(a) The department shall rescind a California natural landmark designation if one or more of the following circumstances apply:

(1) The owner of a California natural landmark requests the department to rescind that designation.

(2) An error in professional judgment was made in such a manner that the site did not meet the criteria for state significance at the time it was designated.

(3) The values that originally qualified the California natural landmark for designation have been significantly degraded, lost, or destroyed, as demonstrated by evidence provided to the director.

(4) Applicable designation procedures were not followed because of prejudicial procedural error.

(b) (1) An owner of a California natural landmark may initiate rescission of the designation by submitting to the director a request for rescission of designation, stating the reason therefor. Upon a determination that the request is complete, the designation shall either be rescinded pursuant to the procedures of this section or, if the landmark has other owners as well, its boundaries shall be amended pursuant to Section 5869 and this section to exclude the owner’s land.

(2) Within 60 days of receiving a rescission request, the director shall notify the person who submitted the request of whether the department considers the documentation sufficient to consider rescission of California natural landmark designation, or whether the boundaries will be amended to exclude the owner’s land.

(c) The department shall review the information outlining the grounds for rescission of California natural landmark status. When the department determines it is necessary, an onsite evaluation of the area may be made, using the procedure described in Sections 5863 and 5864. Based on all available information, the department shall determine whether the California natural landmark no longer merits that designation.

(d) (1) If the department determines that a California natural landmark no longer merits that designation, the department shall notify the owner and interested parties specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 5865.

(2) (A) The owner and other interested parties notified pursuant to paragraph (1) may comment within 60 days of the date of the notice.

(B) The director shall consider all comments received pursuant to subdivision (A) in the review and decision to rescind California natural landmark designation.

(e) The director shall review the information about a recommended rescission of the California natural landmark designation and determine whether the procedural requirements of this section have been met. If the director confirms that those requirements have been met and that one or more of the circumstances specified in subdivision (a) apply, he or she shall rescind the designation and remove the property from the California Registry of Natural Landmarks. Any property from which designation as a California natural landmark is rescinded because of prejudicial procedural error described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) continues to meet the criteria for state significance.

(f) If a California natural landmark is removed from the California Registry of Natural Landmarks, the department shall notify in writing the owner of the landmark and interested parties specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 5865. The department may reclaim a California natural landmark plaque when a landmark is removed from the California Registry of Natural Landmarks.

(Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 827, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2007.)