Article 2 - State Agencies

California Public Resources Code — §§ 30410-30421

Sections (12)

Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.

(a)The commission and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission shall conduct a joint review of this division and Title 7.2 (commencing with Section 66600) of the Government Code to determine how the program administered by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission shall be related to this division. Both commissions shall jointly present their recommendations to the Legislature not later than July 1, 1978.

(b)It is the intent of the Legislature that the ports under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, including the Ports of San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Redwood City, Encinal Terminals, and Benicia, should be treated no less favorably than the ports under the jurisdiction of the commission covered in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 30700) under the terms of any legislation which is developed pursuant to such study.

§ 30411

Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 259. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.

(a)The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Game Commission are the principal state agencies responsible for the establishment and control of wildlife and fishery management programs and the commission shall not establish or impose any controls with respect thereto that duplicate or exceed regulatory controls established by these agencies pursuant to specific statutory requirements or authorization.

(b)The Department of Fish and Wildlife in consultation with the commission and the Division of Boating and Waterways within the Department of Parks and Recreation, may study degraded wetlands and identify those which can most feasibly be restored in conjunction with development of a boating facility as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 30233. Any study

conducted under this subdivision shall include consideration of all of the following:

(1)Whether the wetland is so severely degraded and its natural processes so substantially impaired that it is not capable of recovering and maintaining a high level of biological productivity without major restoration activities.

(2)Whether a substantial portion of the degraded wetland, but in no event less than 75 percent, can be restored and maintained as a highly productive wetland in conjunction with a boating facilities project.

(3)Whether restoration of the wetland’s natural values, including its biological productivity and wildlife habitat features, can most feasibly be achieved and maintained in conjunction with a boating facility or whether there are other feasible ways to achieve these values.

(c)The Legislature finds and declares that salt water or brackish water aquaculture is a coastal-dependent use which should be encouraged to augment food supplies and to further the policies set forth in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 825) of Division 1. The Department of Fish and Wildlife may identify coastal sites it determines to be appropriate for aquaculture facilities. If the Department of Fish and Wildlife identifies these sites, it shall transmit information identifying the sites to the commission and the relevant local government agency. The commission and, where appropriate, local governments shall, consistent with the coastal planning requirements of this division, provide for as many coastal sites identified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife for any uses that are consistent with the policies of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30200).

(d)Any agency of the

state owning or managing land in the coastal zone for public purposes shall be an active participant in the selection of suitable sites for aquaculture facilities and shall make the land available for use in aquaculture when feasible and consistent with other policies of this division and other law.

§ 30412

Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 285, Sec. 25.

(a)In addition to Section 13142.5 of the Water Code, this section shall apply to the commission and the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards.

(b)The State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards are the state agencies with primary responsibility for the coordination and control of water quality. The State Water Resources Control Board has primary responsibility for the administration of water rights pursuant to applicable law. The commission shall assure that proposed development and local coastal programs shall not frustrate this section. The commission shall not, except as provided in subdivision (c), modify, adopt conditions, or take any action in conflict with any determination by the State Water Resources Control Board or any California regional water quality control board in matters relating to water quality or the administration of water rights.

Except as provided in this section, nothing herein shall be interpreted in any way either as prohibiting or limiting the commission, local government, or port governing body from exercising the regulatory controls over development pursuant to this division in a manner necessary to carry out this division.

(c)Any development within the coastal zone or outside the coastal zone which provides service to any area within the coastal zone that constitutes a treatment work shall be reviewed by the commission and any permit it issues, if any, shall be determinative only with respect to the following aspects of the development:

(1)The siting and visual appearance of treatment works within the coastal zone.

(2)The geographic limits of service areas within the coastal zone which are to be served by particular treatment works and the timing of the use of capacity of treatment works for those service areas to allow for phasing of development and use of facilities consistent with this division.

(3)Development projections which determine the sizing of treatment works for providing service within the coastal zone.

The commission shall make these determinations in accordance with the policies of this division and shall make its final determination on a permit application for a treatment work prior to the final approval by the State Water Resources Control Board for the funding of such treatment works. Except as specifically provided in this subdivision, the decisions of the State Water Resources Control Board relative to the construction of treatment works shall be final and binding upon the commission.

(d)The commission shall provide or require reservations of sites for the construction of treatment works and points of discharge within the coastal zone adequate for the protection of coastal resources consistent with the provisions of this division.

(e)Nothing in this section shall require the State Water Resources Control Board to fund or certify for funding, any specific treatment works within the coastal zone or to prohibit the State Water Resources Control Board or any California regional water quality control board from requiring a higher degree of treatment at any existing treatment works.

