The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2011-12

MEASUREMENTS  - Data Last Updated on: 

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

Although there is significant variation between the Regional Water Boards, on average 75% of the facilities regulated under the Land Disposal Program are operating under current permit provisions and do not need their requirements to be revised and updated. Regions 9 and 7 have the largest percentage of past scheduled review date permits. The data shows that only one permit was updated for an open landfill during Fiscal Year 2011-2012.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

The Land Disposal program establishes the required frequency for permit revision based on the classification of the facilities and their threat to water quality. Permit revision frequency are typically every 5, 10 and 15 years with the highest threat being reviewed every 5 years.  Revising and reissuing permits for Land Disposal facilities require a significant amount of time and resources and constitutes a good indicator of overall program performance. Landfills represent a higher threat to water quality.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Data Source: CIWQS. Period July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. Extracted on July 30, 2012.
• Unit of Measure: Number of active regulated facilities as of June 30 during FY 11-12.
• Data Definitions: Permits issued during FY 11-12: effective date between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. Permits Current: permits not expired and not issued in FY 11-12. Permits Past Scheduled Review date: permits with an expiration date before June 30, 2012. 
• References: More information on the Water Boards’ Land Disposal program is available at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/land_disposal/index.shtml 
• Public reports and data are available at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/ciwqs/publicreports.shtml
• Enforcement and compliance assurance information is available at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/enforcement/  

GLOSSARY

Land Disposal

The Land Disposal program regulates of waste discharge to land for treatment, storage and disposal in waste management units. Waste management units include waste piles, surface impoundments, and landfills. California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 23, (Chapter 15) contains the regulatory requirements for hazardous waste. CCR Title 27, contains the regulatory requirements for wastes other than hazardous waste.

Review/Update Actions

The Waste Discharge Requirements WDRs are to be reviewed according to a schedule based upon their TTWQ Category as follows: TTWQ 1= Every 5 years, TTWQ 2= Every 10 years and TTWQ 3= Every 15 years. TTWQ 1 has the highest priority. There are three possible actions which may result from the WDR review/update process: rescission, continuance, or revision. A revision requires the issuance of a new WDR with a new adoption date. No formal Regional Board action is required to continue WDRs without change. A memorandum signed by the Regional Board Executive Officer (EO), documenting that the review concluded that the existing WDR is appropriate and that no changes are necessary at this time, is placed in the WDR file.

 

( Page last updated:  9/10/12 )