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BTLG Table of Contents > Underground Storage Tank Maintenance Fee Law > Chapter 6.7 > entire chapter

Underground Storage Tank Maintenance Fee Law

Health and Safety Code

Division 20. Miscellaneous Health and Safety Provisions

Chapter 6.7. Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE PROVISIONS Relating to the Underground Storage Tank Maintenance Fee Law

Chapter 6.7 [Second of two] Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances

25280. Legislative findings and declarations. (a) The Legislature finds and declares as follows:

(1) Substances hazardous to the public health and safety and to the environment are stored prior to use or disposal in thousands of underground locations in the state.

(2) Underground tanks used for the storage of hazardous substances and wastes are potential sources of contamination of the ground and underlying aquifers, and may pose other dangers to public health and the environment.

(3) In several known cases, underground storage of hazardous substances, including, but not limited to, industrial solvents, petroleum products, and other materials, has resulted in undetected and uncontrolled releases of hazardous substances into the ground. These releases have contaminated public drinking water supplies and created a potential threat to the public health and to the waters of the state.

(4) The Legislature has previously enacted laws regulating the management of hazardous wastes, including statutes providing the means to clean up releases of hazardous substances into the environment when the public health, domestic livestock, wildlife, and the environment are endangered. Current laws do not specifically govern the construction, maintenance, testing, and use of underground tanks used for the storage of hazardous substances, or the short-term storage of hazardous wastes prior to disposal, for the purposes of protecting the public health and the environment.

(5) The protection of the public from releases of hazardous substances is an issue of statewide concern.

(b) The Legislature therefore declares that it is in the public interest to establish a continuing program for the purpose of preventing contamination from, and improper storage of, hazardous substances stored underground. It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this chapter, to establish orderly procedures that will ensure that newly constructed underground storage tanks meet appropriate standards and that existing tanks be properly maintained, inspected, tested, and upgraded so that the health, property, and resources of the people of the state will be protected.

25280.5. Additional legislative findings and declaration. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Subchapter IX (commencing with Section 6991) of Chapter 82 of Title 42 of the United States Code provides for regulation of underground storage tanks and allows underground storage tanks to be regulated pursuant to a state program, in lieu of a federal program, in states which are authorized to implement these provisions.

(b) It is in the interest of the people of the state, in order to avoid direct regulation by the federal government of persons already subject to regulation under state law pursuant to this chapter, to authorize the state to implement the provisions of Subchapter IX (commencing with Section 6991) of Chapter 82 of Title 42 of the United States Code, including any acts amending or supplementing Subchapter IX and any federal regulations and guidelines adopted pursuant to Subchapter IX.

25280.6. Responsibility of owner and operator. Either the owner or operator of an underground storage tank may comply with the requirements of this chapter that apply to the owner or operator of an underground storage tank. Both the owner and the operator of an underground storage tank are responsible for complying with this chapter and if an underground storage tank is not in compliance with this chapter, both the owner and the operator of that underground storage tank are in violation of that requirement.

25281. Definitions. For purposes of this chapter and unless otherwise expressly provided, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Automatic line leak detector" means any method of leak detection, as determined in regulations adopted by the board, that alerts the owner or operator of an underground storage tank to the presence of a leak. "Automatic line leak detector" includes, but is not limited to, any device or mechanism that alerts the owner or operator of an underground storage tank to the presence of a leak by restricting or shutting off the flow of a hazardous substance through piping, or by triggering an audible or visual alarm, and that detects leaks of three gallons or more per hour at 10 pounds per square inch line pressure within one hour.

(b) "Board" means the State Water Resources Control Board. "Regional board" means a California regional water quality control board.

(c) "Compatible" means the ability of two or more substances to maintain their respective physical and chemical properties upon contact with one another for the design life of the tank system under conditions likely to be encountered in the tank system.

(d) (1) "Certified Unified Program Agency" or "CUPA" means the agency certified by the Secretary for Environmental Protection to implement the unified program specified in Chapter 6.11 (commencing with Section 25404) within a jurisdiction.

(2) "Participating Agency" or "PA" means an agency that has a written agreement with the CUPA pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 25404.3, and is approved by the secretary to implement or enforce the unified program element specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404, in accordance with Sections 25404.1 and 25404.2.

(3) "Unified Program Agency" or "UPA" means the CUPA, or its participating agencies to the extent each PA has been designated by the CUPA, pursuant to a written agreement, to implement or enforce the unified program element specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404. For purposes of this chapter, a UPA has the responsibility and authority, to the extent provided by this chapter and Sections 25404.1 and 25404.2, to implement and enforce only those requirements of this chapter listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404 and the regulations adopted to implement those requirements. Except as provided in Section 25296.09, after a CUPA has been certified by the secretary, the UPA shall be the only local agency authorized to enforce the requirements of this chapter listed in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404 within the jurisdiction of the CUPA. This paragraph shall not be construed to limit the authority or responsibility granted to the board and the regional boards by this chapter to implement and enforce this chapter and the regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(e) "Department" means the Department of Toxic Substances Control.