§ 30413

Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1031, Sec. 2.

(a)In addition to the provisions set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 30241, and in Sections 25302, 25500, 25507, 25508, 25510, 25514, 25516.1, 25523, and 25526, the provisions of this section shall apply to the commission and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission with respect to matters within the statutory responsibility of the latter.

(b)The commission shall, prior to January 1, 1978, and after one or more public hearings, designate those specific locations within the coastal zone where the location of a facility as defined in Section 25110 would prevent the achievement of the objectives of this division; provided, however, that specific locations that are presently used for such facilities and reasonable expansion thereof shall not be so designated. Each such designation shall include a description of the boundaries of those locations, the objectives of this division which would be so affected, and detailed findings concerning the significant adverse impacts that would result from development of a facility in the designated area. The commission shall consider the conclusions, if any, reached by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission in its most recently promulgated comprehensive report issued pursuant to Section 25309. The commission shall transmit a copy of its report prepared pursuant to this subdivision to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.

(c)The commission, after it completes its initial designations in 1978, shall, prior to January 1, 1980, and once every two years thereafter until January 1, 1990, revise and update the designations specified in subdivision (b). After January 1, 1990, the commission shall revise and update those designations not less than once every five years. Those revisions shall be effective on January 1, 1980, or on January 1 of the year following adoption of the revisions. The provisions of subdivision (b) shall not apply to any sites and related facilities specified in any notice of intention to file an application for certification filed with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission pursuant to Section 25502 prior to designation of additional locations made by the commission pursuant to this subdivision.

(d)Whenever the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission exercises its siting authority and undertakes proceedings pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 25500) of Division 15 with respect to any thermal powerplant or transmission line to be located, in whole or in part, within the coastal zone, the commission shall participate in those proceedings and shall receive from the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission any notice of intention to file an application for certification of a site and related facilities within the coastal zone. The commission shall analyze each notice of intention and shall, prior to completion of the preliminary report required by Section 25510, forward to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission a written report on the suitability of the proposed site and related facilities specified in that notice . The commission’s report shall contain a consideration of, and findings regarding, all of the following:

(1)The compatibility of the proposed site and related facilities with the goal of protecting coastal resources.

(2)The degree to which the proposed site and related facilities would conflict with other existing or planned coastal-dependent land uses at or near the site.

(3)The potential adverse effects that the proposed site and related facilities would have on aesthetic values.

(4)The potential adverse environmental effects on fish and wildlife and their habitats.

(5)The conformance of the proposed site and related facilities with certified local coastal programs in those jurisdictions which would be affected by any such development.

(6)The degree to which the proposed site and related facilities could reasonably be modified so as to mitigate potential adverse effects on coastal resources, minimize conflict with existing or planned coastal-dependent uses at or near the site, and promote the policies of this division.

(7)Such other matters as the commission deems appropriate and necessary to carry out this division.

(e)The commission may, at its discretion, participate fully in other proceedings conducted by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission pursuant to its powerplant siting authority. In the event the commission participates in any public hearings held by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, it shall be afforded full opportunity to present evidence and examine and cross-examine witnesses.

(f)The State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission shall forward a copy of all reports it distributes pursuant to Sections 25302 and 25306 to the commission and the commission shall, with respect to any report that relates to the coastal zone or coastal zone resources, comment on those reports, and shall in its comments include a discussion of the desirability of particular areas within the coastal zone as designated in such reports for potential powerplant development. The commission may propose alternate areas for powerplant development within the coastal zone and shall provide detailed findings to support the suggested alternatives.

§ 30414

Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1246, Sec. 2.

(a)The State Air Resources Board and air pollution control districts established pursuant to state law and consistent with requirements of federal law are the principal public agencies responsible for the establishment of ambient air quality and emission standards and air pollution control programs. The provisions of this division do not authorize the commission or any local government to establish any ambient air quality standard or emission standard, air pollution control program or facility, or to modify any ambient air quality standard, emission standard, or air pollution control program or facility which has been established by the state board or by an air pollution control district.

(b)Any provision of any certified local coastal program which establishes or modifies any ambient air quality standard, any emission standard, any air pollution control program or facility shall be inoperative.

(c)The State Air Resources Board and any air pollution control district may recommend ways in which actions of the commission or any local government can complement or assist in the implementation of established air quality programs.

§ 30415

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 50, Sec. 261. (AB 378) Effective January 1, 2022.

