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The
energy challenge facing California is real.
Every Californian needs to take immediate action
to reduce energy consumption
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For
a list of simple ways to reduce demand and cut
your energy costs, see the tips at: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/news/echallenge.html
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GROUNDWATER DIVISION |
ENFORCEMENT AND STORMWATER
Enforcement
Administrative Civil Liability Issued to Chevron
U.S.A., Inc.
Sam Unger
On August 30, 2000, the Executive Officer issued a complaint
for administrative civil liability, in the amount of
$2,254,200, to Chevron U.S.A. for the discharge of 4,500,000
gallons of jet fuel to an aquifer underlying the Chevron
El Segundo refinery in violation of section 13350 of
the California Water Code. Environmental impacts from
the discharge include further degradation and delay
of cleanup of the aquifer, which is undergoing cleanup
for previous uncontrolled releases of liquid hydrocarbons
from the Chevron refinery. Regional Board staff concluded
that had Chevron been more diligent in reviewing its
monitoring data, the magnitude of the release could
have been greatly reduced.
Administrative Civil Liability
Issued to Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority
Sam Unger
On August 30, 2000, the Executive Officer issued a complaint
for administrative civil liability, in the amount of
$182,538, to the Alameda Corridor Transportation Project
(ACTA) for discharges of wastewater that violated effluent
limitations prescribed in Regional Board Order Nos.
97-043, 97-045 (NPDES Permit Nos. CAG994001 and CAG994002)
to Compton Creek from November 1999 to January 2000.
In addition, the Complaint included an unpermitted discharge
of oily wastewater from ACTA construction activities
to a storm drain discharging to the Los Angeles River.
The discharges added additional pollutants loading to
an impaired water body that is a tributary of the Los
Angeles River.
Administrative Civil Liability
Issued to the City of San Buenaventura
Sam Unger
On September 30, 2000, the Executive Officer issued
a complaint for administrative civil liability, in the
amount of $187,243 to the City of San Buenaventura for
discharges of raw sewage, secondary treated wastewater
and effluent exceeding discharge requirements prescribed
in Regional Board Order Nos. 97-043, 97-045 (NPDES Permit
Nos. CAG994001 and CAG994002) from the Ventura Water
Renovation Facility from 1988 to 2000. The discharges
posed a risk to human health and caused beach closures
in Ventura County.
Administrative civil liability
issued to D.R. Horton Los Angeles holding company, inc.
Thizar Tintut-Williams
On October 2, 2000, the Executive Officer issued a complaint
for administrative civil liability in the amount of
$101,913, to D. R. Horton Los Angeles Holding Company,
Inc. (D.R. Horton) for failing to obtain a National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination system (NPDES) permit
for groundwater dewatering discharge and knowingly and
repeatedly discharging non-stormwater waste, including
sediment, into the storm drains tributary to Arroyo
Simi.
Administrative Civil Liability
Issued to the Santa Catalina Island Company, Two Harbors
Waste Treatment Plant
Morton Price
On September 27, 2000, the Executive Officer issued
Administrative Civil Liability No. 00-102, in the amount
of $197,200 for illegal disposal of sewage sludge by
the Santa Catalina Island Company at its Two Harbors
Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Two Harbors, Santa
Catalina Island, California. Los Angeles Regional Water
Quality Control Board staff conducted an inspection
of the area where sludge was discharged. Staff collected
sludge, soil and surface water samples to determine
if the illegally disposed sludge had impacted waters
of the State.
BRADLEY LANDFILL
Rodney Nelson
On September 27, 2000, the Executive Officer issued
an Administrative Civil Liability (ACL) to Waste Management
of California, Inc., owner and operator of the Bradley
Landfill and Recycling Center located in Sun Valley.
The ACL was issued because of the off-site discharge
to surface water of storm runoff containing suspended
and dissolved solids from the landfill in excess of
the beneficial uses ascribed to this watershed by the
Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan), adopted by
this Board on June 13, 1994. Regional Board staff observed
two occurrences of these discharges. One occurred on
April 13, 1999, and the second occurred on February
16, 2000.
ACL issued to PDS Engineering
Construction
Rafael Maestu
On September 29, 2000, the Executive Officer issued
Administrative Civil Liability No 00-115, in the amount
of $24,000 to PDS Engineering Construction, for discharges
to waters of the State in violation of Order 97-045
and the California Water Code.
Storm Water Program
New Stormwater section created
Wendy Phillips
The LA Regional
Board has formed a new Storm Water Section that is developing
and implementing landmark strategies to help ensure
that our surface waters are fishable and that our beaches
are swimmable. We want to enlighten our stakeholders
and change behavioral patterns so as to reduce the levels
of pollutants discharged to storm water from industry,
commercial businesses, and residents. We have several
openings for technical staff, including: unit chiefs,
associate level staff, and entry level staff. Although
these positions are advertised for a particular engineering,
environmental specialist, or geologist class, applications
also are encouraged from individuals in comparable classes
with current list eligibility. For details, please refer
to the employment opportunities described on the State
Board website (www.swrcb.ca.gov), or call Dolores Renick
at (213) 576-6629.
SUSMP Status
Xavier Swamikannu
The State Board has issued a Proposed Order on the matter,
and scheduled a special hearing to be held in Sacramento
on October 5, 2000. The State Board intends to vote
on a final version of the SUSMP at the special hearing.
Designated parties, including the Regional Board, have
been invited to submit written comments, and to provide
oral comments (5 minutes per designated party) at the
special hearing. The Regional Board's written response
to the State Board's Proposed Order may be found on
the Regional Board's website (www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb4).
