Section 4582.9.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Director of Fish and Game or the State Water Resources Control Board may, not later than 10 days after approval of a plan by the director, appeal the approval to the board. At the time of filing of an appeal with the board, the person shall notify the director and the plan submitter of the appeal, and no further timber operations shall occur under the plan until the final determination of the appeal by the board.

(b) The Director of Fish and Game or the State Water Resources Control Board may appeal the approval of a plan by the director only if the Department of Fish and Game or the State Water Resources Control Board or a California regional water quality control board has (1) participated in an onsite inspection of the plan with the department and (2) participated in a multidisciplinary review of the plan. The board may establish procedures for filing an appeal and may, in order to demonstrate that a substantial issue is raised with respect to the environment or public safety, specify findings which are required to be made in filing an appeal.

(c) The board shall grant a hearing if it determines that the appeal under this section raises substantial issues with respect to the environment or to public safety. The board, by regulation, may delegate this determination to its chairperson.

(d) The board shall hold a public hearing within 30 days after the filing of an appeal, or a longer period mutually agreed upon by the board, the appellant, and the plan submitter. Witnesses may appear either at the request of a party having standing or at a request of a majority of the board or board committee holding the hearing. Within 10 days after the conclusion of the hearing, the board shall approve or deny the plan. The basis for the board's decision shall be all applicable provisions of California law, including, but not limited to, the California Timberland Productivity Act of 1982 (Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 51100) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code) and subdivision (d) of Section 4512. In denying a plan, the board may make findings that set forth conditions under which it believes the plan would have been approved. The board may delegate conduct of the hearing and the decision to a committee of three members to be appointed for that hearing by the chairperson of the board. The committee shall consist of one general public member, one industry member, and the chairperson or the chairperson's designee. The chairperson of the board or the chairperson's designee shall conduct the hearing. The decision of the committee shall have the full force of a decision of the full board. At any time prior to a decision on an appeal conducted by a committee, any member of the committee may file a declaration of importance with the executive officer of the board and that appeal shall be immediately transferred to the full board for decision.

(Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 400, Sec. 2.)