|
***
|
The
energy challenge facing California is
real. Every Californian needs to take
immediate action to reduce energy consumption
|
|
***
|
For
a list of simple ways to reduce demand
and cut your energy costs, see the tips
at: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/news/echallenge.html
|
|
GROUNDWATER DIVISION |
ENFORCEMENT
AND GROUNDWATER PERMITTING
Enforcement
BP Wilmington Calciner (Formerly known as Arco
CQC Kiln, Inc.)
Lala Kabadaian
A Mandatory Minimum Penalty was issued to BP Wilmington
Calciner (Formerly known as Arco CQC Kiln, Inc.)
for $6,000, for exceeding their NPDES permit effluent
limits for February 12, 2001 and March 19, 2001
for exceeding the effluent limitations by at least
40%. The penalty was paid in full on August 10,
2001.
Sav-on Plating
Dionisia Rodriguez
An ACL was issued to Superior Industries, International
for $2,980 for violating the State's General Permit
for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial
Activities, Water Quality Order No. 97-03-DWQ,
NPDES No. CAS000001, by failing to submit the
required annual report for 1999/00. A check for
50% of the penalty, a letter committing to performance
of a SEP for the remainder of the penalty and
a signed waiver has been received.
Lynwood Auto Dismantling
Dionisia Rodriguez
An ACL was issued to Lynwood Auto Dismantling
for $2,980 for violating the State's General Permit
for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial
Activities, Water Quality Order No. 97-03-DWQ,
NPDES No. CAS000001, by failing to submit the
required annual report for 1999/00. A check for
50% of the penalty, a letter committing to performance
of a SEP for the remainder of the penalty and
a signed waiver has been received.
Bodycote Hinderliter
Dionisia Rodriguez
An ACL was issued to Bodycote Hinderliter for
$2,980 for violating the State's General Permit
for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial
Activities, Water Quality Order No. 97-03-DWQ,
NPDES No. CAS000001, by failing to submit the
required annual report for 1999/00.
Sherwood Limited Partnership
Matt Yeager
An ACL was issued to Sherwood Development on July
12, 2001 for $46,600 for violating the provisions
of the Statewide General Construction Storm Water
permit, by failing to develop a storm water pollution
prevention plan (SWPPP) and retain the SWPPP on
site, and for failing to implement and maintain
effective erosion and sediment controls. The penalty
was paid in full.
Notices Of Violation - NPDES Discharge Monitoring
Reports
Enforcement Staff
The Executive Officer issued Notices of Violation
and Requirements to Submit information to 3 facilities
for failing to comply with provisions of Waste
Discharge Requirements included as part of their
NPDES Permits. Enforcement staff identified these
violations as part of the NPDES discharger monitoring
report review process.
NPDES Facility Inspections
Jesus Plasencia and Jose Morales
Enforcement Unit NPDES inspectors conducted 14
level B inspections (Routine non-sampling inspection),
and 6 level A inspections (Comprehensive inspection
in which samples are taken) of facilities with
NPDES Permits. Inspection of these facilities
is a required part of the NPDES program. See Attachment
"A".
WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENT PROGRAM (NON-CHAPTER
15)
Halaco Engineering Company
Gary Schultz
At the June 28, 2001, Board meeting, Board staff
updated the Board regarding the status of the
Halaco Engineering Co. facility (Halaco), located
at 6200 Perkins Road, Oxnard, California. Halaco
currently discharges solid and liquid wastes to
a waste management unit under waste discharge
requirements contained in Order No. 80-58. Though
Board staff originally scheduled the Halaco tentative
items (the waste discharge requirements (WDR)
renewal and the cease and desist order (CDO))
for the August 23, 2001, Board meeting, the Halaco
tentative items were continued for a special Board
meeting currently scheduled for October 4, 2001.
In addition to preparation of tentative items,
Board staff issued an enforcement letter dated
August 1, 2001, to Halaco. The letter requires
Halaco to fully characterize its liquid waste
and solid waste disposed to its waste management
unit (WMU) by February 1, 2002, to submit a comprehensive
groundwater and surface monitoring workplan by
October 15, 2001, to evaluate the hydraulic containment
capabilities of the WMU by April 1, 2002, and
to complete an engineering site and land survey
by January 2, 2002. Halaco, in a letter dated
August 15, 2001, submitted comments on the enforcement
letter. Board staff is reviewing the comments.
General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs)
for McDonald's Restaurant
David Koo
Board staff received an application for Waste
Discharge Requirements for McDonald's restaurant,
located at 3750 Sierra Highway, Acton, California.
Board staff reviewed the information provided
by McDonald, and determined that the proposed
discharge meets the conditions specified in Order
No. 01-031, "General Waste Discharge Requirements
for Small Commercial and Multifamily Residential
Subsurface Sub-surface Sewage Disposal". The subject
case was enrolled under Order No. 01-031 on August
2, 2001.
Self Monitoring Reports
Non-Chapter 15 Unit staff
In July 2001, staff reviewed a total of 29 Self-Monitoring
Reports submitted by WDR permit holders.
WDR Facility Inspections
Non-Chapter 15 Unit staff
Non-Chapter 15 Unit staff conducted level A (Comprehensive
inspection in which samples are taken) and B1
inspections (Routine non-sampling inspection)
of 10 facilities with WDR Permits. Inspection
of these facilities is a required part of the
WDR program.
Notices Of Violation
Non-Chapter 15 Unit staff
The Executive Officer issued Notices of Violation
and Requirements to Submit information to six
facilities for failing to comply with provisions
of Waste Discharge Requirements. Staff identified
these violations as part of the monitoring report
review process.
Monthly Enforcement Summary
A summary listing the Monthly Enforcement actions
has been included with this report as Attachment
"D".
Landfills
Select Committee on Urban Landfills
On August 24, 2001, Regional Board staff attended
an informational hearing chaired by Senator Gloria
Romero of the 24th Senatorial District. The purpose
of the hearing was to discuss a report prepared
by the State Auditors Office entitled "Report
on the California Integrated Waste Management
Board: Limited Authority and Weak Oversight Diminish
Its Ability to Protect Public Health and the Environment."
The meeting was attended by representatives of
the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, California
Refuse Removal Council, Southern District, League
of California Cities, Hacienda Heights Improvement
Association (a citizens group opposed to the proposed
expansion of the Puente Hills Landfill), and the
North Valley Coalition (a citizens group opposed
to the proposed expansion of the Sunshine Canyon
Landfill). During the morning session these representatives
were queried by the Senator's panel about issues
raised in the Auditor's report such as waste diversion
numbers, waste reduction, and the role of the
California Integrated Waste Management Board in
regulating waste disposal. During the afternoon,
the Senator's panel interviewed representatives
of the Air Resources Board, the Department of
Conservation, the Department of Toxics Substances
Control, the Integrated Waste Management Board,
and the State Water Resources Control Board. Questions
were asked about each agency's role in permitting
and oversight of landfills, the need for new or
expanded landfills, options to expansions, issues
concerning environmental protection, public health
and safety, and environmental justice. Comments
were also received from members of the public.
Another hearing is scheduled for September 19,
2001, to more directly consider specific environmental
issues.
STORMWATER SECTION
Audit
Report: State Enforcement of Clean Water Act Dischargers
Can Be More Effective, by the Office of Inspector
General
Wendy Phillips
During 2000, the Office
of the Inspector General (OIG) investigated Clean
Water Act enforcement by states delegated by the
US EPA to implement NPDES programs. In August,
the OIG released an audit report which includes,
among other topics, an analysis of storm water
programs in three states, namely: North Carolina,
Utah, and California. In general, the auditors
found that:
- funding for regulatory oversight activities is inadequate,
- State strategies were needed for identifying storm water non-filers,
- risk-based inspection programs were lacking,
- processes were needed to monitor discharge reports,
- tracking systems for citizen complaints were insufficient.
http://www.epa.gov/oigearth/audit/list901/finalenfor.pdf
Municipal - LA County MS4 Permit Workshop Board Direction
Xavier Swamikannu
On July 26, 2001, the Regional Board conducted a public workshop to receive comments on the second draft of the Los Angeles County municipal storm water permit. The deadline for submittal of written comment was August 6. At the conclusion of the workshop, the Regional Board members provided direction to staff. The main elements of this direction are summarized as follows:
- Ensure that the proposed permit requirements at least as stringent as the Long Beach MS4 and Ventura County MS4 permits.
- Ensure that RB staff upgrades their activities to monitor compliance and enforce implementation of the MS4 permit.
- Review the appropriateness of ambiguous terms such as "potential contribution"; "minimize"; "maximize", and "measurably" for purposes of enforceability.
- Review for conflicts with other state and federal regulations such as air pollution [water and chemical stabilizers for dust control] fire code, health and safety etc.
- Provide justification for the development thresholds for projects in environmentally sensitive areas [2,500 sq. feet of impervious surface and no more than 20 percent change in impervious surface area from the existing natural condition]
- Consider an inspection program for gas stations in addition to outreach.