(f) "Facility" means any one, or combination of, underground storage tanks used by a single business entity at a single location or site.

(g) "Federal act" means Subchapter IX (commencing with Section 6991) of Chapter 82 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as added by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (Public Law 98–616), or as it may subsequently be amended or supplemented.

(h) "Hazardous substance" means either of the following:

(1) All of the following liquid and solid substances, unless the department, in consultation with the board, determines that the substance could not adversely affect the quality of the waters of the state:

(A) Substances on the list prepared by the Director of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 6382 of the Labor Code.

(B) Hazardous substances, as defined in Section 25316.

(C) Any substance or material that is classified by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as a flammable liquid, a class II combustible liquid, or a class III-A combustible liquid.

(2) Any regulated substance, as defined in subsection (7) of Section 6991 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as that section reads on January 1, 2012, or as it may subsequently be amended or supplemented.

(i) "Local agency" means one of the following, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 25283:

(1) The unified program agency.

(2) Before July 1, 2013, a city or county.

(3) On and after July 1, 2013, a city or county certified by the board to implement the local oversight program pursuant to Section 25297.01.

(j) "Operator" means any person in control of, or having daily responsibility for, the daily operation of an underground storage tank system.

(k) "Owner" means the owner of an underground storage tank.

(l) "Person" means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, corporation, including a government corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or association. "Person" also includes any city, county, district, the state, another state of the United States, any department or agency of this state or another state, or the United States to the extent authorized by federal law.

(m) "Pipe" means any pipeline or system of pipelines that is used in connection with the storage of hazardous substances and that is not intended to transport hazardous substances in interstate or intrastate commerce or to transfer hazardous materials in bulk to or from a marine vessel.

(n) "Primary containment" means the first level of containment, such as the portion of a tank that comes into immediate contact on its inner surface with the hazardous substance being contained.

(o) "Product tight" means impervious to the substance that is contained, or is to be contained, so as to prevent the seepage of the substance from the containment.

(p) "Release" means any spilling, leaking, emitting, discharging, escaping, leaching, or disposing from an underground storage tank into or on the waters of the state, the land, or the subsurface soils.

(q) "Secondary containment" means the level of containment external to, and separate from, the primary containment.

(r) "Single walled" means construction with walls made of only one thickness of material. For the purposes of this chapter, laminated, coated, or clad materials are considered single walled.

(s) "Special inspector" means a professional engineer, registered pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, who is qualified to attest, at a minimum, to structural soundness, seismic safety, the compatibility of construction materials with contents, cathodic protection, and the mechanical compatibility of the structural elements of underground storage tanks.

(t) "Storage" or "store" means the containment, handling, or treatment of hazardous substances, either on a temporary basis or for a period of years. "Storage" or "store" does not include the storage of hazardous wastes in an underground storage tank if the person operating the tank has been issued a hazardous waste facilities permit by the department pursuant to Section 25200 or 25201.6 granted interim status under Section 25200.5.

(u) "Tank" means a stationary device designed to contain an accumulation of hazardous substances which is constructed primarily of nonearthen materials, including, but not limited to, wood, concrete, steel, or plastic that provides structural support.

(v) "Tank integrity test" means a test method capable of detecting an unauthorized release from an underground storage tank consistent with the minimum standards adopted by the board.

(w) "Tank tester" means an individual who performs tank integrity tests on underground storage tanks.

(x) "Unauthorized release" means any release of any hazardous substance that does not conform to this chapter, including an unauthorized release specified in Section 25295.5.

(y) (1) "Underground storage tank" means any one or combination of tanks, including pipes connected thereto, that is used for the storage of hazardous substances and that is substantially or totally beneath the surface of the ground. "Underground storage tank" does not include any of the following:

(A) A tank with a capacity of 1,100 gallons or less that is located on a farm and that stores motor vehicle fuel used primarily for agricultural purposes and not for resale.

(B) A tank that is located on a farm or at the residence of a person, that has a capacity of 1,100 gallons or less, and that stores home heating oil for consumptive use on the premises where stored.

(C) Structures, such as sumps, separators, storm drains, catch basins, oil field gathering lines, refinery pipelines, lagoons, evaporation ponds, well cellars, separation sumps, and lined and unlined pits, sumps and lagoons. A sump that is a part of a monitoring system required under Section 25290.1, 25290.2, 25291, or 25292 and sumps or other structures defined as underground storage tanks under the federal act are not exempted by this subparagraph.

(D) A tank holding hydraulic fluid for a closed loop mechanical system that uses compressed air or hydraulic fluid to operate lifts, elevators, and other similar devices.

(E) A tank in an underground area, as defined in Section 25270.2, and associated piping, that is subject to Chapter 6.67 (commencing with Section 25270).

