2000 Accomplishments and Priorities

Regional Water Quality Control Boards

The Regional Water Quality Control Boards work with the State Water Resources Control Board to preserve and enhance the quality of California's water resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Accomplishments during First Half of 2000

1. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL).

   • The North Coast Regional Board prepared draft technical support documents for temperature and sediment TMDLs in the Navarro River. Scoping meetings were held for a proposed region-wide sediment control amendment to the basin plan.

   • The San Francisco Bay Regional Board forwarded to U.S. EPA two TMDL reports covering Bay-wide TMDLs for mercury and invasive species. Implementation plans are being developed.

   • The Central Valley Regional Board initiated two CALFED funded projects related to TMDLs in the Delta; an $800,000 project to determine the principal sources of oxygen depleting substances to the San Joaquin River; and a $3.8 million project to develop information on mercury sources and cycling.

   • San Diego Regional Board staff forwarded to U.S. EPA a diazinon TMDL for Chollas Creek and a nutrient TMDL for Rainbow Creek.

   • Santa Ana Regional Board staff started work on a toxic substances TMDL for Newport Bay and its watershed. This is one of the first urban toxic substances TMDLs to be developed in the country. Meetings with stakeholders have targeted early action on diazinon and chlorpyrifos. Adoption of the TMDL is expected in 2001.

   • Colorado River Basin Regional Board staff drafted an Alamo River Sedimentation/Siltation TMDL in May. Adoption of the TMDL is scheduled for November.

   • Lahontan Region Board staff submitted a technical report to U.S. EPA to justify removal of Pine Creek in Lassen County from the Section 303(d) list and circulated draft Basin Plan amendments to facilitate delisting nine naturally impaired waters.

2. Cleanups and Restoration Projects.

   • Unocal, Avila Beach. Under requirements from the Central Coast Regional Board, Unocal completed the cleanup of Avila Beach, removing petroleum contamination that leaked from pipelines. Unocal will be rebuilding portions of the town during the second half of 2000.

   • Leviathan Mine. The Lahontan Regional Board was successful in preventing the overflow of acid mine drainage (AMD) into surface waters this past spring. Work continues with pilot project tests and executing contracts for AMD treatment.

   • Bay Area Groundwater Basin Plan Amendments. The San Francisco Bay Regional Board adopted Basin Plan amendments that will assist the Board and responsible parties in prioritizing and addressing groundwater cleanups and protection actions. Issues addressed include the application of drinking water standards at groundwater cleanups and revised groundwater basin definitions.

   • San Diego Bay Toxic Hot Spots. San Diego Regional Board staff identified 15 existing and five proposed waste discharge requirements (WDRs) associated with five toxic hot spots identified under the Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program Consolidated Toxic Hot Spot Cleanup Plan. WDRs have been prioritized for review and will be revised as necessary to prevent further pollution of the hot spots.

   • Guadalupe Oilfield. In response to the Central Coast Regional Board’s order to clean up spilled petroleum products, Unocal completed an excavation of approximately 100,000 cubic yards.

   • San Gabriel Valley Cleanup Efforts. The Los Angeles Regional Board affirmed eight cleanup and abatement orders issued in 1999 to facilities in the Baldwin Park Operable Unit. Responsible parties are required to complete soil assessment, soil cleanup (if warranted), groundwater monitoring, and meet with water purveyors to discuss water supply issues.

   • Dioxins in San Francisco Bay. The San Francisco Bay Regional Board conducted its third major sampling event for dioxins in fish in the spring of 2000 (previous samplings in 1994 and 1997). The Board also addressed dioxin issues in the permits adopted.

   • Geographic Information System (GIS). The Los Angeles Regional Boards implemented a new prioritization scheme to focus efforts on underground storage tank (UST) sites that are closest to drinking water supply wells and surface water bodies. GIS site maps have been created for active UST cases showing proximity to wells, waters, recharge areas, and other UST sites.

   • Salton Sea Restoration. Colorado River Basin Regional Board staff provided comments on the report entitled "Initial Study/Environmental Assessment Enhanced Evaporation Systems Pilot/Demonstration Project, Imperial County, California" issued by the Salton Sea Authority and the Bureau of Reclamation. The project, expected to commence in October, involves the testing of three evaporation systems for a period of approximately two years.