Issues Forum-Industrial
Storm Water Program
Wendy Phillips
The Regional
Board is focusing efforts to ensure that industrial
facilities take all necessary actions to protect water
quality and comply with stormwater permits. To discuss
compliance expectations, the Board will sponsor an Issues
Forum on industrial storm water requirements. The forum
is open to all permittees and interested parties; however,
the primary focus intent is for consultants and laboratory
managers to learn about what they need to do to properly
advise their clients on industrial storm water requirements.
The forum will be held on:
Friday, October 20, 2000 -- from 9 am to noon
at the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works
Ground Floor Conference Room in the Main Building
900 South Fremont Avenue, Alhambra
There
is no charge to attend the forum; to register for this
Issues Forum, please provide your name and telephone
number to our Storm Water Secretary, Twila Willis-Hunter.
She may be reached at (213) 576-6802 or
twillis@rb4.swrcb.ca.gov.
Notices
of Termination
Dan
Radulescu
Staff have developed a new tracking procedure to facilitate
the approval process (including inspections) for Notice
of Termination applications. This new procedure will
give us a more accurate picture of annual report delinquencies,
which in the past have been inflated due to backlogged
applications for Notices of Termination.
Storm
Water Annual Report Status
Xavier Swamikannu and Dan Radulescu
A total of 2,285 Industrial Permittees submitted Annual
Reports (ARs) for 1999/00. While 542 annual reports
were initially reported as delinquent, staff have revised
the number of delinquencies downward to 276 (11 percent
of all Permittees). This reduction is due to processing
of backlogged notices of termination. Staff are now
following-up on responses received to the Notices of
Non-Compliance (level 1 enforcement) for non-submittal
of the ARs mailed out on August 22, 2000. Notices of
Violation (level 2 enforcement) will be mailed out later
this month.
Staff are preparing Complaints for Administrative Liability
(ACLs) for delinquent annual reports for the 1998/99
reporting period. The number of delinquencies was initially
thought to total 55; this number has been reduced to
45 as a result of processing NOTs; and may be reduced
further as additional NOTs are processed.
Trash
TMDLs-Development and Implementation
Xavier Swamikannu
Staff presented information on trash TMDLs (total maximum
daily loads) to municipal representatives in the County
of Los Angeles on September 12, 2000. Staff focused
on approaches to developing TMDLs for trash, and their
implementation through storm water permits. Board staff
also responded to many questions on how the Board would
measure compliance and consider costs issues.
Trash: Notice to Meet and Confer
Parvaneh Khayat
Addressing
the problem of anthropogenic trash is a priority issue
in urban areas within the Los Angeles Region. In March
of 2000, the Executive Officer issued a "notice to meet
and confer," in order to streamline efforts to abate
trash in our surface waters. The "notice to meet and
confer" process is intended to answer the following:
- How
much trash is caught and removed prior to the "first-flush?"
-
How much trash escapes and ends up on the coastline
(monitoring plan)?
- Are
municipal trash programs adequate?
The
cities that are required to meet and confer are those
that directly drain into the Ballona Creek and Los Angeles
River watersheds. Staff are evaluating the following
specific issues: catch-basin clean-up, street sweeping,
trash receptacle numbers and locations, and preventative
measures (i.e. catch-basin inserts). Staff are also
requiring baseline monitoring, to estimate how much
trash is being released from the various out-falls within
the Region. This baseline monitoring also will meet
a proposed TMDL requirement for monitoring (TMDL staff
are in the process of drafting a letter to the cities
informing them of this approach).
As of September 20, 2000, staff had met with all 40
of the designated cities, and are now in the process
of creating a rating system to evaluate the effectiveness
of trash abatement for the cities in the Ballona Creek
and Los Angeles River watersheds. This evaluation is
expected to be completed in November 2000.
EPA
Audit
Wendy Phillips
The EPA Office of the Inspector General is preparing
an audit of the Storm Water Program at the Los Angeles
Regional Board. This audit covers the period July 1,
1999 to April 30, 2000. Results of the audit are not
yet available.
REMEDIATION
Port Hueneme Naval Construction
Battalion Center Blythe
Ponek-Bacharowski
On
September 20-21, 2000, the Navy, US EPA, and vendors
attended a series of meetings in preparation for the
start of a multi-year, MTBE treatment technology demonstration
at the Naval Construction Battalion's MTBE plume. US
EPA is providing about $1 million to support the research
projects in cooperation with the Navy. The involved
parties met to discuss logistical and regulatory requirements
for the six to eight chosen demonstration projects.
On September 22, 2000, the Commanding Officer of the
US Navy base at Port Hueneme hosted a ribbon cutting
ceremony for the start up of a 500-foot-long, pilot,
in situ, biological treatment system for the MTBE plume.
Members of the Navy, Press, and political representatives
attended. The pilot treatment system, which uses bacteria,
oxygen, and air to treat the MTBE, is expected to operate
for about three years.
Landfills
Unit
Bradley
Landfill
Rod Nelson
On September 16, 2000, staff from Waste Management of
California Inc., operators of the Bradley Landfill in
Sun Valley, informed the Regional Board that a fire
had occurred at the landfill, destroying the trailer
office. Landfill records stored in the trailer were
destroyed in the fire.
Waste Management of California, Inc. is now in the process
of trying to reconstruct these records. There were no
major environmental concerns due to this fire, and the
landfill infrastructure was unaffected.
Site
Cleanup II Unit
Former
Golden Eagle Refinery
David Hung
On September 14, 2000, staff attended a public meeting
held by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
at Carson Community Center. The meeting provided information
to the public on the draft revised Remedial Action Plan
(RAP) and proposed Negative Declaration for the former
Golden Eagle refinery site located in City of Carson.
