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Draft Environmental p Impact Report Page IV.F-1 Forward Inc. Landfill Expansion F. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY This chapter includes a.description of the existing hydrologic and water quality conditions at the current and proposed expanded site. Potential impacts of the proposed expansion are presented, followed by recommended mitigation measures. This section summarizes and updates the hydrology and water quality setting, impacts and mitigation measures described in the 2003 Forward Landfill FEIR. Setting Regulatory Setting _ Federal Agencies and Regulations Federal Water Pollution Control Act he purpose of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) (administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]) is to protect and maintain the quality and integrity of the nations waters by requiring states to develop and implement state water plans and policies. Water Quality Standards. Section 303 of the Clean Water Act establishes water quality standards consisting of designated beneficial uses of water bodies and water quality standards to protect those uses for all Waters of the United States. Under Section 303(d)of the Clean Water Act, states, territories, and authorized tribes are required to develop lists of impaired waters. Impaired waters are those that do not meet water quality standards,even after point sources of pollution have installed the required levels of pollution control technology. The law requires that these jurisdictions establish priority rankings for waterways on the impaired list and develop action plans to improve water quality. This process includes development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)that set waste load allocations for point sources and load allocations for non-point source pollutants. The Ducheny Bill (AB 1740)requires the State Water Resources Control Board (WRCB) and its nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) to post this list and provide an estimated completion date for each TMDL. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System_ Part of the Clean Water Act provides for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES),'in which discharges into navigable waters are prohibited except in compliance with specified requirements and authorizations. Under this system, municipal and industrial facilities are required to obtain a NPDES permit that specifies allowable limits, based on available wastewater treatment technologies, for pollutant levels in their effluent. In California,the EPA has delegated the implementation of this program to the California Water Resources Board (WRCB) and the regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB). The Forward Landfill currently has a NPDES permit to discharge the treated groundwater. Additional information about the treated groundwater and its reuse at Forward landfill is discussed in subsections below. Stormwater discharges are regulated somewhat differently. Stormwater runoff from construction areas of one acre or greater requires either an individual permit or coverage under the statewide General Construction Stormwater Permit.