BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 607
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 13, 2011

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                   SB 607 (Walters) - As Amended:  April 27, 2011 

          Policy Committee:                              Environmental 
          Safety and Toxic Materials                    Vote: 9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires, on or before January 1, 2013, the State 
          Water Resources Control Board to either amend the California 
          Ocean Plan or adopt separate standards to address water quality 
          objectives and effluent limitations specifically appropriate to 
          brackish groundwater treatment system facilities that produce 
          municipal water supplies for local use. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Minor, absorbable costs to the water board, which indicates it 
          already is undertaking a revision of the California Ocean Plan 
          to address issues associated with desalinization, including 
          brackish groundwater desalination projects.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   The author intends this bill to ensure that 
            brackish water discharge is addressed in the upcoming revision 
            of the Ocean Plan to provide statewide standards by which 
            water sources may be developed.

           2)Background.   The California Ocean Plan is the state's water 
            quality control plan for ocean waters.  It lists beneficial 
            uses of California's ocean waters that need to be protected; 
            establishes water quality objectives necessary to achieve 
            protection of those beneficial uses; identifies areas where 
            discharges are prohibited; and sets forth a program of 
            implementation to ensure that water quality objectives are 
            met.  The water board adopted the Ocean Plan in 1972 and has 
            made periodic revisions every few years.








                                                                  SB 607
                                                                  Page  2


            Currently, the Ocean Plan includes no standards that apply 
            specifically to brine waste discharges from desalination 
            plants or groundwater desalting facilities.  According to the 
            water board, it is developing amendments to the Ocean Plan to 
            address issues associated with desalinization, including 
            brackish groundwater desalination projects, and anticipates 
            that the Ocean Plan amendments will be completed by December 
            2012.

           3)Support.  This bill is supported by the South Orange County 
            Wastewater Authority (sponsor).

           4)There is no formal opposition registered to this bill.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081