- Review the requirement to map MS4 discharge points relative to the cost of setting up such a system.
- Consider requiring permittees to enforce the ICID programs with fines for illicit discharges and connections.
- Consider inclusion of targeted BMPs to control pollutants of concern
- Include specific language on trash TMDL similar to the one in the Long Beach MS4
- Develop a strategy to get to compliance with water quality standards
- Identify a contact person on RB staff to provide and assist in information on funding sources.
- Convene the advisory committee on the public information and participation program before the November public hearing.
- Review the suggestions by SMBRP on monitoring and reporting for inclusion.
- The permit second draft is rather complete. After making appropriate revisions, consistent with Regional Board direction, issue a third draft in October for consideration at the November 29 Board Meeting.
Municipal - LA County MS4 Permit Renewal Schedule
Megan Fisher
The proposed renewal schedule and updates, workshop agenda, and all related documents, including drafts and comments, are posted on our web page. This information can be accessed by the scrolling menu on the Regional Board home page, as well as through the Municipal button on the Storm Water page at:www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb4/html/programs/Stormwater/stormwater.html
The remainder of the proposed renewal schedule is as follows:
| Wednesday, Oct 10 | Issue third draft and Response to Comments | ||
| Friday, Nov 9 | Written comments on final draft due | ||
| Friday, Nov 16 | Issue Supplemental Response to Comments | ||
| Thursday, Nov 29 | Propose permit adoption at Board Meeting (location TBA) | ||
Construction and Industrial - Inspection Summary
Wendy Phillips
We have targeted 500 full compliance inspections, including SWPPP reviews, in our workplan for fiscal year 2001/02. Most of these compliance inspections will be scheduled during the wet season. Staff may modify this, pending development of a possible contract with the County of Los Angeles to conduct compliance inspection of heavy industrial facilities.
Also, we are working with the US EPA and State Board to contract Tetra Tech to conduct 500 compliance inspections in Region 4. These inspections are tentatively scheduled to start at the end of October.
Industrial - 00/01 Annual Report Update
Yi Lu
Discharges of storm water associated with industrial activities are subject to self-monitoring requirements, among other requirements, as set forth in the State's General Permit. These self-monitoring requirements include collection and an analysis of runoff from two storms each year, as well as visual observations. Permittees must report the results of their self-monitoring by July 1st of each year. As of August 20, 2001, 2,489 (84%) of Region 4's 2,962 permittees submitted their annual reports.
On July 25, 2001, Regional Board staff sent out Notices of Non-compliance (level 1 enforcement letters) to 363 permittees who had failed to submit their 2000/01 annual reports. As of August 24, 2001, about 211 of these permittees responded and/or submitted their annual reports. On August 24, 2001, staff sent out Notices of Violation (level 2 enforcement letters) to 152 permittees, listed in the below table, whose annual reports remain delinquent.
Industrial - Non-Filers Project in the City of Los Angeles
Yi Lu
During fiscal year 1999/00, staffs' workplan includes a commitment to follow up on 204 potential non-filers in a four-square mile industrialized area of the City of Los Angeles.1 Since October 2000, staff has been contacting these potential permittees through outreach letters and informal enforcement notices. The below table shows the status of these 204 potential non-filers. Staff intend to wrap this project by the end of September 2001.
|
|
Already in the General Permit or subsequently enrolled into the General Permit |
|
|
Could not be contacted (letters were returned by the Postal Office) |
|
|
Found to be closed or moved out. |
|
|
Will be referred to Enforcement to prepare ACLs. |
|
|
Have
filed NNAs (Notices of Non-applicability) 47 have been approved. 20 have been denied and required to file an NOI by September 1, 2001. |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Industrial - Storm Water Sampling Data Analysis
RoseLynn Wright
Staff analyzed storm water sampling data in our Region for the past three fiscal years (1998/99, 1999/00, and 2000/01), and compared them with the USEPA benchmarks. The comparisons were made for all the industrial permittees within our Region, and for three major industrial sectors (auto dismantling, fabricated metals, and metal scrap yards) that are at high risk of discharging pollutants in storm water. The tables below summarize preliminary results2 of this study, and indicate that:
- Region-wide a high percentage of runoff samples exceeded USEPA benchmarks for all the three years. Looking at certain conventional parameters, for example, 29% of samples analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS) and 31% of samples analyzed for specific conductance (SC) exceeded the benchmarks in 1998/99.
- Metals in storm water grossly exceed US EPA benchmarks. For example, 41% of samples analyzed for lead and 93% of samples analyzed for zinc exceeded the benchmarks in 1998/99. Benchmark exceedances for nickel are significantly lower than for other metal parameters in the three years.
- Among the three sectors, metal scrap yards have a higher percentage of benchmark exceedances for all the three years.
|
ANALYSIS OF STORM WATER SAMPLING DATA FOR REGION 42 |
|||||||||
|
(All Industrial Facilities) |
|||||||||
|
|
1998/99 |
1999/00* |
2000/01 |
||||||
|
|
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
|||
|
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
|||
|
pH |
4122 |
420 |
10 |
4565 |
556 |
12 |
4693 |
553 |
12 |
|
Total Suspended Solids |
4123 |
1193 |
29 |
4520 |
1335 |
30 |
4528 |
1470 |
32 |
|
Specific Conductance |
3995 |
1226 |
31 |
4360 |
1546 |
35 |
4468 |
1606 |
36 |
|
Oil and Grease |
3396 |
476 |
14 |
3580 |
495 |
14 |
3545 |
453 |
13 |
|
Total Organic Carbon |
1691 |
112 |
7 |
1856 |
169 |
9 |
1739 |
156 |
9 |
|
Chemical Oxygen Demand |
395 |
196 |
50 |
481 |
208 |
43 |
450 |
215 |
48 |
|
Aluminum |
414 |
279 |
67 |
459 |
298 |
65 |
579 |
329 |
57 |
|
Copper |
696 |
385 |
55 |
846 |
504 |
60 |
915 |
536 |
59 |
|
Iron |
428 |
247 |
58 |
599 |
440 |
73 |
697 |
435 |
62 |
|
Lead |
553 |
244 |
44 |
797 |
304 |
38 |
833 |
347 |
42 |
|
Nickel |
261 |
4 |
2 |
424 |
9 |
2 |
412 |
9 |
2 |
|
Zinc |
976 |
909 |
93 |
1217 |
1075 |
88 |
1340 |
1181 |
88 |
|
*For 1999/00, errors in summaries of data, presented in the Executive Officer’s Report (July 2001), have been corrected. |
|||||||||
|
ANALYSIS OF STORM WATER SAMPLING DATA FOR REGION 42 |
|||||||||
|
(Fabricated Metals Facilities, SIC Code = 34xx) |
|||||||||
|
|
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
||||||
|
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
||||
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
||||
|
pH |
616 |
82 |
13 |
651 |
102 |
16 |
662 |
86 |
13 |
|
Total Suspended Solids |
615 |
154 |
25 |
642 |
138 |
21 |
646 |
168 |
26 |
|
Specific Conductance |
585 |
112 |
19 |
616 |
161 |
26 |
631 |
175 |
28 |
|
Oil and Grease |
530 |
63 |
12 |
554 |
53 |
10 |
547 |
47 |
9 |
|
Total Organic Carbon |
245 |
6 |
2 |
263 |
22 |
8 |
239 |
14 |
6 |
|
Chemical Oxygen Demand |
15 |
3 |
20 |
21 |
11 |
52 |
21 |
10 |
48 |
|
Aluminum |
178 |
105 |
59 |
193 |
113 |
59 |
220 |
111 |
50 |
|
Copper |
104 |
59 |
57 |
113 |
66 |
58 |
131 |
70 |
53 |
|
Iron |
167 |
81 |
49 |
193 |
127 |
66 |
210 |
125 |
60 |
|
Lead |
62 |
0 |
0 |
106 |
39 |
37 |
94 |
16 |
17 |
|
Nickel |
80 |
1 |
1 |
112 |
3 |
3 |
82 |
3 |
4 |
|
Zinc |
266 |
249 |
94 |
321 |
292 |
91 |
333 |
296 |
89 |
|
ANALYSIS OF STORM WATER SAMPLING DATA FOR REGION 42 |
|||||||||
|
(Auto Dismantling Facilities, SIC Code = 5015) |
|||||||||
|
|
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
||||||
|
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
||||
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
||||
|
pH |
190 |
19 |
10 |
205 |
17 |
8 |
186 |
22 |
12 |
|
Total Suspended Solids |
189 |
68 |
36 |
201 |
66 |
33 |
177 |
56 |
32 |
|
Specific Conductance |
187 |
91 |
49 |
202 |
82 |
41 |
184 |
65 |
35 |
|
Oil and Grease |
153 |
56 |
37 |
166 |
56 |
34 |
154 |
35 |
23 |
|
Total Organic Carbon |
19 |
4 |
21 |
41 |
6 |
15 |
55 |
0 |
0 |
|
Chemical Oxygen Demand |
65 |
33 |
51 |
51 |
26 |
51 |
40 |
17 |
43 |
|
Aluminum |
50 |
40 |
80 |
46 |
35 |
76 |
51 |
30 |
59 |
|
Copper |
126 |
