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Enforcement

The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act gives the Water Boards the authority to protect groundwater and surface waters of the State. The State Board's Water Quality Enforcement Policy (Policy) helps define an enforcement process to efficiently address water quality problems. The Enforcement Program ensures that dischargers comply with their permits so the Water Board can meet its water quality goals. Enforcement staff do this by implementing the Policy and by reviewing monitoring reports, inspecting sites, and taking follow up enforcement as needed for the Region's NPDES and Sanitary Sewer System Permittees. Enforcement staff also manage the SEP Program, the Complaint Triage Program, the AGO Pilot Project, the Cross Programs Pilot Project, and the CIWQS and ESMR Programs.

  • Fact Sheet: Funding Opportunities for Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board SEPs
    • This fact sheet addresses two approaches for funding opportunities for SEPs that are available in the Los Angeles Region: Regional Boards administered SEPs, and those administered on behalf of the Regional Board by the Rose Foundation, a non-profit organization which specializes in SEPs benefiting underserved, vulnerable, or otherwise disadvantaged communities.
    • Fact Sheet
  • Notice of Administrative Civil Liability Complaint No. R4-2019-0004 issued to City of Compton for violations of the LA County MS4 Permit
  • Notice of Administrative Civil Liability Complaint No. R4-2019-0005 issued to City of Gardena for violations of the LA County MS4 Permit

Enforcement Actions and Settlement Agreements for Public Notice

Standard Hearing Procedures for Administrative Civil Liability Complaints

Posted Date Comment Due Date Discharger Action Contact Phone Document(s)
Posted Date Comment Due Date Discharger Action Contact Phone Document(s)
05/21/2019
6/20/2019
TREA Wilshire Rodeo, LLC
EPP - Conditional Early Settlement
(213) 620-6368
05/09/2019
06/09/2019
Orange County Container
Settlement Offer
(213) 620-6190
05/1/2019
05/30/2019
Petak Family Trust
Settlement Agreement and Stipulation for Entry of Administrative Civil Liablity Order
(213) 576-6722
04/22/2019
05/22/2019
InterActive Corporation
EPP - Conditional Early Settlement
(213) 576-6614
04/18/2019
05/20/2019
Hudson 11601 Wilshire
EPP - Conditional Early Settlement
 (213) 576-6614 R4-2019-0030
04/18/2019
05/20/2019
Los Angeles Turf Club 
EPP - Conditional Early Settlement
 (213) 620-6368 R4-2019-0034
04/05/2019
05/06/2019
City of Cerritos
EPP - Conditional Early Settlement
(213) 576-6614
04/05/2019
05/06/2019
DivCoWest
EPP - Conditional Early Settlement
(213) 576-6614
02/20/2019
03/22/2019
Mercury Casualty Company
EPP - Conditional Early Settlement
(213) 620-6362
01/7/2019
02/06/2019
Ralph's Grocery Company
EPP - Conditional Early Settlement
(213) 576-6614
01/07/2019
02/06/2019
UTA Plaza, LLC
EPP - Conditional Early Settlement
(213) 576-6614
Written comments will be accepted through the Comment Due Date. For more information, please refer to the listed Contact.
ACL - Administrative Civil Liability
EPP - Expedited Payment Program

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

Supplemental Environmental Projects

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).

Lists of Proposed SEPs:

Submittal of Projects to the SEP Proponent List:

New! Disadvantaged Communities SEP Initiative
  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Regional Board and the Rose Foundation
    The Regional Board and the Rose Foundation have entered into a partnership to support community-based projects that meet important water quality objectives which involve and benefit disadvantaged communities.
New! Fact Sheet: Funding Opportunities for Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board SEPs
  • This fact sheet addresses two approaches for funding opportunities for SEPs that are available in the Los Angeles Region: Regional Boards administered SEPs, and those administered on behalf of the Regional Board by the Rose Foundation, a non-profit organization which specializes in SEPs benefiting underserved, vulnerable, or otherwise disadvantaged communities.

Stormwater Compliance and Enforcement

The Storm Water Compliance and Enforcement Unit regulates storm water discharges from industrial facilities and construction sites. The Unit oversees compliance and enforcement of the NPDES Storm Water General Permits for Construction Sites and for Industrial Activities. Unit staff ensure facilities are enrolled in the Permits, conduct inspections and review annual reports submitted by the facilities. There are a total of about 4,500 stormwater construction and industrial permittees in the region.


Contacts

Program Supervisor
Colby, Russell (213) 620-6373

Enforcement Orders and Reports

Other

State Water Board - Office of Enforcement

Storm Water

Laws and Regulations