(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in subdivision (c), wastes containing silver or silver compounds that are RCRA hazardous wastes solely due to the presence of silver in the waste are subject to regulation under this chapter solely to the extent that these wastes are subject to regulation under the federal act. This subdivision does not apply to wastes that are classified as non-RCRA hazardous wastes due to the presence of constituents or characteristics other than silver.

(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, wastes containing silver or silver compounds are exempt from regulation under this chapter if the wastes are not subject to regulation under the federal act as RCRA hazardous waste, and the wastes would otherwise be subject to regulation under this chapter solely due to the presence of silver in the waste.

(c)  With respect to treatment of a hazardous waste, subdivision (a) applies only to the removal of silver from photoimaging solutions and photoimaging solution wastewaters. Any other treatment of wastes containing silver or silver compounds that are RCRA hazardous wastes is subject to all of the applicable requirements of this chapter.

(d)  The department shall amend its regulations, as necessary, to conform to this section. Until the department amends these regulations, the applicable regulations adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the federal act pertaining to the regulation of wastes containing silver or silver compounds, which are regulated as RCRA hazardous wastes solely due to the presence of silver in the waste, shall be deemed to be the regulations of the department, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c).

(e)  This section shall not be construed to limit or abridge the powers or duties granted to any state or local agency pursuant to any law, other than this chapter, to regulate wastes containing silver or silver compounds.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 343, Sec. 6.6. Effective January 1, 2001.)