(a) A person who intends to operate a solar evaporator shall, before installing the solar evaporator, file a notice of intent with the regional board, using a form prepared by the regional board. The form shall require the person to provide all of the following:
(1) The location of the solar evaporator.
(2) The design of the solar evaporator and the equipment that will be used to operate it.
(3) The maximum anticipated rate at which agricultural drainage water will be discharged to the solar evaporator.
(4) The anticipated rate of accumulation of evaporite salt in the solar evaporator and the anticipated period of time before the salt needs to be removed to ensure the continued effective operation of the evaporator.
(5) Plans for operating the solar evaporator in compliance with this article, including a plan to collect and remove evaporite salt to ensure the continued effective operation of the evaporator.
(6) Groundwater monitoring data that are adequate to establish baseline data for use in comparing subsequent data submitted by the operator pursuant to this article.
(7) Weather data and a water balance analysis sufficient to assess the likelihood of standing water occurring within the solar evaporator.
(8) A brief description of any documents or reports required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code), with the appropriate document or report, if required, included as an attachment to the form.
(9) Any other information required or authorized by regulation.
(b) The regional board shall, within 30 calendar days after receiving the notice submitted pursuant to subdivision (a), review the notice of intent for its completeness, inspect, if necessary, the site where the proposed solar evaporator will be located, and notify the operator of whether the notice of intent is complete. If the regional board determines that the notice of intent is not complete, the regional board shall issue a written response to the applicant identifying the reason why it is not complete. If the regional board determines that the notice of intent is complete, the regional board shall notify the operator in writing that the notice of intent is complete.
(c) A person who receives a written notice of completeness pursuant to subdivision (b) shall, before operating the installed solar evaporator, request the regional board to conduct a compliance inspection of the solar evaporator. Within 30 days after receiving a request, the regional board shall inspect the solar evaporator to determine whether it complies with this article. If the regional board finds that the solar evaporator does not comply with this article, the regional board, within 140 days after the inspection, shall issue a written response to the applicant identifying the reasons for noncompliance. Except as provided in subdivision (e), if the regional board finds that the solar evaporator complies with the requirements of this article, the regional board, within 30 days after the inspection, shall issue a written notice of authority to operate to the operator of the solar evaporator. The regional board may include in the authority to operate any associated condition that the regional board deems necessary to ensure compliance with the purposes and requirements of this article.
(d) A person shall not commence the operation of a solar evaporator before one of the following occurs:
(1) The person receives a written notice of authority to operate the solar evaporator pursuant to this section.
(2) The expiration of 140 days after the solar evaporator is inspected pursuant to subdivision (c), and the person has not received a written response from the regional board, identifying reasons for noncompliance.
(e) The regional board shall review an authority to operate issued by the regional board pursuant to this section every five years. The regional board shall renew the authority to operate, unless the regional board finds that the operator of the solar evaporator has not demonstrated compliance with the requirements of this article.
(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 309, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2007.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018