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City of Stockton and County of San Joaquin Page 39 <br /> NPDES Permit CAS0083470 <br /> Response to Comments <br /> effective. In selecting BMPs the municipality must make a serious attempt to comply and practical <br /> solutions may not be lightly rejected.In any case,the burden would be on the municipal discharger <br /> to show compliance with its permit. After selecting a menu of BMPs, it is the responsibility of the <br /> discharger to ensure that all BMPs are implemented." <br /> As stated in response to City Comment No. 6, the three year compliance period specified in CWA. <br /> Section 402(p)(4)(B) and 40 CFR 122.42(d) applies to initial MS4 permits. Subsequent or renewed <br /> MS4 permits require do not have a three year window for coming into compliance with permit <br /> conditions, consistent with and as required in 40 CFR 122.4(a). Finding 27 has been revised <br /> accordingly. Under the Defenders of Wildlife v. Browner Opinion (9th Cir. 1999) 191 F.3d 1159, a <br /> State is not obligated to require strict compliance with state water quality standards through the <br /> establishment and imposition of numeric effluent limitations in MS4 permits (191 F.3d 1159, 1166- <br /> 67). Section 402(p)(3)(B)(iii) of the CWA states that"[p]ermits for discharges from municipal <br /> storm sewers . . . shall require . . . such other provisions as the Administrator . . . determines <br /> appropriate for the control of such pollutants." Thus, the permitting authority has the discretion to <br /> determine what pollution controls are appropriate in a particular case. However, the State Board in <br /> Order WQ 2001-15 has reiterated its endorsement of language that requires that storm water <br /> management plans in MS4 permits be"designed to achieve compliance with watbr quality <br /> standards. Compliance is to be achieved over time, through an iterative approach requiring <br /> improved BMPs." Order WQ 2001-15, p. 7. <br /> As explained in State Board Order WQ 2001-15, the iterative procedure for complying with the <br /> requirement that MS4 discharges"must not cause or contribute to exceedances of water quality <br /> objectives in the receiving water"requires that"municipalities must report instances where they <br /> cause or contribute to exceedances, and then must review and improve BMPs so as to protect the <br /> receiving waters." Order WQ 2001-15,pp. 5-6. Virtually identical language to that upheld in Order <br /> WQ 2001-15 is contained in the Discharge Prohibitions and Receiving Water Limitations <br /> prohibitions, and Provision D in the Tentative Order. Thus, the Tentative Order is not"devoid of <br /> any analysis of how permit conditions are sufficient to ensure attainment of water quality standards <br /> in three years . . . ," as DeltaKeeper asserts. Instead, the provisions in the Tentative Order are <br /> consistent both with the recent Ninth Circuit decision and with State Board interpretations thereof. <br /> Finally, the fact that the Tentative Permit requires future development and submittal of water <br /> quality based programs is consistent with the iterative process for achieving compliance with water <br /> quality standards. <br /> 4. Comment: (DK Comment 2(c)) The Tentative Permit Fails To Comply With State Regulations <br /> Protecting Beneficial Uses And Mandating Remediation Of Toxic Hot Spots. <br /> Porter-Cologne implements the NPDES permitting authority of the CWA as well as providing for <br /> issuance of Waste Discharge Requirements(WDRs) understate law. Section 13263(a) states that <br /> its"requirements shall implement any relevant water quality control plans that have been adopted, <br /> and shall take into consideration the beneficial uses to be protected, the water quality objectives <br /> reasonably required for that purpose, other waste discharges, the need to prevent nuisance, and the <br /> provisions of Section 13241. Section 13377, states that"the state and regional boards shall, as <br />