Over the past 15 years, both the DTSC and Regional Water
Quality Control Board (RWQCB) have jointly overseen
investigation and remedial activities at the site. In
1995, the DTSC and RWQCB issued a letter of "No Further
Action" for the uppermost 40 feet of soil. Under the
provisions of the original RAP, an air sparging and
soil vapor extraction system has been in operation since
1995, and has reduced concentrations by 90 percent across
most of the site. A majority of the recoverable free
product has also been removed.
A monitored natural attenuation (MNA) approach is being
considered to address both the residual groundwater
contamination and remaining free product. During the
public meeting, the revised RAP was presented to the
public and details of the MNA program, also included
were the details of the management and contingency plans.
Contingency plans are designed to protect human health
and the environment in the event that the MNA fails
to perform as expected.
It should be noted that this former refinery is the
first site in the Region where DTSC and RWQCB worked
as a team, providing joint oversight for all investigation
and remediation phases performed at the site.
Tosco
Wilmington Refinery Spill Drill
David Rasmussen
On September 19, 2000, Regional Board staff participated
in an oil spill drill at the Tosco Refinery, Wilmington.
The drill consisted of a simulated oil spill into Los
Angeles Harbor, adjacent to the Tosco marine terminal
facility, and was done to measure Tosco's response to
the emergency. In addition to Regional Board staff,
representatives from the United States Coast Guard,
California Department of Fish and Game, and State Lands
Commission participated in this drill.
Country
Hills Shopping Center
Augustine Anijielo
A soil and groundwater investigation to determine the
nature and extent of low pH, causing corrosion of the
pavement and utilities in the vicinity of the Ralph's
supermarket in the Country Hills Shopping Center, is
scheduled to begin on September 25, 2000. The investigation
will follow a workplan approved by Regional Board staff.
There were many delays in the process of approving this
workplan due to technical differences of opinion on
a very complex issue, and changes in the consultants.
A final report detailing the results of this investigation
is due to the Regional Board by October 31, 2000.
UNDERGROUND
STORAGE TANK PROGRAM
Charnock
Sub-basin MTBE Investigation Area
Dr. Weixing Tong
At present there are 26 active sites in the Charnock
Sub-Basin. Of the 26 active sites, site assessment has
been completed at 15 sites, whereas there are 11 sites
where additional site assessment work is required. Groundwater
monitoring is being performed at all sites. A total
of six sites have approved remediation workplans for
the cleanup of the soil and groundwater. On August 18
and 21, 2000, the Agencies approved the workplans for
additional site assessment and installation of groundwater
monitoring wells for Former Unocal Service Station No.
3016 site (PRP#7) and Chevron Station Service Station
No. 9-2894 site (PRP#5). On September 14 and 20, 2000,
the Agencies issued an enforcement letter to Chevron
(PRP#10 site) and Shell (PRP#11 site), respectively,
for delinquent remediation design (Chevron) and site
remediation activities (Shell).
On July 5, 2000, the Regional Board Staff mailed a final
copy of the Stipulated Agreement along with a specified
Scope of Work to perform regional investigation and
analysis of alternatives for both Interim Water Replacement
and Interim Regional Response Actions. This item was
adopted, with changes, by the Regional Board members
at the August 31, 2000 Board meeting. As part of this
investigation, a number of groundwater monitoring wells
will be installed in the Upper Silverado Aquifer to
determine the plume source and characteristics and perform
periodic groundwater monitoring. This work will require
development of a basin-wide flow model, develop a GIS
database, evaluate alternate drinking water sources
within the Charnock Sub-Basin, evaluate methods of treating
polluted groundwater and restoring the Charnock Sub-Basin
Investigation Area to its full beneficial use, and provide
a community relations plan. The work specified in the
SOW is a necessary step to restore the drinking water
supply at the Charnock Wellfields. The Agencies have
received submittal of Charnock Initial Regional Response
Activities (CIRRA) - Task 12.1 Regional Investigation
Letter Work Plan, dated August 2, 2000, Task 1.1- Work
Plan and Project Schedule, dated on August 17, 2000,
Task 6.1 - General Initial Regional Response Activities,
dated on September 6, 2000, Task 13 - Recommendations
for Additional Hydrogeologic Investigations in the Sepulveda-Palms
Subregion, dated on September 12, 2000, Task 2 - Monthly
Progress Report (August 2000), dated on September 15,
2000, from Shell. On September 7, 2000, the Agencies
approved Shell' workplan for installation of four groundwater
monitoring wells in area 1. Shell started the field
on September 18, 2000.
Arcadia
Wellfield MTBE Investigation
Jay Huang
The
shallow aquifer and lower aquifer in the vicinity of
the former Mobil Station 18-LDM have been treated with
a pump and treat system since October 1997. Currently
approximately 36 gallons per minute (GPM) of groundwater
are being pumped from 17 groundwater extraction wells
of the shallow and lower aquifers and treated at the
Mobil facility. As of August 30, 2000 the treatment
system has pumped 14.2 million gallons of groundwater
and removed an estimated amount of 67 pounds of TPH
and 190 pounds of MTBE. The average MTBE concentration
in the combined influent has been decreased from over
2,000 µ mg/l in 1998 to 280 µ mg/L in August
2000.
The
impacted soil in the vadose zone has been treated with
a vapor extraction system (VES). The cumulative VOC
mass removed is 9,208 pounds since May 1999. The VES
has been expanded and connected to two wells in the
lower aquifer.
