The department and the State Water Resources Control Board concurrently shall establish policies and procedures consistent with this chapter that the department’s representatives shall follow in overseeing and supervising the activities of responsible parties who are carrying out the investigation of, and taking removal or remedial actions at, hazardous substance release sites. The policies and procedures shall be consistent with the policies and procedures established pursuant to Section 13307 of the Water Code, and shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a)  The procedures the department will follow in making decisions as to when a potentially responsible party may be required to undertake an investigation to determine if a hazardous substance release has occurred.

(b)  Policies for carrying out a phased, step-by-step investigation to determine the nature and extent of possible soil and groundwater contamination at a site.

(c)  Procedures for identifying and utilizing the most cost-effective methods for detecting contamination and carrying out removal or remedial actions.

(d)  Policies for determining reasonable schedules for investigation and removal or remedial action at a site. The policies shall recognize the dangers to public health and the environment posed by a release and the need to mitigate those dangers, while taking into account, to the extent possible, the financial and technical resources available to a responsible party.

(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 23, Sec. 2. Effective May 26, 1999.)