SITE INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE

Home Browse Search

ARARs and TBCs for Superfund Sites -4- 17 May 1991 (updated 10 October 1991) ❑ The Enclosed Bays and Estuaries Plan ZI The Ocean Plan O The Thermal Plan (temperature control in coastal and interstate waters and enclosed bays and estuaries) The Delta Plan (Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh) O Lake Tahoe Basin Plan Of these Plans, the Inland Surface Waters Plan is most applicable to CERCLA cleanups within the Central Valley Region. This plan contains numerical and narrative water quality objectives applicable to nearly all surface water discharges in Region 5. Water Quality Control Plans adopted by the Regional Boards are often called "Basin Plans", as they apply to waters within specific water quality control regions or subregions (basins). The Central Valley Regional Board has adopted two Basin Plans, one which covers surface and ground waters of the Sacramento River,Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Joaquin River Basins (5A,5B and 5C), and one which covers surface and ground waters of the Tulare Lake Basin (5D). After adoption or approval by the State Board, the Water Quality Control Plans are noticed to the State Legislature, and as such become part of the State Water Plan. EPA approval, under authority of the federal Clean Water Act, follows. The Water Quality Control Plans fulfill the State and Regional Boards' obligation to promulgate water quality standards pursuant to §303 of the federal Clean Water Act(CWA). In California, water quality standards are identified in the Water Quality Control Plans and consist of designated beneficial uses for particular surface and ground water bodies and water quality objectives to ensure the reasonable protection of those beneficial uses. SARA considers "state standards" as potential ARARs.4 Unlike water quality standards as defined by the CWA,Porter-Cologne does not restrict water quality standards to surface waters or point sources and does not impose a particular type or level of control technology on chemicals being discharged. Porter- Cologne requires the promulgation of water quality standards in Water Quality Control Plans which are applicable to ground water and nonpoint sources, as well. Cleanup activities subject to one or more of the Water Quality Control Plans and their water quality standards could be chemical-specific,action-specific, and/or location-specific. TOXIC PITS CLEANUP ACT OF 1984 (TPCA) The Toxic Pits Cleanup Act (California Health and Safety Code, §§25208 et seq.) authorized the Regional Boards to regulate surface impoundments containing liquid hazardous waste. This act prohibits the discharge of liquid hazardous waste or ` U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response,"CERCLA Co►npliance wrth Other Laws Manual',September 1989.