Opinion ID: 4159799
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: California’s NPDES Permitting Program

Text: In 1973, EPA granted California authority to administer the NPDES permits program. Approval of California’s Revisions to the State National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Program, 54 Fed. Reg. 40,664 (Oct. 3, 1989); Discharges of Pollutants to Navigable Waters: Approval of State Programs, 39 Fed. Reg. 26,061 (July 16, 1974). Regional Boards make the initial permitting decisions. The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Board), the final NPDES permitting authority in California, reviews the permits issued by Regional Boards. “[A]ny SCAP V. EPA 7 aggrieved party” may then file a petition for review in California Superior Court. Cal. Water Code § 13330(a). Additionally, California and EPA have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement that explains in greater detail the rights the State has under the Act and the regulations. Under that agreement, for example, if the State disagrees with EPA’s objection, it has the option to pursue informal means of resolving the dispute. See, e.g., NPDES Memorandum of Agreement Between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California State Water Resources Control Board 16 (1989) (MOA) (“If EPA and a Regional Board are unable to resolve a disagreement over provisions of a prenotice draft permit to which EPA has filed a formal objection, the State Board may mediate the disagreement to a resolution that is satisfactory to EPA and to the Regional Board.”). Once EPA has filed an objection letter, the State may request that EPA conduct a public hearing pursuant to 40 C.F.R. § 123.44 or opt to conduct its own public hearing. Id. at 16–17. The MOA, like the regulations, contemplates that, following this process, EPA may modify or even withdraw its objections. Id. at 19.