California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 71030

(a) On or before December 31, 1994, the secretary shall adopt regulations establishing an expedited appeals process by which a petitioner or applicant may appeal any failure by an environmental agency to take timely action on the issuance or denial of an environmental permit in accordance with the time limits established pursuant to Section 71022 or Section 25199.6 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) If the secretary finds that the time limits under appeal have been violated without good cause, the secretary shall establish a date certain by which the environmental agency shall act on the permit application with adequate provision for the requirements of subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 71022, and provide for the full reimbursement of any filing or permit processing fees paid by the applicant to the environmental agency for the permit application under appeal. For purposes of this section, “good cause” shall have the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 15376 of the Government Code.

(c) The determination of the secretary on an appeal shall be based only on procedural violations, including, but not limited to, the exceeding of time limits, not on any nonprocedural matter with regard to the environmental permit application or the environmental permit.

(d) In cases of a violation of time limits set pursuant to Section 71022, the determination of the secretary to order a reimbursement of any application filing fee pursuant to the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall only be applicable to the consolidated permit agency or to the participating permit agencies that are in violation of the time limits without showing good cause.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an appeal pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be only for violations of the time limits established pursuant to Section 71022 for those environmental agencies described in subdivisions (c) and (h) of Section 71011.