On Oct. 2, Gov. Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 205 (Hertzberg), which addresses the issue of industrial facilities that remain unregulated by California’s clean water laws.
As a means to control stormwater pollution, SB 205 will require applicable facilities to demonstrate enrollment with the industrial stormwater permit when applying for or renewing a business license.
California’s largest urban source of water pollution is stormwater. When it rains, toxic stormwater pollution from unregulated facilities flows from oil refineries, landfills, manufacturing plants, auto yards, and scrap metal recyclers into waterways, according to the Voice of OC.
“California has the strongest industrial stormwater permit in the nation, but without comprehensive enrollment by industrial facilities, the state will never achieve the Clean Water Act’s goals to restore the health of our waterways,” said Sean Bothwell, executive director of California Coastkeeper Alliance. “There are tens of thousands of facilities that have failed to enroll in the industrial stormwater permit, creating an economic disadvantage for those facilities that are doing their job to be compliant with their permit.”
The California Metals Coalition (CMC) worked with leaders from the environmental community, cities and government to bring SB 205 to life.
Without a permit, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), best management practices, and controls to manage stormwater, these industrial sites discharge polluted water directly to municipal sewer systems.
“We’ve always believed that operating a responsible metal business in California means having a stormwater permit. The union team members that work at our metal facility also raise families near our metal facility. SB 205 will further help keep water clean, and is one way to demonstrate our commitment to the community,” said Michael Lowe, California Metals Coalition president.
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