A
Production Aquifer Remediation System (PARS) using activated
carbon filtering to clean up the production aquifer
has been in operation since May 17, 2000. PARS is composed
of four carbon vessels each containing 24,000 pounds
of Calgons' F600 carbon. Currently groundwater from
Arcadia well #5 are being pumped at 300 GPM and discharged
to a storm drain. To date (August 30, 2000), the PARS
has pumped approximately 45.6 million gallons of groundwater
and removed 0.36 pounds of MTBE. The average daily influent
concentrations of MTBE ranged from 0.3 µ mg/L (May
17, 2000) to 0.25 µ mg/L (August 30, 2000). PARS
is currently undergoing further demonstration testing.
Spike testing will commence upon approval by the State
Department of Health Services (SDHS). After the PARS
has been tested and approved for operation by the DHS,
the treated water from Arcadia Well No. 5 will be routed
to Santa Monica treatment plant for distribution to
the public.
Completion
of Corrective Action at Leaking Underground Fuel Storage
Tank Sites
Regional
Board staff have reviewed corrective actions taken for
soil and/or groundwater contamination problems from
leaking UST's for the time of August 14, 2000, through
September 22, and determined that no further corrective
actions are required:
Engineered Storage, City of Industry (I-15514)
City of Norwalk, Norwalk (I-11565)
Kerr-Christensen Company, Moorpark (C-00017)
GEIMS/Geotracker
Database on line
David Bacharowski
The
new Leaking Underground Storage Tank Information System,
GEIMS/Geotracker is currently online. The general public
can access the leaking underground storage tank and
production well data through the Internet at
http://geotracker2.arsenaultlegg.com/. For the regulatory
agencies GEIMS/Geotracker can be access through https://geotracker2.arsenaultlegg.com/contents/.
The
system is set up such that a user can search for a leaking
underground fuel tank by entering the site address,
case identification number or by "point and click" on
the GIS electronic map. Once the site is located additional
information regarding the site and nearby production
well is available for viewing together on an electronic
map. Site information consists of regulatory history,
locational information, detail site information and
release information. Production well information consists
of identifying production wells estimated to be within
0.5 mile from the site, geographic information, water
quality information and detailed well information. Furthermore,
the GEIMS/Geotracker system provide option to generate
MTBE report or case report for active and/or inactive
cases that belong under either local and/or regional
board jurisdiction. If the location of a site or a production
well is wrong. Then the lead agency currently overseeing
the case is allowed to make the necessary correction
through the Internet.
The
electronic version of the unauthorized release form
is completed. It can be access through http://geotracker2.arsenaultlegg.com/forms4/ust_release.asp.
In a near future a responsible party or any local oversight
agencies can use it to report on unauthorized release.
The
Los Angeles Region (Region 4) is expected to complete
an implementation plan to transfer the current data
into GEIMS/Geotracker by October. And Region 4 is expected
to load its data into GEIMS and start updating that
data in real-time in late November.
|
SURFACE WATER DIVISION |
WATERSHED
REGULATORY
Status
of City of Los Angeles versus SWRCB and LARWQCB and
City of Burbank versus SWRCB and LARWQCB
Gary Schultz
In
1998, the Regional Board adopted Orders renewing the
waste discharge requirements and NPDES permits for the
following 3 water reclamation plants: City of Los Angeles'
Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant (CA0056227),
the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant (CA0053953),
and the City of Burbank Water Reclamation Plant (CA0055531).
Time Schedule Orders were also issued in conjunction
with the permits and included interim limits and time
schedules for achieving compliance with the permits.
The Cities of Los Angeles and Burbank filed Petitions
and Requests for Stay with the State Board challenging
the Orders. The State Board issued notices dismissing
the petitions and refusing to stay the effect of the
Regional Board's Orders.
Thereafter, the Cities filed Petitions for Writ of Mandate
and Requests for Stay in the Superior Court, Los Angeles
County. The Cities persuaded the Court that they could
not achieve compliance with the permit limits and that,
as a result, they would be exposed to penalties under
the Migden Bill Amendments to Water Code Section 13385.
The Court granted the stay requests.
Heal the Bay and Santa Monica Baykeeper filed a motion
to intervene in the lawsuits. In a proceeding May 5,
Judge Janavas refused to allow intervention by the environmental
groups. However, she did permit the groups to sumbit
an amicus curiae brief. In addition, the City of Glendale
and the California Association of Sanitation Agencies
also filed amicus curiae briefs.
The trial on the substantive merits of the Writ of Mandate
was held on August 31 and September 1, 2000. The judge
is expected to issue a decision within 30 to 60 days
of September 1st hearing.
REGIONAL
PROGRAMS
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Basin Plan
Amendments
Basin Plan Triennial Review Underway
Renne DeShazo
The California Water Code and the Clean Water Act direct
the Regional Board to periodically review and update,
as necessary, the Basin Plan. This process is known
as the Triennial Review. During the upcoming review,
staff will identify and rank basin planning issues that
need to be addressed in the near future.
Public input is an important part of this periodic review;
therefore, three public workshops have been scheduled
to solicit public comment on basin planning priorities.
These workshops are scheduled as follows: (1) Tuesday,
October 17, 2000, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Oxnard Public Library;
(2) Wednesday, October 18, 2000, 2:00-3:30 p.m., Los
Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board; and (3)
Wednesday, October 18, 2000, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Los Angeles
River Center and Gardens.
The Basin Plan can be found on the Internet at www.swrcb.ca.gov/plnspols/index.html
by scrolling down to the link "Los Angeles Region Basin
Plan." Staff will consider all public comments and will
then present the list of priorities to the Regional
Board for approval at a regularly scheduled Board meeting.