80 |
63 |
131 |
82 |
63 |
94 |
55 |
59 |
|
Iron |
41 |
31 |
76 |
41 |
36 |
88 |
56 |
29 |
52 |
|
Lead |
149 |
9 |
6 |
165 |
78 |
47 |
143 |
76 |
53 |
|
Nickel |
10 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Zinc |
126 |
116 |
92 |
134 |
118 |
88 |
96 |
88 |
92 |
|
ANALYSIS OF STORM WATER SAMPLING DATA FOR REGION 42 |
|||||||||
|
(Scrap Yard Facilities, SIC Code = 5093) |
|||||||||
|
|
1998/99 |
1999/00 |
2000/01 |
||||||
|
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
No. of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
No. Of Samples |
Outside Benchmarks |
||||
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
||||
|
pH |
177 |
21 |
12 |
165 |
23 |
14 |
177 |
29 |
16 |
|
Total Suspended Solids |
176 |
71 |
40 |
170 |
72 |
42 |
174 |
77 |
44 |
|
Specific Conductance |
175 |
88 |
50 |
164 |
71 |
43 |
177 |
88 |
50 |
|
Oil and Grease |
140 |
39 |
28 |
132 |
34 |
26 |
144 |
42 |
29 |
|
Total Organic Carbon |
67 |
18 |
27 |
57 |
4 |
7 |
57 |
14 |
25 |
|
Chemical Oxygen Demand |
66 |
47 |
71 |
58 |
38 |
66 |
92 |
61 |
66 |
|
Aluminum |
47 |
41 |
87 |
61 |
49 |
80 |
96 |
55 |
57 |
|
Copper |
56 |
42 |
75 |
77 |
54 |
70 |
104 |
70 |
67 |
|
Iron |
41 |
33 |
80 |
64 |
56 |
88 |
95 |
58 |
61 |
|
Lead |
55 |
4 |
7 |
87 |
47 |
54 |
105 |
56 |
53 |
|
Nickel |
18 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
1 |
5 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
|
Zinc |
53 |
48 |
91 |
81 |
76 |
94 |
99 |
82 |
83 |
REMEDIATION SECTION
Well Investingation Program
Status Report of the San Fernando Valley
Chromium VI Investigation
Dixon Oriola
Regional Board staff have inspected over 160 of
the 254 suspected Chromium VI sites in San Fernando
Valley. The remaining sites require current property
owner information. Staff is assisting Los Angeles
County officials in an effort to identify these
property owners.
Port Hueneme Deep Water Port Dredging
Blythe Ponek-Bacharowski
Regional Board staff and DTSC are working with
the Army Corps of Engineers and Naval Base Ventura
County-Port Hueneme staff to evaluate the appropriateness
of dredging sediment in the port, for the purpose
of deepening the channel, and reusing it for nearby
beach replenishment. Regional Board staff will
evaluate if the physical characteristics of the
sediment are similar enough to the current beach
material to provide for stable beach replenishment.
In addition, Regional Board staff is reviewing
analytical data for sediment samples to determine
if there are chemicals of concern present.
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK PROGRAM
Charnock Sub-basin MTBE
Investigation Area
Dr. Weixing Tong
Introduction: The Charnock Sub-Basin Investigation
Area is located in the Central Groundwater Basin
of the Los Angeles Coastal Plain. During March
1996, MTBE concentrations up to 610 mg/L was detected
in the City of Santa Monica (CSM) wells, consequently
in June 1996, the CSM shut down its five production
wells. The Southern California Water Company (SCWC)
has a wellfield adjacent to the CSM wellfield
and shut down its two production wells in October
1996, to avoid drawing in MTBE pollution. No MTBE
was ever detected in the SCWC production wells.
During April 1997, the Regional Board and USEPA
(jointly the "Agencies") signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to deal with the MTBE pollution
problem affecting both the CSM and SCWC wellfields
(collectively Charnock Wellfields). Pursuant to
the MOU, the Agencies identified 48 potential
responsible party sites (PRP sites) within one
and one quarter mile radius of the wellfields
(Charnock Sub-Basin Investigation Area). Based
upon record search, 32 potential source sites
were required to perform a preliminary investigation
to determine the potential of soil and groundwater
contamination. At present, there are 27 active
sites in the Charnock Sub-Basin Investigation
Area. Of the 27 active sites, there are 13 sites
where additional site assessment work is required.
Groundwater monitoring is being performed at 26
sites. A workplan for site assessment is currently
prepared for the 27th site. Remedial action workplans
for the soil and/or groundwater have been approved
for a total of 9 sites.
Site Specific Cleanup: Site specific cleanup
technologies include air stripper, granular activated
carbon adsorption, advanced oxidation process,
and soil vapor extraction. The following are the
current status of site-specific cleanup activities
(See attached Figure for site locations):
PRP Site No. 4 (ARCO): Implement soil vapor extraction.
To date approximately 50,033 pounds of total petroleum
hydrocarbons have been removed from beneath the
site.
PRP Site No. 8 (Mobil): Implement soils vapor
extraction and groundwater pump and treat system.
To date approximately 305 pounds of MTBE, 85 pounds
of benzene, and 13,985 pounds of petroleum hydrocarbons
have been removed by soil vapor extraction. Since
November 1999, approximately 19.5 million gallons
of groundwater have been pumped, treated and discharged
under an NPDES permit. Approximately 692 pounds
of petroleum hydrocarbons have been removed from
groundwater underneath the site.
PRP Site No. 10 (Chevron): Implement soils vapor
extraction and prepare groundwater pump and treat
system. A vapor and groundwater extraction system
(VEGE) has been approved and is under construction.
In the meantime, a temporary portable dual phase
remediation system has been delivered to the site
and has operated at the since May 24, 2001. To
date approximately 1,221 pounds of petroleum hydrocarbons
have been removed by soil vapor extraction.
PRP Site No. 11 (Shell): Implement soil vapor
extraction and onsite and offsite groundwater
pump and treat system. A groundwater pump and
treat is used to recover polluted groundwater
and is then treated using an air stripper to remove
MTBE followed by advanced oxidation process to
remove TBA. To date approximately 82 million gallons
of groundwater have been treated and discharged
under an NPDES permit. Since the inception of
the remediation system, 6,041.9 pounds of total
petroleum hydrocarbons, 301.4 pounds of benzene
and 1,440.5 pounds of MTBE have been removed from
the site. The system influent concentrations for
MTBE have decreased from 19,000 mg/L in November
1999, to 750 mg/L in July 2001. The soil vapor
extraction system has been operated since September
2000. To date approximately 82.2 pounds of MTBE,
27.7 pounds of benzene, and 2,497.8 pounds of
petroleum hydrocarbons have been removed by soil
vapor extraction.
PRP Site No. 12 (Winall Oil): Implement soil vapor
extraction. A soil vapor extraction system has
been operating since May 2000, and has removed
to date 14,106 pounds of petroleum hydrocarbons,
93.5 pounds of benzene, and 1,698 pounds of MTBE.
PRP Site No. 6 (Conoco): Implement pilot test
for soil vapor extraction system.
PRP Site No. 16 (Tosco): Implement pilot test
for soil vapor extraction system.
PRP Site No. 23 (Chevron-Thrifty-Best): Implement
pilot test for soil vapor extraction and prepare
soil vapor extraction and groundwater pump and
treat system.
PRP Sites No. 1, No. 8, No. 15, No. 23, No. 40,
and No. 44: Complete tank removal and/or upgrades.
Charnock Sub-basin Regional Approach: On
the Charnock Sub-basin regional issues, the Regional
Board and Shell have entered into a Stipulated
Agreement containing a specified Scope of Work
(SOW) to perform regional investigation and analysis
of alternatives for both Interim Water Replacement
and Interim Regional Response Actions. The Regional
Board members at the August 31, 2000, meeting
approved the Stipulated Agreement. As part of
this investigation, a number of groundwater monitoring
have been installed into the Upper Silverado Aquifer
to aid in determining plume source(s) and characteristics,
and to perform periodic groundwater monitoring.
This work will require development of a basin-wide
flow model, development a GIS database, evaluate
alternative drinking water sources within the
Charnock Sub-Basin, evaluate methods of treating
polluted groundwater, restoring the Charnock Sub-Basin
Investigation Area to its full beneficial use,
and provide a community relations plan. The work
specified in the SOW is a necessary step to restore
the drinking water supply at the Charnock Wellfields.
Currently, fieldwork is ongoing, and twenty-six
(26) regional wells have been completed to date.
Shell has submitted a preliminary basin-wide groundwater
flow model, January 2001, and the model is currently
under review by the Agencies. All 26 sites in
the Charnock Sub-Basin Investigation Area have
been required to submit the site-specific water
quality data for construction of GIS database.
