(a) Utilizing GIS-based location information furnished by the State Department of Health Services and the State Water Resources Control Board, at least once every two years the State Fire Marshal shall determine the identity of each pipeline or pipeline segment that is regulated by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to this chapter that transports petroleum product when that pipeline is located within 1,000 feet of a public drinking water well.

(b) With assistance from the State Department of Health Services and the State Water Resources Control Board, the State Fire Marshal shall notify the operator of the pipelines identified in subdivision (a) of the following information:

(1) That the specific pipeline or pipeline segment has been identified as being located within 1,000 feet of a public drinking water well.

(2) The name of the water purveyor and the location of the public drinking water well affected. With advice from the GIS mapping advisory committee, created pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 25299.97 of the Health and Safety Code, the identification of the pipelines and notification of pipeline owners by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to subdivision (a) and this subdivision shall begin once the GIS mapping system created by Section 25299.97 of the Health and Safety Code is able to provide accurate and useful information on pipeline and wellhead locations.

(c) Each pipeline operator notified pursuant to subdivision (b) shall prepare a pipeline wellhead protection plan as required by Section 51017.2 and submit the plan to the State Fire Marshal within 180 days from the date of either receiving the notification specified in subdivision (b), or adoption of regulations by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51017.2, whichever is later.

(d) With the advice of the State Department of Health Services, the State Water Resources Control Board, appropriate California regional water quality control boards, and local water purveyors, the State Fire Marshal shall review each wellhead protection plan submitted by a pipeline operator, and approve those plans that meet the criteria of the regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51017.2. The State Fire Marshal shall have discretion to allow a wellhead protection plan to address multiple wellheads where the conditions creating the risk to the wellheads are substantially similar. The pipeline operator shall implement the wellhead protection plan within 180 days from the date of receiving approval from the State Fire Marshal.

(e) Each pipeline operator having a wellhead protection plan approved by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to subdivision (d) shall evaluate that plan at least once every five years to ensure that the plan is in compliance with the current regulations established by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51017.2. The pipeline operator shall provide either written documentation to the State Fire Marshal that the previously approved wellhead protection plan has been evaluated and that no changes are warranted, or submit a new wellhead protection plan to remain in compliance with existing regulations or to meet the requirements of regulations adopted since the plan was approved.

(f) The pipeline operator subject to subdivision (c) may petition the State Fire Marshal in writing for an exemption from the requirements of subdivision (c). With advice from the State Water Resources Control Board, the State Department of Health Services, the California regional water quality control boards, and local water purveyors, the State Fire Marshal may approve the exemption if the petition demonstrates that the pipeline either does not transport motor vehicle fuel, or does not pose a significant threat to the public drinking water well based upon, but not limited to, the following criteria:

(1) Pipeline parameters, such as operation pressure, operating temperature, age, design, fabrication materials, construction, corrosive nature of the surrounding soil, cathodic protection, and feasibility of internal inspection or evaluation tools (smart pigs).

(2) Hydrogeologic parameters, such as soil permeability, direction and velocity of groundwater flow, aquifer location or depth, and hydrogeologic barriers or conduits.

(3) Water well parameters, such as depth of well and well construction.

(4) The nature of the fuel and its ability to migrate to public drinking water wells.

(5) The impact of human activity that may elevate or reduce the risk to the drinking water well.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 485, Sec. 91. Effective January 1, 1999.)