The Association of Bay Area Governments, the Southern California Association of Governments, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments may, at the discretion of their governing boards, prepare a regional hazardous waste management plan to serve as a resource document and to identify hazardous waste management issues, needs, and solutions at the regional level. A council of governments specified in this subdivision shall include in the regional plan additional counties affected by the regional plan, at the request of the councils of governments for those counties. A council of governments shall prepare the regional plan pursuant to the following procedure:

(a)  A council of governments specified in this subdivision may apply to the department for funding pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 25135.8.

(b)  On or before December 31, 1987, a council of governments which receives funding from the department shall prepare a draft regional hazardous waste management plan and submit the draft plan to the department. If a council of governments shows the department that it has made substantial compliance towards completing the draft regional hazardous waste management plan and needs additional time to complete the draft regional plan, the department may extend, to March 31, 1988, the date by which the draft regional plan is required to be submitted. The council of governments shall involve the public with the preparation of the draft plan, to the fullest extent possible, by public hearings, informational meetings, and other appropriate forums that offer the public the opportunity to respond to clearly defined alternative objectives, policies, and actions.

(c)  From January 1, 1988, to March 31, 1988, or, if the department has given the council of governments a time extension pursuant to subdivision (b), on or before June 30, 1988, the council of governments shall conduct hearings on the draft regional hazardous waste management plan, in the number determined appropriate by the council of governments. The council of governments shall provide affected local jurisdictions, the public, industry, business organizations, and the hazardous waste management industry with a full opportunity to comment orally and in writing on the draft plan.

(d)  On or before March 31, 1988, or, if the department has given the council of governments a time extension pursuant to subdivision (b), on or before June 30, 1988, the department shall review the draft plan, and provide the council of governments with comments on the draft plan.

(e)  After conducting the review and comment period required by subdivision (c), the council of governments shall revise, as appropriate, the draft regional hazardous waste management plan.

(f)  On or before September 30, 1988, or, on or before January 31, 1989, if the council of governments is given a time extension pursuant to subdivision (g), the council of governments shall complete and adopt the plan.

(g)  On or before October 1, 1988, the council of governments shall submit the final regional hazardous waste management plan adopted by its governing board to the department for review and approval. If a council of governments shows the department that the council of governments has made substantial progress towards completing the regional hazardous waste management plan and needs more time to complete the plan, the department may extend this date to September 1, 1989. The department shall approve the regional plan if the department determines that all of the following requirements are met:

(1)  The regional plan is consistent with the guidelines for the preparation of regional hazardous waste management plans adopted by the department.

(2)  The regional plan applies the methods, techniques, and policies established by the department to analyze the waste stream and to determine whether there is a need for additional or expanded hazardous waste facilities to safely manage and properly dispose of the hazardous waste produced within the region.

(h)  Throughout the process of preparing a regional hazardous waste management plan, a council of governments shall cooperate and consult with representatives and staff of affected counties and cities.

(i)  Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (h), inclusive, of this section, if, pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, a joint powers agreement provides for the creation of the Southern California Hazardous Waste Management Authority, the Southern California Association of Governments shall, if it has elected to prepare a regional hazardous waste management plan pursuant to this section, transfer the responsibility for preparing the regional hazardous waste management plan and all funds received pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 25135.8 to the authority, if the governing board of the authority requests the transfer by the adoption of a resolution. If the transfer takes place, the authority shall comply with this section in the same manner as this section applies to the association. If the transfer of responsibility and funds authorized by this subdivision takes place and the authority is dissolved at any time before the regional hazardous waste management plan is approved by the department, the association shall prepare the regional hazardous waste management plan and any remaining funds received pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 25135.8 shall be transferred back to the association.

(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 7, Sec. 1. Effective April 3, 1989.)