Regulators

EPA

The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. The EPA has Congressional authority to enforce the major federal environmental regulations: the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

EPA works to develop and enforce regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. EPA is responsible for researching and setting national standards for a variety of environmental programs, and delegates to states and tribes the responsibility for issuing permits and for monitoring and enforcing compliance. Where national standards are not met, EPA can issue sanctions and take other steps to assist the states and tribes in reaching the desired levels of environmental quality.

DOE

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) mission is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and, to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex. The legal authority for cleanup of DOE facilities is delegated to the DOE by the Atomic Energy Act (AEA). This authority allows DOE to set cleanup criteria for radiological materials and set radiological protection standards at its facilities.

As a cleanup and closure site, the Energy Technology Engineering Center's (ETEC) activities are funded through the DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM). The EM Program has adopted the concept of an end state vision for site cleanups. The end state for ETEC is the removal of residual radioactive materials, demolition of facilities, removal of unnecessary utilities, completion of work required under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action program.

California State Water Resources Control Board

The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is authorized to regulate the Clean Water Act (CWA) and California’s Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act. The SWRCB is part of the California Environmental Protection Agency responsible for water right and water quality in the state. "The State Board's mission is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California's water resources, and ensure their proper allocation and efficient use for the benefit of present and future generations."

The SWRCB regulates both surface and ground water quality. The SWRCB is comprised of nine Regional Water Quality Controls Boards (RWQCB). Together they have primary responsibility for controlling water quality, implementing the policies of the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act and the CWA, and authorizing and managing permits for waste discharge into waters of the state.

California Regional Water Quality Control Board

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.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was established when the U.S. Congress passed the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974. The Atomic Energy Act (AEA) empowers the NRC to establish and enforce standards that protect health and safety of the public from the effects of radioactive materials. A five-member Commission heads the NRC with headquarters in Maryland and four regional offices. The NRC also participates in cooperative activities with other governments and the international nuclear regulatory community and licensing for nuclear imports and exports.

The primary mission of the NRC is to regulate the Nation's civilian use of byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials to ensure adequate protection of public health, safety, and the environment. The NRC's regulatory mission covers three main areas: commercial reactors for generating electric power and research and test reactors used for research, testing and training; materials used in medical, industrial and academic settings and facilities that produce nuclear fuel; and transportation, storage and disposal of nuclear materials and waste and decommissioning of nuclear facilities from service.

There were several NRC licensed facilities in Area IV, however there are no current NRC licensed facilities at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory.

California Department of Public Health - Radiological Health Branch

The California Department of Public Health (DPH), Radiologic Health Branch enforces the radiation control laws and regulations designed to protect the State’s public, radiation workers, and the environment.

Although the DPH does not have regulatory authority over the DOE radiological materials, DOE and Boeing have requested that the DPH verify radiological clean-up procedures and survey results. In the past, the DHS has released for unrestricted use Boeing owned buildings and has concurred with the release of DOE owned buildings.

California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board

California's Legislature established the Air Resources Board (ARB) to attain and maintain healthy air quality, research causes and solutions to air quality problems, and address the problems caused by motor vehicles which are the major cause of air pollution in the state. The ARB was created in 1967 with the passge of the Mulford-Carrell Air Resources Act merging the California Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board and the Bureau of Air Sanitation and its laboratory.

The mission of the ARB is to promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering the effects on the economy of the state. The ARB is a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, which reports directly to the Governor's Office in the Executive Branch of California State Government. The ARB consists of 11 members appointed by the Governor of California. Local permitting, monitoring and compliance with the state regulation is divided into 35 local air pollution control districts.

California Department of Toxic Substances Control

The California Environmental Protection Agency Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is authorized by the U.S. EPA to regulate and enforce the provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). At the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, DTSC is responsible for enforcement of hazardous waste management regulations, the RCRA permits and RCRA Corrective Action requirements.

Ventura County Air Pollution Control District

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is one of California’s 35 local air pollution control districts. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors formed the Ventura County Air Polution Control District in 1968, in response to the county's first air pollution study. Currently, Ventura County does not meet the federal air quality standards for ozone. It also exceeds the state standards for ozone and particulate matter.

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District grants the air permits for the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) does not have any air permits at SSFL, since there are no operating facilities.

Ventura County Environmental Health Division

The mission of the Ventura County Environmental Health Division is to protect public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to the following programs: food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks, and vector (insect) control.