(2) Structures identified in subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (1) may be regulated by the board and any regional board pursuant to the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code) to ensure that they do not pose a threat to water quality.

(z) "Underground tank system" or "tank system" means an underground storage tank, connected piping, ancillary equipment, and containment system, if any.

(aa) (1) "Unified program facility" means all contiguous land and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land that are subject to the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404.

(2) "Unified program facility permit" means a permit issued pursuant to Chapter 6.11 (commencing with Section 25404), and that encompasses the permitting requirements of Section 25284.

(3) "Permit" means a permit issued pursuant to Section 25284 or a unified program facility permit as defined in paragraph (2).

25281.5. "Pipe" defined; exclusions. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (m) of Section 25281, for purposes of this chapter, "pipe" means all parts of a pipeline, or system of pipelines, used in connection with the storage of hazardous substances, including, but not limited to, valves and other appurtenances connected to the pipe, pumping units, fabricated assemblies associated with pumping units, and metering and delivery stations and fabricated assemblies therein, but does not include any of the following:

(1) An interstate pipeline subject to Part 195 (commencing with Section 195.0) of Subchapter D of Chapter I of Subtitle B of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) An intrastate pipeline subject to the Elder California Pipeline Safety Act of 1981 (Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 51010) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code).

(3) Unburied delivery hoses, vapor recovery hoses, and nozzles that are subject to unobstructed visual inspection for leakage.

(4) Vent lines, vapor recovery lines, and fill pipes that are designed to prevent, and do not hold, standing fluid in the pipes or lines.

(b) In addition to the exclusions specified in subdivision (y) of Section 25281, "underground storage tank" does not include any of the following:

(1) Vent lines, vapor recovery lines, and fill pipes that are designed to prevent, and do not hold, standing fluid in the pipes or lines.

(2) Unburied fuel delivery piping at marinas if the owner or operator conducts daily visual inspections of the piping and maintains a log of inspection results for review by the local agency. The exclusion provided by this paragraph does not apply if the board adopts regulations pursuant to Section 25299.3 that address the design, construction, upgrade, and monitoring of unburied fuel delivery piping at marinas.

(3) Unburied fuel piping connected to an emergency tank system, if the owner or operator conducts a visual inspection of the piping each time the tank system is operated, but no less than monthly, and maintains a log of inspection results for review by the local agency. The exclusion provided by this paragraph does not apply if the board adopts regulations pursuant to Section 25299.3 that address the design, construction, upgrade, and monitoring of unburied fuel supply and return piping connected to emergency tank systems.

(c) For purposes of this chapter, "emergency tank system" means an underground storage tank system that stores diesel fuel or kerosene solely for use by one or more of the following stationary emergency devices:

(1) An emergency generator that provides power supply in the event of a commercial power failure or disruption, a legally required standby system, or an optional standby system, as defined in Articles 700, 701, and 702 of the National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

(2) A fire suppression system used to extinguish, control, or prevent spreading of fires, as defined in the California Fire Code and in NFPA 17A: Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing Systems.

(3) A steam generation pressure tank, as defined in NFPA 85: Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code.

25281.6. Exempt "tank" defined. (a) A tank located in a below-grade structure and connected to an emergency tank system, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 25281.5, is exempt from the requirements of this chapter if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The tank is situated above the surface of the floor in such a way that all of the surfaces of the tank can be visually inspected by either direct viewing, through the use of visual aids, including, but not limited to, mirrors, cameras, or video equipment, or monitored through the use of a continuous leak detection and alarm system capable of detecting unauthorized releases of hazardous substances.

(2) For a single-walled tank, in addition to all the other requirements in this section, the structure, or a separate discrete secondary structure able to contain the entire contents of the liquid stored in the tank, is sealed with a material compatible with the stored product.

(3) The owner or operator of the tank conducts a visual inspection of the tank each time the emergency tank system is operated, or at least once a month, and maintains a log of inspection dates for review by the local agency.

(4) The tank or combination of tanks in the below-grade structure has a cumulative capacity of less than 1,320 gallons of diesel fuel.

(b) Nothing in this section excludes an emergency tank system from other applicable laws, codes, and regulations.

(c) The exclusion provided by this section does not apply if the board adopts regulations pursuant to Section 25299.3 that address the design, construction, upgrade, and monitoring of underground storage tanks contained in below-grade structures that are connected to emergency tank systems.

25282. Master list of hazardous substances. (a) The department shall compile a comprehensive master list of hazardous substances. The master list shall be made available to the public and mailed to each local agency no later than June 30, 1984, notwithstanding any other provision of law, including Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Local agencies and owners or operators of underground storage tanks shall use the master list or, when adopted, the revised list adopted pursuant to subdivision (b), to determine which underground storage tanks require permits pursuant to this chapter. Hazardous substances included on the list may be denominated by scientific, common, trade, or brand names.

