Enforcement

Enforcement Actions and Settlement Agreements for Public Notice

Standard Hearing Procedures for Administrative Civil Liability Complaints

HOW TO FILE AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINT

Important information about potential violations of environmental laws often comes from vigilant members of the public. If you have seen an activity which you believe may be a violation of water quality, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) would like to know about it.

HOW DO I FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE REGIONAL BOARD?
Complaints or concerns pertaining to the protection of water quality may be phoned into our Regional Board office: (213) 620-6370 or (213) 576-6600, or to the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES): (800) 852-7550.

WHAT INFORMATION MUST I PROVIDE?
All complaints should contain some basic information, including:

• Nature of the problem or incident
• Time and date when the problem occurred or was observed
• Source of the pollution or problem (if known)

CAN I FILE A COMPLAINT ONLINE?
In non-emergency situations, reports may also be submitted online: Cal/EPA's Environmental Complaint Form. Complaints received by CalEPA are assigned to one or more state agencies to investigate. Those relating to water are assigned to and handled by the Water Boards.

CAN I FILE A COMPLAINT ANONYMOUSLY?
Complaints may be filed confidentially or anonymously and can also be filed with identifying information. Please be aware that it is often more difficult for an agency to take action based on an anonymous complaint.

WILL THE REGIONAL BOARD NOTIFY ME OF THE OUTCOME?
Whether or not a violation of water related laws is found, you may be notified and informed of the status and outcome of the complaint if you request notification and provide your contact information.

WHAT IF I WANT TO REPORT WATER WASTE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD?
To report wasteful practices in your work or residential neighborhoods, please contact your local water supplier. For more information on your water supplier, please use the : http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_rights/water issues/programs/drought/water_supplier.shtml

WHAT IF I HAVE A COMPLAINT REGARDING DRINKING WATER?
For complaints or concerns about your drinking water, contact the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water, Los Angeles Region: (818) 551-2004 http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water issues/hot_topics/my_drinking_water/

WHERE DO I FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING WATER RIGHTS?
For complaints or concerns pertaining to water rights, contact the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Water Rights: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/

REPORT A STORM WATER VIOLATION OR A STORM WATER NON-FILER
Report a Non-Filer - Let us know if a business does not have a Storm Water Permit:http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/losangeles/wate_ issues/programs/stormwater/sw_violations.shtml

Browns Canyon

• Water Board Actions:
  • Draft Cleanup and Abatement Order No. R4-2015-xxxx
  • Attachment to Draft Cleanup and Abatement Order No. R4-2015-xxxx
• Correspondence from the Water Board
• Notice of Violation - May 8, 2017
• Water Board Documents:
• Inspection Report - April 12, 2017
• Inspection Report - October 17, 2016
• 2014 and 2015 Inspection Reports by Regional Board Staff

Supplemental Environmental Projects

Introduction

As an alternative to depositing the entirety of ACLC assessments in the Cleanup and Abatement Account, the Regional Board may allow a portion of the assessment to be used for important and valuable water quality improvement projects within the Region, known as Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). SEPs shall directly benefit groundwater or surface water quality or quantity, and restore or enhance the beneficial uses of the waters of the State within the Region. They must also provide a benefit to the public at large, and are not otherwise required of the discharger by any rule or regulation of any federal, state, or local entity or proposed as mitigation to offset the impacts of a discharger’s project(s). The requirements for SEPs are contained in the State Board Policy on Supplemental Environmental Projects (Policy).

• 2017 SEP Policy

Active and Completed SEPs

Lists of active and completed SEPs are available on the Office of Enforcement’s Webpage.

Submittal of Projects to the SEP Proponent List:

The Regional Board is currently seeking proposals for potential SEPs. Any public or private party that (a) can receive and distribute funds and (b) has the ability to complete the work, may submit a SEP proposal.

• Solicitation Letter
• Sign-Up Form

The Regional Board accepts new proposals on a continuous basis and updates the list of potential SEPs periodically. The current list of potential projects is found at:

• Potential SEP List (excluding Rose Foundation SEPs)

Rose Foundation/Disadvantaged Communities SEP Initiative

The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment is a grant-making public charity based in Oakland. The Central Valley Water Board began working with the Rose Foundation in 2014 to promote the allocation of SEP monies to disadvantaged communities. The Rose Foundation helps disadvantaged communities develop SEP proposals, proposes a list of these projects to the Regional Board on an annual basis, and assists disadvantaged communities in the implementation of these SEPs by providing third-party oversight as the SEPs are funded, implemented, and completed. The Rose Foundation’s list of proposed projects must be approved by the Regional Board.

• MOU
• Resolution R19-007
• 2021 Disadvantaged Community SEP Project List
  • Approval Letter
  • 2021 Disadvantaged Community SEP Project List

Historical Disadvantaged Community SEP lists are available below:

• 2019 Disadvantaged Community SEP Project List

For more information or to submit a project proposal, please see the Los Angeles Community Water Justice Grants page of the Rose Foundation’s website.