section shall pay any costs of photocopying or transmitting this
information.
(d) When requested by the person furnishing information pursuant
to this section, the department or the local officer or agency shall
follow the procedures established under Section 25173.
(e) If a person intentionally or negligently fails to furnish and
transmit to the designated offices of the department or the local
officer or agency any existing information required pursuant to this
section, the department may issue an order pursuant to Section 25187
directing compliance with the request.
(f) The department may disclose information submitted pursuant to
this section to authorized representatives, contractors, or other
governmental agencies only in connection with the department's
responsibilities pursuant to this chapter. The department shall
establish procedures to ensure that information submitted pursuant to
this section is used only in connection with these responsibilities
and is not otherwise disseminated without the consent of the person
who provided the information to the department.
(g) The department may also make available to the United States
Environmental Protection Agency any and all information required by
law to be furnished to that agency. The sharing of information
between the department and that agency pursuant to this section does
not constitute a waiver by the department or any affected person of
any privilege or confidentiality provided by law which pertains to
the information.
(h) A person providing information pursuant to subdivision (a) or
(b) shall, at the time of its submission, identify all information
that the person believes is a trade secret. Any information or record
not identified as a trade secret is available to the public, unless
exempted from disclosure by other provisions of law.
(i) Notwithstanding Section 25190, a person who knowingly and
willfully disseminates information protected by Section 25173 or
procedures established by the department pursuant to Section 25173
shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than five
thousand dollars ($5,000), imprisonment in a county jail not to
exceed one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(j) For the purposes of this section, "trade secret" has the same
meaning as set forth in Section 25173.
The department may deny, suspend, or revoke any permit,
registration, or certificate applied for, or issued, pursuant to this
chapter in accordance with the procedures specified in Sections
25186.1 and 25186.2, where the applicant or holder of the permit,
registration, or certificate, or in the case of a business concern,
any trustee, officer, director, partner, or any person holding more
than 5 percent of the equity in, or debt liability of, that business
concern, has engaged in any of the following:
(a) Any violation of, or noncompliance with, this chapter, Chapter
6.7 (commencing with Section 25280), Chapter 6.8 (commencing with
Section 25300), the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
(Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code), the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, (42
U.S.C. Sec. 6901 et seq.), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
(49 U.S.C. Sec. 5101 et seq.), the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. Sec.
9601 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 2601
et seq.), or any other equivalent federal or state statute or any
requirement or regulation adopted pursuant thereto relating to the
generation, transportation, treatment, storage, recycling, disposal,
or handling of a hazardous waste, as defined in Section 25117, a
hazardous substance, as defined in Section 25316, or a hazardous
material, as defined in Section 353 of the Vehicle Code, if the
violation or noncompliance shows a repeating or recurring pattern or
may pose a threat to public health or safety or the environment.
(b) The aiding, abetting, or permitting of any violation of, or
noncompliance with, this chapter, Chapter 6.7 (commencing with
Section 25280), Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300), the
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act (Division 7 (commencing with Section
13000) of the Water Code), the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act of 1976, as amended, (42 U.S.C. Sec. 6901 et seq.), the Hazardous
Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Sec. 5101 et seq.), the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
of 1980 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control
Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq.), or any other equivalent federal or
state statute or any requirement or regulation adopted pursuant
thereto relating to the generation, transportation, treatment,
storage, recycling, disposal, or handling of a hazardous waste, as
defined in Section 25117, a hazardous substance, as defined in
Section 25316, or a hazardous material, as defined in Section 353 of
the Vehicle Code, if the violation or noncompliance shows a repeating
or recurring pattern or may pose a threat to public health or safety
or the environment.
(c) Any violation of, or noncompliance with, any order issued by a
state or local agency or by a hearing officer or a court relating to
the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, recycling,
disposal, or handling of a hazardous waste, as defined in Section
25117, a hazardous substance, as defined in Section 25316, or a
hazardous material, as defined in Section 353 of the Vehicle Code.
(d) Any misrepresentation or omission of a significant fact or
other required information in the application for the permit,
registration, or certificate, or in information subsequently reported
to the department or to a local officer or agency authorized to
enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25180.
(e) (1) Activities resulting in any federal or state conviction
that are significantly related to the fitness of the applicant or
holder of the permit, registration, or certificate to perform the
applicant's duties or activities under the permit, registration, or
certificate.
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, "conviction" means a plea
or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo
contendere.
(3) An action that the department may take pursuant to this
paragraph relating to the denial, suspension, or revocation of a
permit, registration, or certificate may be based upon a conviction
for which any of the following has occurred:
(A) The time for appeal has elapsed.
(B) The judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal.
(C) Any order granting probation is made suspending the imposition
of sentence, notwithstanding a subsequent order pursuant to Section
1203.4 of the Penal Code permitting that person to withdraw the
person's plea of guilty, and to enter a plea of not guilty, or
setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation,
information, or indictment.
(f) Activities resulting in the revocation or suspension of a
license, permit, registration, or certificate held by the applicant
or holder of the permit, registration, or certificate or, if the
applicant or holder of the permit, registration, or certificate is a
business concern, by any trustee, officer, director, partner, or any
person holding more than 5 percent of the equity in, or debt
liability of, that business concern relating to, the generation,
transportation, treatment, storage, recycling, disposal, or handling
of a hazardous waste, as defined in Section 25117, a hazardous
substance, as defined in Section 25316, or a hazardous material, as
defined in Section 353 of the Vehicle Code.
(a) For the purposes of this section, "violation" and
"noncompliance" mean only the following:
(1) A violation or noncompliance pursuant to Section 25186 that
creates a significant risk of harm to the public health or safety of
the environment resulting from acute or chronic exposure to hazardous
waste or hazardous waste constituents, and that threat makes it
reasonably necessary to take action to prevent, reduce, or mitigate
that exposure.
(2) A violation of, or noncompliance with, any order issued by the
department to the applicant or holder of the permit.
(3) A federal or state felony conviction for a violation of this
chapter or its equivalent in the federal act, or of any requirement
or regulation adopted pursuant to that authority relating to the
generation, transportation, treatment, storage, recycling, disposal,
or handling of hazardous waste, as described in subdivision (e) of
Section 25186.
(b) A violation or noncompliance by a federal hazardous waste
facility, pursuant to Section 6961 of Title 42 of the United States
Code, shall, for purposes of this section, be limited to a violation
or noncompliance caused by an action or inaction within the
boundaries identified in Part B of the federal hazardous waste permit
application, pursuant to Section 270.14 of Title 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, for that facility.
(c) "Violation" and "noncompliance" shall not include a minor
violation as defined in Section 25117.6.
(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the department shall
consider three or more incidents of violation of, or noncompliance
with, a requirement specified in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section
25186 for which a person or entity has been found liable or has been
convicted, with respect to a single facility within a five-year
period, as compelling cause to deny, suspend, or revoke the permit,
registration, or certificate.
(2) This subdivision does not apply to a third violation or
noncompliance if the department finds that extraordinary
circumstances exist, including that a denial, suspension, or
revocation would endanger the public health or safety or the
environment.
(3) This subdivision does not limit or modify the department's
authority to deny, suspend, or revoke any permit, registration, or
certificate pursuant to Section 25186 or any other law.
(a) Except as specified in Section 25186.2, proceedings
for the suspension or revocation of a permit, registration, or
certificate under this chapter shall be conducted in accordance with
Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of
Title 2 of the Government Code, and the department shall have all the
powers granted by those provisions. In the event of a conflict
between this chapter and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of
Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the
provisions of the Government Code shall prevail.
(b) (1) Proceedings to determine whether to grant, issue, modify,
or deny a permit, registration, or certificate shall be conducted in
accordance with the regulations adopted by the department.
