Permit Fee Increase for Storm Water and NPDES Permits

The California State Water Resources Control Board is considering emergency measures that will result in a significant increase the fees charged to stormwater permittees. And other permittees holding NPDES discharge permits.

According to the State Board, the increase is needed to respond to both reductions in revenue generated and increased program costs. The shortfall in revenue is a result of under-collection of revenue in the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) in FY 2009-10 and a substantial drop in enrollment under the State Water Board’s recently adopted storm water construction permit. In July 2009, the State Water Board adopted Order 2009-0009-DWQ requiring storm water construction dischargers to enroll in a new storm water construction permit by July 1, 2010. Approximately 64 % of previous storm water construction permit holders did not renew their permits by the deadline and have been terminated from coverage. Many of these permittees did not reenroll because of a decline in construction activity. At the same time, the downturn in the construction industry has resulted in a reduction of the number of new permits being issued.

During the same period, costs increased substantially due to a shift in funding for basin planning from General Fund support to fee support and a return to full payroll costs due to the discontinuance of the furlough program.

According to the State Board, the Storm Water program needs to generate an additional $4.4 million in revenue to meet the FY 2010-11 Budget, which translates to a 21.5 % increase to all Storm Water fee categories.

The NPDES program needs to generate an additional $6.4 million in revenue to meet the FY 2010-11 Budget. This translates to a 31.4 % increase to all NPDES fee categories.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in California to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Focused RCRA Inspections and Enforcement in Sothern CA

U.S. EPA is pursuing enforcement against nine southern California metal finishing companies for violations of federal hazardous waste laws. As a result of these enforcement actions, all nine companies returned to compliance with federal law and paid fines ranging from $2,000 to $48,500. One company also agreed to attend Compliance School in which employees are trained in appropriate on-site hazardous waste management techniques.

Metal finishers typically generate hazardous wastes like: acids and sludges that contain heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium, and lead; spent plating solutions containing metals or cyanides; flammable liquids; and, both alkaline and acidic corrosive liquids.

During 2010, EPA targeted the metal finishing industry for inspections in in Los Angeles, Rosemead, Sun Valley, Compton, Van Nuys, South El Monte and Santa Clara, California. The significant violations found during the inspections included:

• Failing to maintain the facility to minimize the possibility of a release of hazardous waste to air, soil, or surface water
• Failing to label containers of hazardous waste
• Failing to properly characterize wastes,
• Failing to close containers of hazardous waste,
• Failing to prepare or meet the requirements of a contingency plan,
• Failing to provide proper training,
• Failing to inspect hazardous waste storage areas, Storage of hazardous waste for over 90 days without a permit
  

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in California to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website