One or more Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board members may attend.

CV-SALTS Executive Committee MeetingTuesday, March 29, 2016 – 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Sacramento Regional Sanitation District Offices – Sunset Maple Room 10060 Goethe Rd, Sacramento 95827

Teleconference (641) 715-3580 Code: 279295#

Go-To-Meeting Link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/961887277

Posted 03-21-16 – Revised 03-27-16

AGENDA

1) Welcome and Introductions - Chair

a) Committee Roll Call and Membership Roster -5 min.

2) Review Draft Policy to Extend and Expand Regional Board's Authority to Grant Variances andExceptions – Tim Moore (3 hours)

Principles to Guide Revision of the Exceptions Policy for Waste Discharges toGroundwater

3) Review Meeting Schedule/Location: 2016

Policy Meeting: WEDNESDAY, March 30th – Valley Oak Room – 9:00 to 3:00

Management Zone Archetype Analysis – Karen Ashby, Tom Grovhoug, and Richard Meyerhoff

April 8th TBD: Admin Meeting, or Project Committee, or Small Group Meeting – 1:00-2:30

CV-SALTS meetings are held in compliance with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act set forth in Government Code sections 11120-11132(§ 11121(d). The public is entitled to have access to the records of the body which are posted at http://www.cvsalinity.org

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CV-SALTS Committee Rosters

Voters Category/Stakeholder Group Name 10-Sep 21-Oct 22-Oct 6-Nov 18-Nov 19-Nov 4-Dec 14-Jan 15-Jan 12-Feb 24-Feb 25-Feb 11-Mar 29-Mar 30-Mar

1 Central Valley Water Board Pamela Creedon ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Alt Central Valley Water Board Jeanne Chilcott ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔2 State Water Resources Control Bd. Darrin Polhemus ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔3 Department of Water Resources Jose FariaAlt Department of Water Resources4 US Bureau of Reclamation Michael Mosley ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔5 Environmental Justice Laurel Firestone ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔6 Environmental Water Quality TBD

CV Salinity Coalition1 So. San Joaquin WQC Casey Creamer ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔2 City of Stockton Robert Granberg ✔ ✔3 California Cotton Growers Chris McGlothlin ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔4 City of Fresno Steve Hogg5 CA Leaque of Food Processors Trudi Hughes ✔Alt CA Leaque of Food Processors Rob Neenan ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔6 Wine Institute Tim Schmelzer ✔Alt Wine Institute Chris Savage7 City of Tracy Erich Delmas ✔ ✔ ✔Alt City of Tracy Dale Klever8 Sacramento Regional CSD Lysa Voight ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Alt Sacramento Regional CSD Carolyn Balazs ✔ ✔ ✔9 San Joaquin Tributaries Authority Dennis Westcot ✔10 City of Modesto Gary DeJesus11 California Rice Commission Tim Johnson ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔12 City of Manteca Heather Grove13 Tulare Lake Drainage/Storage District Mike Nordstrom ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔14 Western Plant Health Assoc. Renee Pinel ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔15 City of Vacaville Royce Cunningham ✔16 Dairy Cares J.P. Cativiela ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔Alt Dairy Cares Paul Sousa ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔17 Westlands Water District Jose Guiterrez

Comm. Chairs/Co-chairs 1 Chair Executive Committee Parry Klassen, ESJWQC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔2 Vice Chair Executive Committee Debbie Webster CVCWA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Technical Advisory Committee Roger Reynolds, S Engr. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Technical Advisory Committee Nigel Quinn, LBL ✔4 Public Education and Outreach Joe DiGiorgio ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔5 Economic and Social Cost Committee David Cory, SJVDA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔6 Lower San Joaquin River Committee Karna Harrigfeld, SEWD ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

CV-SALTS Executive Committee Meetings - 2015 - 2016Executive Committee Membership

3

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CV-SALTS Committee Rosters

Last First Organization 10-Sep 21-Oct 22-Oct 6-Nov 18-Nov 19-Nov 4-Dec 14-Jan 15-Jan 12-Feb 24-Feb 25-Feb 11-Mar 29-Mar 30-Mar