(b) The department may revise, when appropriate, the master list of all the hazardous substances specified in subdivision (a). The revised list of hazardous substances shall be prepared and adopted, and may be further revised, in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

25283. Implementation of chapter; notice by city of assumption of responsibility; proration of revenue. [Repealed by Stats. 2012, Ch. 536 (AB 1701), effective January 1, 2013.

25283. Implementation of chapter; corrective action requirements. (a) This chapter shall be implemented by the board, by the regional board, and by the local agency, as defined in subdivision (b), pursuant to the regulations adopted by the board.

(b) For purposes of this chapter, "local agency" means the following:

(1) (A) A local agency means the unified program agency for purposes of implementing the unified program, as specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404, including the requirements of this chapter and the requirements of any underground storage tank ordinance adopted by a city or county.

(B) Consistent with paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404, for purposes of this chapter, a unified program agency does not implement those responsibilities assigned to the state board pursuant to Section 25297.1 or the corrective action requirements of Sections 25296.10 to 25296.40, inclusive.

(2) Before July 1, 2013, a local agency means a city or county for purposes of implementing the corrective action requirements of all of the following:

(A) Sections 25296.10 to 25296.40, inclusive.

(B) Sections 25296.09, 25297, 25297.2, and 25298.5.

(C) Sections 25299 to 25299.3, inclusive, with regard to implementing those corrective action requirements.

(D) Any other provision of this chapter that relates to implementing a corrective action.

(3) On and after July 1, 2013, a local agency means a city or county that is certified by the board to implement the local oversight program pursuant to Section 25297.01 for purposes of implementing the corrective action requirements of all of the following:

(A) Sections 25296.10 to 25296.40, inclusive.

(B) Sections 25296.09, 25297, 25297.2, and 25298.5.

(C) Sections 25299 to 25299.3, inclusive, with regard to implementing those corrective action requirements.

(D) Any other provision of this chapter that relates to implementing a corrective action.

25283.1. Joint powers agreement. This chapter does not prohibit any county from entering into a joint powers agreement with other counties for the purposes of enforcing this chapter.

25283.5. Exemptions from chapter; underground storage tanks; criteria. (a) An underground storage tank that meets all of the following criteria is exempt from the requirements of this chapter:

(1) All exterior surfaces of the tank, including connected piping, and the floor directly beneath the tank, can be monitored by direct viewing.

(2) The structure in which the tank is located is constructed in such a manner that the structure, at a minimum, provides for secondary containment of the contents of the tank, as determined by the local agency designated pursuant to Section 25283.

(3) The owner or operator of the underground storage tank conducts weekly inspections of the tank and maintains a log of inspection results for review by the local agency, designated pursuant to Section 25283, as requested by the local agency.

(4) Except as provided in paragraph (5), the local agency designated pursuant to Section 25283 determines that the underground storage tank meets requirements that are equal to or more stringent than those imposed by this chapter.

(5) If the underground storage tank is installed on or after July 1, 2003, notwithstanding Sections 25290.1 and 25290.2, the local agency determines the tank meets both of the following:

(A) Requirements that are equal to, or more stringent than, the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (a) and subdivisions (b) to (i), inclusive, of Section 25291.

(B) Notwithstanding Section 25281.5, any portion of a vent line, vapor recovery line, or fill pipe that is beneath the surface of the ground is subject to regulation as a "pipe," as defined in subdivision (m) of Section 25281.

(b) This section does not prohibit a local fire chief or an enforcement agency, as defined in Section 16006, from enforcing the applicable provisions of the local or state fire, building, or electrical codes.

25284. Permit to own or operate underground storage tank; transferred permits. (a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (c), no person may own or operate an underground storage tank unless a permit for its operation has been issued by the local agency to the owner or operator of the tank, or a unified program facility permit has been issued by the local agency to the owner or operator of the unified program facility on which the tank is located.

(2) If the operator is not the owner of the tank, or if the permit is issued to a person other than the owner or operator of the tank, the permittee shall ensure that both the owner and the operator of the tank are provided with a copy of the permit.

(3) If the permit is issued to a person other than the operator of the tank, that person shall do all of the following:

(A) Enter into a written agreement with the operator of the tank to monitor the tank system as set forth in the permit.

(B) Provide the operator with a copy or summary of Section 25299 in the form that the board specifies by regulation.

(C) Notify the local agency of any change of operator.

(b) Each local agency shall prepare a form that provides for the acceptance of the obligations of a transferred permit by any person who is to assume the ownership of an underground storage tank from the previous owner and is to be transferred the permit to operate the tank. That person shall complete the form accepting the obligations of the permit and submit the completed form to the local agency within 30 days from the date that the ownership of the underground storage tank is to be transferred. A local agency may review and modify, or terminate, the transfer of the permit to operate the underground storage tank, pursuant to the criteria specified in subdivision (a) of Section 25295, upon receiving the completed form.