The approved list will guide staff efforts to amend
portions of the Basin Plan over the next several years.
If you have questions, contact Renee DeShazo at (213)
576-6783 or Melinda Becker at (213) 576-6681.
East
Fork San Gabriel River
Rod Collins
On September 9, 2000, The State of California Office
of Administrative Law approved the Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL) for the East Fork of the San Gabriel River
as meeting all applicable legal requirements. The TMDL
will now be forwarded to USEPA for review and possible
adoption. The TMDL sets a numeric target of zero (0)
trash to the river. The U.S. Forest Service also has
a load allocation of zero trash in the river, establishes
monitoring requirements, requires the Forest Service
to submit an Implementation Plan within 60 days to begin
implementation and monitoring within 90 days of the
effective date. The TMDL requires the Forest Service
to demonstrate compliance with the TMDL numeric target
by April 2003. For further information, please call
Rod Collins at (213) 576-6808.
Los
Angeles River Watershed Monitoring
Myriam Zech
An
extensive volunteer monitoring effort is underway to
characterize the water quality of the Los Angeles River
watershed. Organized under the aegis of the Los Angeles
and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council, the Southern
California Coastal Waters Research Project, the Regional
Board, and the USEPA, over 80 volunteers attended a
training session on September 9, 2000, and surveyed
both sides of the Los Angeles River and major tributaries
on September 10, 2000. Overall, the volunteer monitors
walked 18 segments (~55 miles), biked along 6 segments
(~25 miles), canoed through 2 segments (~7 miles, in
the Sepulveda Basin area), and drove along 3 segments
(~12 miles). They sampled storm drains and tributaries
for metals, nutrients, ammonia, bacteria, and total
organic carbon. They also estimated the flow and took
temperature and pH measurements. The volunteers recorded
their observations about trash, homeless encampments,
evidence of dumping, wildlife, algae, oil, foam, etc.
on field sheets and documented their findings with pictures.
Suspected
discharges such as oil flowing out of a storm drain
or hydrogen sulfide odors originating from of manhole
were identified and handled by the City of Los Angeles,
which was reached by radio. The volunteers also identified
dumped barrels and very large amounts of trash. On Monday,
September 11, 2000, City of Los Angeles staff sampled
16 boundary and in stream sites, and Regional Board
staff sampled 12 Los Angeles River estuary sites.
Preliminary
results show high pH and bacteria count in several areas.
The results will be used to assist in the development
of a Nutrients TMDL for the Los Angeles River watershed
and help to pinpoint needed changes to permits and urban
runoff controls.
Also
involved in this effort were the City of Long Beach,
the County of Los Angeles, Friends of the Los Angeles
River, Heal the Bay, and the Mountains Recreation and
Conservation Authority. The water quality characterization
is still ongoing: there will be another dry weather
sampling event in October, and at least one wet weather
sampling event this winter.
For
further information, please call Myriam Zech at (213)
576-6685.
Los
Angeles River and Ballona Creek Draft Trash TMDL Update
Melinda Becker
The
Draft Trash TMDL was public noticed on March 17, 2000.
Staff conducted a formal workshop on the Draft Trash
TMDL on April 4, at the Angeles River Center. Since
then, staff have met with representatives of the City
of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Department of Public
Works (LADWP), and representatives of Heal the Bay and
the Los Angeles River and San Gabriel River Watershed
Council to discuss the draft document. The TMDL establishes
a numeric target of zero (0) trash in the river, and
provides an implementation plan for progressive reduction
in waste load allocations over a 10-year period. The
waste load allocations would be enforced through the
Municipal NPDES storm water permit issued jointly to
Los Angeles County and 87 cities as co-permittees.
The
Final Draft TMDL is scheduled for release for public
comment in October, to be followed by a public workshop
in November. The item is scheduled for the Regional
Board's December 7th meeting. The Los Angeles River
Trash TMDL will serve as the template for the Ballona
Creek TMDL. For further information, please contact
Myriam Zech at (213) 576-6685 or Melinda Becker at (213)
576-6681.
Nonpoint
Source Program
The
Nonpoint Source Program is continuing to focus most
of it's efforts on identifying, educating, and promoting
stakeholder involvement to implement management measures
that reduce NPS impacts. Our web page has been expanded
to include a sign up list (listserver) for easily forwarding
information to our stakeholders. Staff attended several
meetings and workshops during the previous month including
the Critical Coastal Areas Committee, the Los Angeles
and San Gabriel River Watershed Council, the Urban Runoff
Task Force, an Irrigation Management and TMDL Symposium
and Storm water Treatment Practices training.
Staff
also prepared two brochures, "Erosion and Sediment Control"
and "Understanding Septic Systems and Groundwater Pollution",
to assist in education and outreach.
Section
401 Water Quality Certification Program
The
following Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC)
have been issued since our last report on August 31,
2000:
|
DATE
|
APPLICANT
|
PROJECT
|
test
|
|
September 1, 2000 |
Polygon Riverbend Ranch L.L.P. | Riverbend Ranch, Tentative Tract No. 4425 | Conditional WQC |
| September 1, 2000 | Windmill Development Company | Windmill Drive Project | Conditional WQC |
| September 6, 2000 | California Department of Transportation | Haines Barranca Bridge Modification | Standard WQC |
| September 29, 2000 | Lennar Homes California Land Division | Stevenson Ranch Bridge Project | Conditional WQC |
| September 29, 2000 | Sherwood Development Company | Sherwood Lake, Tract No. 4192 | Conditional WQC |
| September 29, 2000 | California Department of Transportation | Pacific Coast Highway at Big Rock Drive | Conditional WQC |
| September 29, 2000 | Conejo School Road Development Co., LLC | Tentative Tract No. 5114 | Conditional WQC |
| September 29, 2000 | Burns-Pacific Construction, Inc. | Baker Single Family Residence | Conditional WQC |
| October 3, 2000 | Haskell Canyon Ranch, LLC | V.T.T.M. 47657 - Haskell Canyon Ranch | Conditional WQC |
Project
descriptions for applications currently being reviewed
for certification can be viewed from our Web Site located
at http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb4/html/meetings/401pn.html.