The Director of the Office of Planning and Research shall, in cooperation with the commission and other appropriate state agencies, review the policies of this division. If the director determines that effective implementation of any policy requires the cooperative and coordinated efforts of several state agencies, the director shall, no later than July 1, 1978, and from time to time thereafter, recommend to the appropriate agencies actions that should be taken to minimize potential duplication and conflicts and which could, if taken, better achieve effective implementation of such policy. The director shall, where appropriate and after consultation with the affected agency, recommend to the Governor and the Legislature how the programs, duties, responsibilities, and enabling legislation of any state agency

should be changed to better achieve the goals and policies of this division.

§ 30416

Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1330.

(a)The State Lands Commission, in carrying out its duties and responsibilities as the state agency responsible for the management of all state lands, including tide and submerged lands,, in accordance with the provisions of Division 6 (commencing with Section 6001), shall, prior to certification by the commission pursuant to Chapters 6 (commencing with Section 30500) and 8 (commencing with Section 30700) review, and may comment on any proposed local coastal program or port master plan that could affect state lands.

(b)No power granted to any local government, port governing body, or special district, under this division, shall change the authority of the State Lands Commission over granted or ungranted lands within its jurisdiction or change the rights and duties of its lessees or permittees.

(c)Boundary settlements between the State Lands Commission and other parties and any exchanges of land in connection therewith shall not be a development within the meaning of this division.

(d)Nothing in this division shall amend or alter the terms and conditions in any legislative grant of lands, in trust, to any local government, port governing body, or special district; provided, however, that any development on such granted lands shall, in addition to the terms and conditions of such grant, be subject to the regulatory controls provided by Chapters 7 (commencing with Section 30600) and 8 (commencing with Section 30700).

§ 30417

Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 972, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 1999.

(a)In addition to the provisions set forth in Section 4551.5, this section shall apply to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.

(b)Within 180 days after January 1, 1977, the commission shall identify special treatment areas within the coastal zone to ensure that natural and scenic resources are adequately protected. The commission shall forward to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection maps of the designated special treatment areas together with specific reasons for those designations and with recommendations designed to assist the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection in adopting rules and regulations that adequately protect the natural and scenic qualities of the special treatment areas.

§ 30418

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 97, Sec. 17. (SB 1497) Effective January 1, 2023.

(a)Pursuant to Division 3 (commencing with Section 3000), the Geologic Energy Management Division of the Department of Conservation is the principal state agency responsible for regulating the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of all oil, gas, and geothermal wells in the state. Neither the commission, local government, port governing body, or special district shall establish or impose such regulatory controls that duplicate or exceed controls established by the

Geologic Energy Management Division pursuant to specific statutory requirements or authorization.

This section shall not be construed to limit in any way, except as specifically provided, the regulatory controls over oil and gas development pursuant to Chapters 7 (commencing with Section 30600) and 8 (commencing with Section 30700).

(b)The Geologic Energy Management Division

of the Department of Conservation shall cooperate with the commission by providing necessary data and technical expertise regarding proposed well operations within the coastal zone.

§ 30419

Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 113, Sec. 11. (AB 1528) Effective January 1, 2016.

The Division of Boating and Waterways within the Department of Parks and Recreation is the principal state agency for evaluating the economic feasibility of any boating facility to be developed within the coastal zone.

If the economic viability of a boating facility becomes an issue in a coastal development permit matter or in a local coastal program or any amendment thereto, the commission shall request the Division of Boating and Waterways within the Department of Parks and Recreation to provide comment, including, but not limited to, the analysis of costs associated with conditions of approval. In cases where the Division of Boating and Waterways within the Department of Parks and Recreation desires to make any comment, it

shall be made within 30 days of the commission’s request. The commission shall include the comment in its decision regarding a coastal development permit or local coastal program or any amendment thereto.

§ 30420

Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 97, Sec. 18. (SB 1497) Effective January 1, 2023.

Before taking any action on (1) a local coastal program or any amendment thereto, (2) any coastal development permit, or (3) any consistency determination or certification, that relates to the disposal of hazardous substances at sea, the commission shall consult with the following governmental entities:

(a)Department of Toxic Substances Control.

(b)State Lands Commission.

(c)State Air Resources Board and relevant air

pollution control districts or air quality management districts.

(d)Department of Fish and

Wildlife.

(e)State Water Resources Control Board and relevant California regional water quality control boards.

(f)Secretary for Environmental Protection.

(g)Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.

(h)The local government located closest to the proposed activity, or within whose jurisdiction the activity is proposed, or within whose jurisdiction there may be effects of the proposed activity.

§ 30421

Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 236, Sec. 3. (SB 1) Effective January 1, 2022.

State and regional agencies shall identify, assess, and, to the extent feasible and consistent with their statutory authorities, avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of sea level rise.