(2) The petition for judicial review of a final decision of the
department to grant, issue, modify, or deny a permit, registration,
or certificate shall not be filed later than 90 days after the date
that the notice of the final decision is served.
The department may temporarily suspend any permit,
registration, or certificate issued pursuant to this chapter prior to
any hearing if the department determines that conditions may present
an imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health or
safety or the environment. In making this determination, the
department may rely on any information, including, but not limited
to, information concerning an actual, threatened, or potential harm
to the public health or safety or the environment, information
concerning a release or threat of a release, or a human health or
ecological risk assessment. The department shall notify the holder of
the permit, registration, or certificate of the temporary suspension
and the effective date thereof and at the same time shall serve the
person with an accusation. Upon receipt by the department of a notice
of defense to the accusation from the holder of the permit,
registration, or certificate, the department shall, within 15 days,
set the matter for a hearing, which shall be held as soon as
possible, but not later than 30 days after receipt of the notice. The
temporary suspension shall remain in effect until the hearing is
completed and the department has made a final determination on the
merits, which shall be made within 60 days after the completion of
the hearing. If the determination is not transmitted within this
period, the temporary suspension shall be of no further effect.
The department may temporarily suspend the operation of
a facility operating under an expired permit that has been extended
pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of
Section 25200 or an interim status pursuant to Section 25200.5 prior
to a hearing if the department determines that the action is
necessary to prevent or mitigate a risk to the public health or
safety or the environment. The department shall notify the owner and
operator of the facility of the temporary suspension and the
effective date of the temporary suspension and at the same time shall
serve the person with an accusation. Upon receipt by the department
of a notice of defense to the accusation from the owner or operator
of the facility, the department shall, within 15 days, set the matter
for a hearing, which shall be held as soon as possible, but not
later than 30 days after receipt of the notice. The temporary
suspension shall remain in effect until the hearing is completed and
the department has made a final determination on the merits, which
shall be made within 60 days after the completion of the hearing. If
the determination is not transmitted within this period, the
temporary suspension shall be of no further effect.
(a) The department shall prepare a written report pursuant
to subdivision (b) whenever the department proposes to issue a
hazardous waste facilities permit applied for pursuant to Section
25200 and the department has information that the applicant, or the
applicant under any previous name or names, or, if the applicant is a
business concern, any officer, director, or partner of the business
concern, has been named as a party in any action involving violation
of any statute, regulation, or requirement specified in Section
25186, excluding civil and administrative penalties of one thousand
dollars ($1,000) or less at any hazardous waste facility issued a
permit pursuant to this chapter, and that a conviction, judgment, or
settlement has been entered during a three-year period preceding the
date of application.
(b) The report shall list all convictions, judgments, and
settlements relating to violations of any statutes, regulations, or
requirements specified in Section 25186, excluding civil and
administrative penalties of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less at
any hazardous waste facility issued a permit pursuant to this
chapter, that occurred during the three-year period preceding the
date of application. The listing of settlements shall include the
following statement: "Settlements may or may not include admissions
of guilt." The report shall separately list all criminal convictions
and those violations resulting in penalties of fifty thousand dollars
($50,000) or more and shall be included in the administrative record
for the proposed permit.
(c) For the purposes of this section, the department may use
criminal history information obtained from the Department of Justice
to the extent that the information is necessary to list all
convictions, judgments, and settlements as required by subdivision
(b).
(d) This section does not apply to facilities that meet the
requirements necessary to operate pursuant to the department's
permit-by-rule regulations.
(a) In making a determination pursuant to Section 25186,
the director may contact the district attorney, local agencies, the
Attorney General, the United States Department of Justice, the
Environmental Protection Agency, or other agencies outside of the
state which have, or have had, regulatory or enforcement jurisdiction
over the applicant in connection with any hazardous waste or
hazardous materials activities.
(b) Every hazardous waste licenseholder or applicant, other than a
federal, state, or local agency, who is not otherwise required to
file a disclosure statement on or before January 1, 1989, shall file
a disclosure statement with the department on or before January 1,
1989.
(c) If changes or additions of information regarding majority
ownership, the business name, or the information required by
paragraphs (6) and (8) of subdivision (a) of Section 25112.5 occur
after the filing of the statement, the licenseholder or applicant
shall provide that information to the department, in writing, within
30 days of the change or addition.
(d) Any person submitting a disclosure statement shall pay a fee
set by the department in an amount adequate to defray the costs of
implementing this section, per person, officer, director, or partner
required to be listed in the disclosure statement, in addition to any
other fees required. The department shall deposit these fees in the
Hazardous Waste Control Account. The fees shall be made available,
upon appropriation by the Legislature, to cover the costs of
conducting the necessary background searches.
(e) Any person who knowingly makes any false statement or
misrepresentation in a disclosure statement filed pursuant to the
requirements of this chapter is, upon conviction, subject to the
penalties specified in Sections 25189 and 25189.2 and subdivision (a)
of Section 25191.
(f) The disclosure statement submitted pursuant to subdivision (b)
is exempt from the requirements of the California Public Records Act
(Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1
of the Government Code).
(a) In any case filed in any court or administrative
tribunal, including, but not limited to, the Office of Administrative
Hearings, which alleges any violations of this chapter or any
statute, regulation, or requirement specified in Section 25186, the
prosecuting attorney shall, within 30 days of the date of filing,
forward, to the office of Attorney General located in the City of Los
Angeles, a summary of the case which provides all of the following
information:
(1) The case name and court or administrative number.
(2) The court or administrative tribunal in which the case is
being prosecuted.
(3) The agency prosecuting the case.
(4) The name, business address, and telephone number of the
prosecuting attorney.
(5) The statutes, regulations, or requirements which are alleged
to have been violated.
(6) The date of filing and date or dates of alleged violations.
(7) A brief summary of the action.
(8) The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all respondents
or defendants in the action.
(9) The status of the case.
(b) Within 30 days of the conclusion of a case specified in
subdivision (a) by verdict, award, judgment, dismissal, or
settlement, the prosecuting attorney shall forward, to the office of
the Attorney General located in the City of Los Angeles, an update of
the information required by subdivision (a), including a statement
describing the final outcome of the case.
(c) The cases subject to this section shall include those cases
which are brought for purposes of clarifying, enforcing, limiting, or
overturning any case which arose out of a violation of this chapter
or statute, regulation, or requirement specified in Section 25186,
including, but not limited to, appeals, actions for contempt, and
revocations of probation.
The department may suspend or revoke any grant of
authorization to operate pursuant to a permit-by-rule or
authorization to conduct treatment pursuant to subdivision (a) or (c)
of Section 25201.5, in accordance with the procedures specified in
Sections 25186.1 and 25186.2, for any of the grounds specified in
Section 25186 and may suspend or revoke any grant of conditional
authorization granted pursuant to Section 25200.3 in accordance with
the procedures specified in Sections 25186.1 and 25186.2, for any of
the grounds specified in Section 25186 or as specified in subdivision
(j) of Section 25200.3.
(a) (1) The department or a unified program agency, in
accordance with subdivision (l), may issue an order requiring that
the violation be corrected and imposing an administrative penalty,
for any violation of this chapter or any permit, rule, regulation,
standard, or requirement issued or adopted pursuant to this chapter,
whenever the department or Unified Program Agency determines that a
person has violated, is in violation of, or threatens, as defined in
subdivision (e) of Section 13304 of the Water Code, to violate, this
chapter or Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300), or any
permit, rule, regulation, standard, or requirement issued or adopted
pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section
25300).
(2) In an order proposing a penalty pursuant to this section, the
department or Unified Program Agency shall take into consideration
the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation, the
violator's past and present efforts to prevent, abate, or clean up
conditions posing a threat to the public health or safety or the
environment, the violator's ability to pay the proposed penalty, and
the prophylactic effect that the imposition of the proposed penalty
would have on both the violator and the regulated community as a
whole.
