Unless the context indicates otherwise, the following definitions govern the construction of this article:

(a) “Accidental release” means an unanticipated emission of a regulated substance or other extremely hazardous substance into the ambient air from a stationary source.

(b) “Administering agency” means a unified program agency as defined in Section 25501.

(c) “Covered process” means a process that has a regulated substance present in more than a threshold quantity.

(d) “Local implementing agency” means the entity that has been designated by a local governing body to develop, implement, and maintain an integrated alerting and notification system, which may include a local law enforcement or fire agency, joint powers agency, authority, or entity, or other local agency.

(e) “Modified stationary source” means an addition or change to a stationary source that qualifies as a “major change,” as defined in Subpart A (commencing with Section 68.1) of Part 68 of Subchapter C of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. “Modified stationary source” does not include an increase in production up to the source’s existing operational capacity or an increase in production level, up to the production levels authorized in a permit granted pursuant to Section 42300.

(f) “Office” or “agency” means the Office of Emergency Services.

(g) “Person” means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, business concern, partnership, limited liability company, association, or corporation, including, but not limited to, a government corporation. “Person” also includes any city, county, city and county, district, commission, the state or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof, any interstate body, and the federal government or any department or agency thereof to the extent permitted by law.

(h) “Process” means any activity involving a regulated substance, including any use, storage, manufacturing, handling, or onsite movement of the regulated substance or any combination of these activities. For the purposes of this definition, any group of vessels that are interconnected, or separate vessels that are located so that a regulated substance could be involved in a potential release, shall be considered a single process.

(i) “Qualified person” means a person who is qualified to attest, at a minimum, to the completeness of an RMP.

(j) “Regulated substance” means any substance that is either of the following:

(1) A regulated substance listed in Section 68.130 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (r) of Section 112 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7412(r)(3)).

(2) (A) An extremely hazardous substance listed in Appendix A of Part 355 (commencing with Section 355.10) of Subchapter J of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations that is any of the following:

(i) A gas at standard temperature and pressure.

(ii) A liquid with a vapor pressure at standard temperature and pressure equal to or greater than 10 millimeters mercury.

(iii) A solid that is one of the following:

(I) In solution or in molten form.

(II) In powder form with a particle size less than 100 microns.

(III) Reactive with a National Fire Protection Association rating of 2, 3, or 4.

(iv) A substance that the office determines may pose a regulated substances accident risk pursuant to subclause (II) of clause (i) of subparagraph (B) or pursuant to Section 25543.3.

(B) (i) On or before June 30, 1997, the office shall, in consultation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, determine which of the extremely hazardous substances listed in Appendix A of Part 355 (commencing with Section 355.10) of Subchapter J of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations do either of the following:

(I) Meet one or more of the criteria specified in clauses (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A).

(II) May pose a regulated substances accident risk, in consideration of the factors specified in subdivision (g) of Section 25543.1, and, therefore, should remain on the list of regulated substances until completion of the review conducted pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25543.3.

(ii) The office shall adopt, by regulation, a list of the extremely hazardous substances identified pursuant to clause (i). Extremely hazardous substances placed on the list are regulated substances for the purposes of this article. Until the list is adopted, the administering agency shall determine which extremely hazardous substances should remain on the list of regulated substances pursuant to the standards specified in clause (i).

(k) “Regulated substances accident risk” means a potential for the accidental release of a regulated substance into the environment that could produce a significant likelihood that persons exposed may suffer acute health effects resulting in significant injury or death.

(l) “RMP” means the risk management plan required under Part 68 (commencing with Section 68.1) of Subchapter C of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations and by this article.

(m) “State threshold quantity” means the quantity of a regulated substance described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (j), as adopted by the office pursuant to Section 25543.1 or 25543.3. Until the office adopts a state threshold quantity for a regulated substance, the state threshold quantity shall be the threshold planning quantity for the regulated substance specified in Appendix A of Part 355 (commencing with Section 355.10) of Subchapter J of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(n) “Special needs population” means individuals who may have additional response assistance needs before, during, and after an incident in functional areas, including, but not limited to, maintaining independence, communication, transportation, supervision, or medical care. Individuals in need of additional response assistance may include those who have disabilities, live in institutionalized settings, are elderly, are children, are from diverse cultures, have limited English proficiency or are non-English speaking, or are transportation disadvantaged.

(o) “Stationary source” means any stationary source, as defined in Section 68.3 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(p) “Threshold quantity” means the quantity of a regulated substance that is determined to be present at a stationary source in the manner specified in Section 68.115 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations and that is the lesser of either of the following:

(1) The threshold quantity for the regulated substance specified in Section 68.130 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(2) The state threshold quantity.

(q) “Transient population” means individuals in a location in which they do not normally reside, including, but not limited to, train stations, office buildings, shopping malls, and colleges, and individuals who are homeless.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 588, Sec. 1. (AB 1646) Effective January 1, 2018.)