(a)  (1)  If the department or a unified program agency authorized pursuant to paragraph (2) determines, upon receipt of any information, that the presence of any hazardous waste at a facility or site at which hazardous waste is, or has been, stored, treated, or disposed of, or the release of any hazardous waste from the facility or site may present a substantial hazard to human health or the environment, the department or authorized unified program agency may issue an order requiring the owner or operator of the facility or site to conduct monitoring, testing, analysis, and reporting with respect to the facility or site which the department or authorized unified program agency deems reasonable to ascertain the nature and extent of the hazard.

(2)  The authority granted under this section to a unified program agency is limited to the issuance of orders pursuant to paragraph (1) to a unified program facility within the jurisdiction of the CUPA, and is subject to Section 25404.1.

(b)  If a facility or site subject to subdivision (a) is not in operation at the time the determination is made and the department finds that the owner of the facility or site, could not reasonably be expected to have actual knowledge of the presence of hazardous waste at the facility or site and of its potential for release, the department may issue an order requiring the most recent previous owner or operator of the facility or site who could reasonably be expected to have the actual knowledge to carry out the actions specified in subdivision (a).

(c)  Any order issued pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) shall require the person to whom the order is issued to submit to the department or authorized unified program agency, within 30 days from the issuance of the order, a proposal for carrying out the required monitoring, testing, analysis, and reporting. The department or authorized unified program agency may, after providing the person with an opportunity to confer with the department or authorized unified program agency concerning the proposal, require the person to carry out the monitoring, testing, analysis, and reporting in accordance with the proposal, and with any modifications in the proposal as the department or authorized unified program agency deems reasonable to ascertain the nature and extent of the hazard.

(d)  If the department or authorized unified program agency determines that there is no owner or operator specified in subdivision (a) or (b) to conduct monitoring, testing, analysis, or reporting satisfactory to the department or authorized unified program agency, if the department or authorized unified program agency deems the action carried out by an owner or operator is unsatisfactory, or if the department or authorized unified program agency cannot initially determine that there is an owner or operator specified in subdivision (a) or (b) who is able to conduct monitoring, testing, analysis, or reporting, the department or authorized unified program agency may do either of the following:

(1)  Conduct monitoring, testing, or analysis, or any combination of these actions, which the department or authorized unified program agency deems reasonable, to ascertain the nature and extent of the hazard associated with the site.

(2)  Authorize a local authority or other person to carry out the action, and require, by order, the owner or operator specified in subdivision (a) or (b) to reimburse the department or authorized unified program agency or other authority or person for the costs of the activity.

(e)  The department or authorized unified program agency shall not issue an order pursuant to this section which requires the department or authorized unified program agency to be reimbursed for the costs of any action carried out by the department or authorized unified program agency to conduct monitoring, testing, and analysis to determine the results of the actions carried out by a person pursuant to an order issued pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b).

(f)  For purposes of carrying out this section, the department, an authorized unified program agency, any other local agency, or other person authorized under paragraph (2) of subdivision (d), may take action pursuant to Section 25185.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 639, Sec. 27. Effective January 1, 1996.)