ARTICLE 6. Appeals and Review [3350. - 3359.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 6.

in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3350. Section 3350.

(a) The operator of a well or a production facility to whom the supervisor or district deputy has issued an order pursuant to this chapter may file a notice of appeal from that order. The notice of appeal shall be in writing and shall be filed with the director. The operator shall file the appeal within 10 days of the service of the order, or within 10 days of the posting of a copy of an order made pursuant to Section 3308. Failure of the operator to file an appeal from the order within the 10-day period shall be a waiver by the operator of its rights to challenge the order. If the order, other than an order made pursuant to Section 3308, is served by mail, the time for responding shall be determined as provided in Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (b) (1) The filing of a written notice of appeal shall operate as a stay of the order, except when an order is issued as an emergency order pursuant to Section 3226. If the order is an emergency order, the operator shall immediately perform whatever work is required by the order to alleviate the emergency or shall permit the agents appointed by the supervisor to perform that work. If the order is an emergency order to cease injection, then the operator shall cease injection as soon as it is safe to do so. (2) If an emergency order is set aside or modified on appeal, the supervisor shall refund the reasonable costs incurred by the operator for whatever work is not required by the set-aside or modified order or shall not impose costs for work performed by the supervisor or the supervisor’s agents if the work is excluded from the modified order or the order is set aside. Only the costs of work performed shall be refunded, and there shall be no reimbursement for lost profits or increased production costs. (3) (A) The costs to be refunded pursuant to paragraph (2) by the supervisor shall be determined in a hearing before the director after the exhaustion of appeals. The operator shall have the burden of proving the amount of costs to be refunded. (B) A determination by the director as to the amount of costs to be refunded pursuant to paragraph (2) may be appealed by the operator pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 3354. (4) If the operator believes that it will be irretrievably injured by the performance of the work required to alleviate the emergency pending the outcome of the appeal, the operator may seek an order from the appropriate superior court restraining the enforcement of the order pending the outcome of the appeal.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3351. Section 3351.

(a) A hearing shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code only in an appeal from an order in the following circumstances: (1) Issued pursuant to a Section 3237 finding that the operator’s wells are deserted and should be plugged and abandoned. (2) Imposing civil penalties totaling more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). (3) Rescinding an entire injection project approval for a project that has already commenced. (4) Imposing a life-of-well bond or a life-of-production facility bond. (b) An order issued pursuant to Section 3225 shall satisfy the substantive requirements of an accusation pursuant to Section 11503 of the Government Code and may be filed when scheduling a formal hearing in accordance with this chapter and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. All applicable formal hearing deadlines do not commence until a formal hearing is scheduled. When scheduling a formal hearing after an appeal from an order under this chapter, the supervisor is not required to send a Notice of Defense statement and the operator is not required to request a hearing. (c) For an appeal of an order that is not described in subdivision (a), a hearing shall be conducted by the director in accordance with Sections 3352 and 3353. (d) For an appeal of an order that is described in subdivision (a) and is also an emergency order, a hearing shall be conducted by the director in accordance with Sections 3352 and 3353 for the limited purpose of considering the reasonableness of the supervisor’s determination that an emergency exists. All other penalties and requirements imposed by the order shall be considered at a hearing provided in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3352. Section 3352.

