MESO > Newsletters > Volume Index

Marine Environmental Update Bulletin

April 09, 2002: Revised California CWA Section 303(d) List Hearings Set

The CA State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will hold public hearings in May 2002 to seek comments on proposed revisions of the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of water quality limited segments. Section 303(d) of the CWA requires states to identify waters that do not meet applicable water quality standards with technology-based controls alone. Applicable standards include the designated beneficial uses, the adopted water quality objectives, and the State’s antidegradation policy. The Section 303(d) list must include the water quality limited segments, associated pollutants, and a priority ranking of the waters for purposes of developing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). The SWRCB does not plan to make any decision regarding the Section 303(d) list at the hearings. It is expected that the SWRCB will consider the updated Section 303(d) list for adoption at its September 2002 Board meeting.

The hearings will be held at the California EPA Headquarters Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA, on May 23 and 24, and at the Doubletree Hotel, Ontario Airport, 222 North Vineyard Avenue, Ontario, CA, on May 30. Each day of the hearing will be focus on the revisions to the 303(d) list proposed by the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs), as follows:

• May 23: North Coast, San Francisco Bay, and Central Coast RWQCBs
• May 24: Central Valley and Lahontan RWQCBs
• May 30: Los Angeles, Colorado River Basin, Santa Ana, and San Diego RWQCBs

While each hearing date is focused on specific RWQCB proposals, comments on any aspect of the proposed revised statewide Section 303(d) list will be accepted on any of the three hearing days.

The SWRCB Hearing Notice, draft SWRCB Staff Report, and RWQCB Staff Reports and Supporting Information is available on the SWRCB web site at http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/303dupdate.html.

Comments must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., Thursday, May 16, 2002, however, written materials will be accepted at the hearings. Comments should be submitted to: Craig T. Wilson, Chief; Monitoring and TMDL Listing Unit; Division of Water Quality; State Water Resources Control Board; P.O. Box 100; Sacramento, CA 95812-0100; facsimile: (916) 341-5500.

California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board, Notice of Public Hearing - Revision of California's Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments, April 2, 2002.