As of July 1, 2001, the data from all 26 sites
have been entered into GIS database. The regional
investigative report including regional assessment
and recommendations of regional remedy will be
submitted during November 2001. Regional Board
and USEPA (Agencies) have also established an
inquiry hotline in response to the community concerns
regarding the drilling and sampling activities
required by the agencies. So far several dozen
phone calls have been received by the hotline
for inquiries.
On December 11, 2000, the Regional Board issued
a Cleanup and Abatement Order CAO-00-160 to Chevron
U.S.A. Incorporated, Thrifty Oil Co, and Best
California Gas Ltd. (Chevron/Thrifty/Best) for
PRP Site No. 23 (former Chevron/Thrifty No. 247).
The Order requires Chevron/Thrifty/Best to perform
supplemental hydrogeologic investigations onsite
and offsite between the site and the Charnock
Wellfield, and to complete onsite and offsite
soil and groundwater cleanup on a timely basis
per the schedule set forth in the Order. On January
8, 2001, Chevron/Thrifty/Best initiated the field
excavation activities in the fuel dispenser area
of the former station. Three underground storage
tanks were removed during March 2001. Chevron/Thrifty/Best
has completed the remedial soil excavation and
submitted a partial tank removal report on May
9, 2001. Chevron-Thrifty-Best is currently installing
14 offsite groundwater monitoring well clusters
between the site and the Charnock Wellfield and
conducting onsite and offsite soil and groundwater
remediation on a timely basis per the schedule
set forth in the Order. Per the Order, Chevron-Thrifty-Best
also submitted a remedial action plan in May 2001
for cleanup of soil and perched groundwater onsite
and offsite, which has been approved by Agencies
for implementation.
Arcadia Wellfield MTBE Investigation
Jay Huang
In the vicinity of the Santa Monica Arcadia Wellfield,
three aquifers were impacted by MTBE pollution.
Two aquifers, the shallow aquifer and the production
aquifer are located north of the Brentwood fault;
the third aquifer, called the lower aquifer, is
located south of the fault. The shallow aquifer
and lower aquifer in the vicinity of the former
Mobil Station 18-LDM, located at 12054 Wilshire
Boulevard, Los Angeles, have been treated with
a pump and treat system since October 1997.
Currently, approximately 9 gallons per minute
(gpm) of polluted groundwater is being pumped
from 17 groundwater extraction wells installed
in the shallow and lower aquifers and treated
at the former Mobil facility.
To date (June 15, 2001) the treatment system has
pumped 20.83 million gallons of polluted groundwater
and removed an estimated 79.8 pounds of petroleum
hydrocarbons as gasoline (TPH) and 208.8 pounds
of MTBE. The average MTBE concentration in the
shallow aquifer influent has decreased from over
2,000 mg/L in 1998 to 55 mg/L in 2001. The impacted
soil in the vadose zone has been treated with
a vapor extraction system (VES). The cumulative
mass removed is approximately 12,600 pounds since
May 1999.
A Production Aquifer Remediation System (PARS)
using activated carbon filtering to clean up the
production aquifer has been in operation since
May 17, 2000. Currently groundwater from Arcadia
Well No. 5 is being pumped at 300 gpm and discharged
to a storm drain. To date (June 15, 2001), PARS
has pumped approximately 129.3 million gallons
of groundwater and removed 0.51 pounds of MTBE.
The average daily influent concentration of MTBE
has decreased from approximately 86 mg/L to 0.12
mg/L.
A "final stage" type of spiking demonstration
test designed to further evaluate treatment system
reliability and effectiveness was conducted for
45 days and completed in December 2000. A Draft
Demonstration Test was submitted to the California
Department of Health Service (CDHS) in July 2001.
On July 27, 2001, CDHS made a decision to waive
the public hearing under the agency's Policy 97-005,
citing the low influent concentration of MTBE
and other constituents in the water. Therefore,
the treated groundwater from Arcadia Well No.
5 will be routed to Santa Monica treatment plant
for distribution to the public later this year.
GEIMS/Geotracker System
Nhan Bao
The Los Angeles Region has completed the transition
from LUSTIS to GEIMS/Geotracker as of August 16,
2001. We are currently tracking our leaking underground
storage tank cases online in "real time". The
Regional Board Underground Storage Tanks' web
page has been modified to provide viewer with
a direct link to the GEIMS/Geotracker home page.
GEIMS/Geotracker is available to the public and
can be accessed through the following link: http://geotracker.swrcb.ca.gov/.
Improvements to GEIMS/Geotracker system, however,
are still ongoing. Region Board staff is scheduled
to attend a State Board sponsored conference in
San Diego this September to share our opinions
and workout our specific needs to customize the
database to include additional data fields used
at this Regional Board.
SB 592 MTBE Reporting
Nhan Bao
On July 20, 2001, staff sent MTBE reports, required
under SB 592, to all public water system operators,
local oversight program, and local implementing
agencies within the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles
Region. The report lists discharges of MTBE and
the locations where MTBE was detected in surface
water, soil and/or groundwater and covers the
period from April 12, 2001, to July 19, 2001.
This report is being generated on a quarterly
basis and can be downloaded from our web page
at http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/~rwqcb4.
Completion of Corrective Action at Leaking
Underground Fuel Storage Tank Sites
Regional Board staff have reviewed corrective
actions taken for soil and/or groundwater contamination
problems from leaking UST's for the time of August
6, 2001 through August 24, 2001, and determined
that no further corrective actions are required.
WATERSHED
REGULATORY
Santa Clara River Estuary Workgroup Meeting
T. Don Tsai
On July 31, 2001, Regional Board staff met with
staff from the Department of Fish and Game, the
California State Parks Channel Coast District,
and the Ventura Water Reclamation Plant. The purpose
of this two-hour meeting was to discuss and make
comments on the study plan of "Santa Clara River
Estuary Natural Preserve, Prospectus for Special
Studies" proposed by Mr. Terry Parr, a consultant
of Environmental Trust for California State Parks.
This meeting decided six tasks to help conduct
this study plan, which are
Task 1: Development of GIS based mapping and data
base management system
Task 2: Identification of the input criteria methodology
for estuary
Task 3: Establishment of the function of estuary
Task 4: Analysis of sediment and tissue contamination
Task 5: Modeling of mass loading inputs of contaminants
into the estuary system
Task 6: Examination of sources of bacterial contamination
The results of these studies may develop mapping
and data base management system, identify the
protocol for the estuary, establish the estuary
function and a model of mass loading of contaminants
in order to have a better understanding on the
nature of estuaries at the southern California.
Tour of Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation
Plant
T. Don Tsai
Regional Board staff arranged a tour of the Donald
C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant (Tillman) on
August 23, 2001 for Mr. Nobuyoshi Tanaka, Sewage
Engineer, Sewage Division of Ishikawa Prefectural
Government, Japan, and Mr. Mike Hasegawa, President,
MDP Associates in Monterey Park. In the three-hour
tour, Mr. Robert Krivak, Assistant Plant Manager
of Tillman, presented the history and the design
capacity of Tillman, and the state-of-the-art
technologies used in the plant. He also discussed
the existing and potential uses of the Tillman
recycled water, in landscape irrigation, recreation
(Balboa Lake, Wildlife Lake), industry (dust control),
and groundwater recharge.
Prior to the tour, Regional Board Staff, introduced
the organizations and functions of the State Water
Resources Control Board and the nine regional
boards.
General Permitting Activity
Augustine Anijielo
A summary of all General Permit enrollments, revisions,
and recessions since the last EO Report is shown
on Attachment "C". The dischargers are listed
by general permit type, then facility name.
REGIONAL PROGRAMS
STANDARDS AND TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOADS (TMDLs)
Regional Board Awarded First Prize for Environmental
Leadership
Melinda Becker and Jonathan Bishop
Keep California Beautiful honored the Regional
Board with a first place prize for Environmental
Leadership at a ceremony held at the Shutter Club
in Sacramento, California on August 23, 2001.
First Lady Sharon Davis presented the award to
Board Chairman H. David Nahai. Also representing
the Board were Board members Francine Diamond
and Susan Cloke; Executive Officer, Dennis Dickerson;
Assistant Executive Officer, Deborah Smith, and
Regional Programs Section Chief, Jonathan Bishop.
The award was presented in recognition of the
Board's efforts in reducing litter in the Region's
waterways.
Trash TMDLs For Los Angeles River and Ballona
Creek
Ginachi Amah
Staff received several comment letters in response
to the proposed changes to the adopted Los Angeles
River Trash TMDL and the modifications to the
final draft of the Ballona Creek and Wetland Trash
TMDL. Respondents included Los Angeles County,
several affected cities, environmental groups,
attorneys, and individual stakeholders. These
comments have been reviewed and staff has prepared
responses to the comments. The Board will reconsider
the Los Angeles River Trash TMDL at the September
19, 2001 board meeting. A version of the TMDL,
reflecting the proposed changes, and all accompanying
documents, are available on the Regional Board's
web site (www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb4;
select "TMDLs" under the "Quick Menu"). For more
information, please contact Ginachi Amah at (213)
576-6685.