(b) The department or a unified program agency, in accordance with
subdivision (l), may issue an order requiring corrective action
whenever the department or Unified Program Agency determines that
there is or has been a release, as defined in Chapter 6.8 (commencing
with Section 25300), of hazardous waste or constituents into the
environment from a hazardous waste facility.
(1) In the case of a release of hazardous waste or constituents
into the environment from a hazardous waste facility that is required
to obtain a permit pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section
25200), the department shall pursue the remedies available under this
chapter, including the issuance of an order for corrective action
pursuant to this section, before using the legal remedies available
pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300), except in
any of the following circumstances:
(A) If the person who is responsible for the release voluntarily
requests in writing that the department issue an order to that person
to take corrective action pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with
Section 25300).
(B) If the person who is responsible for the release is unable to
pay for the cost of corrective action to address the release. For
purposes of this subparagraph, the inability of a person to pay for
the cost of corrective action shall be determined in accordance with
the policies of the Environmental Protection Agency for the
implementation of Section 9605 of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(C) If the person responsible for the release is unwilling to
perform corrective action to address the release. For purposes of
this subparagraph, the unwillingness of a person to take corrective
action shall be determined in accordance with the policies of the
Environmental Protection Agency for the implementation of Section
9605 of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(D) If the release is part of a regional or multisite groundwater
contamination problem that cannot, in its entirety, be addressed
using the legal remedies available pursuant to this chapter and for
which other releases that are part of the regional or multisite
groundwater contamination problem are being addressed using the legal
remedies available pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section
25300).
(E) If an order for corrective action has already been issued
against the person responsible for the release, or the department and
the person responsible for the release have, prior to January 1,
1996, entered into an agreement to address the required cleanup of
the release pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300).
(F) If the hazardous waste facility is owned or operated by the
federal government.
(2) The order shall include a requirement that the person take
corrective action with respect to the release of hazardous waste or
constituents, abate the effects thereof, and take any other necessary
remedial action.
(3) If the order requires corrective action at a hazardous waste
facility, the order shall require that corrective action be taken
beyond the facility boundary, where necessary to protect human health
or the environment.
(4) The order shall incorporate, as a condition of the order, any
applicable waste discharge requirements issued by the State Water
Resources Control Board or a California regional water quality
control board, and shall be consistent with all applicable water
quality control plans adopted pursuant to Section 13170 of the Water
Code and Article 3 (commencing with Section 13240) of Chapter 4 of
Division 7 of the Water Code and state policies for water quality
control adopted pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 13140)
of Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Water Code existing at the time of
the issuance of the order, to the extent that the department or
Unified Program Agency determines that those plans and policies are
not less stringent than this chapter and regulations adopted pursuant
to this chapter. The order may include any more stringent
requirement that the department or Unified Program Agency determines
is necessary or appropriate to protect water quality.
(5) Persons who are subject to an order pursuant to this
subdivision include present and prior owners, lessees, or operators
of the property where the hazardous waste is located, present or past
generators, storers, treaters, transporters, disposers, and handlers
of hazardous waste, and persons who arrange, or have arranged, by
contract or other agreement, to store, treat, transport, dispose of,
or otherwise handle hazardous waste.
(6) For purposes of this subdivision, "hazardous waste facility"
includes the entire site that is under the control of an owner or
operator engaged in the management of hazardous waste.
(c) Any order issued pursuant to this section shall be served by
personal service or certified mail and shall inform the person so
served of the right to a hearing. If the Unified Program Agency
issues the order pursuant to this section, the order shall state
whether the hearing procedure specified in paragraph (2) of
subdivision (f) may be requested by the person receiving the order.
(d) Any person served with an order pursuant to this section who
has been unable to resolve any violation or deficiency on an informal
basis with the department or Unified Program Agency may, within 15
days after service of the order, request a hearing pursuant to
subdivision (e) or (f) by filing with the department or Unified
Program Agency a notice of defense. The notice shall be filed with
the office that issued the order. A notice of defense shall be deemed
filed within the 15-day period provided by this subdivision if it is
postmarked within that 15-day period. If no notice of defense is
filed within the time limits provided by this subdivision, the order
shall become final.
(e) Any hearing requested on an order issued by the department
shall be conducted within 90 days after receipt of the notice of
defense by an administrative law judge of the Office of
Administrative Hearings of the Department of General Services in
accordance with Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400) of Part 1
of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the department
shall have all the authority granted to an agency by those
provisions.
(f) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), a
person requesting a hearing on an order issued by a unified program
agency may select the hearing process specified in either paragraph
(1) or (2) in the notice of defense filed with the Unified Program
Agency pursuant to subdivision (d). Within 90 days of receipt of the
notice of defense by the Unified Program Agency, the hearing shall be
conducted using one of the following procedures:
(1) An administrative law judge of the Office of Administrative
Hearings of the Department of General Services shall conduct the
hearing in accordance with Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section
11400) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(2) (A) A hearing officer designated by the Unified Program Agency
shall conduct the hearing in accordance with Chapter 4.5 (commencing
with Section 11400) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the
Government Code, and the Unified Program Agency shall have all the
authority granted to an agency by those provisions. When a hearing is
conducted by a unified program agency pursuant to this paragraph,
the Unified Program Agency shall, within 60 days of the hearing,
issue a decision.
(B) A person requesting a hearing on an order issued by a unified
program agency may select the hearing process specified in this
paragraph in a notice of defense filed pursuant to subdivision (d)
only if the Unified Program Agency has, as of the date the order is
issued pursuant to subdivision (c), selected a designated hearing
officer and established a program for conducting a hearing in
accordance with this paragraph.
(g) The hearing decision issued pursuant to subdivision (f) shall
be effective and final upon issuance. Copies of the decision shall be
served by personal service or by certified mail upon the party
served with the order and upon other persons who appeared at the
hearing and requested a copy.
(h) Any provision of an order issued under this section, except
the imposition of an administrative penalty, shall take effect upon
issuance by the department or Unified Program Agency if the
department or Unified Program Agency finds that the violation or
violations of law associated with that provision may pose an imminent
and substantial endangerment to the public health or safety or the
environment, and a request for a hearing shall not stay the effect of
that provision of the order pending a hearing decision. However, if
the department or Unified Program Agency determines that any or all
provisions of the order are so related that the public health or
safety or the environment can be protected only by immediate
compliance with the order as a whole, then the order as a whole,
except the imposition of an administrative penalty, shall take effect
upon issuance by the department or Unified Program Agency. A request
for a hearing shall not stay the effect of the order as a whole
pending a hearing decision.
(i) A decision issued pursuant to this section may be reviewed by
the court pursuant to Section 11523 of the Government Code. In all
proceedings pursuant to this section, the court shall uphold the
decision of the department or Unified Program Agency if the decision
is based upon substantial evidence in the whole record. The filing of
a petition for writ of mandate shall not stay any action required
pursuant to this chapter or the accrual of any penalties assessed
pursuant to this chapter. This subdivision does not prohibit the
court from granting any appropriate relief within its jurisdiction.
(j) (1) All administrative penalties collected from actions
brought by the department pursuant to this section shall be placed in
a separate subaccount in the Toxic Substances Control Account and
shall be available only for transfer to the Site Remediation Account
or the Expedited Site Remediation Trust Fund and for expenditure by
the department upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(2) The administrative penalties collected from an action brought
by the department pursuant to Sections 25214.3, 25214.22.1, 25215.7,
in accordance with this section, shall be deposited in the Toxic
Substances Control Account, for expenditure by the department for
implementation and enforcement activities, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, pursuant to Section 25173.6.