3. MTBE.

   • San Francisco Bay Regional Board staff updated MTBE data in the fuel UST database and issued about 100 formal requests for MTBE data. GIS-based maps showing high-priority MTBE sites were provided to local agencies. Staff also conducted briefing sessions for local implementing agencies and participated in SWRCB briefing sessions for local oversight programs on implementation of the draft guidelines for MTBE cleanup.

   • City of Santa Monica, Arcadia Wellfield. Los Angeles Regional Board staff completed investigations of MTBE contaminant pathways. The Production Aquifer Remediation System (PARS), using activated carbon, was constructed and pumping from production well Arcadia #5 started on May 17.

   • Cambria Water Supplies. The Central Coast Regional Board issued an enforcement order requiring Chevron to develop an alternative water supply for Cambria during the MTBE cleanup.

   • South Lake Tahoe. The Lahontan Regional Board took over cleanup operations at the Tahoe Tom’s gas station when the owner stopped cleanup work because the cost had exceeded the $1 million maximum limit allowed under the UST Cleanup Fund. MTBE threatens three municipal and three smaller wells.

4. Storm Water/Urban Runoff.

   • Huntington Beach Bacterial Investigations. Orange County and a number of cities in Orange County completed the first phase of the "Coastal Runoff Impact Study" in response to an order by the executive officer of the Santa Ana Regional Board. The study concluded that the Talbert Marsh is one of the sources of near-shore bacterial contamination. Additional studies are being conducted.

   • Standard Urban Storm Water Mitigation Plan (SUSMP). In January, the Los Angeles Regional Board adopted a SUSMP covering nine categories of development or redevelopment projects. The 86 municipal storm water permitees in Los Angeles County will have six months to make modifications to their ordinances and 30 days thereafter to implement the requirements. The SWRCB conducted hearings in June on petitions received on the SUSMP.

   • Storm Water Information/Educational Workshops. San Diego Regional Board staff conducted eight workshops on best management practices for construction sites and new developments for 700 attendees.

5. Select Permit Issues.

   • The San Francisco Bay Regional Board adopted eight NPDES permits, five of which for the first time implemented US EPA guidelines for permitting discharges to impaired water bodies that do not have approved TMDLs. Additionally, a Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for the use of shredded tires for road base construction was adopted and the executive officer approved Dublin-San Ramon Services District’s recycling proposal of injecting highly treated wastewater to groundwater, a source of drinking water supplies.

   • The San Diego Regional Board completed the permitting process for the U.S. Navy Milcon Project P-700A, which provides berthing facilities for three Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in San Diego Bay. Additionally, the Regional Board reissued 25 expired NPDES permits.

6. Select Compliance/Enforcement Issues.

   • Timber Harvest Activities: The North Coast Regional Board increased timber harvest enforcement activities and associated preharvest, active and post-harvest inspections on North Coast timberlands.  The following inspections and review meetings were achieved:

   • 75 inspections on lands of the Pacific Lumber Company
   • 189 inspections on other lands
   • 6 inspections on lands of the U.S. Forest Service
   • 112 timber harvest review team meetings

   • The Santa Ana Regional Board issued 17 Administrative Civil Liability Complaints (ACL) for a total of $512,850. The Board was a party to two multi-agency enforcement settlement agreements totaling $2.04 million. Additionally, the Board increased follow-up on provisions of the Regional Board’s General NPDES Permit for dairies by increasing the size of dairy inspection staff from two to six.

   • The San Diego Regional Board issued four ACLs for a total of $4.1 million. These included penalties assessed against the cities of San Diego and Oceanside for sewage spills.

   • The Central Coast Regional Board negotiated a tentative settlement agreement with PG&E regarding alleged permit violations (thermal effects and entrainment issues) of the Diablo Nuclear Plant. A hearing has been scheduled for October 27. Additionally, a $75,000 ACL was issued to the City of Pacific Grove for a 70,000 gallon discharge of raw sewage to the Pacific Ocean.

   • The Los Angeles Regional Board issued eight enforcement orders and eight ACLs for a total of $860,000.

Priorities for Second Half of 2000

1. Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDLs).

   • The North Coast Regional Board plans to consider the TMDL and implementation plan for Redwood Creek in Humboldt County at its September meeting. In addition, staff will finalize the technical support documents for the temperature and sediment TMDLs for the Navarro River for submittal to the U.S. EPA.

   • The Los Angeles Regional Board will consider adoption of three TMDLs: chlorides in Calleguas Creek, trash and litter in the Los Angeles River, and trash and litter in Ballona Creek.

