(a)  Each owner or operator of a hazardous waste facility shall submit hazardous waste facility closure and postclosure plans to the department and to the California regional water quality control board for the region in which the facility is located. The plans shall contain the owner’s or operator’s estimate of the cost of closure and subsequent maintenance, shall conform to the regulations adopted by the department and shall comply with applicable state laws relating to water quality protection and monitoring.

(b)  The plans specified in subdivision (a) shall be submitted to the department with the application for a hazardous waste facilities permit or when otherwise requested by the department. The plans shall be submitted to the California regional water quality control board with a report of waste discharge submitted in accordance with Section 13260 of the Water Code. An owner or operator who has submitted a request for, or received a hazardous waste facilities permit prior to, the adoption of the standards and regulations pursuant to Section 25245 shall submit the plans within 180 days after the department issues a written request for the plans. Prior to actual closure of the facility, the plans shall be updated if requested by the department. However, no owner or operator shall be required to revise or amend a closure plan after the department notifies the owner or operator in writing that the closure of the facility has been completed in accordance with the approved closure plan.

(c)  An owner or operator who has not submitted facility closure and postclosure plans shall submit the plans at least 180 days prior to closure of the hazardous waste facility.

(d)  This section does not apply to any person operating under a permit-by-rule, a conditional authorization, or a conditional exemption, pursuant to this chapter or the regulations adopted by the department.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 640, Sec. 22. Effective January 1, 1996.)