(k) All administrative penalties collected from an action brought
by a unified program agency pursuant to this section shall be paid to
the Unified Program Agency that imposed the penalty, and shall be
deposited into a special account that shall be expended to fund the
activities of the Unified Program Agency in enforcing this chapter
pursuant to Section 25180.
(l) The authority granted under this section to a unified program
agency is limited to both of the following:
(1) The issuance of orders to impose penalties and to correct
violations of the requirements of this chapter and its implementing
regulations, only when the violations are violations of requirements
applicable to hazardous waste generators and persons operating
pursuant to a permit-by-rule, conditional authorization, or
conditional exemption, when the violations occur at a unified program
facility within the jurisdiction of the CUPA.
(2) The issuance of orders to require corrective action when there
has been a release of hazardous waste or constituents only when the
Unified Program Agency is authorized to do so pursuant to Section
25404.1.
(m) The CUPA shall annually submit a summary report to the
department on the status of orders issued by the unified program
agencies under this section and Section 25187.1.
(n) The CUPA shall consult with the district attorney for the
county on the development of policies to be followed in exercising
the authority delegated pursuant to this section and Section 25187.1,
as they relate to the authority of unified program agencies to issue
orders.
(o) The CUPA shall arrange to have appropriate legal
representation in administrative hearings that are conducted by an
administrative law judge of the Office of Administrative Hearings of
the Department of General Services, and when a decision issued
pursuant to this section is appealed to the superior court.
(p) The department may adopt regulations to implement this section
and paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 25187.1 as they
relate to the authority of unified program agencies to issue orders.
The regulations shall include, but not be limited to, all of the
following requirements:
(1) Provisions to ensure coordinated and consistent application of
this section and Section 25187.1 when both the department and the
Unified Program Agency have or will be issuing orders under one or
both of these sections at the same facility.
(2) Provisions to ensure that the enforcement authority granted to
the unified program agencies will be exercised consistently
throughout the state.
(3) Minimum training requirements for staff of the Unified Program
Agency relative to this section and Section 25187.1.
(4) Procedures to be followed by the department to rescind the
authority granted to a unified program agency under this section and
Section 25187.1, if the department finds that the Unified Program
Agency is not exercising that authority in a manner consistent with
this chapter and Chapter 6.11 (commencing with Section 25404) and the
regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
(q) Except for an enforcement action taken pursuant to this
chapter or Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300), this section
does not otherwise affect the authority of a local agency to take any
action under any other provision of law.
(a) (1) If the department or a unified program agency
authorized pursuant to paragraph (2) determines, upon receipt of any
information, that the presence of any hazardous waste at a facility
or site at which hazardous waste is, or has been, stored, treated, or
disposed of, or the release of any hazardous waste from the facility
or site may present a substantial hazard to human health or the
environment, the department or authorized unified program agency may
issue an order requiring the owner or operator of the facility or
site to conduct monitoring, testing, analysis, and reporting with
respect to the facility or site which the department or authorized
unified program agency deems reasonable to ascertain the nature and
extent of the hazard.
(2) The authority granted under this section to a unified program
agency is limited to the issuance of orders pursuant to paragraph (1)
to a unified program facility within the jurisdiction of the CUPA,
and is subject to Section 25404.1.
(b) If a facility or site subject to subdivision (a) is not in
operation at the time the determination is made and the department
finds that the owner of the facility or site, could not reasonably be
expected to have actual knowledge of the presence of hazardous waste
at the facility or site and of its potential for release, the
department may issue an order requiring the most recent previous
owner or operator of the facility or site who could reasonably be
expected to have the actual knowledge to carry out the actions
specified in subdivision (a).
(c) Any order issued pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) shall
require the person to whom the order is issued to submit to the
department or authorized unified program agency, within 30 days from
the issuance of the order, a proposal for carrying out the required
monitoring, testing, analysis, and reporting. The department or
authorized unified program agency may, after providing the person
with an opportunity to confer with the department or authorized
unified program agency concerning the proposal, require the person to
carry out the monitoring, testing, analysis, and reporting in
accordance with the proposal, and with any modifications in the
proposal as the department or authorized unified program agency deems
reasonable to ascertain the nature and extent of the hazard.
(d) If the department or authorized unified program agency
determines that there is no owner or operator specified in
subdivision (a) or (b) to conduct monitoring, testing, analysis, or
reporting satisfactory to the department or authorized unified
program agency, if the department or authorized unified program
agency deems the action carried out by an owner or operator is
unsatisfactory, or if the department or authorized unified program
agency cannot initially determine that there is an owner or operator
specified in subdivision (a) or (b) who is able to conduct
monitoring, testing, analysis, or reporting, the department or
authorized unified program agency may do either of the following:
(1) Conduct monitoring, testing, or analysis, or any combination
of these actions, which the department or authorized unified program
agency deems reasonable, to ascertain the nature and extent of the
hazard associated with the site.
(2) Authorize a local authority or other person to carry out the
action, and require, by order, the owner or operator specified in
subdivision (a) or (b) to reimburse the department or authorized
unified program agency or other authority or person for the costs of
the activity.
(e) The department or authorized unified program agency shall not
issue an order pursuant to this section which requires the department
or authorized unified program agency to be reimbursed for the costs
of any action carried out by the department or authorized unified
program agency to conduct monitoring, testing, and analysis to
determine the results of the actions carried out by a person pursuant
to an order issued pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b).
(f) For purposes of carrying out this section, the department, an
authorized unified program agency, any other local agency, or other
person authorized under paragraph (2) of subdivision (d), may take
action pursuant to Section 25185.
If an order or agreement issued by the department pursuant
to Section 25187 to a potentially responsible party requires a
person to take corrective action with respect to a release of
hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents into the environment,
that person shall pay for the department's costs incurred in
overseeing or carrying out the corrective action.
(a) If corrective action is not taken on or before the
date specified in an order issued pursuant to Section 25187, or if in
the judgment of the department immediate corrective action is
necessary to remedy or prevent an imminent substantial danger to the
public health, domestic livestock, wildlife, or the environment, the
department may take, or contract for the taking of, that corrective
action and recover the cost thereof as provided in subdivision (c).
(b) (1) The department may expend up to one hundred thousand
dollars ($100,000) in a 12-month period of available moneys in the
Hazardous Waste Control Account in the General Fund to take
corrective action pursuant to subdivision (a).
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may
enter into written contracts for corrective action taken or to be
taken pursuant to subdivision (a).
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may
enter into oral contracts, not to exceed ten thousand dollars
($10,000) in obligation, when in the judgment of the department
immediate corrective action is necessary to remedy or prevent an
imminent substantial danger to the public health, domestic livestock,
wildlife, or the environment.
(4) The contracts entered into pursuant to this subdivision,
whether written or oral, may include provisions for the rental of
tools or equipment, either with or without operators furnished, and
for the furnishing of labor and materials necessary to accomplish the
work.
(5) Any contract entered into by the department pursuant to this
subdivision shall be exempt from approval by the Department of
General Services pursuant to Section 10295 of the Public Contract
Code.
(c) If corrective action is taken pursuant to subdivision (a), the
person or persons who were subject to the order issued pursuant to
Section 25187, or any person or persons whose violation resulted in
the imminent and substantial danger to health or the environment
shall be liable to the department for the reasonable cost actually
incurred in taking corrective action. In addition, the person or
persons shall be liable to the department for administrative costs in
an amount equal to 10 percent of the reasonable cost actually
incurred or five hundred dollars ($500), whichever is greater. The
amount of cost determined pursuant to this subdivision shall be
recoverable in a civil action by the department, in addition to any
other fees or penalties. Persons who may be liable pursuant to this
subdivision shall include, but not be limited to, present or prior
owners, lessees, or operators of the property where the hazardous
waste is located and producers, transporters or disposers of the
hazardous waste.