Dominguez Channel Watershed Advisory Council
Tony Rizk
The Dominguez Channel Watershed Advisory Council
(DCWAC) met on August 1, 2001 to discuss and reach
consensus on the master plan development outline.
The council approved the outline, in principle,
and directed the DC Outline Committee to develop
and to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for
consulting services to support the master plan
development. The Regional Board was represented
by various staff.
On August 1, 2001, following the DCWAC meeting,
the Dominguez Channel TMDL committee met to discuss
TMDL development issues. The Regional Board distributed
a draft document that compiles a host of data,
photographs, GIS maps, and support documentation
that are relevant to the DC TMDL development effort.
The data included dry and wet weather water quality
analysis that demonstrates impairment for metals,
coliform, and ammonia. Further, the Regional Board
presented to the committee a preliminary draft
technical work plan, a.k.a., Preliminary Plan
(PP) designed to control data gaps and to assist
the development of a science based TMDL.
On August 16, 2001, the TMDL committee met again
and adopted the Preliminary Plan (PP) to guide
the TMDL scientific studies. Further, the committee
began the process of assessing each element in
the PP and expanding it to address logistical
details and implementation steps. In this context,
the committee decided, with support from the Regional
Board and the Los Angeles Sanitation District,
to request SCCWRP assistance and facilitation
of these studies.
On August 21, 2001, the DC Outline Committee finalized
the scope of work that will be issued in the RFP
for consultation services in support of the Area
Master Plan.
On August 27, the TMDL committee met again to
discuss the PP and to prepare a list of questions
and issues to discuss with SCCWRP in an upcoming
meeting on August 30, 2001.
On a separate issue, the Regional Board staff
has been pursuing a fact-finding mission of a
diversion installed in Dominguez Channel at the
Del Amo Bridge site construction. The diversion
appears to have been installed without adequate
environmental review, and has resulted in an impact
on the aquatic environment, as well as on sensitive
biological wildlife, including birds and fish
populations. Regional Board staff are coordinating
with LA County DPW, City of Carson, California
Department of Fish and Game, and US Army Corps
of Engineers. The fact finding is near completion.
Appropriate actions are being identified.
For more information, please contact Tony Rizk,
at 213-576-6756.
Energy Crisis
Tony Rizk
In response to the energy crisis, the State Board,
in coordination with the Regional Boards formed
an energy team to support Governor Davis effort
to solve the energy crisis.
To this extent, Regional Board staff is coordinating
with the California Energy Commission (CEC) on
water quality issues at the El Segundo power plant,
Magnolia Power Plant, and Malburg Generating Station.
For more information, please contact Tony Rizk,
at 213-576-6756.
Statewide Pesticide Working Group
Tony Rizk
The Regional Board staff are identifying data
needs to submit to DPR for funding in support
of TMDL development for the next two to three
years. A preliminary list of data needs was sent
to DPR late August 2001. For more information,
please contact Tony Rizk, at 213-576-6756.
Marina Del Rey
Tony Rizk
The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and
Harbors (Beaches and Harbors) is coordinating
with the Regional Board to develop a mitigation
plan for coliform impairment in Basin D Marina
Beach, a.k.a., Mother's beach. The California
Clean Beaches Initiatives, the State Board Cleanup
and Abatement account, and the Beaches and Harbors
own funds will jointly fund the mitigation plan.
The Regional Board intended to vote on a resolution
to support this effort in August 20, 2001. Due
to no quorum, the vote was postponed until the
Regional Board meeting on September 19, 2001.
Regional Board staff continue to coordinate with
the USEPA on the development of TMDLs for metals
in the back basins of Marina Del Rey. Regional
Board staff provided the EPA with pertinent GIS
maps that included land uses and drainage areas.
For more information, please contact Tony Rizk,
at 213-576-6756.
Ballona Creek Watershed Stakeholders Meeting
Ginachi Amah
Staff attended the first Ballona Creek Watershed
Stakeholders meeting held on August 9, 2001, at
the City Hall in Culver City. Los Angeles County
Department of Public Works partnered with the
Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project (SMBRP) and
Ballona Creek Renaissance to obtain funding for
the development of a Watershed Management Plan.
The purpose of this meeting was to encourage stakeholder
participation in the development of this plan.
Approximately fifty-five people were in attendance.
An overview of the project elements and their
time frames were presented by staff of the SMBRP.
The "Ballona Creek Task Force" was adopted as
the name for the stakeholder group. For more information,
please contact Ginachi Amah at (213) 576-6685.
UCLA Monitoring Contract
Staff collaborated with UCLA researchers in the
selection of sample sites for a study of nutrients
effects under varying habitat types. The study
will include benthic invertebrate and water chemistry
sampling. In the upper watershed, sample sites
were identified to describe the aquatic community
and quantify chemical parameter associated with
background conditions, downstream from horse properties
and urban development. In the lower watershed,
sites were identified to characterize background
conditions, and conditions downstream from orchards
and municipal waste discharges.
Watershed Group Planning Meeting
Elizabeth Erickson
Staff presented an update on the Chloride TMDL
to the Santa Clara River Watershed Advisory Group
coordinated by Los Angeles County Department of
Public Works in Santa Clarita on August 13, 2001.
The attendees included Los Angeles County Regional
Planning, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles
County, Metropolitan Water District, Los Angeles
County Flood Control, Santa Clarita Planning,
Santa Clara River Organization for Planning and
the Environment (SCOPE), Fish and Game, and CalTrans.
A draft document for the Upper Santa Clara Chloride
TMDL has been prepared and in undergoing internal
review. The TMDL is scheduled for public and peer
review in October and to be presented to the Regional
Board on December 13, 2001.
Staff last brought the item to the Regional Board
on December 7, 2000. The chloride objectives for
the Santa Paula reach was changed from 80 to 100
mg/L and staff was requested to complete a TMDL
for the Santa Clarita reaches. For further information,
please call Melinda Becker at (213) 576-6681 or
Elizabeth Erickson at (213) 576-6683.
Sampling Events with Hyperion
Tracy Patterson
On August 8, 2001, and August 14, 2001, Regional
Board staff accompanied staff from the City of
Los Angeles Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant
during their semiannual ocean monitoring sampling
events. Water quality data was recorded and samples
obtained using a CTD and Rosette sampler to provide
a depth profile of many parameters including,
but not limited to, temperature, salinity, pH,
dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll-a. Water samples
were obtained for bacteriological analyses. Additionally,
sediment samples were taken using a Van Veen grab
to process sediment chemistry analyses and to
determine the composition of the benthic invertebrate
population. This data will be used to determine
and record the effects of Hyperion's effluent
discharge outfall on the harbor and surrounding
bay. For more information, please contact L.B.
Nye at (213) 576-6793 or Tracy Patterson at (213)
576-6661.
Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program
(SWAMP) Roundtable
Tracy Patterson
The State Board, Regional Boards, and California
Department of Fish and Game held the second of
three multiple-day workshops in Rancho Cordova
on August 28-29, 2001, to help coordinate the
Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program. Approximately
20 persons attended this meeting, including representatives
of the Regional Boards, the State Board, California
Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Geologic
Society, UC Davis, and Frontier Geoscience. The
purpose of the workshop was to review analytical
laboratory issues and to discuss and resolve technical
issues pertaining to the analysis of environmental
samples in regard to the SWAMP. The August SWAMP
roundtable meeting was cancelled. The next workshop
will focus on biological and toxicity related
sampling issues and is tentatively scheduled to
be held at UC Davis on September 25-26, 2001.
The next SWAMP roundtable is scheduled on September
26, 2001, following the conclusion of the workshop.
For more information, please contact Tracy Patterson
at (213) 576-6661.
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
Calleguas Creek Watershed
The Calleguas Creek Watershed Management Plan
Committee was convened in 1996 to initiate development
of a comprehensive watershed management plan.
A large group of stakeholders, including federal,
state, and local agencies, landowners, businesses,
and nonprofit organizations are represented. An
Executive Steering Committee, consisting of a
much smaller group of stakeholders, guides the
day-to-day activities of the watershed group.
Subcommittees have changed through time but currently
target Water Resources/Water Quality, Flood Protection
and Sediment Management, Habitat/Open Space/Recreation,
Land Use, and Public Outreach/Education. Subcommittees
generally meet monthly or bimonthly. Information
about the management committee and its subcommittees
can be found at http://www.calleguas.com/cc.htm
The Executive Steering Committee last met on June
5 as part of a workshop to work on the structure
of the watershed plan document and is tentatively
scheduled to meet next in mid-September. A meeting
for the larger stakeholder group is also tentatively
scheduled for September.
