What this is about…
On September 28, 2023, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region (Los Angeles Water Board) will consider proposed General Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Agricultural Lands within the Los Angeles Region (General WDRs).
The proposed General WDRs can be found on the Los Angeles Water Board’s website at: Waivers of Waste Discharge Requirements | Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (ca.gov).
IMPORTANT CALL TO ACTION
The Marine Advisory Committee (MAC) from Channel Islands Neighborhood Council (CINC) requests resident participation in the form of public comments to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Comments must be received by the Los Angeles Water Board no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 2023.
Comments should be submitted to Anna Bellini at anna.bellini@waterboards.ca.gov.
What’s the problem?
The water quality has been degraded in Mandalay Bay and Channel Islands harbor since 2018, when the NRG Power Plant closed. The power plant pumped on average 1.5 billion gallons per month from Edison Canal into the ocean. That circulation flushed contaminants out the north end of the canal. NRG blocked the north end in 2018 and now contaminants travel 4.5 miles to the ocean at the harbor entrance.
Problems with the Draft
- The proposed WDR lacks definition of contributor responsibilities.
- The proposed WDR lacks compelling incentives or penalties for non-compliance
- The proposed WDR plan has conflicting statements
- The proposed WDR plan has missing/incomplete information
The MAC team has been spearheading the outreach to agencies that can identify and address all stakeholder involvement. We need all contributors to participate in solving the problem. The California Water Board
HOW TO COMMENT
How to make public comments by email
Please send an email by 5:00 pm on August 18. 2023
You can copy and paste from the sample email below in the next expandable section.
Please remember to add your name and city at the end.
You can also attach the document named Exhibit 1 that has been submitted by the MAC team.
Exhibit 1 details concerns with the information in the draft and staff report.
If including Exhibit 1 please note that in your email.
LA Regional Water Quality Control Board_MAC-Comment_Exhibit1
MAC Team Sample Email
LA Regional Water Quality Control Board Public Comment due by 5:00 pm on August 18. 2023
August 15, 2023
To: Anna.Bellini@waterboards.ca.gov
Subject: Public Comment for Waste Discharge Requirement R4-2023-xxxx for discharges from Irrigated Agricultural Lands
Thank you for this opportunity to provide Public Comments on the proposed WDR for Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Agricultural Lands. We agree with the requirements of the Monitoring and Reporting Plan (MRP) to:
• assess the impacts of waste discharges from irrigated agricultural lands on waters of the state,
• evaluate the effectiveness of management practices to control waste discharges,
• track progress in reducing the amount of waste discharged to waters of the state to improve water quality and protect beneficial uses, and
• assess compliance with water quality limitations, where applicable.
Farmers and ranchers that pollute must be accountable for verifying that they are achieving water quality standards to protect the environment and public health.
This accountability is essential to incentivize growers to make the investments that are needed to implement effective BMPs (Best Management Practices) ensuring water quality targets are achieved.
Since NRG blocked the north end of Edison Canal in 2018 contaminants must travel 4.5 miles by thousands of homes to the ocean at the harbor entrance. Harbor water quality has been degraded.
Farmers and ranchers must be contributors to the remediation solutions for Oxnard Coastal and Channel Islands Harbor Subwatershed Responsibility Areas.
The WDR needs to provide compelling incentives or consequences for achieving compliance with water quality limitations, where applicable.
We look forward to collaborating with the Regional Board and VCAILG as this WDR process moves forward. These elements are essential to protect the Region’s valuable water resources.
Thank you for your consideration.
Your name
Neighborhood
Address (optional)
Oxnard, CA 93035
Exhibit 1 – Concerns about information in the R4-2023_WDR.
If you would like to read or attach Exhibit 1 from the Mac team response you can download the pdf:
LA Regional Water Quality Control Board_MAC-Comment_Exhibit1
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT; PROPOSED GENERAL WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS FOR DISCHARGES FROM IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL LANDS
On September 28, 2023, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region (Los Angeles Water Board) will consider proposed General Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Agricultural Lands within the Los Angeles Region (General WDRs).
The proposed General WDRs can be found on the Los Angeles Water Board’s website at: Waivers of Waste Discharge Requirements | Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (ca.gov).
A public hearing is scheduled for:
Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Location to be determined
The Los Angeles Water Board is expected to act on the proposed Order after hearing staff’s presentation and public comments. Written comments and evidence must be received by the Los Angeles Water Board no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 2023. Failure to comply with these requirements is grounds for the Board to refuse to admit the proposed written comment or evidence into the record (California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Section 648.4). Comments should be submitted to Anna Bellini at anna.bellini@waterboards.ca.gov.
The Los Angeles Regional Board has jurisdiction over all coastal drainages flowing to the Pacific Ocean between Rincon Point (on the coast in western Ventura County) and the eastern Los Angeles County line, as well as the drainages of five coastal islands (Anacapa, San Nicolas, Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, and San Clemente). The Regional Board’s jurisdiction also includes all coastal waters within three miles of the continental and island coastlines.