(a) Electronic manifests that are obtained, completed, and transmitted in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 262.20 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and used in lieu of United States Environmental Protection Agency Forms 8700-22 and 8700-22A, are the legal equivalent of paper manifest forms bearing handwritten signatures, and satisfy for all purposes any requirement in this chapter to obtain, complete, sign, provide, use, or retain a manifest.

(b) Electronic manifest signatures under this chapter shall meet the criteria described in Section 262.25 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(c) (1) A generator, transporter, owner, or operator using the electronic manifest format may be assessed a user fee by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the origination or processing of each electronic manifest. An owner or operator may also be assessed a user fee by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the collection and processing of paper manifest copies that owners or operators submit to the electronic manifest system operator under clause (v) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 264.71 of, or clause (v) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 265.71 of, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) The fees described in paragraph (1) are maintained and updated from time to time by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, based on current and projected system costs and level of use of the electronic manifest system, and will be published as an appendix to Part 262 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 133, Sec. 3. (AB 1597) Effective January 1, 2020.)