The Water Quality/Water Resources Subcommittee
last met on May 15 and had discussions on the
Board's triennial review as well as the status
of the nutrient TMDL. Clean Water Act 205(j) monies
have funded an evaluation of non-point source
contributions with the goal of developing nutrient
loadings. A public review draft of the Calleguas
Creek Nutrient TMDLs report can be found at http://www.calleguas.com/
The Flood Protection/Sedimentation Subcommittee
last met on September 10. They are currently involved
with modeling the watershed's hydrology as well
as erosion and sedimentation.
The Public Outreach/Education Subcommittee last
met on August 15 and is scheduled to meet again
on October 4.
A Land Use Subcommittee includes representatives
from local planning agencies. This subcommittee
last met August 28.
The Habitat/Recreation Subcommittee met on September
4 and continues oversight of the vegetation mapping
component of a wetlands study. A previous work
product, funded by the California Coastal Conservancy,
is the Watershed Wetlands Restoration Plan available
at http://www.calleguas.com/cc.htm.
Prioritization of sites identified in the Restoration
Plan will be the next step and will be contracted
out. The next meeting of the group is scheduled
for September 4.
Los Angeles River Watershed
The Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed
Council meets on the third Wednesday of each month.
The Watershed Council is a consortium of government
agencies, community and environmental groups,
business and academia that organized both to resolve
and prevent problems in the watershed in a cooperative,
collaborative manner.
Formation of the Watershed Council grew out of
a conference held in 1995 to discuss how to initiate
and/or implement watershed management objectives
in the greater Los Angeles Area. Stakeholders
in attendance agreed to continue meeting and begin
a multi-purpose cooperative watershed management
process that is open to the public. The Council's
web site is at http://www.lasgriverswatershed.org.
The August 15 meeting of the Watershed Council
included a presentation on brush clearance of
flood control channels by Los Angeles County Public
Works and a workshop for the Los Angeles County
Task Force of the Southern California Wetlands
Recovery Project.
The Friends of the LA River has a Los Angeles
River e-mail discussion forum. To subscribe, e-mail
to la-river-discuss-subscribe@makelist.com. To
view archives of past Los Angeles River discussions
on the Internet, go to http://www.egroups.com/list/la-river-discuss
San Gabriel River Watershed
A "State of the Watershed" report is available
for the San Gabriel River Watershed, which was
prepared by Regional Board staff in 2000. The
report describes the watershed, with its many
diversion structures and recharge areas, and summarizes
available water quality data in a manner easily
understood by the layperson. The complete set
of data evaluated for the report (as well as the
report itself) is available electronically by
contacting Shirley Birosik at sbirosik@rb4.swrcb.ca.gov.
Hardcopies of the report are also available.
There are ongoing meetings being held for planning
of a San Gabriel River Education Center which
may be built in the Whittier Narrows area. Meetings
are held on the third Tuesday of each month at
3:00 PM at the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal
Water District offices.
In 1999, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
directed the Department of Public Works (in cooperation
with the County Departments of Parks and Recreation
and Regional Planning) to prepare a San Gabriel
River Master Plan. The National Park Service through
its Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance
Program will assist in the development effort.
All river stakeholders have been invited to participate.
The Master Plan will be a consensus-based document
that will recognize and address River issues and
concerns of the stakeholders. It will include
areas within existing rights of way from Morris
Dam in the San Gabriel Mountains to the River's
outlet in Seal Beach. The Master Plan will identify
project opportunities for: enhancements for recreation,
open space, and habitat areas; restoration; preservation
of the River's natural resources; maintaining
flood protection and existing water rights. The
Master Plan effort will be coordinated with the
activities of the recently formed San Gabriel
and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy.
The final Master Plan is expected to be ready
for approval in 2003. Information on the Master
Plan effort may be found at http://www.dpw.co.la.ca.us/pln/sgrmp.
The San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and
Mountains Conservancy has produced a draft Guiding
Principles Watershed and Open Space Plan which
may be obtained at http://www.rmc.ca.gov/.
The Conservancy is an independent State agency
within the Resources Agency of the State of California
established by state law in 1999. Its jurisdiction
includes the San Gabriel River and its tributaries,
the Lower Los Angeles River and its tributaries,
and the San Gabriel Mountains, Puente Hills, and
San Jose Hills. It was established to preserve
urban open space and habitats in order to provide
for low-impact recreation and educational uses,
wildlife and habitat restoration and protection,
and watershed improvements within its jurisdiction.
The Friends of the San Gabriel River is an active
stakeholder in the watershed and their web site
is at http://www.sangabrielriver.org/.
Santa Monica Bay Watershed Management Area
- Malibu Creek Watershed
The Malibu Creek Watershed Executive and Advisory
Council have met on a bimonthly basis for many
years and is concerned with a variety of human
health and habitat issues. Current active committees/task
forces under the Council include those focusing
on lagoon water level management, exotic species,
steelhead trout recovery, human health, education/outreach,
flow reduction, and volunteer monitoring.
Lagoon water level management is addressed by
the Malibu Lagoon Task Force. The group has finalized
a priority list of wetlands restoration options
as well as general Best Management Practices for
the watershed and now is pursuing implementation.
The group last met on June 19 and will be presenting
its lists of recommendations to the Malibu City
Council in September. Future meetings will likely
be on a sporadic basis as a major project behind
formation of the group has been completed.
The Malibu Creek Watershed Executive and Advisory
Council last met on June 19 and included a report
on subcommittee activities as well as a presentation
by the Council of Governments on the Area Watershed
Management Plan. The Plan is available at http://www.dpw.co.la.ca.us/wmd/watershed/mc/wmap.cfm.
The Council's next meeting is scheduled for September
4.
Santa Monica Bay Watershed Management Area
- Topanga Creek Watershed
A watershed committee has been meeting in the
Topanga Creek Watershed since 1998. This group
was formed as a follow-up to the Topanga Canyon
Floodplain Management Citizens' Advisory Committee
which produced a draft Topanga Creek Watershed
Management Plan in 1996. A major goal of the watershed
committee is to prioritize potential watershed
protection actions previously identified, participate
in a coordinated resource management planning
(CRMP) process, and finalize the draft watershed
management plan. The committee met on July 26
and focused on updates on grants and research
projects as well as revisions to the draft Watershed
Management Plan. The group's next meeting was
scheduled for September 12 and focused on revising
the draft Management Plan. Their web site address
is http://www.TopangaOnline.com/twc/.
The group's Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
provides oversight for watershed monitoring and
studies that will help develop design parameters
for possible restoration of the Topanga Lagoon.
The TAC last met on June 18.
Dominguez Channel Watershed
A Dominguez Channel Watershed Advisory Council
was formed in February of this year and meets
on a monthly basis to conduct a variety of tasks
including development of a Watershed Management
Master Plan aimed at protecting and improving
the environment and beneficial uses of the watershed.
Proposition 13 funding ($200,000) was recently
approved by the State Water Resources Control
Board for the LA County Department of Public Works
to work on a watershed plan. The complete lists
of issues to be addressed are still being developed.
Many members of the group will also likely participate
in Regional Board TMDL work in the watershed.
Subcommittees have been formed to concentrate
on developing an outline for the watershed plan
and deal with detailed technical issues. Meetings
are held on the first Wednesday of each month.
A web site for the group is in development.
Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project
The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project
is a partnership of public agencies working cooperatively
to acquire, restore, and enhance coastal wetlands
and watersheds between Point Conception and the
International border with Mexico. Using a non-regulatory
approach and an ecosystem perspective, the Wetlands
Project works to identify wetland acquisition
and restoration priorities, prepare plans for
these priority sites, pool funds to undertake
these projects, implement priority plans, and
oversee post-project maintenance and monitoring.
The Wetlands Project is headed by Board of Governors
comprised of top officials from each of the participating
agencies. The Southern California Wetlands Managers
Group and the Public Advisory Committee serve
as advisory committees to the Board. The Wetlands
Managers Group is responsible for drafting the
regional restoration plan and advising the Governing
Board on regional acquisition, restoration, and
enhancement priorities. The Wetlands Project has
also established a panel of scientists to advise
on regional goals, specific objectives, project
criteria, and priorities. Governing Board meetings
are public and are noticed at least 10 days prior
to each meeting. If you sign up on the Wetlands
Project email list (http://www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov/scwrp/top),
you will receive email notification of all board
meetings. Minutes from previous meetings and other
information about the group may be found on their
web site at http://www.coastalconservancy.ca.gov/scwrp/index.html.
The last Board of Governors meeting was held on
May 18 and included adoption of this year's priorities
for funding.
Additionally, Proposition 13 funding for a regional
wetlands plan was recently approved by the State
Board. Meetings with the Los Angeles County and
Ventura County Task Forces occurred during July
and August to gather input on regional wetlands
needs.
