25201.15
. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms
have the following meaning:
(1) "Biotechnology manufacturing or biotechnology process
development activities" means activities conducted in SIC Code
subgroups 283, 2833, 2834, 2835, 2836, 8731, 8732, and 8733,
including manufacturing and process development of medicinal
chemicals and botanical products, pharmaceutical preparations, in
vitro and in vivo diagnostic substances, and biological products, and
all associated equipment and vessel cleaning and maintenance
operations.
(2) "Biotechnology elementary neutralization activities" means the
elementary neutralization of wastes generated by biotechnology
manufacturing or biotechnology process development activities.
(3) "SIC Code" has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (u)
of Section 25501.
(b) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the
biotechnology industry's elementary neutralization of hazardous
wastes is a common, safe, and standard practice that typically occurs
in a wastewater collection system, and that does not warrant
extensive regulatory oversight.
(c) Biotechnology elementary neutralization activities are exempt
from any requirement imposed pursuant to this chapter, including any
regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter, that relates to
generators, tanks, and tank systems, and the requirement to obtain a
hazardous waste facilities permit or other grant of authorization
from the department, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d),
if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) A permit is not required to conduct elementary neutralization
under the federal act.
(2) The hazardous wastes are hazardous solely due to acidic or
alkaline materials, and are generated by biotechnology process
manufacturing or biotechnology process development activities.
(3) Either of the following applies with regard to the
biotechnology elementary neutralization activity:
(A) The hazardous wastes in the elementary neutralization unit do
not contain more than 10 percent by weight acid or alkaline
constituents.
(B) The generator of the hazardous wastes determines that the
elementary neutralization process will not raise the temperature of
the hazardous wastes to within 10 degrees of the boiling point or
cause the release of hazardous gaseous emissions, using either
constituent-specific concentration limits or calculations. The
generator shall make these calculations in accordance with the
regulations adopted by the department, if the department adopts those
regulations.
(4) The hazardous wastes are not diluted for the sole purpose of
meeting the criteria specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3)
and after neutralization the wastewaters do not exhibit the
characteristic of corrosivity, as defined in Section 66261.22 of
Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, or any successor
regulation.
(5) The temperature of any unit 100 gallons or larger is
automatically monitored, and is fitted with a high temperature alarm
system, and for closed systems, the unit automatically controls the
adding and mixing of corrosive and neutralizing solutions.
(d) The operator of an elementary neutralization unit exempt under
this section shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) An operator of an elementary neutralization unit subject to
this section shall successfully complete a program of classroom
instruction or on-the-job training that includes, at a minimum,
instruction for responding effectively to emergencies by
familiarizing personnel with emergency procedures, emergency
equipment, and emergency systems, including, where applicable,
procedures for using, inspecting, repairing, and replacing facility
emergency and monitoring equipment, communications, or alarm systems.
(2) Within 10 days of commencing initial operation of the unit, or
within any other time period that may be required by the CUPA, the
operator shall notify the CUPA of the commencement of operation of
the unit under the exemption made pursuant to this section. If the
operator is not under the jurisdiction of a CUPA, the notice shall be
sent to the officer of the agency authorized, pursuant to
subdivision (f) of Section 25404.3, to implement and enforce the
requirements of this chapter listed in paragraph (2) of subdivision
(c) of Section 25404.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, unless required by
federal law, biotechnology elementary neutralization activities
satisfying the requirements of subdivisions (c) and (d) are exempt
from any statute or any regulation adopted pursuant to state law
requiring the elementary neutralization unit to have secondary
containment for piping or ancillary equipment, including, but not
limited to, a regulation adopted by the State Water Resources Control
Board, the department, or any other state agency.