Existing law regulates the construction and operation of dams and exempts certain structures for these purposes. Existing law exempts certain wastewater treatment and storage ponds constructed as part of a wastewater control facility, as provided, from the requirements for state regulation and supervision of the safety of dams.
This bill would additionally exempt from the requirements for state regulation and supervision of the safety of dams certain water storage facilities, structures, and activities associated with an energy storage system facility located in the County of Kern, as specified, that uses compressed air technology and meets certain criteria, including, among other things, a maximum water pool height of 25 feet or less from the final engineered grade, a maximum storage capacity of 1,500 acre-feet or less, and supervision of the design and construction by a registered civil engineer.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Kern.

Statutes affected:
06/23/25 - Amended Senate: 6025.5 WAT, 6025.5 WAT
07/17/25 - Amended Senate: 6025.5 WAT