(c) Any person assuming ownership of an underground storage tank used for the storage of hazardous substances for which a valid operating permit has been issued shall have 30 days from the date of assumption of ownership to apply for an operating permit pursuant to Section 25286 or, if accepting a transferred permit, shall submit to the local agency the completed form accepting the obligations of the transferred permit, as specified in subdivision (b). During the period from the date of application until the permit is issued or refused, the person shall not be held to be in violation of this section.

(d) A permit issued pursuant to this section shall apply and require compliance with all applicable regulations adopted by the board pursuant to Section 25299.3.

25285. Permit; term; inspection; fee and surcharge. (a) Except as provided in Section 25285.1, a permit to operate issued by the local agency pursuant to Section 25284 shall be effective for five years. This subdivision does not apply to unified program facility permits.

(b) A local agency shall not issue or renew a permit to operate an underground storage tank to either of the following:

(1) A person operating an underground storage tank while a red tag is affixed pursuant to Section 25292.3.

(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a facility while that facility is subject to an enforcement action seeking to impose administrative liability, civil liability, or criminal liability, pursuant to this chapter or any regulation implementing this chapter, unless the underlying violation or violations that are the subject of that enforcement action have been corrected or otherwise resolved to the satisfaction of the local agency.

(B) A local agency may, but is not required to, issue a permit or renew a permit for a facility, after consultation with the board, while that facility is subject to an enforcement action, as described in subparagraph (A), if the facility is appealing, petitioning, or otherwise seeking reconsideration of the enforcement action.

(c) Except as provided in Section 25404.5, a local agency shall not issue or renew a permit to operate an underground storage tank to any person who has not paid the fee and surcharge required by Section 25287.

Stats. 2018, Ch. 721 (AB 2902), in effect January 1, 2019, substituted "to either of the following" for "if the local…with this chapter" in subdivision (b), and added paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(2)(B).

25285.1. Revocation or modification of permit; justifiable reasons.(a) A local agency may revoke or modify a permit issued pursuant to Section 25284 for cause, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) Violation of any of the terms or conditions of the permit.

(2) Obtaining the permit by misrepresentation or intentional failure to fully disclose all relevant facts.

(3) A change in any condition that requires modification or termination of the operation of the underground storage tank.

(b) The local agency shall revoke the permit of an underground storage tank issued pursuant to Section 25284 if the owner or operator is not in compliance with Article 3 (commencing with Section 25299.30) of Chapter 6.75 on the date three months after the date on which the owner or operator of the tank first becomes subject to Article 3 (commencing with Section 25299.30) of Chapter 6.75.

25286. Application for permit or renewal; form; fee; conditions; copies; contents; storage of unlisted substances. (a) An application for a permit to operate an underground storage tank, or for renewal of the permit, shall be made, by the owner or operator of the tank, or, if there is a CUPA, by the owner or operator of the unified program facility on which the tank is located, on a standardized form provided by the local agency. Except as provided in Section 25404.5, the permit shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee, as specified in Section 25287. As a condition of any permit to operate an underground storage tank, the permittee shall notify the local agency, within the period determined by the local agency, of any changes in the usage of the underground storage tank, including the storage of new hazardous substances, changes in monitoring procedures, and if there has been any unauthorized release from the underground storage tank, as specified in Section 25294 or 25295.

(b) (1) The local agencies shall provide the designee of the board with copies of the completed permit applications, using forms, an industry standard computer readable magnetic tape, diskette, or any other form in a format acceptable to the board.

(2) The board may enter into a contract with any designee of the board for the purpose of administering the underground storage tank permit data base, and reimburse the designee of the board, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for any costs determined by the board to have been necessary and incurred pursuant to this section, including programming, training, maintenance, actual data processing expenditures, and any incidental costs of the operation of the data base related to the permitting of underground storage tanks. In selecting a contractor pursuant to this paragraph, the board shall consider the fiscal impact upon local agencies of converting to the data base systems and procedures employed by the contractor. The permit application information required in subdivision (c) shall be stored in the data base. The designee of the board shall submit to the board a quarterly report, including any information required by the board concerning permit application data. Each local agency shall provide the designee of the board with a copy of the completed permit application within 30 days after taking final action on the application.

(c) The application form shall include, but not be limited to, requests for the following information:

(1) A description of the age, size, type, location, uses, and construction of the underground storage tank or tanks.

(2) A list of all the hazardous substances which are or will be stored in the underground storage tank or tanks, specifying the hazardous substances for each underground storage tank.

(3) A description of the monitoring program for the underground tank system.

(4) The name and address of the person, firm, or corporation which owns the underground tank system and, if different, the name and address of the person who operates the underground tank system.

(5) The address of the facility at which the underground tank system is located.

(6) The name of the person making the application.

(7) The name and 24-hour phone number of the contact person in the event of an emergency involving the facility.

(8) If the owner or operator of the underground storage tank or the owner or operator of the unified program facility on which the tank is located is a public agency, the application shall include the name of the supervisor of the division, section, or office which owns or operates the tank or owns or operates the unified program facility.

