(a) For the purposes of this section, “violation” and “noncompliance” mean only the following:

(1) A violation or noncompliance pursuant to Section 25186 that creates a significant risk of harm to the public health or safety of the environment resulting from acute or chronic exposure to hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents, and that threat makes it reasonably necessary to take action to prevent, reduce, or mitigate that exposure.

(2) A violation of, or noncompliance with, any order issued by the department to the applicant or holder of the permit.

(3) A federal or state felony conviction for a violation of this chapter or its equivalent in the federal act, or of any requirement or regulation adopted pursuant to that authority relating to the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, recycling, disposal, or handling of hazardous waste, as described in subdivision (e) of Section 25186.

(b) A violation or noncompliance by a federal hazardous waste facility, pursuant to Section 6961 of Title 42 of the United States Code, shall, for purposes of this section, be limited to a violation or noncompliance caused by an action or inaction within the boundaries identified in Part B of the federal hazardous waste permit application, pursuant to Section 270.14 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for that facility.

(c) “Violation” and “noncompliance” shall not include a minor violation as defined in Section 25117.6.

(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the department shall consider three or more incidents of violation of, or noncompliance with, a requirement specified in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 25186 for which a person or entity has been found liable or has been convicted, with respect to a single facility within a five-year period, as compelling cause to deny, suspend, or revoke the permit, registration, or certificate.

(2) This subdivision does not apply to a third violation or noncompliance if the department finds that extraordinary circumstances exist, including that a denial, suspension, or revocation would endanger the public health or safety or the environment.

(3) This subdivision does not limit or modify the department’s authority to deny, suspend, or revoke any permit, registration, or certificate pursuant to Section 25186 or any other law.

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 460, Sec. 2. (AB 1075) Effective January 1, 2016.)