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Draft Environmental Impact Report Page IV.H-20 Forward Inc. Landfill Expansion Project protect these beneficial uses by requiring the integration water quality control measures into projects that could result in discharge into waters of the State. Under the Porter-Cologne.Water Quality Control Act56, the RWQCB is authorized to regulate the discharge of waste that could affect the quality of the State's waters. "Waste" is broadly defined by the Porter-Cologne Act to include "sewage and any and all other waste substances, liquid, solid, gaseous, or radioactive, associated with human habitation, or of human or animal origin, or from any producing, manufacturing, or processing operation of whatever nature...."57. Concentrated silt or sediment associated with human habitation and harmful to the aquatic environment is "waste" under this section. In addition, the California Attorney General has interpreted this definition to include extraction of sand, gravel or other minerals from a streambed,because it may cause an increase in turbidity and silt in the waters of the stream downstream from the operations. Therefore, even if a project does not require a federal permit (i.e., a Nationwide Permit from the USACE), it may nevertheless require review and approval of the RWQCB. Potential Impacts and _Mitigation Measures Criteria of Significance CEQA Guidelines58 establish certain"mandatory findings of significance" that function as significance thresholds affecting certain biological resources. Pursuant to that section, a project is deemed to have a significant environmental effect if the project would: • substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species; • cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels; • threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community;or • substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of an endangered, rare or threatened species. In addition,based upon the checklist in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, implementation of the proposed project would have a significant impact if it were to cause: • a substantial adverse effect,either directly or through habitat modifications, on any special- status species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special-status species in local or regional plans, policies or regulations, or by the CDFG or USFWS; • a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the CDFG or USFWS; • a substantial adverse effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (including,but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal,etc.)through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means; • substantial interference with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impeding the use of native wildlife nursery sites; 56 Cal. Water Code Sections 13000-14920 57 Cal.Water Code Section 13050 "Section 15065