Bill Text: CA SB687 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Water Quality Control Plan: Delta Conveyance Project.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB687 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB687-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Senate  May 02, 2023
Amended  IN  Senate  April 12, 2023
Amended  IN  Senate  March 20, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 687


Introduced by Senator Eggman
(Coauthor: Senator Dodd)

February 16, 2023


An act to add Section 85090 to the Water Code, relating to water.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 687, as amended, Eggman. Water Quality Control Plan: Delta Conveyance Project.
Existing law establishes the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards as the principal state agencies with authority over matters relating to water quality. Existing law requires the state board to formulate and adopt state policy for water quality control. Existing law authorizes the state board to adopt water quality control plans for waters that require water quality standards pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and provides that those plans supersede any regional water quality control plans for the same waters to the extent of any conflict.
This bill would require the board to adopt a final update of the 1995 Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary, as provided, before the board may consider a change in point diversion or any other water rights permit or order for the Delta Conveyance Project. The bill would also, if, after completing the update of the plan and in compliance with existing law, the board approves a change in point of diversion or any other water rights permit or order associated with the Delta Conveyance Project, prohibit the operation of the Delta Conveyance Project unless and until the updated plan is fully implemented. The bill would specify that these provisions do not constitute an authorization for or approval of funding for the Delta Conveyance Project or any other isolated Delta conveyance project that includes isolated Delta conveyance facilities, and do not reduce any statutory or other regulatory conditions or permit requirements for Delta Conveyance conveyance projects.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 85090 is added to the Water Code, to read:

85090.
 (a) Before the board may consider a change in point diversion or other water rights permit or order for the Delta Conveyance Project, or any other isolated Delta conveyance project, the board shall first adopt a final update of the 1995 Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary adopted by the board in Resolution No. 95-24 on May 22, 1995, as amended by the 2006 amendment adopted by the board in Resolution No. 2006-0098 on December 13, 2006, and as amended by the 2018 amendment adopted by the board in Resolution No. 2018-0059 on December 12, 2018, including its update of water quality objectives for the Sacramento River, Delta, and tributaries.
(b) If, after completing the update of the water quality control plan required in subdivision (a) and in compliance with existing law, the board approves a change in point of diversion or other water rights permit or order approving for the Delta Conveyance Project, the Delta Conveyance Project shall not be operated unless and until the updated water quality control plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary, including the update required by subdivision (a) and the amendments referenced or amendments thereto, is fully implemented.
(c) Nothing in this section shall constitute an authorization for or approval of funding for the Delta Conveyance Project or any other isolated Delta conveyance project that includes isolated Delta conveyance facilities, and shall not reduce any statutory or other regulatory conditions or permit requirements for Delta Conveyance conveyance projects.
(d) This section shall not be construed as creating any authority for the department to build any isolated Delta conveyance facilities.

feedback