Septic Systems – Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS)

The State Water Board’s Notice of Availability of Scoping Document and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings for the Policy for Siting, Design, Operation and Management of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) is now available and can be accessed at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/owts/index.shtml. 

The Scoping Document assesses environmental impacts of the proposed Policy. A Substitute Environmental Document (SED) (similar to an Environmental Impact Report) will be prepared based on the Scoping Document as well as comments received during the public scoping meetings. 

Public scoping meetings for soliciting input on the SED and project alternatives will be held in Sacramento (May 2) and Riverside (May 5). For more information, please visit the website shown above. 

Water Quality 

AB 741 (Huffman) – Request for Comments
As Amended March 14, 2011

AB 741, by Assembly Member Jared Huffman, would authorize public wastewater agencies to offer voluntary liens to private property owners to finance sewer lateral replacements and conversions from septic to sewer systems to prevent groundwater contamination and protect the environment, public health and safety. CSAC supported a similar version of this bill last year. The previous version would have allowed property owners to finance these improvements through a PACE- like program. In light of the issues with PACE, this bill uses a different financing mechanism to accomplish the same goal of helping private property owners finance the cost of converting from a septic system to a community sewer system and, or the replacement of damaged sewer later laterals. This bill will be heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee on April 27, 2011. 

State Parks 

SB 356 (Blakeslee) – Request for Comments
As Amended March 25, 2011

SB 356, by Senator Sam Blakeslee, would allow local governments to choose to assume the operation and maintenance of state parks. 

In light of the passage of AB 95, the budget trailer bill that slashed funding from state parks and put in place a system to evaluate which parks will close and which will remain open, SB 356 would give the opportunity to cities and counties to take over park operations and maintenance of state parks slated to be closed. There is also a requirement on the state to notify cities and counties about impending park closures in their jurisdiction. The bill also includes a provision that would require the agreement (if a county chooses to take over the maintenance & operation of a state park) to include a provision that the use of existing local government staff, volunteers, or cooperating associations are exempt from state prevailing wage requirements. This bill has not yet been referred to a policy committee. 

Fish & Game

SB 215 (Huff) – Support
As Introduced February 15, 2011

SB 215, by Senator Bob Huff, would simply extend measures currently in law designed to prevent the invasive species, such as the Dreissenid mussel, from taking over our waterways. State law requires water system operators to implement measures to prevent, eradicate or control mussel infestations, and to prepare and implement plans if mussels are detected. This bill would simply repeal the sunset date and extend the operation of these provisions indefinitely. This bill will be heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee on April 12, 2011. 

Solid Waste Contracts

SB 841 (Wolk) – Request for Comments 
As Amended March 24, 2011

SB 841, by Senator Wolk, would amend state law to clarify certain indemnity obligations between local governments and solid waste enterprises. Existing law allows local governments to match the liability of meeting certain AB 939, solid waste diversion requirements, with the party responsible for collecting the waste – solid waste enterprises. With the passage of Proposition 26, local governments are limited in their authority to levy new fees. This bill would restrict local government’s ability to enforce an indemnity obligation that requires a solid waste enterprise to defend and hold harmless the local government in connection with the local government’s imposition of fees in violation of Proposition 26. This bill has been referred to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.