Section 71031.

(a) Each state environmental agency, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 71011, in consultation and coordination with all interested parties, may adopt a process to precertify equipment and processes as being in compliance with any laws and regulations applicable to the state environmental agency. The secretary shall ensure that, to the extent one or more state environmental agencies adopt regulations pursuant to this section, the regulations are standardized and coordinated in the most efficient and effective manner feasible.

(b) If a state environmental agency adopts regulations pursuant to subdivision (a), it shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, adopt standardized permits to incorporate equipment and processes precertified pursuant to subdivision (a). Where applicable, the state environmental agencies shall include, as part of their precertification, a model standardized permit ordinance that local environmental agencies may adopt.

(c) Local environmental agencies, as defined in subdivisions (c) to (h), inclusive, of Section 71011, may adopt standardized permits to incorporate equipment and processes precertified pursuant to subdivision (a). Nothing in this section shall limit the ability of a local environmental agency to adopt additional requirements as part of the standardized permit to meet local health and safety concerns.

(d) For purposes of this section, a "standardized permit" means a permit for pollution sources or activities that are the same or similar in their nature, and which require the submission of the same or similar information for purposes of issuing, monitoring, and enforcing permit requirements.

(e) Nothing in this section shall result in the reduction or elimination of environmental or public health protection or public participation, as provided under all applicable laws, in the issuance of any permit authorized by this section.

(f) Any environmental agency may charge a reasonable fee for costs incurred pursuant to this section, not to exceed estimated reasonable costs. Any fee shall be subject to Section 57001 of the Health and Safety Code.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 367, Sec. 2. Effective August 19, 1996.)