(9) The State Board of Equalization registration number issued to the owner of the tank pursuant to Section 50108.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(10) If applicable, the name and address of the owner and, if different, the operator of the unified program facility on which the tank is located.

(d) If an underground storage tank is used to store a hazardous substance which is not listed in the application, as required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (c), the permittee shall apply for a new or amended permit within 30 days after commencing the storage of that hazardous substance.

25290. Trade secrets; definition; disclosure; identification of information on application for permit. (a) "Trade secrets," as used in this chapter, includes, but is not limited to, any formula, plan, pattern, process, tool, mechanism, compound, procedure, production data, or compilation of information which is not patented, which is known only to certain individuals within a commercial concern who are using it to fabricate, produce, or compound an article of trade or a service having commercial value, and which gives its user an opportunity to obtain a business advantage over competitors who do not know or use it.

(b) The board or a local agency may disclose trade secrets received by the board or the local agency pursuant to this chapter to authorize representatives or other governmental agencies only in connection with the board's or local agency's responsibilities pursuant to this chapter. The board and the local agency shall establish procedures to ensure that these trade secrets are utilized only in connection with these responsibilities and are not otherwise disseminated without the consent of the person who provided the information to the board or the local agency.

(c) Any person providing information pursuant to Section 25286 shall, at the time of its submission, identify all information which 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.

(d) Where the local agency, by ordinance, provides an alternative to the listing of a substance which is a trade secret, the person storing that substance shall provide the identification of the material directly to the board pursuant to this section.

25290.1. Performance standards. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (o) of Section 25281, for purposes of this section, "product tight" means impervious to the liquid and vapor of the substance that is contained, or is to be contained, so as to prevent the seepage of the substance from the containment.

(b) Notwithstanding Sections 25290.2 and 25291, every underground storage tank installed on or after July 1, 2004, shall meet the requirements of this section.

(c) The underground storage tank shall be designed and constructed to provide primary and secondary levels of containment of the hazardous substances stored in it in accordance with the following performance standards:

(1) Primary containment shall be constructed, operated, and maintained product tight and compatible with the stored product.

(2) Secondary containment shall be constructed, operated, and maintained product tight. The secondary containment shall also be constructed, operated, and maintained in a manner to prevent structural weakening as a result of contact with any hazardous substances released from the primary containment, and also shall be capable of storing the hazardous substances for the maximum anticipated period of time necessary for the recovery of any released hazardous substance.

(3) Secondary containment shall be constructed, operated, and maintained to prevent any water intrusion into the system by precipitation, infiltration, or surface runoff.

(4) In the case of an installation with one primary tank, the secondary containment shall be large enough to contain at least 100 percent of the volume of the primary tank.

(5) In the case of multiple primary tanks, the secondary containment shall be large enough to contain 150 percent of the volume of the largest primary tank placed in it, or 10 percent of the aggregate internal volume of all primary tanks, whichever is greater.

(d) The underground tank system shall be designed and constructed with a continuous monitoring system capable of detecting the entry of the liquid- or vapor-phase of the hazardous substance stored in the primary containment into the secondary containment and capable of detecting water intrusion into the secondary containment.

(e) The interstitial space of the underground storage tank shall be maintained under constant vacuum or pressure such that a breach in the primary or secondary containment is detected before the liquid or vapor phase of the hazardous substance stored in the underground storage tank is released into the environment. The use of interstitial liquid level measurement methods satisfies the requirements of this subdivision.

(f) The underground storage tank shall be provided with equipment to prevent spills and overfills from the primary tank.

(g) If different substances are stored in the same tank and in combination may cause a fire or explosion, or the production of flammable, toxic, or poisonous gas, or the deterioration of a primary or secondary container, those substances shall be separated in both the primary and secondary containment so as to avoid potential intermixing.

(h) Underground pressurized piping that conveys a hazardous substance shall be equipped with an automatic line leak detector.

(i) Before the underground storage tank is covered, enclosed, or placed in use, the standard installation testing requirements for underground storage systems specified in Section 2.4 of the Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, adopted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 30), as amended and published in the respective edition of the Uniform Fire Code, shall be followed.

(j) Before the underground storage tank is placed in use, the underground storage tank shall be tested after installation using one of the following methods to demonstrate that the tank is product tight:

(1) Enhanced leak detection.

(2) An inert gas pressure test that has been certified by a third party and approved by the board.

(3) A test method deemed equivalent to enhanced leak detection or an inert gas pressure test by the board in regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. An underground storage tank installed and tested in accordance with this subdivision is exempt from the requirements of Section 25292.5.

(k) Notwithstanding Section 25281.5, for any system installed to meet the requirements of this section, those portions of vent lines, vapor recovery lines, and fill pipes that are beneath the surface of the ground are "pipe" as the term is defined in subdivision (m) of Section 25281, and therefore part of the underground storage tank system.

