BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1260
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Date of Hearing: June 29, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
SB 1260
(Allen) - As Amended April 11, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the State Water Resources Control Board
(SWRCB) to provide information online regarding compliance with
municipal storm water permits. Specifically, this bill:
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1)Requires SWRCB to establish an online resource center to
include information to assist municipalities in complying with
storm water permit requirements that may include links to the
following: a) relevant state, federal and local agencies; b)
water quality mitigation measures for watershed management;
and c) various regional and local agencies related to storm
water, including but not limited to public works departments
and special districts.
2)Authorizes SWRCB to include in its online resource center, a
library of scientific studies relevant to storm water issues
confronting communities.
FISCAL EFFECT:
SWRCB is currently planning on establishing a similar online
resource within their existing resources. If SWRCB opts to post
links to all public works departments and special districts,
costs would likely be increased by less than $150,000.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. According to the author, recent changes in
California's storm water discharge regulations have made
compliance a major challenge, particularly in Los Angeles
County. This bill will ensure SWRCB, the state entity charged
with implementing the Clean Water Act, provides critical
information and resources to help jurisdictions comply with
the numerous requirements.
2)Background. The Municipal Storm Water Permitting Program
regulates storm water discharges from municipal storm sewer
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systems (MS4s). Storm water is runoff from rain or snow melt
from surfaces such as rooftops, paved streets, highways or
parking lots and often carries with it pollutants such as oil,
pesticides, herbicides, sediment, trash, bacteria and metals.
The runoff can drain directly into a local stream, lake or
bay, or via releases from storm drains.
Under Phase I, which started in 1990, the Regional Water
Quality Control Boards have adopted National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System General Permit (NPDES) storm
water permits for medium (serving between 100,000 and 250,000
people) and large (serving between 250,000 people)
municipalities. The Phase I MD4 permits require the
discharger to develop and implement a Storm Water Management
Program with the goal of reducing the discharge of pollutants
to the maximum extent practicable. The management programs
specific what best management practices (BMPs) will be used to
address the requirements.
On April 30, 2003, as part of Phase II, the SWRCB issued a
General Permit for the Discharge of Storm Water from Small
MS$s to provide permit coverage for smaller municipalities
(population less than 10,000), including non-traditional Small
MS4s, which are facilities such as military bases, public
campuses, prisons 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 became effective on July 1, 2013.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
SB 1260
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