If you wish to be informed of the status and/or final
certification action on any project currently being
reviewed or if you wish to receive a copy of any of
the certification actions described above, please contact
Anthony Klecha at (213) 576-6785 or Alex Puglisi at
(213) 576-6786. Petitions must be filed within 30 days
of any formal action.
Staff participated in the Hydromodifications Technical
Advisory Committee to coordinate the regions concerns
to the SWRCB and other stakeholders.
WATERSHED/COASTAL
WATERS
WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT
Shirley Birosik
Calleguas
Creek Watershed
The Water Quality/Water Resources Subcommittee
last met on September 13. Data generated by the Surface
Water and Groundwater Elements of the Calleguas Creek
Characterization Study Monitoring Program are being
evaluated and a report is in progress which should be
finalized within the next one to two months. Another
component of the program, funded by Clean Water Act
205(j) monies, is evaluating nonpoint source contributions
and has developed preliminary loadings for nitrogen
and phosphorus. The Subcommittee is currently in the
process of drafting a Water Resources/Water Quality
Chapter in the Calleguas Creek Watershed Management
Plan.
The
Flood Protection/Sedimentation Subcommittee
last met on September 11. They are currently involved
with discussions on conducting a hydrologic study of
the watershed. The group is next scheduled to meet on
October 9.
The
Public Education/Outreach Subcommittee
met on July 6. It has completed the first edition of
a newsletter to cover watershed issues and events. Additionally,
the group has produced a color brochure on the management
plan process in the watershed.
A
Land Use Subcommittee has recently been
formed and will include representatives from local planning
agencies. Its first meeting was held on June 14 and
its next meeting is scheduled for October 3.
The
Habitat/Recreation Subcommittee met on August
1 and continues work on a wetlands study which includes
a habitat mapping component. A general inventory of
wetlands in the watershed is complete and potential
sites for restoration have been identified. The group's
next meeting is scheduled for October 3. A Biology Advisory
Group has been formed to aid this Subcommittee in review
of technical materials. It has met on April 11, May
2, and June 6.
The
Steering Committee for the Watershed Management
Plan met on March 30. A draft Table of Contents for
the Calleguas Creek Watershed Management Plan being
developed has been prepared.
The
full Management Committee also last met
on March 30; its next meeting will be in September on
a date to be determined. Information about the management
committee and its subcommittees can be found at http://www.calleguas.com/cc.htm
Los
Angeles River Watershed
The
Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council
meets on the third Wednesday of each month. The Council's
Internet address is http://www.lasgriverswatershed.org.
On August 10, 1999, members of the Watershed Council
assisted the California Coastal Conservancy in conducting
a tour of potential restoration sites in the lower watershed
as part of a meeting of the Southern California Wetlands
Recovery Project. These sites may be viewed at http://www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov/scwrp/index.html.
The
Friends of the LA River has a Los Angeles River e-mail
discussion forum. To subscribe, e-mail to la-river-discuss-subscribe@makelist.com.
To view archives of past Los Angeles River discussions
on the Internet, go to http://www.egroups.com/list/la-river-discuss
San
Gabriel River Watershed
A "State of the Watershed" report is available for the
San Gabriel River Watershed which was prepared by Regional
Board staff. The report describes the watershed, with
its many diversion structures and recharge areas, and
summarizes available water quality data in a manner
easily understood by the layperson. The complete set
of data evaluated for the report (as well as the report
itself) is available electronically by contacting Shirley
Birosik at sbirosik@rb4.swrcb.ca.gov.
Hardcopies of the report are also available.
The
Friends of the San Gabriel River is becoming an active
stakeholder in the watershed and submitted comments
on the aforementioned watershed report.
Santa
Monica Bay Watershed
The
Modeling and Monitoring Subcommittee of the Malibu Creek
Watershed Advisory Council has drafted a watershed-wide
monitoring program for the Malibu Creek Watershed. The
group last met on May 6, 1999; a draft monitoring program
has been distributed to stakeholders for comment. A
major task will be finding partners to participate in
this voluntary program to assess and help correct the
water quality concerns in this area. No further meetings
are currently scheduled for this group.
The Malibu Lagoon Task Force last met on September 27.
The Task Force is concerned with lagoon water level
management and all aspects of the UCLA study of the
lagoon. The UCLA study covers a hydrologic evaluation,
appropriateness of various biological and water quality
objectives, water level management, eutrophication issues,
pathogens, and the historical condition of the lagoon.
The study was funded by a California Coastal Conservancy
grant with assistance by local agencies. A facilitator
is leading the group toward refining the future goals
of the Task Force which include developing a priority
list of restoration options. The September 27 meeting
included a tour of potential wetland restoration sites
in the lower Malibu Creek Watershed.
A
watershed committee has been meeting in the Topanga
Creek Watershed. A major near-term goal of this watershed
committee is to prioritize potential actions previously
identified in a draft Topanga Creek Watershed Management
Study and start a coordinated resource management planning
(CRMP) process. A longer-term goal is preparation of
a watershed management plan that will help address a
number of issues including flood control in the canyon.
