(a) In addition to the responsibilities imposed pursuant to Section 5651, the department may clean up or abate, or cause to be cleaned up or abated, the effects of any petroleum or petroleum product deposited or discharged in the waters of this state or deposited or discharged in any location onshore or offshore where the petroleum or petroleum product is likely to enter the waters of this state, order any person responsible for the deposit or discharge to clean up the petroleum or petroleum product or abate the effects of the deposit or discharge, and recover any costs incurred as a result of the cleanup or abatement from the responsible party.
(b) An order shall not be issued pursuant to this section for the cleanup or abatement of petroleum products in any sump, pond, pit, or lagoon used in conjunction with crude oil production that is in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
(c) The department may issue an order pursuant to this section only if there is an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health or the environment and the order shall remain in effect only until any cleanup and abatement order is issued pursuant to Section 13304 of the Water Code. A regional water quality control board shall incorporate the department’s order into the cleanup and abatement order issued pursuant to Section 13304 of the Water Code, unless the department’s order is inconsistent with any more stringent requirement established in the cleanup and abatement order. Any action taken in compliance with the department’s order is not a violation of any subsequent regional water quality control board cleanup and abatement order issued pursuant to Section 13304 of the Water Code.
(d) The Administrator of the Office of Spill Prevention and Response has the primary authority to serve as a state incident commander and direct removal, abatement, response, containment, and cleanup efforts with regard to all aspects of any placement of petroleum or a petroleum product in the waters of the state, except as otherwise provided by law. This authority may be delegated.
(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Petroleum product” means oil of any kind or form, including, but not limited to, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with waste other than dredged spoil. “Petroleum product” does not include any pesticide that has been applied for agricultural, commercial, or industrial purposes or that has been applied in accordance with a cooperative agreement authorized by Section 116180 of the Health and Safety Code, that has not been discharged accidentally or for purposes of disposal, and the application of which was in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
(2) “State incident commander” means a person with the overall authority for managing and conducting incident operations during an oil spill response, who shall manage an incident consistent with the standardized emergency management system required by Section 8607 of the Government Code. Incident management generally includes the development of objectives, strategies, and tactics, ordering and release of resources, and coordinating with other appropriate response agencies to ensure that all appropriate resources are properly utilized and that this coordinating function is performed in a manner designed to minimize risk to other persons and to the environment.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 328, Sec. 68. (SB 1330) Effective January 1, 2011.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018