(d) Neither the department, nor any person authorized by the
department to enter upon any lands for the purpose of taking
corrective action pursuant to subdivision (a) is liable to civil or
criminal action for trespass for any acts that are necessary to carry
out the corrective action.
(e) This section does not impose any new liability associated with
acts that occurred before January 1, 1981, if the acts were not in
violation of existing law or regulations at the time they occurred.
(a) If an authorized agent of the department has probable
cause to believe that any hazardous waste, or any material which the
authorized agent reasonably believes to be a hazardous waste, is
stored, transported, disposed of, or handled in violation of this
chapter or in a manner that will constitute a violation of this
chapter, and that the violation may threaten public health and
safety, or the environment, the agent may issue an order of
quarantine by affixing a tag or other appropriate marking to the
container containing, or to the vehicle transporting, the hazardous
waste.
(b) Upon issuing an order of quarantine pursuant to subdivision
(a), the authorized agent shall notify the person who owns the
hazardous waste, or the owner or lessee of the vehicle in which the
wastes are transported, of all of the following:
(1) The hazardous waste has been subject to a quarantine order
because the hazardous waste is, or is suspected of being, stored,
transported, disposed of, or handled in violation of this chapter.
(2) No person shall remove, transfer, or dispose of the hazardous
waste until permission for removal, transfer, or disposal is given by
an authorized agent of the department or by a court.
(3) The person so notified may request, and shall be granted, an
immediate hearing before a person designated by the director to
review the validity of the authorized agent's order. For purposes of
this section, an immediate hearing shall be held within 24 hours
after a hearing is requested by the person subject to the order.
(c) Any order of quarantine issued pursuant to subdivision (a)
shall take effect upon issuance and shall remain effective for 30
days thereafter, until an authorized agent removes the quarantine
order pursuant to subdivision (d), or until the quarantine order is
revoked pursuant to a hearing conducted in accordance with paragraph
(3) of subdivision (b), whichever event occurs first.
(d) If an authorized agent of the department determines that a
hazardous waste subject to a quarantine order is not being stored,
handled, transported, or disposed of in violation of this chapter, or
does not threaten public health and safety or the environment, the
authorized agent shall revoke the order of quarantine.
(e) If an authorized agent of the department has probable cause to
believe that a hazardous waste subject to a quarantine order will,
or is likely to, be removed, transferred or disposed of in violation
of this section, the authorized agent may remove the hazardous waste
to a place of safekeeping.
(f) A hazardous waste in transit for which a quarantine order has
been issued pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be stored or held at
one of the following locations, which the authorized agent determines
will represent the least risk to the public health and safety or the
environment:
(1) The facility owned or operated by the producer of the waste,
except when the producer is located outside the state.
(2) The transporter's yard, facility, or terminal.
(3) The treatment, storage, or disposal facility to which the
hazardous waste is to be transported.
(4) Any other site designated by the authorized agent.
(g) All fees for storage and any other expenses incurred in
carrying out subdivision (e) or (f) shall be a charge against the
person who owns the hazardous waste or the owner or lessee of the
vehicle in which the wastes are transported.
(h) For purposes of this section, "authorized agent of the
department" includes any representative of a local officer or agency
authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 25180.
(a) An authorized representative of the department or
local officer or agency authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant
to subdivision (a) of Section 25180, who, in the course of conducting
an inspection of a facility, detects a minor violation of any permit
conditions, rule, regulation, standard, or other requirement, shall
issue a notice to comply before leaving the site in which the minor
violation is alleged to have occurred.
(b) A facility which receives a notice to comply pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall have not more than 30 days from the date of
receipt of the notice to comply in which to achieve compliance with
the permit conditions, rule, regulation, standard, or other
requirement cited on the notice to comply. Within five working days
of achieving compliance, an appropriate person who is an owner or
operator of, or an employee at, the facility shall sign the notice to
comply and return it to the department representative or to the
authorized local officer or agency, as the case may be, which states
that the facility has complied with the notice to comply. A false
statement that compliance has been achieved is a violation of this
chapter pursuant to Section 25191.
(c) A single notice to comply shall be issued for all minor
violations cited during the same inspection and the notice to comply
shall separately list each of the cited minor violations and the
manner in which each of the minor violations may be brought into
compliance.
(d) A notice to comply shall not be issued for any minor violation
which is corrected immediately in the presence of the inspector.
Immediate compliance in that manner may be noted in the inspection
report, but the facility shall not be subject to any further action
by the department representative or by the authorized local officer
or agency.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (g), a notice to
comply shall be the only means by which the department representative
or the authorized local officer or agency shall cite a minor
violation. The department representative or the authorized local
officer or agency shall not take any other enforcement action
specified in this chapter against a facility which has received a
notice to comply if the facility complies with this section.
(f) If a facility that receives a notice to comply pursuant to
subdivision (a) disagrees with one or more of the alleged violations
listed on the notice to comply, the owner shall give the person who
issued the notice to comply written notice of disagreement. If the
issuing agency takes administrative enforcement action on the basis
of the disputed violation, that action may be appealed in the same
manner as for other alleged violations under subdivisions (d) to (j),
inclusive, of Section 25187.
(g) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a
facility fails to comply with a notice to comply within the
prescribed period, or if the department, or an authorized local
officer or agency, determines that the circumstances surrounding a
particular minor violation or combination of minor violations are
such that immediate enforcement is warranted to prevent harm to the
public health or safety or to the environment, the department or
authorized local officer or agency may take any needed enforcement
action authorized by this chapter.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if the
department, or an authorized local officer or agency, determines that
the circumstances surrounding a particular minor violation or
combination of minor violations are such that the assessment of a
civil penalty pursuant to this chapter is warranted or is required by
the federal act, in addition to issuance of a notice to comply, the
department or authorized local officer or agency shall assess that
civil penalty in accordance with this chapter, if the department or
authorized local officer or agency makes written findings that set
forth the basis for the department's or authorized local officer's or
agency's determination.
(h) A notice to comply issued to a facility pursuant to this
section shall contain an explicit statement that the facility may be
subject to reinspection at any time by the department or authorized
local officer or agency that issued the notice to comply. Nothing in
this section shall be construed as preventing the reinspection of a
facility to ensure compliance with this chapter or to ensure that
minor violations cited in a notice to comply have been corrected and
that the facility is in compliance with this chapter.
(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the
department, or authorized local officer or agency, on a case-by-case
basis, from requiring a facility to submit reasonable and necessary
documentation to support the facility's claim of compliance pursuant
to subdivision (b).
Any person subject to a schedule for compliance issued
pursuant to Section 25187 who does not comply with that schedule
shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five
thousand dollars ($25,000) for each day of noncompliance.
(a) A person who intentionally or negligently makes a false
statement or representation in an application, label, manifest,
record, report, permit, or other document filed, maintained, or used
for purposes of compliance with this chapter, shall be liable for a
civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)
for each separate violation or, for continuing violations, for each
day that violation continues.
(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), (d), or (e), a person
who intentionally or negligently violates a provision of this chapter
or a permit, rule, regulation, standard, or requirement issued or
promulgated pursuant to this chapter, shall be liable for a civil
penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each
violation of a separate provision or, for continuing violations, for
each day that violation continues.
(c) A person who intentionally disposes or causes the disposal of
a hazardous or extremely hazardous waste at a point that is not
authorized according to the provisions of this chapter shall be
subject to a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars
($1,000) or more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each
violation and may be ordered to disclose the fact of this violation
or these violations to those persons as the court may direct. Each
day on which the deposit remains and the person has knowledge thereof
is a separate additional violation, unless the person immediately
files a report of the deposit with the department and is complying
with an order concerning the deposit issued by the department, a
hearing officer, or a court of competent jurisdiction for the
cleanup.
