(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an applicant for a hazardous waste facility project may submit applications for a land use decision and for one or more permits to the appropriate public agencies simultaneously. Unless a state agency is prohibited by statute from approving a permit before the granting of a local land use decision, the state agency shall not refuse to issue a permit for a hazardous waste facility project on the grounds that the applicant has not been granted a land use permit, except that the state agency may provide that the permit shall not become effective until the applicant is granted a local land use permit.

(b)  Any public agency may request another public agency to jointly review applications for a permit or land use decision for a hazardous waste facility project. A public agency may consolidate, with other public agencies, public meetings and hearings permitted or required by law or regulation for the issuance of a permit or the making of a land use decision for a hazardous waste facility project.

(c)  The department shall coordinate the technical review of applications for permits for hazardous waste facility projects that are received by state agencies.

(d)  Upon the request of a local agency, the department, and any other state agency that is authorized to issue a permit for a hazardous waste facility project, shall provide technical assistance to a local agency that is reviewing an application for a land use decision for the project.

(Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 1504, Sec. 8.)