Development of Sediment Quality Objectives for California Bays and Estuaries Overview and Meeting Objectives Steven Bay Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)

Mandate To Develop Sediment Quality Objectives In 1989, California Water Code was amended, requiring the SWRCB to develop SQOs for bays and estuaries. SQOs were not developed under this program for variety of reasons. In 1999, SWRCB was sued and lost. In 2002, Court mandated the SWRCB develop SQOs within a relatively tight time frame……

Project Schedule Scoping Document adopted by June , completed ( Draft Objectives and policy by August 5, 2005 By February 28, 2007 submit SQO policy to Office of Administrative Law

An Important Opportunity Project will impact several regulatory programs –303(d) listing –NPDES permits –TMDLs Limited number of previous policy applications –No national sediment quality criteria –Only Washington has regulations

SSC Has a Critical Role We want a solid scientific foundation Limited prior experience to rely upon –Few examples of regulations available Developing a new approach that includes MLOE –Think it is stronger –Need independent feedback to ensure that implementation is correct

Three Advisory Committees Scientific Steering Committee – Independent technical review and guidance –Learn from experience with other efforts –Assist with resolving science/policy conflicts Sediment Quality Advisory Committee –Provide stakeholder input for policy development –Identify potential conflicts –Enhance information exchange Agency Coordination Committee –Provide regulatory agency input for implementation –Identify potential conflicts –Enhance information exchange

SQO Program Committees and Members Sediment Quality Advisory Committee –Regulated Community: Ports, POTWs, Municipal Stormwater, Industrial Stormwater, Industrial Direct, Federal Facilities, Legacy Pollutants. –Environmental/Conservation Organizations: SF BayKeeper, Heal the Bay, The Ocean Conservancy, Environmental Health Coalition, DeltaKeeper, Bay Foundation of Morro Bay, Sierra Club Agency Coordination Committee –RWQCB, DTSC, DFG, USEPA, NOAA, F&WS, SLC, BCDC, OEHHA.

Your Tasks for Today Mid-Course assessment of project progress –Are we on the right path? –Have we responded appropriately to your comments? Discuss issues at science-policy interface –Advisory Committee comments Anticipated future meetings –July: Review of indicators and framework –October: Review of indicator thresholds

Meeting Agenda Thursday morning (9:00-12:00) –Update on project progress and response to SSC comments Multiple Line of Evidence Framework Chemistry Indicators Benthic Community Indicators Thursday afternoon (1:00-5:00) –Project updates (continued) Toxicity indicators Bioaccumulation-based indicators –Advisory committee issues of concern

Meeting Agenda Friday morning –Closed session of SSC Friday afternoon (1:00-4:00) –Additional discussion of project elements –Initial summary of SSC comments –Action items and future meeting schedule