(a)
Each health risk assessment shall be submitted to the district. The district shall make the health risk assessment available for public review, upon request. After preliminary review of the emissions impact and modeling data, the district shall submit the health risk assessment to the State Department of Health Services for review and, within 180 days of receiving the health risk assessment, the State Department of Health Services shall submit to the district its comments on the data and findings relating to health effects. The district shall consult with the state board as necessary to adequately evaluate the emissions impact and modeling data contained within the risk assessment.
(b)
For the purposes of complying with this section, the State Department of Health Services may select a qualified independent contractor to review the data and findings relating to health effects. The State Department of Health Services shall not select an independent contractor to review a specific health risk assessment who may have a conflict of interest with regard to the review of that health risk assessment. Any review by an independent contractor shall comply with the following requirements:
(1)
Be performed in a manner consistent with guidelines provided by the State Department of Health Services.
(2)
Be reviewed by the State Department of Health Services for accuracy and completeness.
(3)
Be submitted by the State Department of Health Services to the district in accordance with this section.
(c)
The district shall reimburse the State Department of Health Services or the qualified independent contractor designated by the State Department of Health Services pursuant to subdivision (b), within 45 days of its request, for its actual costs incurred in reviewing a health risk assessment pursuant to this section.
(d)
If a district requests the State Department of Health Services to consult with the district concerning any requirement of this part, the district shall reimburse the State Department of Health Services, within 45 days of its request, for the costs incurred in the consultation.
(e)
Upon designation of the high priority facilities, as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 44360, the State Department of Health Services shall evaluate the staffing requirements of this section and may submit recommendations to the Legislature, as appropriate, concerning the maximum number of health risk assessments to be reviewed each year pursuant to this section.