California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 25794.10

(a) The executive director shall charge and collect a reasonable fee from the department upon the submittal of an application pursuant to this article to cover the estimated actual cost of reviewing an application. The department shall submit a deposit along with the application that does not exceed 3 percent of the estimated capital cost of the proposed facility.

(b) The commission staff shall separately account for the deposit collected and the charges incurred in the review of the application. The status of the account shall be provided to the department at regular intervals established by mutual agreement. The executive director shall request additional deposits if the initial deposit has been exhausted.

(c) A final accounting shall be rendered by the commission staff after the commission has reached a final decision on the application. If, in the final accounting, the deposits exceed the actual costs incurred by the commission, the excess shall be refunded. If the actual costs exceed the amount of the deposits, the department shall be billed for the difference.

(d) The executive director may adjust or waive deposits for minor projects. For facilities with an estimated capital cost that exceeds one million dollars ($1,000,000), the executive director shall permit payment of the deposit in increments, as determined by the executive director.