(d) A person who negligently disposes or causes the disposal of a
hazardous or extremely hazardous waste at a point which is not
authorized according to the provisions of this chapter shall be
subject to a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand
dollars ($25,000) for each violation and may be ordered to disclose
the fact of this violation or these violations to those persons as
the court may direct. Each day on which the deposit remains and the
person had knowledge thereof is a separate additional violation,
unless the person immediately files a report of the deposit with the
department and is complying with an order concerning the deposit
issued by the department, a hearing officer, or a court of competent
jurisdiction for the cleanup.
(e) A person who intentionally or negligently treats or stores, or
causes the treatment or storage of, a hazardous waste at a point
that is not authorized according to this chapter, shall be liable for
a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)
for each separate violation or, for continuing violations, for each
day that the violation continues.
(f) Each civil penalty imposed for a separate violation pursuant
to this section shall be separate and in addition to any other civil
penalty imposed pursuant to this section or any other provision of
law.
(g) A person shall not be liable for a civil penalty imposed under
this section and for a civil penalty imposed under Section 25189.2
for the same act or failure to act.
(a) In addition to liability under any other provision of
law, any person who is liable for a civil penalty pursuant to
subdivision (c) or (d) of Section 25189 or subdivision (c) of Section
25189.2, or is convicted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
25189.5, is also civilly liable for all the costs or expenses which
may be incurred by the state, or by a local agency, in doing any of
the following:
(1) Assess short-term or long-term injury to, degradation or
destruction of, or any loss of, any natural resource resulting from
the disposal of the hazardous waste which is the subject of the civil
penalty or conviction.
(2) Restore, rehabilitate, replace, or acquire the equivalent of,
any natural resource injured, degraded, destroyed, or lost as a
result of the disposal of the hazardous waste which is the subject of
the civil penalty or conviction.
(b) The liability imposed by subdivision (a) is separate and in
addition to any civil penalty imposed pursuant to subdivision (c) or
(d) of Section 25189 or subdivision (c) of Section 25189.2 or any
fine imposed pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 25189.5.
(c) Any funds collected pursuant to this section are in addition
to any other funds which may be collected pursuant to this chapter.
(d) A state or local agency may collect funds pursuant to this
section prior to carrying out the actions specified in paragraph (1)
or (2) of subdivision (a).
(e) An action brought pursuant to this section may be brought by
the trustee of the natural resources specified in subdivision (c) of
Section 25352. The action may be prosecuted by the Attorney General
or the district attorney. The action may be prosecuted by the
district attorney only after the trustee, in consultation with the
Office of the Attorney General, approves that prosecution in writing.
The trustee shall have 30 days to consider any requested action and
approval shall be presumed to have been granted if a written denial
is not issued within 30 days. The trustee may not unreasonably
withhold approval.
(f) All funds collected pursuant to this section by the trustee of
the natural resources shall be deposited, at the discretion of the
trustee, in the Fish and Wildlife Pollution Cleanup and Abatement
Account in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund or in a special
deposit trust fund.
(a) A person who makes a false statement or representation
in an application, label, manifest, record, report, permit, or other
document, filed, maintained, or used for purposes of compliance with
this chapter, is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each separate violation
or, for continuing violations, for each day that the violation
continues.
(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c) or (d), a person who
violates a provision of this chapter or a permit, rule, regulation,
standard, or requirement issued or adopted pursuant to this chapter,
is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed twenty-five thousand
dollars ($25,000) for each violation of a separate provision or, for
continuing violations, for each day that the violation continues.
(c) A person who disposes, or causes the disposal of, a hazardous
or extremely hazardous waste at a point that is not authorized
according to the provisions of this chapter is liable for a civil
penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for
each violation and may be ordered to disclose the fact of this
violation or these violations to those persons as the court or, in
the case of an administrative action, a hearing officer, may direct.
Each day on which the deposit remains is a separate additional
violation, unless the person immediately files a report of the
deposit with the department and is complying with an order concerning
the deposit issued by the department, a hearing officer, or a court
of competent jurisdiction for the cleanup.
(d) A person who treats or stores, or causes the treatment or
storage of, a hazardous waste at a point that is not authorized
according to this chapter, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to
exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each separate
violation or, for continuing violations, for each day that the
violation continues.
(e) For purposes of subdivisions (c) and (d), a person who offers
hazardous waste to a transporter that is registered pursuant to
Section 25163 or to a storage, treatment, transfer, resource
recovery, or disposal facility that holds a valid hazardous waste
facilities permit or other grant of authorization from the department
that authorizes the facility to accept the waste being offered shall
not be considered to have caused disposal, treatment, or storage of
hazardous waste at an unauthorized point solely on the basis of
having offered that person's waste, provided the person has taken
reasonable steps to determine that the transporter is registered or
the facility is authorized by the department to accept the hazardous
waste being offered.
(f) A person shall not be liable for a civil penalty imposed under
this section and for a civil penalty imposed under Section 25189 for
the same act or failure to act.
(g) Liability under this section may be imposed in a civil action
or liability may be imposed administratively pursuant to Section
25187.
(a) For purposes of this section, the term "permit" means
a hazardous waste facilities permit, interim status authorization, or
standardized permit.
(b) The department shall suspend the permit of any facility for
nonpayment of any facility fee assessed pursuant to Section 25205.2
or activity fee assessed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section
25205.7, if the operator of the facility is subject to the fee, and
if the State Board of Equalization has certified in writing to all of
the following:
(1) The facility's operator is delinquent in the payment of the
fee for one or more reporting periods.
(2) The State Board of Equalization has notified the facility's
operator of the delinquency.
(3) The operator has exhausted the administrative rights of appeal
provided by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 43151) of Part 22 of
Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and the State Board of
Equalization has determined that the operator is liable for the fee,
or that the operator has failed to assert those rights.
(c) (1) The department shall suspend the permit of any facility
for nonpayment of a penalty assessed upon the owner or operator for
failure to comply with this chapter or the regulations adopted
pursuant to this chapter, if the penalty has been imposed by a trial
court judge or by an administrative hearing officer, if the person
has agreed to pay the penalty pursuant to a written agreement
resolving a lawsuit or an administrative order, or if the penalty has
become final due to the person's failure to respond to the lawsuit
or order.
(2) The department may suspend a permit pursuant to this
subdivision only if the owner or operator is delinquent in the
payment of the penalty and the department has notified the owner or
operator of the delinquency pursuant to subdivision (d).
(d) Before suspending a permit pursuant to this section, the
department shall notify the owner or operator of its intent to do so,
and shall allow the owner or operator a minimum of 30 days in which
to cure the delinquency.
(e) The department may deny a new permit or refuse to renew a
permit on the same grounds for which the department is required to
suspend a permit under this section, subject to the same requirements
and conditions.
(f) (1) The department shall reinstate a permit that is suspended
pursuant to this section upon payment of the amount due, if the
permit has not otherwise been revoked or suspended pursuant to any
other provision of this chapter or regulation. Until the department
reinstates a permit suspended pursuant to this section, if the
facility stores, treats, disposes of, or recycles hazardous wastes,
the facility shall be in violation of this chapter. If the operator
of the facility subsequently pays the amount due, the period of time
for which the operator shall have been in violation of this chapter
shall be from the date of the activity that is in violation until the
day after the owner or operator submits the payment to the
department.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the department
is not required to take any other statutory or regulatory procedures
governing the suspension of the permit before suspending a permit in
compliance with the procedures of this section.
(g) (1) A suspension under this section shall be stayed while an
authorized appeal of the fee or penalty is pending before a court or
an administrative agency.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, "an authorized appeal" means
any appeal allowed pursuant to an applicable regulation or statute.
(h) The department may suspend a permit under this section based
on a failure to pay the required fee or penalty that commenced prior
to January 1, 2002, if the failure to pay has been ongoing for at
least 30 days following that date.
