HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - POLLUTANT DISCHARGE (2)NEW BUSINESS
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
BACKGROUND
AGENDA REPORT
June 8, 1993
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by:
Anthony J. NlstchA?)�
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
Community Development
In 1972; the Clean Water Act was amended to provide that the discharge of pollutants to the waters
of the United States from any point source is unlawful unless the discharge is in compliance with
the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. These amendments establish a
framework to regulate both municipal (urban runoff) and Industrial storm water discharges.
The following are the three separate NPDES permit types:
1) General Industrial Activity Storm Water Permit
Necessary for Industries that fall Into certain categories. (The City has obtained a permit for
our Corporate Yard, since transit facilities are Included within one of these categories.)
2) General Construction Activity Storm Water Permit
Necessary for all construction sites disturbing more than five acres.
3) Urban Runoff Discharge Permit
This permit is for all cities and recognized entities to regulate runoff from all hydrologic
drainage basins for the protection of the beneficial uses of the receiving waters (lakes, rivers,
groundwater, and the ocean). Santa Clarita Is required to begin compliance by July 1993.
To be In compliance with the urban runoff permit, there are two options. The City can obtain Its
own permit or become a -co -permittee, along with other cities with Los Angeles County as the
principal permittee. The County was Issued an area -wide permit, which Is being Implemented In
three phases, Santa Clarita Valley Basin being In Phase III.
Both options will require a significant amount of staff time and cost.
Staff has reviewed the various requirements and discussed the procedures with County staff and
with representatives of several Phase I and Phase II co -permittee cities, and one City which elected
to obtain Its own permit. Staff believes that becoming a co -permittee with the County will have the
greatest cost/benefit to the City; therefore, that Is the recommended action.
APPROVED Agenda'Ifen 16
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
June 8, 1993 - Page 2
To Implement this course of action, the County has outlined a three-year schedule. The first year
requirements must be completed by July 1, 1994. These include the following:
1) Define Drainage Areas - This will include identifying existing drainage facilities, their
watersheds, and their connections. In addition, we must submit a list of waste disposal sites,
our current land -use plan and a list of businesses by their SIC codes.
2) Provide Data - This will Include stream -flow data, monthly precipitation, and water quality
records from 1980 to present.
3) Determination of Best Management Practices - This will Include listing our existing practices
of controlling pollutants from residential, commercial, industrial, and construction sites, along
with our procedures to address illegal discharges. in addition, we must determine which
additional regulations may be required to control the quality of runoff within the City.
4) Plan for Development of Storm Water Runoff and Monitoring Programs - This will be necessary
for City -owned storm drains (the majority of the storm drains within the City are currently
maintained by LACFCD).
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Representatives of the County have stressed the Importance of gaining Council approval to become
a co -permittee. All co -permittee cities are required to enter into an Implementation Agreement with
the County during the first year. This Agreement will define City and County responsibilities and
will need Council approval.
Costs forthe first-year Implementation activities identified above are estimated to be between $100K
and $150K, and $120,000 has been Included In the '93-'94 proposed budget for this purpose. The
costs for subsequent Implementation activities will depend on the final storm water management
plan and monitoring program developed as part of the first-year implementation activities. These
costs are expected to be much greater than the first-year costs. Staff Is investigating various
options to provide adequate funding for this mandated storm water program and will report back
to the.Council in the near future.
1) Direct the City Manager to pursue co -permittee status of National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination Permit No. CA0061654-CI6948.
2) Direct staff to Investigate possible funding sources to Implement the NPDES Storrs Water
Program.
AJN:hds
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