Attachment 4

December 8, 1999 Draft

TO: DISTRIBUTION LIST (see below)

FROM: Winston H. Hickox Mary Nichols

Secretary for Environmental Protection Secretary for Resources Agency

California Environmental Protection Agency

DATE:

SUBJECT: CALIFORNIA’S NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAM

By this memorandum, we are requesting your assistance in addressing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution by implementing the Plan for California’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (Program Plan) (Attachment). NPS pollution, also known as polluted runoff, is the leading cause of water quality impairments in California and nationally. Nonpoint sources are the major contributor of pollution to impacted water bodies including surface, ground, and coastal waters in California. Your participation is needed if we are going to protect and restore the myriad of beneficial uses our water resources support and the economic benefit derived from these uses.

This memorandum underscores the commitment of both the California Environmental Protection Agency and Resources Agency to protect the beneficial uses and restore the quality of California’s waters. In order to achieve measurable improvements, we are directing all Departments, Boards, and Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBS) within our Agencies to use their respective authorities to implement the Program Plan to prevent and control NPS pollution affecting State surface, ground, and coastal waters.

We commend those Departments and Boards that have worked with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and California Coastal Commission (CCC) in the development of the Program Plan’s Fifteen-Year Program Strategy and Five-Year Implementation Plan (Volume I) and the California Management Measures for Polluted Runoff (Volume II). Effective implementation of the Program Plan requires continued collaboration among all responsible State agencies as well as coordination among federal and local agencies and public groups.

The SWRCB and CCC, in conjunction with the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards RWQCBS, are the lead agencies in coordinating implementation of the Program Plan. To ensure success of the Program Plan, we are directing our Departments, Boards, and RWQCBS Boards to undertake several important program actions.

Each Department or Board shall designate a lead staff person to be responsible for coordinating with the SWRCB and CCC on NPS issues.

Each Department or Board shall identify through a five-year plan appropriate actions to implement management measures for which they have authorities and are targeted in the first Five-Year Implementation Plan.

Each Department or Board shall ensure that actions to implement its respective portions of the Program Plan are tracked, monitored, assessed, and reported to the SWRCB and CCC consistent with State law (Water Code sections 13165 and 13369 [AB 227]) and the requirements of the Program Plan.

Each Department or Board in consultation with the SWRCB and CCC shall consider the need to establish or revise existing formal agreements with the SWRCB and CCC to ensure successful implementation of the Program Plan.

In addtion, we encourage each Department or Board to adopt policies that support the Program Plan.

Please reply to (to be determined) (California Environmental Protection Agency) or Maria Rea (California Resources Agency) by December, 1999 with the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of your designated lead staff person. If you have any questions, please call (to be determined) at (to be determined) or Ms. Rea at (916) 653-5656.

Cc: copy recipients not listed

Distribution list includes Executive Directors/Executive Officers of the Coastal Commission, SWRCB, the nine regional water quality control boards, Board of Forestry, CALFED, Integrated Waste Management Board, Delta Protection Commission, Boating and Waterways, Conservation, Fish and Game, Forestry and Fire, Parks and Recreation, Pesticide Regulation, Toxics Substances, Water Resources, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Coastal Conservancy, State Lands Commission and Wildlife Conservation Board