   • The Central Coast Regional Board will consider adoption of the San Lorenzo nutrient TMDL in September.

   • The Lahontan Regional Board will draft Basin Plan amendments to fulfill commitments for TMDLs for Heavenly Valley Creek and Indian Creek Reservoir.

2. Cleanups and Restoration Projects.

   • Leviathan Mine. The Lahontan Regional Board, under an agreement with U.S. EPA, will treat over 10 million gallons of acid mine drainage, optimize the treatment system, revegetate approximately 5 acres and continue with ongoing site maintenance and water quality monitoring.

   • Risk-Based Screening Levels For Polluted Sites. San Francisco Bay Regional Board staff has prepared a draft technical reference document that simplifies its oversight of smaller cleanups. The document presents conservative, risk-based screening levels for over 100 hazardous substances commonly found in polluted soil and groundwater. Board staff will pilot test the document by encouraging preliminary use of the document at a manageable number of sites.

   • San Gabriel Valley Cleanup. The Los Angeles Regional Board will issue seven cleanup and abatement orders for soil assessment and cleanups in the Baldwin Park area. This work is closely coordinated with U.S. EPA efforts conducted under the provisions of the federal Superfund law.

   • San Diego Bay. The San Diego Regional Board will determine final cleanup levels for two San Diego Bay shipyards, Southwest Marine and National Steel and Shipbuilding Company. In November the San Diego Regional Board will submit cleanup plans for four moderate-priority toxic hot spots in San Diego Bay identified under the Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program Consolidated Toxic Hot Spot Cleanup Plan.

3. MTBE.

   • City of Santa Monica, Arcadia Wellfield. The Production Aquifer Remediation System (PARS) will undergo a demonstration test and, if approved for operation by the State Department of Health Services, treated water from Arcadia Wellfield will be routed to the Santa Monica treatment plant for blending with water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District for municipal water supply.

   • South Lake Tahoe. The Lahontan Regional Board will continue corrective actions at the Meyers Beacon gas station using EAR Account funds. The Regional Board plans to complete the investigation of the plume and to deploy a containment plan.

4. Storm Water/Urban Runoff.

   • Santa Ana Region Bacterial Investigations. A number of investigations of the bacterial problems at Huntington Beach and the Upper Santa Ana River are expected to be completed. Municipalities discharging urban runoff into these impacted waterbodies are under orders by the Regional Board to conduct studies to identify and control the sources of bacterial pollution.

   • Flooding of Dairy Areas. The counties of Riverside and San Bernardino and the cities upstream of the Chino-Corona dairy preserve area of the Santa Ana Region will be ordered to investigate the flooding of dairies due to uncontrolled runoff. Urban runoff from the upstream areas routinely floods the dairies during periods of rainfall.

5. Basin Plan Amendments.

   • Salinity Standards on San Joaquin River. Three workshops will be held from mid June through late August to amend the Central Valley Region Basin Plan. Water quality objectives will be established along with an implementation plan for controlling salt inputs to the river. New requirements could apply to a number of water and wastewater agencies.

   • Santa Ana Region. The Santa Ana Regional Board will consider major revisions of water quality objectives and groundwater basin boundaries. These revisions will be proposed in response to a $4 million watershed-wide stakeholder effort to validate basin plan objectives and groundwater basin boundaries that were developed during the early 1970’s.

   • Los Angeles Region. The Los Angeles Regional Board will consider Basin Plan amendments that allow interim limits to be included in NPDES permits, modification of bacteria objectives to achieve consistency with the beach closure requirements of AB 411, and U.S. EPA and chloride objectives for the Santa Clara River

6. Select Permit Issues.

   • The Central Valley Regional Board will consider revisions of the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility NPDES permit in August. Several new issues are involved, including definition of mixing zones, acute toxicity within the mixing zone, protection of benthic organisms, discharges of pollutants into water quality-limited segments, and thermal impacts on aquatic life.

   • The San Diego Regional Board will reissue the municipal storm water permit for San Diego County and a new permit for marinas.

   • The Los Angeles Regional Board plans to develop a new general permit for the drainage of artificial lakes and to conduct a review of existing general permits to determine necessary revisions.

7. International Border Issues. Colorado River Basin Regional Board staff will continue to participate in monthly binational observation tours of the New River and Mexicali area.

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