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Cent*Valley Regional Water Quality Controtoard
<br /> Cleanup Principles
<br /> The following principles are used by the Board to determine cleanup levels:
<br /> 1. In compliance with its water quality protection mandate (Porter Cologne Water Quality Control Act), the
<br /> Board will develop soil and ground water cleanup levels to protect the quality of waters of the state; i.e., our
<br /> mission is water resource protection, as opposed to health risk redaction. These levels often are more, and
<br /> sometimes less, stringent than cleanup levels based on a human health risk assessment. In either case, both
<br /> standards apply; but the more stringent one controls the cleanup at each site.
<br /> 2. The ground water cleanup level goal is background, unless background levels are determined by the Board
<br /> to be infeasible to achieve (California Code of Regulations,Title 23, Division 3, Chapter 15, Article 5). To
<br /> evaluate cleanup to background, it is necessary to define the extent of ground water contamination to
<br /> background levels. In the feasibility study, the Discharger shall evaluate alternatives, including cleanup to
<br /> background, and available technologies, including their cost and effectiveness. If the best practicable
<br /> technology cannot technically or economically achieve background, a technically and economically
<br /> achievable cleanup standard that at least protects beneficial uses will be established. If after some time of
<br /> operation, the best practicable technology is not able to achieve the cleanup standard, the case will be
<br /> re-evaluated.
<br /> 3. Without regard to the aquifer cleanup level, the Discharger shall employ best practicable technology to treat
<br /> the constituents of concern prior to discharge. If the best practicable technology cannot treat the
<br /> constituents of concern to levels which shall not degrade the receiving water, then an alternate discharge
<br /> point must be considered (State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Resolution No. 68-16). If no
<br /> alternate discharge location is reasonably available, some degradation may be allowed as long as it is to the
<br /> maximum benefit of the people of the state as determined by the Board. However, best practicable
<br /> treatment shall treat effluent to the best water quality, technologically and economically feasible, and shall
<br /> at a minimum be treated to protect all beneficial uses.
<br /> 4. In cases where water has been degraded or is threatened, soil and soil vapor cleanup levels will be
<br /> developed which are protective of ground water, based on the resource protection principles in SFVRCB
<br /> Resolution No. 68-16 and in Chapter 15, Article 5, using site-specific data. In determining soil cleanup
<br /> levels, the following factors, among others, arc considered: the concentrations of the leachable/mobile
<br /> constituents, including those in soil vapor, the depth to ground water, and the potential attenuation of the
<br /> constituents in the soil column (see 'The Designated Level Methodology for Waste Classification and
<br /> Cleanup Level Determination" by Jon B. Marslrack, D.Env.). For constituents that have already reached the
<br /> ground water, breakthrough has occurred and, in most cases, the Board assumes no attenuative capacity
<br /> exists.
<br /> 5. In determining water quality-related requirements associated with a remedial action, the Board considers a
<br /> broader range of constituents than those subject to hazardous waste regulations, in order to protect all
<br /> applicable beneficial uses. Examples of such constituents include total petroleum hydrocarbons and their
<br /> components, total dissolved solids, general minerals, nitrate, and sulfate, among others. This may result in
<br /> requirements for a remedial action concerning these constituents. The investigation and feasibility studies,
<br /> therefore, must adequately characterize these constituents and concentration levels in order to develop
<br /> requirements in a timely manner.
<br /> 6. Beneficial uses of ground water, defined in the Basin Plan, shall be protected by complying with all
<br /> applicable water quality objectives in the Basin Plan.
<br /> 7. Municipal or domestic supply (MUN) aquifers are delineated in the Basin Plan, which incorporates the
<br /> SWRCB's Sources of Drinking Water Policy, Resolution No. 88-63. These aquifers include all ground water
<br /> in the state, unless specifically excepted by the Board.
<br /> Attachment 1
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