The committee last met on September 14. The group's
Technical Advisory Committee met on June 15 to aid in
finalization of the QA/QC Plan for the Topanga Creek
Water Quality Study (funded through 205(j) monies) and
review data collected thus far. A June 10 seminar on
grading and drainage best management practices was rescheduled
to September 16. An "envisioning" conference was held
on September 30. The Committee's website address is
http://www.TopangaOnline.com/twc/.
Other
Santa Monica Bay Watershed activities are covered under
the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project item.
Southern
California Wetlands Recovery Project
The
Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project is a partnership
of public agencies working cooperatively to acquire,
restore, and enhance coastal wetlands and watersheds
between Point Conception and the International border
with Mexico. Using a non-regulatory approach and an
ecosystem perspective, the Wetlands Project works to
identify wetland acquisition and restoration priorities,
prepare plans for these priority sites, pool funds to
undertake these projects, implement priority plans,
and oversee post-project maintenance and monitoring.
The
goal of the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project
is to accelerate the pace, the extent, and the effectiveness
of coastal wetland restoration in Southern California
through developing and implementing a regional prioritization
plan for the acquisition, restoration, and enhancement
of Southern California's coastal wetlands and watersheds.
Ultimately, the Wetlands Project's efforts will result
in a long-term increase in the quantity and quality
of the region's wetlands.
The
Wetlands Recovery Project is headed by Board of Governors
comprised of top officials from each of the participating
agencies. The Southern California Wetlands Managers
Group and the Public Advisory Committee serve as advisory
committees to the Board. The Wetlands Managers Group
is responsible for drafting the regional restoration
plan and advising the Governing Board on regional acquisition,
restoration, and enhancement priorities. The Wetlands
Project has also established a panel of scientists to
advise on regional goals, specific objectives, project
criteria, and priorities. Governing Board meetings are
public and are noticed at least 10 days prior to each
meeting. If you sign up on the Wetlands Project email
list, you will receive email notification of all board
meetings. Minutes from previous meetings and other information
about the group may be found on their website at http://www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov/scwrp/index.html.
Each
spring the Wetlands Recovery Project accepts proposals
for acquisition, restoration, and enhancement projects
for coastal wetlands and watersheds in Southern California.
The Wetlands Recovery Project Managers Group recommended
a list of priority projects for fiscal year 2000-2001
to the Governing Board at the Board's June 9 meeting.
The list was adopted with a minor change (a Topanga
Watershed project was added). A key consideration is
whether projects will actually be able to use funds
for on the ground work in the upcoming fiscal year.
Other potential projects are entered into a database
for re-consideration in the future. The Wetlands Recovery
Project does not have adequate funds for all of the
projects on the priority list, so it has adopted a policy
of "first-ready, first-funded." A project is more than
a wetland or watershed that needs help. It must be a
specific action. To be considered a priority project,
acquisitions must have willing sellers and restoration
work must have a local agency or non-profit that can
carry out the work with the assistance of the Coastal
Conservancy. The Wetlands Recovery Project helps to
identify and fund worthy projects, but does not carry
out the work. Limited funds are available for planning.
Projects closer to the coast or clearly benefiting coastal
resources will receive preference. A list of the current
priority projects is provided on the website as well.
Watershed
Management Initiative Chapter
Each
Regional Board updates on an annual basis a "chapter"
on how that Board is implementing watershed management
in the Region. The consolidated statewide chapter is
the basis for many funding decisions including allocating
money for monitoring, TMDL development, and grant monies
disbursement. Each Region's Chapter is updated on an
annual basis; the last update occurred in January 2000
and includes information on Regional Board implementation
of the state's upgraded nonpoint source management program.
Copies of this Region's current Chapter (as well as
Appendices) and/or its Executive Summary may be obtained
by contacting the Regional Board office, Regional Programs
Section secretary. The document may also be sent out
electronically (in MSWord97) and is also available on
the Regional Board's webpage (under Regional Programs)
at http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb4.
The next update of this document is scheduled for the
end of November of this year.
|
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES |
EPA,
State Board Meeting on Draft Sewer Regulations
Sam Unger
Regional Board staff attended an informational meeting
by USEPA, State Water Resources Control Board, and Orange
County Sanitation Districts regarding draft federal
regulations, known as Capacity, Monitoring, Operations,
and Maintenance (CMOM), that will require contract or
satellite sewer agencies to obtain NPDES permits for
their sewage collection systems. The CMOM regulations
prohibit preventable spills and will require satellite
agencies to implement spill reporting and response programs,
demonstrate adequate capacity and issue public notifications
of spills. The draft regulations are currently under
review by the Office of Management and Budget, and may
be promulgated as early as 2001. Staff finds that the
regulations will have a major impact on Regional Board
activities, as there are numerous satellite agencies
within the Los Angeles Region.
UST Working Group Meeting
Dr. Yue Rong
The tenth UST Working Group meeting was held at Regional
Board office on August 29, 2000. A total of 28 people
were in attendance. The attendees represented major
oil companies, environmental consultants, local regulatory
agencies, environmental organization, special interest
group, and Regional Board staff. The focus of this meeting
centered on Region Board staff activities related to
implementing the Final Draft MTBE Guidelines. Regional
Board staff presented an analytical modeling approach
for "MTBE Plume Life" and Statewide MTBE database updates
for the GEIMS/GEOTRACKER system, respectively. In a
related matter, several product vendors also presented
three innovative groundwater and soil sampling technologies.
Mr. Noah Heller of BESST, Inc. presented new groundwater
sampling technologies. Mr. Chris Reitmeyer of En Novative
Technologies, Inc. and Mr. Sam Yazdani of SoilCore,
Inc. introduced their respective soil sampling equipment,
which are used to comply with the EPA Method 5035 sampling
requirements. The presentations were well received with
many questions and open discussions.
