(a)  The department shall revise the hazardous waste code identification system established in Appendix XII of Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 66261.1) of Division 4.5 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. The revised hazardous waste code identification system shall meet the requirements of subdivision (b).

(b)  The revised hazardous waste code identification system adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1)  RCRA hazardous wastes shall be identified by the same hazardous waste code identification designations that are given to those hazardous wastes by the RCRA hazardous waste code system adopted pursuant to the federal act.

(2)  Non-RCRA hazardous wastes shall be identified by hazardous waste code identification designations that are consistent with the federal waste code identification designations and shall be based on the criteria that causes the waste to be regulated as a hazardous waste in this state. The identification code system shall not require the hazardous wastes subject to this paragraph to be identified by a RCRA hazardous waste code identification.

(3)  Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2), the department may propose and adopt additional modifications to the hazardous waste code identification system if the department determines that those additional modifications are necessary and essential to provide any one of the following:

(A)  Significant benefit to the protection of human health or the environment.

(B)  Significant benefit to compliance and enforcement activities.

(C)  Significant additional assurance that hazardous wastes are properly managed.

(c)  To facilitate implementation of the revised hazardous waste code identification system adopted pursuant to this section, the department shall do all of the following:

(1)  Determine an operative date for the regulations establishing the revised hazardous waste code identification system in order to allow for a reasonable transition period, which shall not exceed three years after the date the revised waste code regulations are adopted. If the department determines, prior to the end of that three-year period, that additional time is necessary for the new waste code system to become operative, the department may revise the regulations to extend the transition period and the operative date for up to an additional two years.

(2)  Adopt a regulatory procedure for the amendment of existing permits, registrations, licenses, certifications, and other authorizations that have been issued by the department to allow the revised hazardous waste code identification system to be used by facilities with existing authorizations that refer to, or incorporate, the old hazardous waste code identification system, subject to all of the following limitations:

(A)  The regulatory procedure will not change the type or amount of hazardous waste that persons are authorized to treat, store, transfer, dispose of, or otherwise handle in accordance with this chapter.

(B)  To the extent consistent with the federal act, the regulatory procedure will not require individual modification to individual facility permits, registrations, licenses, certifications, or other authorizations solely for the purpose of reflecting the revised hazardous waste code identification system.

(C)  The regulatory procedure for the amendment of existing permits, registrations, licenses, certifications, or other authorizations shall apply to all applicable facilities on the operative date of the revised hazardous waste code identification system, as determined by the department pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).

(3)  Conduct a public education, outreach, and notification program to ensure that users of the hazardous waste code identification system are reasonably notified of and understand the changes made to the system pursuant to this section.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 401, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)