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Victoria Whitney Deputy Director Division of Water Quality State Water Resources Control Board. California’s Water Situation. “But under private water companies—the monopolistic Spring Valley Water Company in particular—the growing gold rush city suffered inadequate water supplies, poor
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Victoria WhitneyDeputy Director Division of Water QualityState Water Resources Control Board
“But under private water companies—the monopolistic Spring Valley Water Company in particular—the growing gold rush city suffered inadequate water supplies, poor Service, and exhorbitant rates. By 1890s it was clear that San Francisco needed to develop a city-owned source of water and electrical power if it would continue to grow. In 1900, as part of its Progressive agenda, San Francisco’s city charter mandated the municipal ownership of ulitities.” --The Human Tradition in California
Amending Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters to addressDesalination Intakes and Brine Discharges AviJagdish, 2nd Grade, 2012 California Coastal Art & Poetry Contest California Coastal Commission
Current Regulations • The 2012 California Ocean Plan does not address intakes or brines discharges from desalination facilities • Desalination facilities are currently regulated under WDRs or NPDES permits by Regional Boards on a project-specific basis
Amend Statewide Water Quality Control Plan • Address desalination intakes and brine disposal (Desal Amendment) in the Ocean Plan • 2012-2013 Board Priority Project • Overarching goal is to use best available science to set standards while building in flexibility for site-specific considerations and future technological advances
Previous Steps Editing Draft SED and Proposed Amendments Public Stakeholder Meeting April 18, 2011 Scoping Meetings June 26, 2007 March 30, 2012 Stakeholder Meeting Jan 30, 2013 Three scientific studies completed and presented at Board Workshop August 22, 2012 Last TR Workplan Adopted March 15, 2011
Project Status Interagency Meetings April 24, 2012 March 12, 2013 May 22, 2013 August 6, 2013 Internal Review of Draft SED and Amendments
Interagency Working Group Goal • Discuss logistical aspects of proposed amendments • Receive input on how State Water Board’s amendments will affect other agencies • Gain additional perspective and change amendments accordingly Agencies
Project Status Interagency Meetings April 24, 2012 March 12, 2013 May 22, 2013 August 6, 2013 Targeted Stakeholder Meetings-2013 June 12- Costa Mesa June 17- San Francisco June 21-Santa Monica June 27-Santa Cruz July 30- San Diego Internal Review of Draft SED and Amendments Expert Review Panel Reconvened April, 2013 Expert Review Panel Public Workshop and Final Report Sept/Oct 2013 Board Informational Item June 4, 2013
Targeted Stakeholder Outreach • Engage specific stakeholder groups in the amendment process • Explain issues considered when drafting the proposed amendments • Listen to interests and concerns stakeholders have regarding key amendment elements • Separate meetings for separate interest groups to promote candor Stakeholder Meetings June-July 2013
Project Workgroup Meetings • State Water Board has been participating in project workgroup meetings for: • scwd2 Santa Cruz/Soquel Creek • West Basin Municipal Water District • Update agencies on project status • Agencies provide information on permitting processes
Next Steps US EPA Submittal and Approval Release of Drafts to the Public and Public Comment Period Public Hearing Fall 2013 Board Meeting/ Adoption Spring 2014 Response to Public Comments Release of Final Drafts Winter 2013 OAL Submittal and Approval
Issues we are researching • Definition of new and existing facilities • (Water Code section 1312.5(b)) • Legal Authority and Budget Authority to collect and spend mitigation fee
Issues we are seeking Board direction on • Exceptions for existing facilities • Compliance schedules (evaluation and compliance) • Raw brine disposal • BAT/rebuttable presumption (feasibility criteria) • Intake screens • Mitigation (to fee or not to fee, that is the ?) • Calculation, credits, migitation preference, oversight
Then what??? • Implementation • Monitoring • Triennial Review • Updates as necessary
Contact Information Vicky Whitney Division of Water Quality (DWQ), Deputy Director • vwhitney@waterboards.ca.gov • (916) 341-5568 Mariela Carpio-Obeso DWQ, Ocean Standards Unit Chief • mcarpio-obeso@waterboards.ca.gov • (916) 341-5858 Erik Ekdahl Division of Financial Assistance, Senior Engineering Geologist • Erik.Ekdahl@waterboards.ca.gov • (916) 341-5877 Shuka Rastegarpour DWQ, Environmental Scientist • srastegarpour@waterboards.ca.gov • (916) 341-5576 Claire Waggoner DWQ, California Sea Grant Fellow • Claire.Waggoner@waterboards.ca.gov • (916) 341-5582