25290.1.1. Notice to comply. (a) (1) On the effective date of the act adding this section and for 179 days thereafter, a local agency shall only issue a notice to comply pursuant to this section to an owner or operator of an underground storage tank subject to Section 25290.1 that does not maintain the vacuum or pressure that is required by subdivision (e) of Section 25290.1, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(2) If the violation described in paragraph (1) occurs on or after the 180th day from the effective date of the act adding this chapter, the local agency may take any enforcement action authorized by this chapter.

(b) A local agency shall issue the notice to comply alleging a violation described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) by presenting a notice to comply to the owner or operator in writing, which meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The notice to comply shall be written in the course of conducting an inspection by an authorized representative of the local agency.

(2) A copy of the notice to comply shall be presented to a person who is an owner, operator, employee, or representative of the facility being inspected at the time that the notice to comply is written.

(3) The notice to comply shall clearly state that a violation described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) was discovered, a means by which compliance may be achieved, and a time limit in which to comply, which shall not exceed 60 days. The local agency may provide a one-time extension of the time limit for compliance specified in the notice, not to exceed an additional 60 days, if the local agency determines that an extension is necessary to ensure compliance.

(4) The notice to comply shall contain a statement that the inspected facility may be subject to reinspection at any time.

(c) (1) On or before five working days after the date the violation described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) is corrected, the person cited in the notice to comply or an authorized representative of that person shall sign the notice to comply, shall certify that the violation has been corrected, and shall return the notice to the local agency.

(2) A false certification submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) that the violation is corrected is punishable as a misdemeanor.

(3) The effective date of the certification that the violation has been corrected shall be the date that the certification is postmarked.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if a person fails to correct the violation within the prescribed period in the notice, the local agency may take any enforcement action authorized by this chapter.

(e) This section does not do any of the following:

(1) Prevent the reinspection of a facility to ensure compliance.

(2) Prevent a local agency, on a case-by-case basis, from requiring a person subject to a notice to comply to submit reasonable and necessary documentation to support a claim of compliance by the person.

(3) Restrict the power of a city attorney, district attorney, county counsel, or the Attorney General to bring, in the name of the people of California, any criminal proceeding otherwise authorized by law.

(4) Prevent the local agency, state board, or regional board, from cooperating with, or participating in, a proceeding specified in paragraph (3).

(f) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if the violation described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) is intentional or occurs as the result of gross negligence, the local agency may take any enforcement action authorized by this chapter.

25290.1.2. Equipment certification. (a) The board and the State Air Resources Board, under the direction of the California Environmental Protection Agency, shall certify to the best of their knowledge, that the equipment that meets the requirements of Section 94011 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations for enhanced vapor recovery systems at gasoline dispensing facilities, as implemented by the State Air Resources Board, also meets the requirements of this chapter. The board and the State Air Resources Board shall make this certification collaboratively, using existing resources.

(b) The board and the State Air Resources Board, under the direction of the California Environmental Protection Agency, when making the certification specified in subdivision (a), shall consult with interested parties, including local implementing agencies, underground storage tank system owners and operators, equipment manufacturers, underground storage tank system installers, and environmental organizations.

(c) The board and the State Air Resources Board shall post the certification and any supporting documentation on their Web sites.

(d) This section shall be implemented by the executive directors of the board and of the State Air Resources Board, or by their designees.

25290.2. Product tight. (a) Notwithstanding subdivision (o) of Section 25281, for purposes of this section, "product tight" means impervious to the liquid and vapor of the substance that is contained, or is to be contained, so as to prevent the seepage of the substance from the containment.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 25291, every underground storage tank installed on or after July 1, 2003, and before July 1, 2004, shall meet the requirements of this section.

(c) The underground storage tank shall be designed and constructed to provide primary and secondary levels of containment of the hazardous substances stored in it in accordance with the following performance standards:

(1) Primary containment shall be product tight and compatible with stored product.

(2) Secondary containment shall be product tight and constructed to prevent structural weakening as a result of contact with any hazardous substances released from the primary containment, and also shall be capable of storing the hazardous substances for the maximum anticipated period of time necessary for the recovery of any released hazardous substance.

(3) Secondary containment shall be constructed to prevent any water intrusion into the system by precipitation, infiltration, or surface runoff.

(4) In the case of an installation with one primary tank, the secondary containment shall be large enough to contain at least 100 percent of the volume of the primary tank.

(5) In the case of multiple primary tanks, the secondary containment shall be large enough to contain 150 percent of the volume of the largest primary tank placed in it, or 10 percent of the aggregate internal volume of all primary tanks, whichever is greater.

(d) The underground tank system shall be designed and constructed with a continuous monitoring system capable of detecting the entry of the hazardous substance stored in the primary containment into the secondary containment and capable of detecting water intrusion into the secondary containment.

(e) The underground storage tank shall be provided with equipment to prevent spills and overfills from the primary tank.

