As a condition of receiving state funding pursuant to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 17070.10), the governing board of a school district shall comply with subdivision (a), and is not required to comply with subdivision (a) of Section 17213, prior to the acquisition of a schoolsite, or if the school district owns or leases a schoolsite, prior to the construction of a project. (a) Prior to acquiring a schoolsite, the governing board shall contract with an environmental assessor to supervise the preparation of, and sign, a Phase I environmental assessment of the proposed schoolsite unless the governing board decides to proceed directly to a preliminary endangerment assessment, in which case it shall comply with paragraph (4). (1) The Phase I environmental assessment shall contain one of the following recommendations: (A) A further investigation of the site is not required. (B) A preliminary endangerment assessment is needed, including sampling or testing, to determine the following: (i) If a release of hazardous material has occurred and, if so, the extent of the release. (ii) If there is the threat of a release of hazardous materials. (iii) If a naturally occurring hazardous material is present. (2) If the Phase I environmental assessment concludes that further investigation of the site is not required, the signed assessment, proof that the environmental assessor meets the qualifications specified in subdivision (b) of Section 17210, and the renewal fee shall be submitted to the Department of Toxic Substances Control. The Department of Toxic Substances Control shall conduct its review and approval, within 30 calendar days of its receipt of that assessment, proof of qualifications, and the renewal fee. In those instances in which the Department of Toxic Substances Control requests additional information after receipt of the Phase I environmental assessment pursuant to paragraph (3), the Department of Toxic Substances Control shall conduct its review and approval within 30 calendar days of its receipt of the requested additional information. If the Department of Toxic Substances Control concurs with the conclusion of the Phase I environmental assessment that a further investigation of the site is not required, the Department of Toxic Substances Control shall approve the Phase I environmental assessment and shall notify, in writing, the State Department of Education and the governing board of the school district of the approval. (3) If the Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that the Phase I environmental assessment is not complete or disapproves the Phase I environmental assessment, the department shall inform the school district of the decision, the basis for the decision, and actions necessary to secure department approval of the Phase I environmental assessment. The school district shall take actions necessary to secure the approval of the Phase I environmental assessment, elect to conduct a preliminary endangerment assessment, or elect not to pursue the acquisition or the construction project. To facilitate completion of the Phase I environmental assessment, the information required by this paragraph may be provided by telephonic or electronic means. (4) (A) If the Department of Toxic Substances Control concludes after its review of a Phase I environmental assessment pursuant to this section that a preliminary endangerment assessment is needed, the Department of Toxic Substances Control shall notify, in writing, the State Department of Education and the governing board of the school district of that decision and the basis for that decision. The school district shall submit to the State Department of Education the Phase I environmental assessment and requested additional information, if any, that was reviewed by the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to that subparagraph. Submittal of the Phase I assessment and additional information, if any, to the State Department of Education shall be prior
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