Development of Sediment Quality Objectives for California Bays and Estuaries

1. Development of Sediment Quality Objectives for California Bays and Estuaries Steven Bay Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) steveb@sccwrp.org Overview and Meeting Objectives

2. 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……

3. Project Schedule • Scoping Document adopted by June 30 2003, completed (www.swrcb.ca.gov…..) • Draft Objectives and policy by August 5, 2005 • By February 28, 2007 submit SQO policy to Office of Administrative Law

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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