NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND BOARD CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT POLICY FOR DEVELOPING THE FUND EXPENDITURE PLAN FOR THE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER FUND DRAFT POLICY FOR DEVELOPING THE FUND EXPENDITURE PLAN FOR THE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE DRINKING WATER FUND
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will receive public comments on the Draft Policy for Developing the Fund Expenditure Plan for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (the Policy), dated January 2020. Written comments must be received by 12:00 noon on Monday, February 3, 2020, see additional details regarding comments submission below.
NOTICE IS ADDITIONALLY HEREBY GIVEN that the State Water Board will consider adopting the Draft Policy as early as the Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at the State Water Board Meeting. The anticipated date, time, and location of the Board meeting are provided below.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 – 9:30 a.m.
State Water Board Meeting
Joe Serna Jr.–CalEPA Headquarters Building
Coastal Hearing Room – Second Floor
1001 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
BACKGROUND
The Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund (the Fund) was established through Senate Bill 200 (SB200) in July 2019. The Fund will provide $130 million per year that will be used to develop and implement solutions for water systems that are not sustainable or have violations of drinking water standards. The Fund will help water systems provide an adequate and affordable supply of safe drinking water in both the near and long terms. Types of projects include, but are not limited to, consolidation with a larger system, provision of interim replacement water, planning assistance, reducing operations and maintenance costs, and funding for administrators. Projects generally must benefit a disadvantaged community or low-income households or communities.
The State Water Board is developing a Policy for Developing the Fund Expenditure Plan (Policy) for the Fund. The Policy will establish and document the State Water Board’s direction on how the Fund Expenditure Plan (the Plan) will be developed. The Policy identifies and defines key terms and metrics; describes how proposed remedies will be identified, evaluated, prioritized, and included in the Plan; establishes a petition process for consideration of consolidation orders for disadvantaged communities; and includes a public hearing requirement.
Staff intend to present the Draft Policy to the State Water Board for consideration of adoption on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Adoption of the Plan by the State Water Board is expected to occur in June 2020.
DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY
The Draft Policy is available for review online at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/sustainable_water_solutions/
You may also request a paper copy of the Draft Policy by contacting Mr. Harish Bagha at (916) 341-5716 or Harish.Bagha@waterboards.ca.gov.
After reviewing public comments, an updated version of the Draft Policy will be posted for public comment prior to the Board Meeting. This will occur as part of the regular State Water Board Meeting Agenda process, at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/calendar.
SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN COMMENTS
The State Water Board will accept written comments on the Draft Policy. To submit written comments, please use the subject line: “Comment Letter – Draft Policy for Developing the Fund Expenditure Plan for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund”. Written comments must be received by 12:00 noon on Monday, February 3, 2020 and should be submitted to the attention of:
Jeanine Townsend, Clerk to the Board
State Water Resources Control Board
1001 I Street, 24th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Comment letters may be submitted to the Clerk to the Board via email (if less than 15 megabytes) at commentletters@waterboards.ca.gov. If the electronic comment letter is greater than 15 megabytes, it may be submitted by fax at (916) 341-5620. Couriers delivering hard copies of comment letters must check in with lobby security personnel, who can contact Ms. Townsend at (916) 341-5600.
PROCEDURAL MATTERS
At the State Water Board Meeting, the Board will consider adoption of the Draft Policy. Members of the public may present oral comments at the meeting. To ensure a productive and efficient Board Meeting, the Board may limit the time for oral comments. For recommendations regarding presentations to the Board, please go to: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/meetings/board_presentations.shtml.
MEETING DETAILS
Individuals requiring language interpretation services should contact Ms. Mandy Roman at the State Water Board at least 10 days prior at (916) 341-5265 or at
Mandy.Roman@waterboards.ca.gov. For directions to the Joe Serna, Jr. (CalEPA) Building and public parking information, please refer to this website: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/headquarters-
sacramento/location/. The CalEPA Building is accessible to persons with disabilities.
Individuals requiring special accommodations are requested to call (916) 341-5261 at least five working days prior to the meeting. TDD users may contact the California Relay Service at (800) 735-2929 or voice line at (800) 735-2922. A broadcast of the meeting will be available via the internet and can be accessed at https://video.calepa.ca.gov/.
All visitors to the CalEPA Building are required to sign in and obtain a badge at the Visitor Services Center located just inside the main entrance (10th Street entrance).
Valid picture identification may be required. Please allow up to 15 minutes for security clearance. For more details about this meeting please go to: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/calendar/index.shtml
FUTURE NOTICES
Any change in the date, time, the public comment period, or to the intended date of State Water Board consideration of the adoption Draft Policy will be provided via the State Water Board email distribution list. Any person desiring to receive future notices concerning the Policy must subscribe to the State Water Board’s email distribution list.
The subscription form is located at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.shtml.
To subscribe, select the “General Interests” category, then check the box for “Board Meetings”, and provide the required information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please direct all questions regarding this notice and the Policy to Mr. Harish Bagha at (916) 341-5716 or Harish.Bagha@waterboards.ca.gov.