(a) Notwithstanding Article 3 (commencing with Section 43500) or this article, a small city which operates a solid waste landfill, as defined in Section 40195.1, in Kings County, that is operational and, as of January 1, 1991, has been granted all required permits, is not required to submit a postclosure maintenance plan or to provide a fund for postclosure maintenance pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 43500) or this article, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The city has a population of less than 20,000 persons.

(2) The solid waste landfill receives less than 20,000 tons of solid waste per year.

(3) The water table of the highest aquifer under the solid waste landfill is 250 or more feet below the base of the solid waste landfill and the water in the highest aquifer is not potable.

(4) The solid waste landfill receives less than an average of 12 inches of rainfall per year.

(5) The solid waste landfill is closed in compliance with all state closure testing requirements at the time of closure.

(b) The exemption in subdivision (a) from the requirement to submit a postclosure maintenance plan shall become inoperative on the effective date of the federal regulations set forth in Subpart F (commencing with Section 258.60) of Part 258 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and the exemption in subdivision (a) from the requirement to provide a fund for postclosure maintenance shall become inoperative on the effective date of the federal regulations set forth in Subpart G (commencing with Section 258.70) of Part 258 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1041, Sec. 16. Effective January 1, 1997.)