(a)  Except as provided in subdivision (d), the department may grant a variance from the requirements of Sections 25179.5 and 25179.6 for a hazardous waste, consistent with Section 25143.

(b)  The department may grant a variance from the requirements of Section 25179.6 for agricultural drainage waters that meet the criteria established by the department pursuant to Section 25141 if a person demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the department, that all of the following conditions apply to the waste:

(1)  There are no technically and economically feasible treatment, reuse, or recycling alternatives available to render the agricultural drainage water nonhazardous.

(2)  The applicant can demonstrate that the continued disposal of agricultural drainage waters does not pose an immediate or significant long-term risk to public health or the environment.

(3)  The disposal of the agricultural drainage waters is in compliance with the requirements of Section 25179.3.

(c)  A variance granted by the department pursuant to subdivision (b) shall remain in effect for a period not longer than three years and may be renewed for additional three-year periods.

(d)  When granting a variance pursuant to this section, the department may specify, where appropriate, any treatment that shall be required prior to land disposal of the waste, and may impose requirements that may be necessary to protect the public health and the environment.

(e)  The department shall not grant a variance pursuant to subdivision (a) for hazardous waste that is restricted or prohibited by the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the federal act, unless either of the following applies:

(1)  The waste has been granted a variance by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the variance granted by the department does not permit less stringent management than that required pursuant to the federal variance.

(2)  The Environmental Protection Agency has delegated the authority to grant variances to the department pursuant to the federal act.

(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 17, Sec. 69. Effective January 1, 1998.)