(a)
Except as provided in Section 5872, a potential California natural landmark shall be identified only in the following manner:
(1)
An owner may request the department to designate his or her property as a California natural landmark. If the designation is proposed to apply to multiple properties, the proposal shall include the written consent of the owners of all included properties.
(2)
(A)Upon the owner initiating a request pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall prepare an estimate of the cost of studies to determine whether the property qualifies as a California natural landmark; the department’s costs, including administrative and staffing costs, in determining whether to designate the property as a California natural landmark; and any other costs attributed to making those determinations. The department shall also prepare a list of scientists qualified to do any studies required to determine whether the property should be designated as a California natural landmark. The list shall include both scientists employed by the state and scientists not employed by the state. A qualified scientist shall be familiar with the natural region and its types of biological and geological features.
(B)
The revenues collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Natural Landmarks Program Administration Fund, which is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury. The department may expend the moneys in the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purpose of administering the California Natural Landmarks Program.
(3)
(A)An owner who initiates a request to designate his or her property as a California natural landmark is responsible for all costs of determining whether the property qualifies for that designation, as well as any costs of actual designation, including the costs of the department.
(B)
(i)If the owner accepts the estimate prepared pursuant to paragraph (2), and wishes to continue with the request for his or her property to be designated as a California natural landmark, he or she shall agree in writing to pay the costs estimated by the department pursuant to paragraph (2) and choose a scientist from the list prepared by the department pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) to do any required studies. The department may require the owner to post security for costs he or she has agreed in writing to pay pursuant to this section.
(ii)
The owner may at any time cancel his or her request for California natural landmark designation and any studies being conducted pursuant to that request, and is responsible only for costs incurred in pursuit of that designation prior to the cancellation. If the owner cancels his or her request for California natural landmark designation, or the designation is denied, information already submitted or developed at the expense of the owner shall be returned to him or her.
(b)
(1)The department, as well as any scientist performing studies required by the department to make a determination of whether to designate property as a California natural landmark, shall obtain the owner’s permission before entering the owner’s property for purposes of this chapter, except when the property is publicly owned and open to the public. The owner shall not unreasonably withhold permission.
(2)
The department may make a determination regarding the property, required by this chapter, using other information, including information that was previously gathered by other federal or California agencies or gained from other scientific studies. The department shall notify the owner if it makes a determination regarding his or her property from existing information that does not require the department to enter the owner’s property.