This is a message from the State Water Resources Control Board
NOTICE OF STAFF-LEVEL PUBLIC WORKSHOP AND
BOARD CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION
PROPOSED STATEWIDE MUNICIPAL STORMWATER PERMIT
AND TIME SCHEDULE ORDER
FOR THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) staff will hold a public workshop to provide interested parties information regarding the proposed statewide National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit reissuance and the proposed Time Schedule Order for the California Department of Transportation (Department). The workshop will be held remotely as follows:
Thursday, June 2, 2022; 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Video and Teleconference Only
No Physical Meeting Location
Video Webcast: https://video.calepa.ca.gov/
During the staff-level public workshop, staff will present information regarding the proposed permit and time schedule order, including revisions to the draft permit after consideration of public comments. The workshop will be conducted through an interactive Zoom meeting and through webcast. The webcast should be used unless you intend to ask questions or request clarification regarding the proposed permit and time schedule order. No new evidence or comments will be accepted by staff at the workshop. Information regarding how to participate in the workshop is located on the Caltrans Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Program webpage (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/caltrans.html).
NOTICE IS ADDITIONALLY HEREBY GIVEN that the State Water Board will consider adoption of the proposed permit and time schedule order at the regularly scheduled Board meeting on:
Wednesday, June 22, 2022; 9:30 a.m.
IN PERSON PARTICIPATION
Coastal Hearing Room – Second Floor
Joe Serna Jr. – CalEPA Headquarters Building
1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA. 95814
VIDEO AND TELECONFERENCE OPTION
The meeting will occur with both a physical meeting location (shown above) and an option for the public to participate from a remote location.
For those who only wish to watch the meeting, the webcast remains available at either:https://www.youtube.com/user/BoardWebSupport/ or https://video.calepa.ca.gov/ (closed captioning available). Please use the webcast option UNLESS you intend to comment.
For members of the public who wish to provide oral public comment or a presentation to the Board from a remote location, additional information regarding participating telephonically or via the remote meeting solution is available here:https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/remote_meeting/.
BACKGROUND
The federal Clean Water Act requires that stormwater discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems be regulated by an NPDES permit. The State Water Board regulates the California Department of Transportation’s stormwater discharges under an existing statewide NPDES Phase I municipal stormwater permit.[1] The State Water Board adopted the existing statewide permit on September 19, 2012. The existing permit is expired and has been administratively extended until the effective date of a new reissued permit. State Water Board staff has developed the: (1) proposed permit to supersede the existing permit, and (2) proposed time schedule order to provide the Department through December 31, 2034, to comply with TMDL-related requirements in the proposed permit.
The proposed permit incorporates the following major changes from the existing permit:
1. New requirements implementing the statewide Trash Provisions;
2. New and clarified requirements implementing Regional Water Quality Control Board-adopted total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) applicable to the Department’s stormwater discharges;
3. New requirement for the Department’s development and implementation of a statewide TMDL Compliance Plan, demonstrating compliance with 63 TMDLs by December 31, 2034;
4. Removal of the existing TMDL compliance unit tracking process;
5. Reduced trigger for required implementation of post-construction best management practices to treat new impervious surfaces, from one-acre or greater, to 10,000 square feet or greater;
6. New requirements that prohibit the discharge to surface water of stormwater runoff that contacts pavement grindings;
7. Replacement of discharge characterization monitoring requirements with requirements for participation in applicable regional monitoring programs; addition of compliance monitoring options to allow group monitoring, representative monitoring, modeling, use of best management practice effectiveness data, and other options.
8. Revised requirements for an asset management plan that builds upon the Department’s existing asset management process.
The proposed time schedule order provides interim and final milestones for the Department to comply with 63 Regional Water Quality Control Board-adopted TMDLs by December 31, 2034. The proposed time schedule order:
2. Includes three-year interim milestones for the Department to demonstrate compliance with TMDL-related requirements;
3. Requires the Department to hold annual coordination meetings with State and Regional Water Board staff to discuss compliance progress; and
4. Requires the Department to submit a Final TMDL Compliance Report six months after the final compliance deadline of December 31, 2034.
DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY
The proposed permit, the proposed time schedule order, the draft Response to Comments document, and other information corresponding to the items addressed in this notice are available on the State Water Board Department of Transportation Stormwater Program page (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/caltrans.html).
PROCEDURAL MATTERS
Due to ongoing circumstances related to the COVID pandemic, the State Water Board meeting will include an option for interested parties to participate remotely.
During the State Water Board meeting, there will be no sworn testimony or cross-examination of participants. However, the State Water Board and its staff may ask clarifying questions. In-person and remote participants will be given an opportunity to provide oral comments and presentations. No new evidence or written comments will be allowed at the board meeting. To ensure a productive and efficient meeting in which all participants have an opportunity to participate, oral presentations may be time limited. Participants planning to use a PowerPoint presentation during the meeting must submit the file electronically, in .ppt or .pptx format, to the Clerk to the Board via email at commentletters@waterboards.ca.gov no later than June 16, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. (noon). Please indicate in the subject line “PowerPoint Presentation – Caltrans Statewide Stormwater Permit.” Recommendations for PowerPoint presentations are available at the State Water Board presentations page(http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/meetings/board_presentations.shtml).
Instructions for participation, including remote participation, in the Board meeting will be available ten days before the meeting at the State Water Board’s Board Information webpage (https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/), and will also be distributed via email to registered participants.
FUTURE NOTICES
Any person desiring to receive future notices concerning the proposed permit and time schedule order, including any changes to the location, date or time of the public workshop and State Water Board meeting, is encouraged to sign up for the Lyris email list at State Water Board email subscription page(http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.shtml) as follows:
1. Access the State Water Board email subscription web page(http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.shtml),
2. Click the “Water Quality” tab,
3. Check the box for “Stormwater Municipal Permitting Issues,”
4. Fill in the required signup details, and
5. Click the “Subscribe” button.
ACCESSIBILITY
The CalEPA Building is accessible to persons with disabilities. To request language interpretation or other considerations, please submit a request at least 7 business days before the State Water Board meeting (by June 13, 2022). Individuals who require special accommodations are requested to contact Paul Levy by June 13, 2022, at Paul.Levy@waterboards.ca.gov. If you have limitations for hearing or speaking, you may contact the California Relay Service at (800) 735-2929 or voice line at
(800) 735-2922.
For directions to the Joe Serna Jr. – CalEPA Headquarters Building and public parking information, please refer to the map on the State Water Board Web site: (http://www.calepa.ca.gov/headquarters-sacramento/location/).
All visitors to the Joe Serna Jr. – CalEPA Headquarters Building are required to sign in and obtain a badge at the Visitor Services Center located just inside the main entrance (10th Street entrance). Valid picture identification may be required. Please allow up to 15 minutes for receiving security clearance.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please direct questions about this notice, or requests for a paper copy of the proposed Order and Time Schedule Order, to Paul Levy at Paul.Levy@waterboards.ca.gov.
[2][1] Order 2012-0011-DWQ as amended in January 2014, May 2014, April 2015, and November 2017(https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/docs/caltrans/Caltrans_Permit_Final_DIT.pdf)
[1] Order 2012-0011-DWQ as amended in January 2014, May 2014, April 2015, and November 2017(https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/docs/caltrans/Caltrans_Permit_Final_DIT.pdf)