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4 Environmental Analysis 4.10 Hydrology/Water Quality Northwest Side major area of the San Joaquin River Basin. There are no designated "Minor Subareas" for the watershed in which the Project Site is located; thus, beneficial uses have not been assigned for any local waterbodies. However, the known uses of surface water and groundwater near the Project site include agricultural uses, municipal water uses, and domestic water uses. No habitat (fish or wildlife), spawning, or recreation use designations have been applied, as no perennial waterbodies exist near the Project site. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program Clean Water Act Section 402 Under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 402, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permitting program controls water pollution by regulating point sources of pollution to waters of the United States (WOTUS). The Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB), Central Valley Region, administers the NPDES program in the Project site area. Alameda County issues grading permits in conjunction with the Central Valley RWQCB. Because the Project would result in the disturbance of 1.0 acre or more of soil with the potential to discharge to WOTUS, it would be subject to the NPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction and Land Disturbance Activities (Order 2009-0009- DWQ, NPDES No. CAS000002; as amended by Orders 2010-0014-DWQ and 2012-006-DWQ), commonly referred to as the "Construction General Permit." The permit regulates stormwater discharges associated with construction or demolition activities, such as clearing, grading, and excavation; construction of buildings; and linear underground projects, including installation of water pipelines and other utility lines. The Construction General Permit requires the development and implementation of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that includes specific best management practices (BMP) designed to prevent sediment and other pollutants from contacting stormwater as well as from moving offsite into receiving waters. The BMPs fall into several categories, including erosion control, sediment control, waste management, and good housekeeping, and are intended to protect surface water quality by preventing the offsite migration of eroded soil and construction- related pollutants from the construction area. Routine inspection of all BMPs is required under the provisions of the Construction General Permit. In addition, the SWPPP is required to contain a visual monitoring program and a chemical monitoring program for non-visible pollutants. Post- construction requirements necessitate that construction sites be restored to pre-Project hydrological conditions to ensure that the physical and biological integrity of aquatic ecosystems are sustained in their existing condition. In addition to stormwater discharges, the Construction General Permit also covers other non- stormwater discharges, including irrigation of vegetative erosion control measures, water to control dust, uncontaminated groundwater from dewatering, and other discharges not subject to a separate general NPDES permit adopted by the RWQCB. The discharge of non-stormwater is authorized under the following conditions: co The discharge does not cause or contribute to a violation of any water quality standard; 0o The discharge does not violate any other provision of the Construction General Permit; oc The discharge is not prohibited by the applicable Basin Plan; oc The discharger has included and implemented specific BMPs required by the Construction General Permit to prevent or reduce the contact of the non-stormwater discharge with construction materials or equipment; Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.10-6 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023