California Regional Water Quality Control Boards
There are nine Regional Water Quality Controls Boards (RWQCB) within the state of California. The RWQCB have authority to conduct, order, and oversee investigation and cleanup where discharges of waste cause, or threaten to cause, discharges to waters of the state that could cause, or threaten to cause, pollution or nuisance, including impacts to public health and the environment. Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) is under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles RWQCB.
The RWQCB are in charge of day-to-day operations and most decisions regarding site cleanups. The RWQCB, in implementing the Porter-Cologne Act, use a variety of methods to govern activities and its relationship with organizations at various stages in the site cleanup process. California RWQCB are responsible for Basin Plans that specify actions to preserve and enhance water quality and to protect beneficial uses of water. The Los Angeles RWQCB has developed a specific Basin Plan for the watersheds of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, NPDES Permit No. CA0001309, requires the monitoring of storm water run-off using monitoring stations throughout SSFL, and specifies storm water discharge limits. This permit is issued to Boeing (the landowner). See Boeing's website regarding water quality for more information.