Archibald Elaine CUWA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Ashby Karen LWA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Barclay Diane SWRCB ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Bell Nicole KRWCA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Buford Pam CVRWQCB ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Cady Mark CDFA ✔ ✔ ✔

Cehrs David KRCD ✔ ✔ ✔

Clary Jennifer CWA ✔

D'Adamo Dee Dee SWRCB ✔

Deeringer Andrew SWRCB ✔ ✔ ✔

Delehant Gail ✔

Dickey John Plantierra ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Doduc Tam SWRCB ✔ ✔

Dunham Tess Somach Simmons ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Escobar Juan DWR ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Shahla Farahnah SWRCB ✔

Fuentes Robert Leadership Counsel ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Gallock Charlotte WWD ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Garcia Rick CRC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Gonzalez Armando Occidental Oil & Gas ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Grovhoug Tom LWA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Houdesheldt Bruce NCWA/Sac Valley WQC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Jensen Ryan CWC ✔ ✔

Johnson Alex Freshwater Trust ✔

Johnson Michael LSJRC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Kihara Annalisa SWRCB

Kimmelshue Joel LANDIQ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Kretsinger Grabert Vicki LSCE ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Kubiak Rachel Western Plant Health Assoc. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Kuzelka Timothy CWC ✔ ✔ ✔

Laputz Adam CVRWQCB ✔ ✔

Larson Bobbi CASA ✔ ✔

LeClaire Joe CDM Smith ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Lilien Jonathan Chevron

Link Adam CASA ✔ ✔

Longley Karl CVRWQCB ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

McGahan Joe SJVDA

Meeks Glenn CVRWQCB ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Meyerhoff Richard CDM Smith ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Moore Tim Risk-Sciences ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

O'Brien Conor CDFA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Okita David ✔

Pirondini Tony City of Vacaville ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Pritchett Gregory Chevron

Pulupa Patrick CVRWQCB ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Pitcher Jennifer West. States Petroleum ✔ ✔ ✔

Rempel Jenny CWC ✔ ✔

Rodgers Clay CVRWQCB ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Safi Sam SacRegional CSD ✔

Schmid Andrea Plantierra ✔

Schultz Paul CDM Smith ✔ ✔ ✔

Seaton Phoebe CRLA ✔

Segal Daniel Chevron

Stamps Alicia Kennedy/Jenks ✔ ✔

Tellers Josie City of Davis ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Thomas Bill KRCD ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Thorme Melissa Downey Brand ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Tillman Stephanie LANDIQ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Tristao Dennis J.G. Boswell

Wackman Mike ✔ ✔ ✔

Zimmerman Christie Valley Water Mgmt. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS:

Participant Names CV-SALTS Executive Committee Meetings -2015 - 2016

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Rev.: 3/29/2016 Draft: For Discussion Purposes Only Page 1 of 4

Principles to Guide Revision of the Exceptions Policy for Waste Discharges to Groundwater I. Background

1) The Central Valley Regional Board adopted a Policy for Exceptions from Implementing Water Quality Objectives for Salinity as Res. No. R5-2014-0074 on June 6, 2014. The SWRCB approved that policy as Res. No. 2015-0010 on March 17, 2015. The Policy amended the two CV Basin Plans and established "procedures for dischargers that are subject to WDRs and conditional waivers to obtain a short-term exception from meeting effluent or groundwater limitations for salinity constituents."

2) At the same time, the Central Valley Board established a Salinity Exception Program that

is "in effect during the development and initial implementation of the Salt and Nitrate Management Plans" being prepared through the CV-SALTS process. The Salinity Exception Program (aks "Streamlined Policy") applies only to electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chloride, sulfate and sodium.

3) The current policy prohibits the Regional Board from authorizing new exceptions or

reauthorizing previously approved exceptions after June 30, 2019. The Regional Board intended that any long-term exceptions policy should be developed through the CV-SALTS process and that stakeholders make appropriate recommendations for such a policy in the Salt and Nitrate Management Plan.