(f) If different substances are stored in the same tank and in combination may cause a fire or explosion, or the production of flammable, toxic, or poisonous gas, or the deterioration of a primary or secondary container, those substances shall be separated in both the primary and secondary containment so as to avoid potential intermixing.

(g) Underground pressurized piping that conveys a hazardous substance shall be equipped with an automatic line leak detector and shall be tightness tested annually.

(h) Before the underground storage tank is covered, enclosed, or placed in use, the standard installation testing requirements for underground storage systems specified in Section 2.4 of the Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, adopted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 30), as amended and published in the respective edition of the Uniform Fire Code, shall be followed.

(i) Before the underground storage tank is placed in use, the underground storage tank shall be tested after installation using one of the following methods to demonstrate that the tank is product tight:

(1) Enhanced leak detection.

(2) An inert gas pressure test that has been certified by a third party and approved by the board.

(3) A test method deemed equivalent to enhanced leak detection or an inert gas pressure test by the board in regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. An underground storage tank installed and tested in accordance with this subdivision is exempt from the requirements of Section 25292.5.

(j) Notwithstanding Section 25281.5, for any system installed to meet the requirements of this section, those portions of vent lines, vapor recovery lines, and fill pipes that are beneath the surface of the ground are "pipe" as the term is defined in subdivision (m) of Section 25281, and therefore part of the underground storage tank system.

25296.09. Santa Clara Valley Water District. (a) (1) If the board enters into an agreement with a local agency and the Santa Clara Valley Water District pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section 25297.1, the Santa Clara Valley Water District shall have the same authority and responsibility as a local agency for purposes of Sections 25296.10 to 25297.2, inclusive, and for purposes of Sections 25299.36, 25299.38, 25299.39.2, 25299.39.3, 25299.51, 25299.53, and 25299.57.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall remain operative only until June 30, 2005.

(3) The inoperation of paragraph (1) does not affect the validity of any action taken by the Santa Clara Valley Water District before June 30, 2005, and does not provide a defense for an owner, operator, or other responsible party who fails to comply with that action.

(4) Nothing in this section implies that the Santa Clara Valley Water District has CUPA authority other than authority for the local oversight program in accordance with paragraph (1).

(b) (1) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that, beginning in 1988, and continuing each year since that date, the Santa Clara Valley Water District has had a role in implementing the requirements of the provisions listed in subdivision (a).

(2) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the funding provided by the state to the Santa Clara Valley Water District for the work described in paragraph (1) is hereby ratified.

(c) (1) Any action taken by the Santa Clara Valley Water District that a local agency is otherwise authorized to take pursuant to Sections 25296.10 to 25297.2, inclusive, and Sections 25299.36, 25299.38, 25299.39.2, 25299.39.3, 25299.51, 25299.53, and 25299.57, and that was taken by the Santa Clara Valley Water District on and after January 1, 1988, and continuing on and before January 1, 2005, or until the effective date of an agreement entered into pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section 25297.1, whichever date occurs first, is hereby ratified as having been taken pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 6.75 (commencing with Section 25299.10). However, this ratification applies only to an action that would be valid only if an agreement pursuant to subdivision (j) of Section 25297.1 had been in effect at the time of the action and that otherwise complies with applicable law.

(2) This subdivision does not apply to any action taken by the Santa Clara Valley Water District that is the subject of a civil action pending on June 12, 2003.

25299.01. Injunctions; restraining orders or other orders. (a) If a person has engaged in, is engaged in, or is about to engage in any acts or practices that violate this chapter, or Chapter 6.75 (commencing with Section 25299.10) or any rule, regulation, permit, standard, requirement, or order issued, adopted, or executed pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 6.75 (commencing with Section 25299.10), the city attorney of the city in which the acts or practices occur, occurred, or will occur, the county counsel or the district attorney of the county in which the acts or practices occur, occurred, or will occur, or the Attorney General may apply to the superior court for any order enjoining these acts or practices, or for an order directing compliance. The court may grant a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order.

(b) If a county counsel or the district attorney brings an action pursuant to subdivision (a), the county counsel or the district attorney shall, within seven days of the filing of the action, notify the district attorney or county counsel, as applicable, of the county in which the acts or practices occur, occurred, or will occur.

25299.02. Civil actions; joinder or consolidation. Every civil action brought under this chapter shall be brought by the city attorney, the county counsel, the district attorney, or the Attorney General in the name of the people of the State of California, and any actions relating to the same violations may be joined or consolidated.

25299.03. County in which civil action is brought. Any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter shall be brought in the county in which the violation occurred, 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, in this state is located.

25299.04. Temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction; proofs. In any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter in which a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction is sought, it is not necessary to allege or prove at any state 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. The temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction shall be issued without these allegations and without this proof.

25299.5. Construction of chapter. (a) This chapter shall be construed to assure consistency with the requirements for state programs implementing the federal act.

(b) This chapter shall not be construed to limit or abridge the powers and duties granted to the department by Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) and Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 25300) or to the board and each regional board by Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code.