(a) Every railroad corporation is granted the right, subject to subdivision (b), to take from any of the lands belonging to the state, adjacent to the works of the corporation, all materials, such as wood, stone, and earth, naturally appurtenant thereto, which may be necessary and convenient for the construction of its works and adjuncts.

(b)  Except as specified in subdivision (c), before a railroad corporation may take the materials specified in subdivision (a), the railroad corporation shall enter into an agreement with the Department of General Services to reimburse the state for the full value of the removed materials. The agreement shall contain a provision requiring the railroad corporation to return the land and timber to the natural state which existed prior to the removal of the materials, to the extent it is reasonable to do so, if the Department of General Services determines that requirement to be appropriate.

Terms Used In California Public Utilities Code 7552

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Public Utilities Code 17
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Public Utilities Code 10

(c) A railroad corporation may take the materials specified in subdivision (a) without previously entering into the agreement specified in subdivision (b) if the railroad takes these materials for the purpose of reopening a rail line which was closed due to an unforseeable or unexpected event. However, within 30 days after reopening the rail line, the railroad corporation shall enter into an agreement with the Department of General Services to reimburse the state for the full value of the removed materials.

(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 325, Sec. 1.)