SITE INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE_FILE 1

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Excerpts on Ground Waters and Site Cleanup Page 5 from the Water Quality Control Plan 2. State Water Board Resolution No. 68-16, Statement of Policy with Respect to Maintaining High Quality of Water in California The State Water Board adopted this policy on 28 October 1968. The policy generally restricts the Regional Water Board and dischargers from reducing the water quality of surface or ground waters even though such a reduction in water quality might still allow the protection of the beneficial uses associated with the water prior to the quality reduction. The goal of the policy is to maintain high quality waters. Changes in water quality are allowed only if the change is consistent with maximum benefit to the people of the State; does not unreasonably affect present and anticipated beneficial uses; and, does not result in water quality less than that prescribed in water quality control plans or policies. USEPA water quality standards regulations require each state to adopt an "antidegradation" policy and specify the minimum requirements for the policy (40 CFR 131.12). Resolution No. 68-16 preceded the federal policy and applies to both ground and surface waters. The State Water Board has interpreted State Water Board Resolution No. 68-16 to incorporate the federal antidegradation policy. Therefore, the federal antidegradation policy must be followed where it is applicable. The federal antidegradation policy applies if a discharge or other activity, which began after 28 November 1975, will lower surface water quality. Application of the federal policy may be triggered by water quality impacts or mass loading impacts to receiving waters. Resolution No. 68-16 is Appendix Item 2; the federal policy is Appendix Item 39. 8. State Water Board Resolution No. 88-63, Sources of Drinking Water Policy This policy for water quality control, adopted on 19 May 1988, is essential to the designation of beneficial uses. The policy specifies that, except under specifically defined exceptions, all surface and ground waters of the state are to be protected as existing or potential sources of municipal and domestic supply. The specific exceptions include waters with existing high total dissolved solids concentrations (greater than 3000 mg/1), low sustainable yield (less than 200 gallons per day for a single well), waters with contamination that cannot be treated for domestic use using best management practices or best economically achievable treatment practices, waters within particular municipal, industrial and agricultural wastewater conveyance and holding facilities, and regulated geothermal ground waters. Where the Regional Water Board finds that one of the exceptions applies,it may remove the municipal and domestic supply beneficial use designation for the particular body of water through a formal Basin Plan amendment and a public hearing, followed by approval of such an amendment by the State Water Board and the Office of Administrative Law. See Appendix Item 8. [Note: This excerpt is not intended to be all inclusive of ground water and cleanup provisions of the Basin Plan.]