Laws and Regulations

Federal Water Polution Control Act

Summary of the Clean Water Act | Laws & Regulations | US EPA

History of the Clean Water Act | Laws & Regulations | US EPA

United States Code – Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, Chapter 26 – Water Pollution Prevention and Control
(Federal Clean Water Act)

River Law Handout

California Water Code (Link to Entire Code)

Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act – (California Water Code, Division 7. Water Quality)
California is governed by the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. This law assigns overall responsibility for water rights and water quality protection to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and directs the nine statewide Regional Water Quality Control Boards to plan and enforce water quality standards within their boundaries.

Basin Plan for the North Coast Region

Summary/Discussion of Decision Implications of Appellate Court Anti-Degradation Ruling

Questions and Answers – State Water Resources Control Board – Resolution 68-16 (pdf)
State Water Resources Control Board – Resolution No. 68-16 (pdf)

This decision was on based on a Central Valley Dairy WDR (Waste Discharge Order – allowing the discharge of waste that could degrade water quality) which was challenged by environmental groups claiming the order did not follow anti-deg regs.

The State argued that the water was already degraded thus the anti-deg rule did not apply.

The Appeals Court Ruled:

Clearly, under Resolution 68-16, anti-deg rule applies to high quality water (waters meeting Water Quality Standards as of 1968 base line). Thus the anti-deg rule applies in this case. Any discharge that can further degrade water under this permit/action is covered by the anti-deg language and is not permissible.

The court did indicate if some discharge may be allowed if findings are made that Best Practical Treatment will protect water quality – and – that there is monitoring in place that would alert for potential degradation if BPT is not working. However, BPT or sufficient monitoring were not appropriately applied in this case.

Meaning of Ruling:

Anti-deg policy applies to surface and ground water.

Anti-deg policy applies to high quality water (if water was meeting water quality standards recently – or – 1968 baseline) Note: Regional Basin Plan for the North Coast has a more inclusive description of waters to be protected under anti-deg policy.

In cases where water quality is so impaired that anti-deg would not apply – no permits at all should be written.

Compliance with anti-deg policy means the permitting agency shall supply complete and full analysis of water quality conditions and how Best Practical Treatment will prevent degradation, with monitoring as a backup. If a permit says there will be no degradation this statement must be substantiated by the permittor. If monitoring of BPTs is by monitoring – the permittor must take action. Blanket and unsupported statements are not acceptable.

Costs of compliance may be part of analysis – but are not to limit compliance.

Current Dairy WDRs and Waivers (Waivers assume permissible discharge – and are subject to anti-deg as Water Quality Control Plans) are not meeting anti-deg mandates.

Regional Boards should affirm federal designation of Tier 1,2, and 3 waters to help determine water quality condition and protection level.

Language from the Basin Plan (for the North Coast) – Section 3 – Water Quality Objectives

(The Basin plan is legally enforceable).

The water quality objectives contained herein are a compilation of objectives adopted by the State Water Board, the Regional Water Board, and other state and federal agencies. Other water quality objectives and policies may apply that may be more stringent. Whenever several different objectives exist for the same water quality parameter, the strictest objective applies. In addition, the State Water Board “Policy With Respect to Maintaining High Quality Waters in California” also applies. The state policy incorporates the federal Antidegradation Policy, where the federal Antidegradation Policy is applicable.

Controllable water quality factors shall conform to the water quality objectives contained herein. When other factors result in the degradation of water quality beyond the levels or limits established herein as water quality objectives, then controllable factors shall not cause further degradation of water quality. Controllable water quality factors are those actions, conditions, or circumstances resulting from man’s activities that may influence the quality of the waters of the State and that may be reasonably controlled.

Water quality objectives form the basis for establishment of waste discharge requirements, waste discharge prohibitions, or maximum acceptable clean up standards for all individuals and dischargers.

History – Notice of Appeals Court decison

Quite some time ago, the Environmental Law Foundation drafted a Petition to the State Water Board on behalf of this Coalition. We asked the Board to adopt formal procedures to implement the state and federal Anti-Degradation Policy. (I attached the Petition, dated July 2007)

While the State Water Board has done nothing, the Third Appellate District Court just came out with a decision on November 6, 2012 (attached) requiring the Central Valley Regional Board to comply with the state anti-degradation policy (Resolution 68-16) as it pertains to groundwater in a permit regulating 1,600 dairies in the Central Valley Region.

The decision is the first to apply the anti-degradation policy to California’s groundwater. The Court does a beautiful job detailing what is required by the Regional Board to comply with the anti-degradation policy. While the decision is specific to the particular dairies permit, its applicability goes to all discharge permits in California – for both surface and groundwater.