BILL ANALYSIS Ó
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1260|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CONSENT
Bill No: SB 1260
Author: Allen (D)
Amended: 4/11/16
Vote: 21
SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/20/16
AYES: Wieckowski, Gaines, Bates, Hill, Jackson, Leno, Pavley
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT: Storm water: municipalities: online resource
center
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill requires the State Water Resources Control
Board (SWRCB) to establish an online resource center that
addresses measures available for municipalities to comply with
municipal storm water permit requirements and authorizes the
inclusion of certain information.
ANALYSIS: Existing law under the federal Clean Water Act and
the state Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act:
1)Charges the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US
EPA) and SWRCB with the regulation and protection of water
quality.
2)Prohibits the discharge of pollutants to surface waters unless
the discharger obtains a permit from SWRCB.
3)Establishes the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit program requiring the SWRCB and the nine
California regional water quality control boards to prescribe
SB 1260
Page 2
waste discharge requirements which, among other things,
regulate the discharge of pollutants in storm water, including
municipal storm water systems.
4)Requires SWRCB, no later than July 1, 2009, to develop a
comprehensive guidance document for evaluating and measuring
the effectiveness of municipal storm water management programs
and permits, as prescribed.
This bill requires SWRCB to establish an online resource center
that addresses measures available for municipalities to comply
with municipal storm water permit requirements and authorizes
the inclusion of certain information.
Background
1)Municipal storm water requirements.
The Municipal Storm Water Permitting Program regulates storm
water discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems
(MS4s). Storm water is runoff from rain or snow melt that
runs off surfaces such as rooftops, paved streets, highways or
parking lots and can carry with it pollutants such as: oil,
pesticides, herbicides, sediment, trash, bacteria and metals.
The runoff can then drain directly into a local stream, lake
or bay. Often, the runoff drains into storm drains which
eventually drain untreated into a local waterbody.
Additionally, municipal or urban areas commonly include large
impervious surfaces which contribute to an increase in runoff
flow, velocity and volume. As a result, streams are
hydrologically impacted through streambed and channel
scouring, instream sedimentation and loss of aquatic and
riparian habitat. In addition to hydrological impacts, large
impervious surfaces contribute to greater pollutant loading,
resulting in turbid water, nutrient enrichment, bacterial
contamination, and increased temperature and trash.
MS4 permits were issued in two phases.
Under Phase I, which started in 1990, the Regional Water
Quality Control Boards have adopted National Pollutant
SB 1260
Page 3
Discharge Elimination System General Permit (NPDES) storm
water permits for medium (serving between 100,000 and 250,000
people) and large (serving 250,000 people) municipalities.
Most of these permits are issued to a group of co-permittees
encompassing an entire metropolitan area. These permits are
reissued as the permits expire. The Phase I MS4 permits
require the discharger to develop and implement a Storm Water
Management Plan/Program with the goal of reducing the
discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable
(MEP). MEP is the performance standard specified in Section
402(p) of the Clean Water Act. The management programs
specify what best management practices (BMPs) will be used to
address certain program areas. The program areas include
public education and outreach; illicit discharge detection and
elimination; construction and post-construction; and good
housekeeping for municipal operations. In general, medium and
large municipalities are required to conduct monitoring.
On April 30, 2003 as part of Phase II, the SWRCB issued a
General Permit for the Discharge of Storm Water from Small
MS4s to provide permit coverage for smaller municipalities
(population less than 100,000), including non-traditional
Small MS4s, which are facilities such as military bases,
public campuses, prison and hospital complexes. The Phase II
Small MS4 General Permit covers Phase II Permittees statewide.
On February 5, 2013 the Phase II Small MS4 General Permit was
adopted and will become effective on July 1, 2013.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: No
SUPPORT: (Verified5/10/16)
Association of California Water Agencies
Clean Water Action
City of Santa Monica
Santa Clara Valley Water District
SB 1260
Page 4
OPPOSITION: (Verified5/10/16)
None received
Prepared by:Rachel Wagoner / E.Q. / (916) 651-4108
5/11/16 15:12:44
**** END ****