HomeMy WebLinkAboutSWRCB - Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment on Revisions to Winterization Requirements on Cannabis Policy & Staff Report
Clarissa Menchaca
Robin Bennett,
Executive Assistant
(530) 552-5000 Email: rbennett@buttecounty.net
Butte County SupervisorÔs Office
Supervisor Doug Teeter, Email: dteeter@buttecounty.net
Board of Supervisors, District 5
Paradise, CA 95969
NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Concerning
Winterization Revisions to Proposed Updates to the
Cannabis Policy and Staff Report
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water
Board) will receive written public comments on proposed revisions to clarify the winterization
requirements in the proposed updates to the Cannabis Cultivation Policy Principles and
Guidelines for Cannabis Cultivation (Cannabis Policy). Information on the comment period and
BACKGROUND
1
On June 27, 2016, the Governor signed Senate Bill 837, which among other things, codified
Water Code section 13149 and authorized the State Water Board to adopt principles and
guidelines (requirements) for cannabis cultivation as part of a state policy for water quality
control. The State Water Board adopted the Cannabis Policy and General Waste Discharge
Requirements and Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges of Waste
Associated with Cannabis Cultivation Activities (Cannabis Cultivation General Order) in
October 2017 to minimize water quality degradation and low flow impacts associated with
cannabis cultivation. The Cannabis Policy became effective upon Office of Administrative Law
approval in December 2017. On September 28, 2018, the State Water Board released a notice
soliciting comments on proposed updates to the Cannabis Policy and Cannabis Cultivation
General Order. The public comment period concluded at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on
November 27, 2018. A State Water Board workshop was held on October 16, 2018 to accept
oral comments. A staff informational workshop was held in Fortuna on November 8, 2018 to
present information and answer questions on the proposed updates to the Cannabis Policy,
Cannabis Cultivation Policy Staff Report (Staff Report), and Cannabis Cultivation General
Order. The Cannabis Policy establishes requirements for cannabis cultivation activities to
protect water quality and instream flows.
CLARIFICATION AND REVISION OF WINTERIZATION REQUIREMENTS
In response to comments on the proposed updates to the Cannabis Policy, the State Water
Board has determined that clarification is needed regarding the winterization requirements. As
such, the State Water Board is releasing these specific proposed revisions and updates to the
Staff Report for a 15-day comment period and will receive oral comments at the
February 5, 2019, State Water Board meeting and hearing.
1
Statutes 2016, Chapter 32, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review.
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Please see Cannabis Policy, Attachment A, Section 2, Requirements 127 and 128 for the
specific proposed language.
PROCEDURAL MATTERS FOR THE COMMENT PERIOD
At this time, the State Water Board will accept comments only on changes to the proposed
revisions to the winterization requirements of the Cannabis Policy, which are identified in
red bold/underline for new text and red bold/strike out for deleted text. State Water Board
staff will review comments received from the September 28, 2018 to November 27, 2018
comment period as well as from this comment period, which ends at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on
January 25, 2019 and will prepare responses to comments. Staff will develop final proposed
updates to the Cannabis Policy that incorporate feedback from the two comment periods for the
DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY
The draft proposed revisions to winterization Requirements 127 and 128 of the Cannabis Policy
and Staff Report are available online at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/cannabis/.
Those without Internet access may request a paper copy of the draft proposed revisions to the
Cannabis Policy and Staff Report by calling Mina Chon at (916) 319-0745.
SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN COMMENTS
The State Water Board will accept written comments only on red bold/underline or
red bold/strike out text that is associated with proposed revisions to the winterization
requirements in the proposed updates to the Cannabis Policy and Staff Report.
Written comments must be received by 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on Friday, January 25, 2019. After
the deadline, the State Water Board will not accept additional written comments.
Written comments may be submitted electronically (email), by fax, U.S. Mail, or courier.
Electronic submittals must be emailed to commentletters@waterboards.ca.gov. Written
comments may also be submitted by hard copy and be addressed to:
Hand/Courier Delivery U.S. Mail Delivery
State Water Resources Control Board State Water Resources Control Board
Attn: Jeanine Townsend Clerk to the Board
th
1001 I Street, 24Floor Attn: Jeanine Townsend
P.O. Box 100
Sacramento, CA 95814
Sacramento, CA 95812-0100
On all comment letters, please indicate clearly the subject of your comments, as follows:
Winterization Revisions .
Electronic submittals shall be in portable document format (pdf) (less than 15 megabytes in total
size). If the file is greater than 15 megabytes in total size, then the comment letter may be
submitted by fax at (916) 341-5620. U.S. Mail must be received (not postmarked) at the State
Water Board offices by the close of the comment period. Couriers delivering comment letters
must check in with lobby security personnel, who can contact Ms. Townsend at (916) 341-5600.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Please direct all questions regarding this notice to (916) 341-5363 or
CannabisWR@waterboards.ca.gov.
January 10, 2019
Date Jeanine Townsend
Clerk to the Board