(a)

1. (1) Notwithstanding any other law, this article and Article 3 (commencing with Section 25545), as it pertains to the handling of hazardous material, and Article 2 (commencing with Section 25531), as it pertains to the regulation of stationary sources, may be implemented by a duly authorized designee of the secretary and shall be implemented by either of the following:

   1. (A) If there is a CUPA, the unified program agency.
   2. (B) If there is no CUPA, the agency authorized pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 25404.3.
2. (2) To carry out the purposes of this chapter, any duly authorized designee of the secretary shall have all of the same authorities as those provided to a unified program agency in a unified program agency’s implementation of this article and Article 2 (commencing with Section 25531).