The next meeting is tentatively scheduled during January
2001. The potential topics of interest identified by
the Working Group members included (1) update of MTBE
activities in the Region and (2) data summary of oxygenates
detected at tank sites. Agenda for next meeting will
be available at a later date.
UST Program- Local Oversight Program (LOP)/Local
Implementing Agency (LIA) Agency Meeting
David Bacharowski
On September 19, 2000, the UST Program held the quarterly
UST Program LOP/LIA meeting. The LOP/LIA's consists
of 15 Agencies within the Los Angeles Region that implement
Underground Storage Tank/Leaking Underground Storage
Tank (UST/LUST) Programs. There is one LOP (Ventura
County Environmental Health Department) within the Los
Angeles Region. The LOP is a local governmental agency
with UST/LUST Program that have entered into a contract
with the SWRCB to oversee fuel leak investigation and
cleanup of soil and groundwater. There are 14 LIA's
(City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, Burbank,
El Segundo, Santa Monica, Signal Hill, Torrance, Vernon,
Santa Fe Springs, Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, Oxnard,
Ventura). These are also local governmental agencies
with UST/LUST Programs that are responsible for UST
permitting, leak detection monitoring, and may oversee
soil assessment and cleanup. Any sites with potential
groundwater impacts are referred to the Regional Board
UST Program for oversight. The focus of the quarterly
meeting was training provided by Regional Board staff
on implementing the "Updated Laboratory Testing Requirements"
and an interactive demonstration of the GEIMS/GEOTRACKER
System.
National Pollution Prevention Day
Magdy Baiady
On September 22, 2000, Regional Board staff participated
in the National Pollution Prevention Day, sponsored
by Cal-EPA at the San Fernando Valley Permit Assistance
Center in Van Nuys. Regional Board staff presented two
videotapes, one on groundwater and surface water protection
& conservation and the other on Malibu Creek Pollution.
Regional Board staff participated with a presentation
focused on educating the public and school kids on what
they can do to protect Earth resources. Santa Monica
Bay Restoration Project provided posters and fliers
that explained successful projects that protect beaches
in Southern California.
University of Southern California, Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental
Engineering Seminar
Rebecca Chou
Staff presented "Regional Board's requirements for soil
and groundwater assessment and cleanup" in the Environmental
Engineering Seminar for graduate students of Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University
of Southern California on September 15, 2000. During
the seminar, groundwater remediation programs, regulations
and policies applicable to assessment and cleanup, soil
and groundwater cleanup levels, and innovative remedial
technologies were discussed by staff.
Major of the Month
Rebecca Nevarez
On September 20, 2000, the Los Angeles Regional Water
Quality Control Board participated in the Major of the
Month Series at the University of Southern California
sponsored by the School of Engineering. This month's,
Major of the Month focused on Civil Engineering and
was organized by the National Society of Black Engineers.
The three-member panel consisted of the RWQCB and two
Civil Engineering construction companies, the Cordoba
Corporation and Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction. First,
the panelists introduced themselves and explained the
type of work their respective companies perform. Then
they fielded questions from the students regarding choosing
Civil Engineering as a major, graduate school, obtaining
a profession engineering license, and internships. The
hour-long presentation gave the students an opportunity
to find out more information about Civil Engineering
as a career.
San Gabriel Valley Watershed Council
Arthur G. Heath
On Wednesday, September 20, 2000, staff gave the San
Gabriel Valley Watershed Council and other participants
an overview of the Regional Board's groundwater contaminant
investigations on-going in the San Gabriel Valley. Participants'
questions focused on soil and groundwater cleanups,
especially the cleanups in the Baldwin Park investigation
area. Other San Gabriel Valley panelists included the
United States Environmental Protection Agency, San Gabriel
Valley Watermaster, and San Gabriel Valley Water Quality
Authority.
Water Quality Workshop
Jonathan Bishop
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board,
in conjunction with the Friends of the San Gabriel River,
Friends of the Los Angeles River, and the Upper San
Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, will be conducting
a water quality workshop on Saturday, November 11th
.
The focus of the workshop will be Citizen Monitoring
and Biological Assessment. The workshop will run from
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and will be conducted at the
Whittier Narrows Golf Course, 8640 East Rush Street,
in the City of Rosemead. For further information and
registration go to
www.sangabrielriver.org or call (562) 908-6449.
|
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES |
Personnel Report
Dolores Renick
As of September 25 our staff total is 145:
- 126
technical staff (including 4 part-time staff and 1
on a leave of absence)
-
5 permanent administrative staff
- 14
permanent clerical staff.
Staff
is currently taking steps to fill:
- 6
Unit Chief positions
- 12
technical staff positions
- 1
administrative position.
Since
September 1 the following appointments have been made:
-
Curt Charmley, Engineering Geologist in the
San Gabriel/San Fernando Valley Unit, appointed 09/01/00.
- Douglas
Cross, Associate Engineering Geologist in the
Landfills Unit, appointed 09/01/00.
- Carlos
Ortez, Water Resource Control Engineer - Range
D in the San Gabriel/San Fernando Valley Unit, appointed
09/25/00.
The
following separated from Region 4:
Robert Tom, Water Resource Control Engineer,
separated from State Service.
Jeremy Sokulsky, Water Resource Control Engineer,
transferred to Region 6, So. Lake Tahoe Regional Board.
PETITIONS
STATUS REPORT
A table listing the petitions of Regional Board actions
pending before the State Board has been included with
this report.