(a) A hearing conducted by the director shall adhere to the following: (1) When an order is not issued as an emergency order, within 30 days from the date of the service of the notice of appeal, the director shall provide to the operator notice of the time and place of the hearing. The hearing shall take place within 30 days after the date of the director’s notice. The notice shall inform the operator that the director may extend the date of the hearing for up to 60 days for good cause upon his or her own motion, or an application of the operator or the supervisor. (2) When an order has been issued as an emergency order, within 10 days from the date of the service of the notice of appeal, the director shall provide to the operator notice of the time and place of the hearing. The hearing shall take place within 20 days after the date of the director’s notice. The notice shall inform the operator that the director may extend the date of the hearing for up to 30 days for good cause upon his or her own motion, or an application of the operator or the supervisor. (b) The director shall conduct the hearing within the district where the majority of the wells or production facilities that are the subject of the order are located, or the hearing may be conducted at a location outside of that district upon application of the operator. The hearing shall be reported by a stenographic reporter. (c) The notice of hearing shall inform the operator of its right to file a written answer to the charges no later than 10 days before the date of the hearing. The notice also shall inform the operator that it has the right to present oral and documentary evidence at the hearing. (d) Upon a verified and timely petition of the operator, the director may order the testimony of a witness at the hearing. The petition shall be served upon the director and the other party within five days after the filing of an appeal and shall set forth the name and address of the witness whose testimony is requested, to the extent known; a showing of the materiality of the testimony; and a showing that the witness cannot be compelled to testify absent an order of the director. The supervisor may file an opposition to the petition within five days after the petition is served. The director shall either deny or grant the petition within 10 days after receipt of the petition. Upon granting a petition, the director shall issue a subpoena pursuant to Section 3357 compelling the testimony of the witness at the hearing. Obtaining subpoenas may be considered good cause to extend the date of the hearing under paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a). (e) The director may convert a hearing pursuant to this section to a formal hearing conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code in any of the following circumstances: (1) The operator makes a showing satisfactory to the director that the order being appealed is likely to result in termination of an established oil or gas producing or injection operation. (2) It appears to the director that the hearing will involve complex evidentiary or procedural issues that will cause more than minimal delay or burdens. (3) The operator and the supervisor agree and stipulate to convert the hearing to a formal hearing. (f) The conversion of a hearing pursuant to this section to a formal hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Article 15 (commencing with Section 11470.10) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. If a hearing for an appeal of an emergency order is converted to a formal hearing, the supervisor shall endeavor to schedule and notice a formal emergency hearing as soon as reasonably possible and, notwithstanding Section 11517 of the Government Code, the director shall only have 30 days from receipt of the administrative law judge’s proposed emergency hearing decision to act as prescribed in subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 11517 of the Government Code. (g) The director or his or her designee shall permit inconspicuous personal recording devices to be used by persons during a hearing pursuant to this section to make sound recordings as personal notes of the proceedings. A person proposing to use a recording device shall provide advance notice to the director or his or her designee. The recordings may not be used for any purpose other than as personal notes.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3353. Section 3353.

(a) Within 30 days after the close of a hearing conducted by the director, the director shall issue a written decision affirming, setting aside, or modifying the order from which the appeal was taken. The director’s written decision shall be based upon the preponderance of the evidence and shall set forth the director’s factual findings, legal conclusions, and rationale for the result. The director may extend the 30-day period for issuing the written decision if the extension is agreed to by the operator. (b) The director shall file the written decision with the supervisor and serve it on the operator as soon as the decision is complete, at which time the decision shall be deemed final. The director’s decision shall supersede the order of the supervisor from which the appeal was made. If the director affirms or modifies the order, the director shall retain jurisdiction until the operator completes the work required to be performed by the order.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3354. Section 3354.

(a) Following a hearing conducted by the director pursuant to Sections 3352 and 3353 or subdivision (b) of Section 3350, the operator may obtain judicial review of the decision of the director by filing a petition for writ of administrative mandamus in the superior court of the county where the division’s district office from which the order was issued is located. The operator shall file the petition within 30 days after the date the operator was served with the decision. (b) Following a hearing conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the operator may obtain judicial review of the decision pursuant to Section 11523 of the Government Code.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3355. Section 3355.

When an operator seeks judicial review of a decision of the director, including a decision following a hearing conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the court shall hear the cause on the record before the director or an administrative law judge. New or additional evidence shall not be introduced in court. The court’s inquiry shall extend to whether the director acted without or in excess of jurisdiction, whether there was a fair hearing, and whether there is any prejudicial abuse of discretion. Abuse of discretion is established if the administrative proceeding has not been conducted in the manner required by law, the decision is not supported by the findings, or the findings are not supported by substantial evidence in light of the whole record.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3356. Section 3356.

(a) If the operator does not appeal an order, if the operator does not timely seek judicial review of a decision affirming or modifying an order within the time provided in Section 3354, or if the operator has timely sought and obtained judicial review and the court has affirmed the decision, then any charge, including penalty and interest, that the decision permits the supervisor to impose on the operator for work performed by the supervisor or the supervisor’s agents, and any civil penalties imposed under Section 3236.5 shall constitute a state tax lien against the real and personal property of the operator pursuant to Section 3423. (b) In addition to a state tax lien, the supervisor may apply to the appropriate superior court for a clerk’s judgment. The application, which shall include a certified copy of the final agency order or decision, shall constitute a sufficient showing to warrant the issuance of the judgment. The court clerk shall enter the judgment immediately in conformity with the application. The judgment so entered shall have the same force and effect as, and shall be subject to all the provisions of law relating to, a judgment in a civil action, and may be enforced in the same manner as any other judgment of the court.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3357. Section 3357.