4) The Basin Plan amendment limits the Regional Board's authority solely to exceptions

related to salinity. Presently, the definition of "salinity" includes only: electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chloride, sulfate and sodium. The current Policy does not provide the Regional Board with legal authority to approve exceptions for any other pollutants including nitrate.

5) The authority to approve an exception does not automatically grant such an exception

in any given instance. Exceptions must be authorized by a separate Board action. 6) Under the current policy, exceptions must "…be set for a term not to exceed ten years.

For exception terms greater than five years, the Regional Board will review the exception five years after approval to confirm that the exception should proceed for the full term." That review must be conducted in a public hearing.

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Rev.: 3/29/2016 Draft: For Discussion Purposes Only Page 2 of 4

II. CV-SALTS Recommendations 1) The current policy should be amended to revise the provision prohibiting the Regional

Board from authorizing new exceptions or reauthorizing previously approved exceptions after June 30, 2019.

Option 1: Extend the sunset date of the exceptions policy to June 30, 2039 and state

that the date may be revised again by vote of the Regional Board and subject to approval of the State Water board.

Option 2: Delete the sunset date entirely; retain the current provision limiting the term

of an exception to no more than 10 years and add a new provision stating that exceptions may be reauthorized (renewed) by vote of the Regional Board.

2) The current exceptions policy should be amended to add Boron to the list of chemical

constituents included in the definition of "salinity." 3) The current policy should be amended to add nitrate to the list of chemical constituents

for which the Regional Board may authorize an exception. In order to ensure this is implemented as intended, it may also be necessary to include total nitrogen and various forms of nitrogen (TIN, TKN, etc.) to the same list. It will also be necessary to harmonize text throughout the existing policy where such text currently focuses exclusively on exceptions for "salinity."

4) The current policy should be amended to add a new provision requiring dischargers to

assure an adequate supply of safe, reliable and affordable drinking water, as a condition of authorizing an exception for nitrate, in those areas of the groundwater basin or sub-basin adversely affected by the discharge.

5) The current policy should be amended to add a new provision referencing the

availability of regional guidance that describes the general requirements associated with seeking and approving an exception. These include, but are not limited to: the eligibility criteria, mitigation responsibilities, monitoring/reporting obligations, and any expectations to participate in a management zone, CV-SALTS, or the other long-term groundwater restoration program(s).

6) The current policy should be amended to make clear that exceptions are intended to

facilitate long-term compliance with water quality standards or to provide the time needed to revise any inappropriate water quality standards. The Regional Board may renew and reauthorize exceptions but may not do so indefinitely and, in particular, where re-designation, de-designation and/or adoption of a site-specific water quality objective is the more appropriate long-term regulatory management strategy.

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Rev.: 3/29/2016 Draft: For Discussion Purposes Only Page 3 of 4

III. Justification for Extending/Expanding the Current Exceptions Policy 1) The Regional Board's original rationale for adopting the current exceptions policy was to

provide temporary permitting flexibility while CV-SALTS was developing the Salt and Nitrate Management Plan (SNMP) and to encourage dischargers throughout the region to actively participate in that process. If CV-SALTS determined that a permanent exceptions policy is necessary to assure successful implementation, the Regional Board instructed the stakeholders to describe and justify their recommendations in the SNMP itself.

2) CV-SALTS has found that there may be many instances where it is infeasible,

impracticable or unreasonable for dischargers to comply with certain WDRs (with or without a compliance schedule) and there is little or no assimilative capacity in the receiving groundwaters. At present, the Regional Board has only two permitting options available: (a) where appropriate, revise the applicable water quality standards and related WDRs, or (b) disallow the discharge.

3) Revising water quality standards (uses and or objectives) is a complex process requiring

considerable documentation and numerous opportunities for public comment. Consequently, a temporary exceedance may be needed to provide time to complete the full regulatory review and approval process.

4) In some cases, it may be infeasible, impracticable or unreasonable to prohibit the

discharge. If the Regional Board determines that such a discharge should not be required to comply with a normally applicable WDR, then a specific exception must be authorized. Examples of conditions where the Regional Board may conclude that it is infeasible, impracticable or unreasonable to prohibit the discharge include, but are not limited to:

A) Situations where allowing the discharge may actually improve existing or expected quality in the receiving water.