(i) Notwithstanding Section 43651 of the Revenue and Taxation
Code, the suspension of a permit pursuant to this section, the reason
for the suspension, and any documentation supporting the suspension,
shall be a matter of public record.
(j) (1) This section does not authorize the department to suspend
a permit held by a government agency if the agency does not dispute
the payment but nonetheless is unable to process the payment in a
timely manner.
(2) This section does not apply to a site owned or operated by a
federal agency if the department has entered into an agreement with
that federal agency regarding the remediation of that site.
(k) This section does not limit or supersede Section 25186.
(a) In addition to any penalty imposed under any other
law, a person who is subject to the imposition of civil or criminal
penalties pursuant to the provisions specified in subdivision (b)
shall also be subject to an additional civil penalty of not less than
five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more than fifty thousand dollars
($50,000) for each day of each violation, if the person has been
found liable for, or has been convicted of, two or more previous
violations subject to the penalties specified in subdivision (b) and
those violations or convictions occurred within any consecutive 60
months.
(b) The additional liability specified in subdivision (a) shall
apply to a penalty imposed pursuant to, or a conviction under,
paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 25187.8, or Section
25189, 25189.2, 25189.3, 25189.5, 25189.6, or 25189.7.
(a) The disposal of any hazardous waste, or the causing
thereof, is prohibited when the disposal is at a facility which does
not have a permit from the department issued pursuant to this
chapter, or at any point which is not authorized according to this
chapter.
(b) Any person who is convicted of knowingly disposing or causing
the disposal of any hazardous waste, or who reasonably should have
known that he or she was disposing or causing the disposal of any
hazardous waste, at a facility which does not have a permit from the
department issued pursuant to this chapter, or at any point which is
not authorized according to this chapter shall, upon conviction, be
punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year
or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the
Penal Code.
(c) Any person who knowingly transports or causes the
transportation of hazardous waste, or who reasonably should have
known that he or she was causing the transportation of any hazardous
waste, to a facility which does not have a permit from the department
issued pursuant to this chapter, or at any point which is not
authorized according to this chapter, shall, upon conviction, be
punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year
or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the
Penal Code.
(d) Any person who knowingly treats or stores any hazardous waste
at a facility which does not have a permit from the department issued
pursuant to this chapter, or at any point which is not authorized
according to this chapter, shall, upon conviction, be punished by
imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year or by
imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal
Code.
(e) The court also shall impose upon a person convicted of
violating subdivision (b), (c), or (d), a fine of not less than five
thousand dollars ($5,000) nor more than one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000) for each day of violation, except as further provided in
this subdivision. If the act which violated subdivision (b), (c), or
(d) caused great bodily injury, or caused a substantial probability
that death could result, the person convicted of violating
subdivision (b), (c), or (d) may be punished by imprisonment pursuant
to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for one, two,
or three years, in addition and consecutive to the term specified in
subdivision (b), (c), or (d), and may be fined up to two hundred
fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for each day of violation.
(f) For purposes of this section, except as otherwise provided in
this subdivision, "each day of violation" means each day on which a
violation continues. In any case where a person has disposed or
caused the disposal of any hazardous waste in violation of this
section, each day that the waste remains disposed of in violation of
this section and the person has knowledge thereof is a separate
additional violation, unless the person has filed a report of the
disposal with the department and is complying with any order
concerning the disposal issued by the department, a hearing officer,
or court of competent jurisdiction.
(a) Any person who knowingly, or with reckless disregard
for the risk, treats, handles, transports, disposes, or stores any
hazardous waste in a manner which causes any unreasonable risk of
fire, explosion, serious injury, or death is guilty of a public
offense and shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less
than five thousand dollars ($5,000) nor more than two hundred fifty
thousand dollars ($250,000) for each day of violation, or by
imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by
imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal
Code, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(b) Any person who knowingly, at the time the person takes the
actions specified in subdivision (a), places another person in
imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, is guilty of a
public offense and shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of
not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) nor more than two
hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for each day of violation,
and by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of
the Penal Code for three, six, or nine years.
(a) The burning or incineration of any hazardous waste, or
the causing thereof, is prohibited when the burning or incineration
is at a facility which does not have a permit from the department
issued pursuant to this chapter, or at any point which is not
authorized according to this chapter.
(b) Any person who is convicted of knowingly burning or
incinerating, or causing the burning or incineration of, any
hazardous waste, or who reasonably should have known that he or she
was burning or incinerating, or causing the burning or incineration
of, any hazardous waste, at a facility which does not have a permit
from the department issued pursuant to this chapter, or at any point
which is not authorized according to this chapter, shall, upon
conviction, be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not more
than one year or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of
Section 1170 of the Penal Code.
(c) The court also shall impose upon a person convicted of
violating subdivision (b) a fine of not less than five thousand
dollars ($5,000) nor more than one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000) for each day of violation, except as otherwise provided in
this subdivision. If the act which violated subdivision (b) caused
great bodily injury or caused a substantial probability that death
could result, the person convicted of violating subdivision (b) may
be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section
1170 of the Penal Code for one, two, or three years, in addition and
consecutive to the term specified in subdivision (b), and may be
fined up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for each
day of violation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 25185.6,
25189.5, 25189.6, 25189.7, and 25191, any person who violates any
provision of this chapter, or any permit, rule, regulation, standard,
or requirement issued or adopted pursuant to this chapter, is, upon
conviction, guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine
of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for
up to six months in a county jail or by both that fine and
imprisonment.
(b) If the conviction is for a second or subsequent violation, the
person shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the
county jail for not more than one year or by imprisonment pursuant to
subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16, 20, or 24
months. The court shall also impose upon the person a fine of not
less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more than twenty-five
thousand dollars ($25,000).
(a) (1) Any person who knowingly does any of the acts
specified in subdivision (b) shall, upon conviction, be punished by a
fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) or more than
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each day of violation, or
by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by
both that fine and imprisonment.
(2) If the conviction is for a second or subsequent violation of
subdivision (b), the person shall be punished by imprisonment
pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16,
20, or 24 months, or in a county jail for not more than one year, or
by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) or more
than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for each day of violation, or
by both that fine and imprisonment.
(3) Each day or partial day that a violation occurs is a separate
violation.
(b) A person who does any of the following is subject to the
punishment prescribed in subdivision (a):
(1) Makes any false statement or representation in any
application, label, manifest, record, report, permit, notice to
comply, or other document filed, maintained, or used for the purposes
of compliance with this chapter.
(2) Has in his or her possession any record relating to the
generation, storage, treatment, transportation, disposal, or handling
of hazardous waste required to be maintained pursuant to this
chapter, that has been altered or concealed.
(3) Destroys, alters, or conceals any record relating to the
generation, storage, treatment, transportation, disposal, or handling
of hazardous waste required to be maintained pursuant to this
chapter.
(4) Withholds information regarding a real and substantial danger
to the public health or safety when that information has been
requested by the department, or by a local officer or agency
authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 25180, and is required to carry out the responsibilities of
the department or the authorized local officer or agency pursuant to
this chapter in response to a real and substantial danger.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, engages in
transportation of hazardous waste in violation of Section 25160 or
25161, or subdivision (a) of Section 25163, or in violation of any
regulation adopted by the department pursuant to those provisions,
including, but not limited to, failing to complete or provide the
manifest in the form and manner required by the department.
(6) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, produces,
receives, stores, or disposes of hazardous waste, or submits
hazardous waste for transportation, in violation of Section 25160 or
25161 or any regulation adopted by the department pursuant to those
sections, including, but not limited to, failing to complete,
provide, or submit the manifest in the form and manner required by
the department.
(7) Transports any waste, for which there is provided a manifest,
if the transportation is in violation of this chapter or the
regulations adopted by the department pursuant thereto.