(a) In any proceeding before the director, and in any proceeding instituted by the supervisor for the purpose of enforcing or carrying out the provisions of this division, or for the purpose of holding an investigation to ascertain the condition of any well or wells complained of, or which in the opinion of the supervisor may reasonably be presumed to be improperly located, drilled, operated, maintained, or conducted, the supervisor and the director shall have the power to administer oaths and may apply to a judge of the superior court of the county in which the proceeding or investigation is pending for subpoenas for witnesses to attend the proceeding or investigation. Upon the application of the supervisor or the director, the judge of the superior court shall assign a case number for the proceeding or investigation, shall issue an order prescribing the nature and scope of the proceeding or investigation, and shall retain jurisdiction for the limited purpose of enforcing subpoenas issued in the proceeding or investigation. Upon the assigning of a case number, the attorney of record for the supervisor or director may issue subpoenas directing witnesses to attend the proceeding or investigation, and those persons shall be required to produce, when directed, all records, surveys, documents, books, or accounts in the witness’ custody or under the witness’ control; except that no person shall be required to attend upon the proceeding unless the person resides within the same county or within 100 miles of the place of attendance. The attorney of record for the supervisor or the director may in that case cause the depositions of witnesses residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in superior courts of this state under Title 4 (commencing with Section 2016.010) of Part 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and may issue subpoenas compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of records, surveys, documents, books, or accounts at designated places within the limits prescribed in this section. (b) (1) In conducting a proceeding or investigation specified in subdivision (a), the supervisor or director may require an owner or operator to furnish, under penalty of perjury, technical or monitoring reports that the supervisor or director requires. The burden, including costs, of any report shall bear a reasonable relationship to the need for the report and the benefits to be obtained from the report. In requiring a report, the supervisor or director shall explain in writing to the owner or operator the need for the report, and shall identify the rationale that supports requiring that owner or operator to provide the report. (2) When requested by the owner or operator furnishing the report, neither the division nor the department shall make available to the public for inspection portions of a report that might disclose trade secrets, well data granted confidential status pursuant to Section 3234, or other confidential or privileged information. The division or department shall make that confidential or privileged information available to other public agencies as needed for regulatory purposes and in accordance with a written agreement with the other public agency regarding the sharing of the information. (c) In conducting a proceeding or investigation pursuant to subdivision (a), the supervisor or director, or his or her inspector, may inspect the well site or production facilities of any owner or operator to ascertain whether the owner or operator is complying with the requirements of, or authorized by, this division. The inspection shall be made with the consent of the owner or operator or, if consent is withheld, with a warrant duly issued pursuant to the procedure set forth in Title 13 (commencing with Section 1822.50) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. In the event of an emergency affecting the public health or safety, an inspection may be performed without consent or a warrant. This subdivision is in addition to any other inspection authority granted or authorized by this division.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3358. Section 3358.

Witnesses shall be entitled to receive the fees and mileage fixed by law in civil causes, payable from the Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Administrative Fund.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 3359. Section 3359.

In case of the failure or neglect on the part of any person to comply with any order of the supervisor or the director, or any subpoena, or upon the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which he may lawfully be interrogated, or upon refusal or neglect to appear and attend at any proceeding or hearing on the day specified, after having received a written notice of not less than 10 days prior to such proceeding or hearing, or upon his failure, refusal, or neglect to produce books, papers, or documents as demanded in the order or subpoena upon such day, such failure, refusal, or neglect shall constitute a misdemeanor. Each day’s further failure, refusal, or neglect is a separate and distinct offense. The district attorney of the county in which the proceeding, hearing, or investigation is to be held, shall prosecute any person guilty of violating this section by continuous prosecution until the person appears or attends or produces such books, papers, or documents, or complies with the subpoena or order of the supervisor or the director.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026