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state Water Resources Control Board July 15, 1993 



HR31 



in 1989. This legislation authorized the State Water Board to collect up to $4 million 

 annually In tees from dischargers to bays, estuaries and the ocean to fund activities 

 of the program. 



Program goals are to: (1) protect existing and future beneficial uses of bay/estuarine 

 waters; (2) Identify and characterize toxic hot spots in sediment; (3) plan for 

 prevention of further pollution and the remediation of existing hot spots; and 

 (4) develop and maintain a comprehensive information source to provide for future 

 assessment and regulatory efforts, accessible public information and to facilitate 

 management decisions. 



Among Its list of accomplishments over the past three years has been a workshop to 

 develop sediment quality objectives - the first effort of this type in the nation. A 

 workplan was then adopted to proceed with these objectives. 



Although the original legislation called for the program to sunset in January, 1994, 

 proposed legislation would extend the program for another five years. Included In 

 the proposal is an epidemiological study to determine adverse health effects from 

 urban runoff at coastal beaches. 



Annual Beach Posting and Closure Report 



In compliance with 1992 legislation, the State Water Board will publish an annual 

 report on beach postings and closures in California beginning in September 1994. 

 The report will contain data submitted by county health officials relating to location, 

 duration, and suspected reasons for the postings and closures, and will be helpful In 

 establishing uniform statewide criteria for posting or closing beaches for the purpose 

 of protecting the health of the public. In addition, the bill also required local health 

 officers, at a minimum, to place signs on beaches warning the public of health risks 

 when bacteriological levels are exceeded. 



Summary 



We support the type of research that HR 31 would Initiate, but caution that a single, 

 nationwide standard may not be appropriate. These standards may need to be set 

 on a regional basis. 



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