(8) Violates Section 25162.
(c) (1) The penalties imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) on any
person who commits any of the acts specified in paragraph (5), (7),
or (8) of subdivision (b) shall be imposed only (A) on the owner or
lessee of the vehicle in which the hazardous wastes are unlawfully
transported, carried, or handled or (B) on the person who authorizes
or causes the transporting, carrying, or handling. These penalties
shall not be imposed on the driver of the vehicle, unless the driver
is also the owner or lessee of the vehicle or authorized or caused
the transporting, carrying, or handling.
(2) If any person other than the person producing the hazardous
waste prepares the manifest specified in Section 25160, that other
person is also subject to the penalties imposed on a person who
commits any of the acts specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision
(b).
(d) Any person who knowingly does any of the following acts, each
day or partial day that a violation occurs constituting a separate
violation, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more
than five hundred dollars ($500) for each day of violation, or by
imprisonment in the county jail for not to exceed six months, or by
both that fine and imprisonment:
(1) Carries or handles, or authorizes the carrying or handling of,
a hazardous waste without having in the driver's possession the
manifest specified in Section 25160.
(2) Transports, or authorizes the transportation of, hazardous
waste without having in the driver's possession a valid registration
issued by the department pursuant to Section 25163.
(e) Whenever any person is prosecuted for a violation pursuant to
paragraph (5), (6), (7), or (8) of subdivision (b), subdivision (d),
or subdivision (c) of Section 25189.5, the prosecuting attorney may
take appropriate steps to make the owner or lessee of the vehicle in
which the hazardous wastes are unlawfully transported, carried, or
handled, the driver of the vehicle, or any other person who
authorized or directed the loading, maintenance, or operation of the
vehicle, who is reasonably believed to have violated these
provisions, a codefendant. If a codefendant is held solely
responsible and found guilty, the court may dismiss the charge
against the person who was initially so charged.
Actions pursuant to Sections 25189.5, 25189.6, 25189.7,
25190, and 25191 may be brought by any city attorney.
(a) Any person who provides information which materially
contributes to the imposition of a civil penalty or criminal fine
against any person for violating this chapter shall be paid a reward
pursuant to regulations adopted by the department under subdivision
(f). The reward shall be equal to 10 percent of the amount of the
civil penalty or criminal fine collected by the department, district
attorney, or city attorney. The department shall pay the award to the
person who provides information which results in the imposition of a
civil penalty, and the county shall pay the award to the person who
provides information which results in the imposition of a criminal
fine. No reward paid pursuant to this subdivision shall exceed five
thousand dollars ($5,000).
(b) No informant shall be eligible for a reward for a violation
known to the department, unless the information materially
contributes to the imposition of criminal or civil penalties for a
violation specified in this section.
(c) If there is more than one informant for a single violation,
the first notification received by the department shall be eligible
for the reward. If the notifications are postmarked on the same day
or telephoned notifications are received on the same day, the reward
shall be divided equally among those informants.
(d) Public officers and employees of the United States, the State
of California, or counties and cities in California are not eligible
for the reward pursuant to subdivision (a), unless reporting those
violations does not relate in any manner to their responsibilities as
public officers or employees.
(e) An informant who is an employee of a business and who provides
information that the business violated this chapter is not eligible
for a reward if the employee intentionally or negligently caused the
violation or if the employee's primary and regular responsibilities
included investigating the violation, unless the business knowingly
caused the violation.
(f) The department shall adopt regulations which establish
procedures for the receipt and review of claims for payment of
rewards. All decisions concerning the eligibility for an award and
the materiality of the provided information shall be made pursuant to
these regulations. In each case brought under subdivision (a), the
department, the office of the city attorney, or the district
attorney, whichever office brings the action, shall determine whether
the information materially contributed to the imposition of civil or
criminal penalties for violations of this chapter.
(g) The department shall continuously publicize the availability
of the rewards pursuant to this section for persons who provide
information pursuant to this section.
(h) Claims may be submitted only for those referrals made on or
after January 1, 1982.
(a) All civil and criminal penalties collected pursuant to
this chapter shall be apportioned in the following manner:
(1) Fifty percent shall be deposited in the Toxic Substances
Control Account in the General Fund.
(2) Twenty-five percent shall be paid to the office of the city
attorney, city prosecutor, district attorney, or Attorney General,
whichever office brought the action.
(3) Twenty-five percent shall be paid to the department and used
to fund the activity of the CUPA, the local health officer, or other
local public officer or agency authorized to enforce the provisions
of this chapter pursuant to Section 25180, whichever entity
investigated the matter that led to the bringing of the action. If
investigation by the local police department or sheriff's office or
California Highway Patrol led to the bringing of the action, the
CUPA, the local health officer, or the authorized officer or agency,
shall pay a total of 40 percent of its portion under this subdivision
to that investigating agency or agencies to be used for the same
purpose. If more than one agency is eligible for payment under this
paragraph, division of payment among the eligible agencies shall be
in the discretion of the CUPA, the local health officer, or the
authorized officer or agency.
(b) If a reward is paid to a person pursuant to Section 25191.7,
the amount of the reward shall be deducted from the amount of the
civil penalty before the amount is apportioned pursuant to
subdivision (a).
The remedies provided by this chapter are cumulative, and
shall not be construed as restricting any remedy, provisional or
otherwise, provided by law for the benefit of any party, and no
judgment under this chapter shall preclude any party from obtaining
additional relief based upon the same facts.
Any action brought pursuant to this chapter against a person
shall not abate by reason of a sale or other transfer of ownership,
except with the express written consent of the director.
(a) The withdrawal of an application for a permit,
registration, or certificate, after it has been filed with the
department shall not, unless the department consents in writing to
the withdrawal, deprive the department of its authority to institute
or continue a proceeding against the applicant for the denial of the
permit, registration, or certificate upon any ground provided by law
or to enter an order denying the permit, registration, or certificate
upon any ground, and a withdrawal shall not affect the authority of
the department, or a local officer or agency authorized to enforce
this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25180, to
institute or continue a proceeding against the applicant pertaining
to any violation of this chapter or any rule, regulation, standard,
or requirement issued or promulgated pursuant to this chapter.
(b) The suspension, expiration, or forfeiture by operation of law
of a permit, registration, or certificate issued by the department,
or its suspension, forfeiture, or cancellation by order of the
department or by order of a court, or its surrender or attempted or
actual transfer without the written consent of the department shall
not affect the authority of the department, or a local officer or
agency authorized to enforce this chapter pursuant to subdivision (a)
of Section 25180, to institute or continue a disciplinary proceeding
against the holder of a permit, registration, or certificate upon
any ground, or the authority of the department to enter an order
suspending or revoking the permit, registration, or certificate, or
otherwise taking an action against the holder of a permit,
registration, or certificate on any ground.
It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any of the
following:
(a) Willfully prevent, interfere with, or attempt to impede in any
way the work of any duly authorized representative of the
department, or a local officer or agency authorized to enforce this
chapter pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25180, in the lawful
enforcement of any provision of this chapter.
(b) Willfully prevent or attempt to prevent any such
representative from examining any relevant books or records in the
conduct of his or her official duties under this chapter.
(c) Willfully prevent or interfere with any such representative in
the preserving of evidence of any violation of any of the provisions
of this chapter or of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant
to this chapter.
A person who knowingly violates a provision of subdivision
(a) of former Section 25221 as that section read on January 1, 2012,
and who violated that provision prior to the effective date of
Chapter 39 of the Statutes of 2012, or who knowingly violates Section
25227, shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed 25 percent
of the fair market value of the land and improvements, 25 percent of
the sale price of the land and improvements, or fifty thousand
dollars ($50,000), whichever has been established and is greatest.