B) Situations where allowing the discharge is likely to result in nominal but imperceptible and insubstantial changes in receiving water quality and public health risk.

C) Situations where compelling the discharge to comply with the applicable WDR (and assuming it was possible to do so) would not significantly improve water quality or assure attainment of the related standards in the foreseeable future (≈20 years).

D) Situations where the discharger proposes an Alternate Compliance Project (ACP) that is likely to provide higher water quality, or greater protection of public health, or more environmental benefit than is expected to occur if the discharge were prohibited.

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Rev.: 3/29/2016 Draft: For Discussion Purposes Only Page 4 of 4

E) Situations where allowing the discharge to continue is necessary to implement other important water resource management policies established by state authorities (e.g. increased water conservation, increased use of recycled water, increased groundwater recharge/storage, increased drought protection, increased migratory bird habitat, etc.)

F) Situations where allowing the discharge to continue is part of the Regional Board's larger and more comprehensive long-term program to achieve salt sustainability and, where feasible, attain water quality standards in the groundwater (aka "restoration").

G) Situations where disallowing the discharge would likely result in widespread and substantial adverse social and economic impacts in the region.

H) Situations where disallowing the discharge would be more harmful to water quality and/or the environmental than allowing it to continue despite the failure to comply with the WDR for which the exception is sought.

5) Exceptions can be authorized subject to certain conditions and performance obligations

on the discharger(s). This provides a mechanism to ensure that exceptions serve the greater good. To that end, the Regional Board has set forth several important expectations governing the manner in which exceptions are likely to be applied:

A) Exceptions for nitrate will not be considered unless an adequate supply of clean, safe, reliable and affordable drinking water is assured for those living in the area adversely affected by the discharge.

B) Dischargers are expected to continue to make reasonable best efforts to comply with applicable WDRs.

C) Dischargers will be required to periodically reassess Best Management Practices (BMPs) and survey available treatment technologies to determine if feasible, practicable and reasonable compliance options have become available as a condition for reauthorizing/renewing an exception.

D) Where exceptions are sought in order to provide time to develop and approve a more appropriate water quality standard (uses and/or objectives), there must be a well-defined workplan/schedule and a commitment by dischargers to provide the resources needed to complete the proposed process.

E) Where existing water quality standards are unlikely to change, dischargers must demonstrate how the proposed exception is a necessary element of a larger long-term strategy designed to achieve compliance with those standards (e.g. implementing SSALTS/NIMS, forming and participating in groundwater management zones, etc.) while, in the interim, allocating available resources to address more urgent water quality priorities (e.g. safe drinking water).

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CV-SALTS Meeting Calendar

1 2 3 Light Red conflicts

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January is a Thursday/Friday

1 1 2 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 1 2 3 4 5

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 11 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Wed/Thurs 4th or 3rd

3 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 8 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Dark Green Exec Comm Policy

4 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 9 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 13 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Fridays at 1:00 pm

5 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 10 28 29 14 27 28 29 30 31 Lt. Green Hatch Exec Comm Admin

6 31 or State Board Presentation

Yellow Salty 5

4 5 6 Lower SJ River Committee

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat TAC Meeting

14 1 2 23 1 2 3 4

15 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 24 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 20 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 25 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Regional Board Presentation TBD

17 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 26 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

18 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 22 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 27 26 27 28 29 30

23 29 30 31 Wednesday Meetings are DRAFT

May be held by Webinar or

7 8 9 in person in Sacramento half day

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

27 1 2 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 36 1 2 3

28 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 33 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 37 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

29 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 34 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 38 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

30 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 35 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 39 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 36 28 29 30 31 40 25 26 27 28 29 30

32 31

10 11 12

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

40 1 45 1 2 3 4 5 49 1 2 3

41 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 46 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 50 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

42 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 47 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 51 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

43 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 48 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 52 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

44 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 49 27 28 29 30 53 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

45 30 31

Notes/Key

January February March

April May June

September

October November December

2016

July August

2/26/2016

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