Watershed Management Initiative Chapter
Each Regional Board updates a "chapter" on an
annual basis, which describes how that Board is
implementing watershed management. The last update
occurred in December 2000. The consolidated statewide
document is the basis for many funding decisions
including allocating money for monitoring, TMDL
development, and grant monies disbursement. Copies
of this Region's current Chapter (as well as Appendices)
may be obtained by contacting the Regional Board
office, Regional Programs Section secretary at
213-576-6619. The document may also be sent out
electronically (in MSWord97) and is available
on the Regional Board's web site (under Regional
Programs) at http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/~rwqcb4.
Funding
Information on a wide variety of funding sources
is available on the Regional Board web site along
the left side under "Grant Funding Sources" as
both a Word97 document and Adobe Acrobat file.
Proposition 13 Funding: The Request for
Proposals (RFPs) for Phase II funding is tentatively
scheduled to be released in September with a due
date in January 2001. When released, the RFP will
be available on the State Board's web site at
http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/.
205(j) and 319(h) Funding: Regional Boards
are now in the process of ranking all of the proposals
statewide.
NONPOINT SOURCE
Proposed Ahmanson Ranch Project
Melinda Becker and Jonathan Bishop
The Executive Officer participated in a panel
of government officials during a public hearing
on the proposed Ahmanson Ranch project. The hearing
was sponsored by Assemblywoman, Fran Pavley, and
was held at the El Camino Real High School in
Woodland Hills, on Saturday, August 25, 2001.
The Ahmanson Ranch project is a proposed 3,000
home residential development including a commercial
town center and two tournament quality golf courses.
At issue is the potential for increased loading
of nutrients, coliform bacteria, and other impaired
constituents to the Malibu Creek and the Los Angeles
River and the status of the 401 certification
issued by the Regional Board in 1996.. The project
proponent stated that the loadings from storm
water runoff would be less than current loads
due to the Best Management Practices to be employed.
Section 401 Water Quality Certification
Program
Anthony Klecha
The following Section 401 Water Quality Certification
(WQC) actions have been issued since the preparation
of the last Executive Officers Report:
|
DATE OF ISSUANCE |
APPLICANT |
PROJECT |
ACTION |
|
August 20, 2001
|
Gordon Group Holdings, Ltd. |
Sweetwater Creek Bridge |
Standard WQC |
Certification
actions recently issued and project descriptions
for applications currently being reviewed can
be viewed from our Web Site located at http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb4/html/meetings/401wqc.html.
For additional information regarding our Section
401 Program, please contact Anthony Klecha at
(213) 576-6785. Any petitions for the appeal of
a Section 401 WQC action must be filed within
30 days of the date of its issuance. We encourage
public input during the certification process.
|
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES |
San Gabriel Valley VOC Groundwater Contamination
Cleanup
Dixon Oriola
On August 17, 2001, Regional Board staff presented
a status report on groundwater volatile organic
compound (VOC) cleanup efforts within the Baldwin
Park Operable Unit (BPOU) and Puente Valley Operable
Unit (PVOU) in the San Gabriel Valley to a California
State Assembly Select Committee on San Gabriel
Valley Groundwater Contamination at South El Monte
City Hall. Assemblyman Thomas Calderon (Chairman)
inquired as to what progress had been made with
assessment and cleanup activities in the San Gabriel
Valley. Representatives from USEPA, California
State regulatory agencies the Regional Board,
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC),
Department of Health Services (DHS), the San Gabriel
Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA),, the Main
San Gabriel Valley Watermaster, many Potentially
Responsible Parties (PRPs) and numerous water
supply companies attended.
Industrial
- Public Outreach
Yi Lu
The California Waste Association has invited Wendy
Phillips and Yi Lu to give keynote speeches to
a meeting scheduled on Wednesday evening, September
26, 2001, in Holiday Inn of Buena Park, California.
Wendy and Yi will cover the following issues:
- Recent compliance inspection results for our Region;
- Regional Board expectations during a compliance inspection;
- Preliminary results of storm water sampling data analyses for our Region;
- Current and future issues.
Storm
Water Web site
Weindy Abarquez
The Storm Water web site is currently being reformatted
for easier information access and navigating.
Some of the enhancements include revision of the
Storm Water News page and staff contacts. For
more efficiency, additional web site links have
been added for quicker access to other storm water
related sites.
MTBE ad hoc Committee
On August 21, 2001, Regional Board staff, was
invited to speak at Southern California local
MTBE ad hoc committee sponsored by the England
Geosystem Environmental Engineering, and held
at the Cal-State Fullerton campus. The topic of
the speech was "Groundwater Data Analysis: MTBE
Relative to Other Oxygenates in the Los Angeles
Region." Staff presented MTBE and other gasoline
oxygenates data obtained at leaking underground
storage tank sites within Los Angeles and analysis
of the data in terms of their relationship. In
attendance were persons representing consultants,
oil companies, and other related industries. The
attendance showed great interests in the presentation.
|
STAFF DEVELOPMENT |
Environmental
Crimes Task Forces
Staff continued to participate in the
USEPA and LA County Environmental Crimes Task
Force meetings.
SWRCB Enforcement Round Table
Staff participated in the SWRCB Enforcement Round
Table held in the Lahontan Regional Board on August
15 and August 16, 2001.
|
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES |
Personnel
Report
As of September 19, 2001 our staff total is 169:
149 technical staff (including 4 part-time staff),
7 permanent administrative staff and 13 permanent
clerical staff.
Staff is currently taking steps to fill 1 Unit
Chief position, 8 technical positions, 1 Research
Analyst, and 2 clerical positions.
The following appointments were made:
Jennifer Newman, Environmental Specialist
I, Executive Office, appointed 09/10/01.
Joyce Wang, Environmental Specialist I,
Enforcement Unit, appointed 09/10/01.
The following reinstatement was made:
Sonja Gettel, Associate Governmental Program
Analyst, Administrative Services, reinstated 08/17/01.
The following promotions were made:
Wendy Phillips, from Environmental Program
Manager I to Supervising Engineering Geologist,
effective 08/31/01.
Samuel Unger, from Water Resource Control
Engineer to Senior Water Resource Control Engineer,
effective 08/31/01.
The following separated from Region 4:
Cathy Chang, Water Resource Control Engineer,
separated from State service effective 08/10/01.
ATTACHMENT "A"
Enforcement Unit NPDES Facility Inspections
|
Facility |
Date of Inspection |
Type of Inspection |
|
|
Beverly Springs Medical Center |
Beverly Hot Springs |
8/7/01 |
"B" type compliance - A routine non-sampling inspection |
|
W-B Ltd. |
GW-12100 Wilshire Blvd. |
8/7/01 |
"B" type compliance - A routine non-sampling inspection |
|
Equilon Enterprise, LLC |
Carson Terminal |
8/14/01 |
"A" type compliance - Comprehensive inspection in which samples are taken |
|
21300 Victory Blvd., CAP LLC |
Warner Corporate Center |
8/16/01 |
"B" type compliance - A routine non-sampling inspection |
|
City of Los Angeles, DPW |
Burbank Trunk Line |
8/17/01 |
"B" type compliance - A routine non-sampling inspection |
|
Santa Monica,City Of |
Charnock Mun. Water Wellfield |
8/17/01 |
"B" type compliance - A routine non-sampling inspection |
|
Port of Long Beach |
Henry Ford Sewer Pump Station |
