Who authorizes the formation of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established regulations setting forth National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit standards as a part of the Clean Water Act (Act). Those standards are handed down to the State who then delegates authority to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The SWRCB administers NPDES authority through its nine Regional Boards, including the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA-RWQCB). On June 18, 1990, the NPDES permit for Stormwater/Urban Runoff Discharge in Los Angeles County was issued. Los Angeles County is the designated “Principal Permittee” with 86 cities within the County recognized as Co-Permittees. Since then, there have been three stormwater NPDES Permits issued to the group, the most recent one issued in 2001. A new NPDES Permit for the stormwater program in Los Angeles County is anticipated to be issued in 2009.
