SECTIONS 3780-3787 - California Statutes

PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE

SECTION 3780-3787

3780. As used in this chapter, an "oil sump" is any open depression
or basin in the ground, whether manmade or natural, which contains
oil or a combination of oil and water.

3781. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that it is
essential in order to protect the wildlife resources of California
that all hazardous exposed oil sumps in this state be either screened
or eliminated.

3782. The supervisor shall promulgate rules and regulations for the
adequate screening of oil sumps to protect wildlife and shall order
the closure of any oil and gas production operation maintaining an
exposed or inadequately screened oil sump in violation of such rules
and regulations.

3783. Whenever the supervisor receives notification from the
Department of Fish and Game pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section
1016 of the Fish and Game Code that an oil sump is hazardous to
wildlife, he shall forthwith given written notice of such hazardous
condition to the owner, lessee, operator, or person responsible for
the existence of the condition and set forth the hazardous conditions
as specified by the Department of Fish and Game. The owner, lessee,
operator, or person responsible shall, within 30 days from the date
of such notification, or such longer period as may be mutually agreed
upon by the supervisor, the Department of Fish and Game, and the
owner, lessee, operator, or person responsible, clean up or abate the
condition to the satisfaction of the supervisor and the Department
of Fish and Game. If the owner, lessee, operator, or person
responsible does not clean up or abate the condition to the
satisfaction of the supervisor and the Department of Fish and Game
within the required period of time, the supervisor shall forthwith
order the closure of the oil and gas production operation maintaining
the oil sump.

3784. Whenever the supervisor receives notification from the
Department of Fish and Game pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section
1016 of the Fish and Game Code that an oil sump constitutes an
immediate and grave danger to wildlife, he shall forthwith give
written notice of such immediately dangerous condition to the owner,
lessee, operator, or person responsible for the existence of the
condition and set forth the immediately dangerous condition as
specified by the Department of Fish and Game. The owner, lessee,
operator, or person responsible shall, within 10 days from the date
of such notification, or such longer period as may be mutally agreed
upon pursuant to Section 3784.5 by the supervisor, the Department of
Fish and Game, and the owner, lessee, operator, or person
responsible, clean up or abate the condition to the satisfaction of
the supervisor and the Department of Fish and Game. If the owner,
lessee, operator, or person responsible does not clean up or abate
the condition to the satisfaction of the supervisor and the
Department of Fish and Game within the required period of time, the
supervisor shall forthwith order the closure of the oil and gas
production operation maintaining the oil sump.

3784.5. Extension of the 10-day period specified in Section 3784
may be granted only in cases where the supervisor and the Department
of Fish and Game have determined that screening or elimination of the
oil sump cannot be reasonably accomplished within 10 days.

3785. The supervisor and the Department of Fish and Game shall
develop a joint program to coordinate their respective
responsibilities under this chapter and Section 1016 of the Fish and
Game Code to protect the wildlife resources of the state from the
hazards of exposed oil sumps.

3787. No provision of this chapter shall be construed as a
limitation on the authority and responsibilities of the supervisor
with respect to the enforcement or administration of any provision of
state law which he is authorized or required to enforce or
administer.