California · Health and Safety Code - HSC
HSC §78675: (a) A person shall not release, or allow or cause a release of, a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance into the environment that is not authorized or permitted pursuant to state law.
Read the full statutory text
(a) A person shall not release, or allow or cause a release of, a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance into the environment that is not authorized or permitted pursuant to state law. (b) Any release of a reportable quantity of hazardous substance shall be reported to the department in writing within 30 days of discovery, unless any of the following apply: (1) The release is permitted or in the permit process. (2) The release is authorized by state law. (3) The release requires immediate reporting to the Office of Emergency Services pursuant to Section 11002 or 11004 of Title 42 of the United States Code, or pursuant to Section 25510. (4) The release has previously been reported to the department or the Office of Emergency Services. (5) The release occurred prior to January 1, 1994. (c) For the purposes of this article, “reportable quantity” means either of the following: (1) The quantity of a hazardous substance established in Part 302 (commencing with Section 302.1) of Subchapter J of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the release of which requires notification pursuant to that part. (2) Any quantity of a hazardous substance that is not reportable pursuant to paragraph (1), but that may pose a significant threat to public health and safety or to the environment. The department may establish guidelines for determining which releases are reportable under this paragraph.
Verify at the official source: California legislative text
Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.
MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.
This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.