(a) The state board may establish a reasonable fee schedule to cover the costs incurred by the state board and the regional boards in connection with any certificate that is required or authorized by any federal law with respect to the effect of any existing or proposed facility, project, or construction work upon the quality of waters of the state, including certificates requested by applicants for a federal permit or license pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, and certificates requested pursuant to Section 169 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, with respect to water pollution control facilities.

(b) In providing for the recovery of costs incurred by the state board and regional board pursuant to this section, the state board may include in the fee schedule, but is not limited to including, the costs incurred in reviewing applications for certificates, prescribing terms of certificates and monitoring requirements, enforcing and evaluating compliance with certificates and monitoring requirements, conducting monitoring and modeling, analyzing laboratory samples, reviewing documents prepared for the purpose of regulating activities subject to certificates, and administrative costs incurred in connection with carrying out these actions. The costs of reviewing applications for certificates include, but are not limited to, the costs incurred in anticipation of the filing of an application for a certificate, including participation in any prefiling consultation, and investigation or studies to evaluate the impacts of the proposed activity.

(c) (1) The fee schedule may provide for payment of a single fee in connection with the filing of an application, or for periodic or annual fees, as appropriate to the type of certificate issued and the activity authorized by the certificate.

(2) The fee schedule authorized by this section may impose a fee upon any of the following:

(A) Any person who files an application for a certificate.

(B) Any person who files with the state board or a regional board a notice of intent to file an application for a certificate, or who files with a federal agency a notice of intent to apply for a federal permit or license for which a certificate will be required under Section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

(C) Any person holding a federal permit or license for which a certificate has been issued.

(D) Any person required to send a notice of intent to the state board or a regional board to proceed with an activity permitted by a general permit subject to certification under Section 13160.

(d) (1) If the state board establishes a fee schedule pursuant to this section, the state board shall adopt the fee schedule by emergency regulation. The state board shall set the amount of total revenues collected each year through the fee authorized by this section at an amount equal to the revenue levels set forth in the annual Budget Act for this activity. The state board shall review and revise the fee each fiscal year as necessary to conform with the revenue levels set forth in the annual Budget Act. If the state board determines that the revenue collected during the preceding year was greater than, or less than, the revenue levels set forth in the annual Budget Act, the state board may further adjust the annual fees to compensate for the over or under collection of revenue.

(2) The emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this subdivision, any amendment thereto, or subsequent adjustments to the annual fees, shall be adopted by the state board in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The adoption of these regulations is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, any emergency regulations adopted by the state board, or adjustments to the annual fees made by the state board pursuant to this section, shall remain in effect until revised by the state board.

(e) Any fees collected pursuant to this section in connection with certificates for activities involving hydroelectric power projects subject to licensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall be deposited in the Water Rights Fund.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 741, Sec. 96. Effective January 1, 2004.)