California Code
CHAPTER 6.2 - Certification of Nonfossil-Fueled Powerplants, Energy Storage Facilities, and Related Facilities
Section 25545.5.

25545.5. (a) Within 90 days of the effective date of this chapter, the commission shall, in coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, develop a plan that ensures timely and effective consultation between the commission and the Department of Fish and Wildlife with respect to any proposed commission findings and actions to authorize the take of endangered, threatened, and candidate species pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code) or impacts to fish and wildlife resources pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code. The commission shall also consult with the Department of Fish and Wildlife with respect to any proposed commission findings and actions regarding potential impacts to fish, wildlife, and plant resources and the habitats upon which they depend. The plan shall include a process to ensure that all such take and impacts are consistent with Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1600) of Division 2 of, and Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of, the Fish and Game Code.

(b) Within 90 days of the effective date of this chapter, the commission shall, in coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board, develop a plan that ensures timely and effective consultation between the commission and the State Water Resources Control Board and the applicable regional water quality control board with respect to any proposed commission findings and actions related to discharges of waste that could affect the quality of waters of the state. The plan shall include provisions to ensure that all discharges are consistent with all applicable provisions of Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code.

(c) The commission shall, in coordination with the Department of Toxic Substances Control, develop a plan within 90 days of the effective date of this chapter that ensures timely and effective consultation between the commission and the Department of Toxic Substances Control with respect to any proposed commission findings and actions related to hazardous waste control laws.

(d) (1) For sites and related facilities located in the geographic jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission or the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the commission shall consult with the applicable agency to coordinate processing and sequencing of the applications to expedite the permitting process of those agencies. In areas of the coastal zone covered by a certified local coastal program, the California Coastal Commission shall assume coastal development review authority, using the certified local coastal program as guidance. In the Suisun Marsh Secondary Management Area and the portions of the Primary Management Area with a local protection program, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission shall assume permitting authority for processing and issuing marsh development permits using the local protection programs as guidance.

(2) The California Coastal Commission, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the State Water Resources Control Board, the applicable regional water quality control boards, the applicable local air quality management districts, or the Department of Toxic Substances Control, as applicable, shall take final action on the eligible facility within 90 days after the certification by the commission of the environmental impact report for the site and related facilities, if the applicant has filed a complete, final application for a permit or waste discharge requirement, as applicable, with those agencies before the certification of the environmental impact report.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 61, Sec. 4. (AB 205) Effective June 30, 2022.)