PUBLIC COMMENT & PARTICIPATION

Public Participation Approaches

The Central Coast Region tries to foster public participation during all phases of TMDL development to address as many technical and social issues as possible early in the process. Each TMDL project will have a unique approach to public participation dependent on the size of the watershed, the nature of the problem, who and how many interested parties or stakeholders emerge, etc.  

Public Input Opportunities

There are informal and on-going ways to provide input to a TMDL. Public participation will typically take one or more of these forms: email and phone correspondence, occasional workshops, advisory committee meetings, Regional Board staff presentations at another organization's meetings, or, written requests for comments sent to an interested party mailing list. The main purposes for public participation are to inform people of TMDL status and progress, and to receive input on staff technical analyses, implementation strategies or any environmental impacts (for compliance with our requirements pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act).

Legal Public Comment

TMDLs that result in amendments to the Basin Plan, or other regulatory actions (such as establishment of a new permit), must be publicly announced for a formal public comment period and approved at a public hearing. Typically, this is conducted as part of one of the Regional Board's regular public meetings and is published in the agenda for that meeting. This provides an opportunity for written public comment on Draft TMDLs prior to Regional Board Meetings and an additional opportunity for verbal comment at a Regional Board Meeting before a TMDL is approved or implemented.

Below is a list of links to Public Notices for different TMDLs within the Central Coast Region or other applicable Public Notice information.   If the list is empty, there are no TMDLs scheduled for adoption at this time.  

 Public Notice for TMDLs

Meeting Notice: Cuyama, Santa Maria and Oso Flaco TMDL. Public Workshop and CEQA Scoping Meeting - October 16, 2008

Miscellaneous Opportunities for Involvement

This section provides other opportunities for the public to be involved in the TMDL process.   If the section below is empty, this implies that no specific event is on the agenda in the near future. However, remember that the waters of the state belong to its citizens, and you are encouraged to participate in the process designed to protect this resource.   Simply call the Regional Water Quality Control Board office and make inquiries to the staff person working on the body of water near you.

Miscellaneous Public Notice

Information Solicitation for Listing

Bodies of water are listed as impaired after several steps.   One of the steps is the review of information and/or data by Regional Board staff pertaining to a body of water.   Regional Board staff will notify the public when the review process will occur, and publicly solicit information or data that would lead to a listing of a body of water.  

This page last updated July 28, 2008.