Local government: pipeline projects: approval.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations, as defined. The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 designates the commission as the state authority responsible for regulating and enforcing intrastate gas pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities pursuant to federal law. Existing law, the Permit Streamlining Act, governs the approval process that a city, county, or city and county is required to follow when approving, among other things, a project that is located within a flood hazard zone, a permit for a hazardous waste facility project, and a permit for construction or reconstruction for a development project for a wireless telecommunications facility. This bill would require a city, county, or city and county to act on an application by a gas corporation that is a public utility for a ministerial pipeline project permit within a public street or highway or any other public right-of-way within 10 business days of determining that an application for the pipeline project, as defined, is complete, except as specified, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.