South San Francisco Bay Copper/Nickel Basin Plan Amendment

Documents:

Adopted Resolution No. R2-2002-0061

Public Notice and Staff Report on Proposed Site Specific Water Quality Objectives and Water Quality Attainment Strategies for Copper and Nickel for San Francisco Bay South of the Dumbarton Bridge. Board Meeting, May 22, 2002. Document includes amendments to the San Francisco Bay Basin Water Quality Control Plan (Appendix A) (PDF file)

Response to Comments

CEQA Checklist for Environmental Impacts for Proposed Basin Plan Amendment (PDF file)

Staff Summary Report. Board Hearing, May 22, 2002

Staff Summary Report. Board Hearing, April 17, 2002 (PDF file)

Background:

At the May 22, 2002, Board hearing, the Regional Board adopted an Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Basin (Basin Plan) that will accomplish the following:

• Establish acute and chronic site-specific water quality objectives (SSOs) for dissolved concentrations of copper and nickel in Lower South SF Bay (i.e. south of the Dumbarton Bridge);
• Establish a Water Quality Attainment Strategy featuring pollution prevention, source control, and monitoring activities for copper and nickel that not only supports the SSOs, but also maintains existing water quality; and
• Amend Basin Plan language relating to Regional Board regulatory strategies for Lower South SF Bay.

This Basin Plan amendment is noteworthy because it is the first such amendment in our region originating from a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) project. A full TMDL was not necessary in this case because an impairment assessment determined that the most sensitive beneficial uses, those involving aquatic life, were not likely to be threatened by either current ambient dissolved concentrations of copper and nickel or the somewhat higher SSOs. The amendment was adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board at its October 16, 2002 Board hearing.

Links:

City of San Jose
Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative
City of Palo Alto
Basin Planning web page

For more information, contact:

Richard Looker
Water Resources Control Engineer
San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-622-2451
Fax: 510-622-2460
E-mail: RLooker@waterboards.ca.gov