The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2010-11

MEASUREMENTS  - Data last updated on: 

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

The level and type of enforcement is similar among the regional boards for those facilities discharging under the Land Disposal program. Most of the regional boards are issuing informal actions and Region 5 issued more than half of all informal actions. Three regions issued a formal action requiring compliance. No penalties were assessed under the program in FY 10-11.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

Enforcement plays a significant role in the Water Boards' strategies to protect water quality anrepresents a significant amount of work for both the State and Regional Boards. Enforcementdeters potential violators and protects public health and the environment. Enforcement can prevent threatened pollution from occurring and can promote prompt cleanup and correctionof existing pollution problems. The Water Boards use progressive enforcement by addressing some violations with an informal response such as a phone call or staff enforcement letter followed, if needed, with a more formal action. If violations continue, the enforcement response should be quickly escalated to increasingly more formal and serious actions until compliance is achieved. This measure displays the use of formal versus informal actions to address documented violations.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Data Source: CIWQS. Period: July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Extracted on July 29, 2011.
• Unit of Measure: Number of enforcement actions issued during FY 10-10.
• Data Definitions: ¹Informal Enforcement: Any communication that notifies the discharger of a problem (Ror reporting purposes it includes 13,267 letters and notices to comply). ²Formal Enforcement: Administrative or judicial actions that impose sanctions and/or require compliance where a hearing is available to contest the allegations (For reporting purposes it does not include Administrative Civil Liabilities (ACL) actions). Formal Penalty Enforcement: Includes Administrative Civil Liability actions and any other monetary assessment imposed.
• References: The Water Boards' Land Disposal Program
  Public Reports and Data
  Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Information
  The Water Boards' Enforcement Policy

GLOSSARY

Land Disposal

The Land Disposal program regulates waste discharge to land for treatment, storage and disposal in waste management units. Waste management units include waste piles, surface impoundments, and landfills. California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 23, (Chapter 15) contains the regulatory requirements for hazardous waste. CCR Title 27, contains the regulatory requirements for wastes other than hazardous waste.

( Page last updated:  10/4/11 )