8/17/01 |
"B" type compliance - A routine non-sampling inspection |
|
Unocal Corp. |
Former Retail Gas Station |
8/22/01 |
"B" type compliance - A routine non-sampling inspection |
|
City of Los Angeles, DPW |
Terminal Island Treatment Plant |
8/23/01 |
"A" type compliance - Comprehensive inspection in which samples are taken |
|
Los Angeles City of Gen. Serv. |
NCD- Los Angeles City Hall |
8/23/01 |
"B" type compliance - A routine non-sampling inspection |
|
Clark-Swall Ltd. |
128 North Swall Drive - Condominiums |
8/24/01 |
"B" type compliance - A routine non-sampling inspection |
ATTACHMENT "B"
General NPDES Permit Authorization/Revision and Termination - August 2001
|
General Permit type and Facility name & Location |
Date of Coverage |
Date of Revision |
Date of Termination |
|
|
A. |
NPDES CAG994001 (Order No. 97-045) Dewatering (no treatment) |
|||
|
1 |
City of Long Beach Water Department, Commission 21, 22, & 23 Water Wells in El Dorado Park, Long Beach |
08/03/01 |
||
|
2 |
Developers Diversified Realty Corp., Queens Way Bay Retail Entertainment Center, 25 Aquarium Way, Long Beach |
08/07/01 |
||
|
3 |
Reyes Construction, Santa Paula Creek Improvements, Reach 3, Santa Paula |
08/09/01 |
||
|
4 |
Chevron Products Company, 2251 North Oxnard Boulevard, Oxnard |
08/14/01 |
||
|
5 |
City of Beverly Hills, Product Wells Pumping Tests Project, Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills |
08/21/01 |
||
|
6 |
Agricultural and Natural Resources, Newhall Land Farming Company, 27600 Live Oak Canyon Road, Castaic |
08/22/01 |
||
|
7 |
Vopak USA, Former Industrial Facility, 1363 South Bonnie Beach Place, Los Angeles |
08/22/01 |
||
|
8 |
California Water Service Company, Well Numbers 219-02, 275-01, 277-01, and 279-01, Carson |
08/22/01 |
||
|
9 |
Vintage Communities, Inc, - Hidden Valley Ranchos Associates, Bridgegate Street, Thousand Oaks |
08/24/01 |
||
|
B |
NPDES CAG994002 (Order No. 97-043) Dewatering (treatment required) |
|||
|
1 |
Playa Capital Company, LLC, Playa Vista Development (Phase 1), Los Angeles |
08/16/01 |
||
|
2 |
Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, Laurel Park Road Pumping Plant Construction Project, Alameda Street & Santa Fe Avenue, Rancho Dominguez |
08/17/01 |
||
|
3 |
City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Sepulveda Trunk Line Project, Sylmar |
08/23/01 |
||
|
C. |
NPDES CAG674001 (Order No. 97-047) Hydrostatic Test Water |
|||
|
1 |
Arco Terminal Services Corporation, Hathaway Terminal, 2350 Hathaway Avenue, Signal Hill |
08/20/01 |
||
|
D. |
NPDES CAG994003 (Order No. 98-055) Nonprocess |
|||
|
1 |
N/A |
|||
|
E. |
NPDES CAG834001 (Order No. 97-046) – Cleanup of Petroleum Fuel Pollution |
|||
|
1 |
N/A |
|||
|
F. |
NPDES CAG914001(Order No. 97-044) – Cleanup of Volatile Organic Compounds Contaminated Groundwater |
|||
|
1 |
The City of Los Angeles, Department of Water and Power, Headworks Well No. 29, Los Angeles |
08/03/01 |
||
ATTACHMENT "C"
Monthly Summary of Regional Board - August 2001
|
13267 Letters |
Notice of Non Compliance |
NOVs |
NTCs |
CAOs |
TSOs |
CDOs |
Administrative Civil Liability Penalty Complaints |
Program Total |
||||
|
Migden Mandatory |
Storm-water related |
All others |
Total ACLs |
|||||||||
|
Enforcement |
4 |
- |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
2 |
- |
3 |
10 |
|
NPDES |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Storm water |
1 |
3 |
173 |
12 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
190 |
|
Underground Tanks |
14 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
15 |
|
|
Site Cleanup I & II |
5 |
4 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
10 |
|
WDRs |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
WIP |
- |
- |
12 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
12 |
|
Landfills |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Other (401, NPS) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
TOTAL |
24 |
7 |
190 |
12 |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
3 |
- |
4 |
237 |
|
YTD Total |
678 |
493 |
486 |
117 |
- |
- |
- |
17 |
23 |
6 |
46 |
1829 |
|
13267 Letter – Requirement to Submit Information |
|
Level 1 enforcement - Notice of Non Compliance |
|
NOV - Notice of Violation |
|
NTC - Notice to Comply |
|
CAO - Clean up and Abatement Order |
|
TSO - Time Schedule Order |
|
CDO - Cease and Desist Order |
|
ACL – Administrative Civil Liability |
|
NPDES – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System |
|
WIP – Well Investigation Program |
|
NPS – Nonpoint Source |
|
WDR – Waste Discharge Requirement |
|
|
ATTACHMENT "D"
|
AAD DIST & DRY CLEANING |
FEDERATED CORP SERVICES |
PERFORMANCE COMPOSITES INC |
|
ACCURATE ALLOYS, INC. |
FEDEX GROUND |
PETER CHON |
|
ACCURATE PLATING CO |
FERRO UNION |
PINTO PETROLEUM INC |
|
AIR LIQUID |
FIBER RESIN CORPORATION |
PLASKOLITE WEST INC |
|
AIRCRAFT PLATING |
FLORENCE NACINO |
POMONA SCRAP METAL INC |
|
AMERICAN XTAL TECHNOLOGY INC |
FOOTHILL FOUNDRY |
PRESSURE SYSTEMS INC |
|
ANACAPA MARINE SERVICES |
FRANCISCO VILLEGAS |
PRINCE AUTO INC |
|
AQUA MIX INCORPORATED |
FRANK BUTLER |
PROGRESSIVE INK CO |
|
AZUSA SCHOOL DIST |
GE ROTOFLOW INC |
PS EMC WEST LLC |
|
BENETO INC. |
GENE WILLEN |
PUNCH PRESS PRODUCTS, INC. |
|
BLACKIES TRUCK PARTS |
GKN AEROSPACE INC |
RANTEC MICROWAVE SYSTEM INC |
|
BLUE DAISY CEMENT PRODUCTS |
GOLDEN PLATING CO |
RAYMOND BALL |
|
BODYCOTE HINDER LITER |
GORDON LABORATORIES INC |
RAYTHEON COMPANY |
|
BOWMAN PLATING COMPANY INC |
GREG SUSSEX |
REDCO II |
|
CACO PACIFIC CORP |
HANSON AGGREGATES WEST |
REINHOLD INDUSTRIES, INC |
|
CAL SPAS |
HARBOR USED AUTO PARTS |
ROADWAY EXPRESS INC |
|
CAL-TRON PLATING INC |
HASKEL INT INC |
ROBERTS CONSOLIDATED |
|
CARS 4 CAUSES |
HI TECH SEATING PRODUCTS INC |
ROUZANNA ADJOIAN |
|
CARSON INDUSTRIES INC |
HIGHLAND PLATING COMPANY |
RPM TRANSPORTATION INC |
|
CAST ALLOYS INC. |
HOLMES-HALLY INDUSTRIES |
RYDER/ATE |
|
CATALINA FREIGHT LINE |
HWL ENTERPRISES INC DBA GENES |
S L S AND N INC |
|
CERTAINTEED CORPORATION |
I W INDUSTRIES |
SERVICE PLATING COMPANY INC |
|
CHANG SOON CHUN |
INGERSOLL-DRESSER PUMPS CO |
SHOWA MARINE AND COLD STORAGE |
|
CHUCK MEYER |
INTERO INC |
SILVERADO HIDE & FUR |
|
CITY OF GLENDALE PUBLIC WORKS |
ITT GILFILLAN |
SIR MIX CONCRETE |
|
COMARCO AIRPORT SERVICES DIV |
ITW CIP STAMPINGS |
SOHN GROUP INC |
|
COMPU DIE CASTING |
J.M. FAULL |
SPENCER DIE CASTINGS CO |
|
COSCO FIRE PROTECTION INC |
JEFF CARLTON |
STADCO |
|
COSTA INCORPORATED |
JOSE CANALES |
STAN SAX CORP |
|
DARREL W. JENSEN |
KRAMARS IRON & METAL INC |
STANDARD INDUSTRIES |
|
DAVID MILLER |
LA SHEAS SCRAP SUPPLY INC |
STANLEY WORKS CORP. |
|
DAYTONA AUTO SALVAGE PARTS |
LA VICTORIA FOODS INC. |
SUPERIOR INDUST INTERNATIONAL |
|
DEAN FOODS CO |
LARRY READY |
SYNTHANE TAYLOR |
|
DEFENSE ENERGY SUPPLY CENTER |
LORBER INDUSTRIES OF CA |
THOMAS E MICARELLI |
|
DRIFTWOOD DAIRY, INC. |
LUBRICATING SPECIALTIES |
TRUCK PARTS CO |
|
DVORACEK FAMILY |
LYLE VAN PATTEN CO INC |
US RADIATOR CORP |
|
E V ROBERTS |
MADELINE SHENKEL BILL TANNER |
VPS ENVIRONMENTAL INC |
|
EARLE M. JORGENSEN COMPANY |
MANESS INDUSTRIES INC. |
WAGGONER FAITH INC. |
|
EDDIE CHAIDAY |
MANUFACTURERS WIRE CORP |
WALTER W. MOSHER, JR. |
|
EL AHORRO AUTO PARTS |
MATLACK |
WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DIS |
|
EL MONTE HIGH SCHOOL |
MISSION FOODS CORP |
WESTERN WASTE INDUSTRIES |
|
ELF ATOCHEM NORTH AMERICA INC |
NEWBASIS |
WEXFORD COLLECTION INC |
|
ELIBERTO C BARRON |
NJN PUBKISHING CO |
WILSEY BENNETT CO |
|
ELLAY INC |
NORTEK INC. |
WINDSOR ART |
|
ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATES INC |
OAKITE PRODUCTS INC |
WINTER AND BAIN MFG INC |
|
EXIDE TECHNOLOGIES |
OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINES |
WOLF TANK LINES, INC. |
|
FALCON AUTO TRANSPORT |
OWNER OPERATOR READY MIX CONC |
YORK INTERNATIONAL |
|
FALCON FOAM DIV OF ATAS ROOF |
PARAMOUNT FORGE INC |
ZACHER'S AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLER |
|
FALCON FOAM DIV OF ATLAS ROOF |
PAT SKAU |