The California Water Boards' Annual Performance Report - Fiscal Year 2014-15

CLEAN UP: GROUNDWATER

MEASUREMENTS  - Data last updated on:  10-26-2015 (2:27 pm)

WHAT THE MEASURE IS SHOWING

The data show that the Site Clean Up Program is the most active in the San Francisco Bay region (Region 2), the Los Angeles region (Region 4), and the Central Valley region (Region 5). In Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15, the number of cases closed was greater than the number of new cases (releases) documented statewide.

WHY THIS MEASURE IS IMPORTANT

Measuring the number of active cases, new cases, and the number of cases closed is important as it shows the program's level of activity and the resources necessary to handle the workload. These measures can also identify trends in different regions in the state. Note that the cases represented by the data do not include all cases managed by the Water Boards. The data only include cases with direct impacts to groundwater or surface waters.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Data source: GEOTRACKER. Period July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
• Unit of Measure: Number of cases.
• Data Definitions:Active Cases: The number of cases overseen by Regional Boards that had an Open status as of June 30, 2015. Inactive Cases: Cases that have a status of inactive at 06/30/2015. New Cases: (Releases) The number of cases that had a status of Open - Case begin date occur any time between 07/01/2014 and 06/30/2015. Cases Closed: The number of cases that had a status of completed - Case closed occurs any time between 07/01/2014 and 06/30/2015.
• References:
  The Water Boards' Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Program,
  Brownfields Program,
  Public Reports and Data

GLOSSARY

Site Cleanup

The Site Cleanup program addresses commercial, industrial and other non-military sites with non-fuel contamination. Many of these sites are considered Brownfields because of their reuse potential. Site Cleanup Requirements generally mandate a time schedule for specific tasks that must be performed by the responsible party(ies) to investigate and clean up the site. Water Board staff oversee implementation of these tasks including investigations, corrective actions, and human health risk assessments at sites with current or historic unauthorized discharges, which have adversely affected or threaten to adversely affect waters of the state.

Procedures for site investigation and remediation are promulgated in State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 92-49 entitled Policies and Procedures For Investigation and Cleanup and Abatement of Discharges Under Water Code Section 13304. Responsible parties conduct work in a stepwise fashion, starting with preliminary assessment, then soil and water investigation; interim remedial measures if warranted; risk assessment; setting cleanup goals; cleanup plan; cleanup implementation and monitoring. Most often, responsible parties conduct the work voluntarily, but sometimes enforcement orders are necessary to compel the work to be performed.

Case Closure

UST site qualifies to receive a "No Further Action" (closure) letter once the owner or operator meets all appropriate corrective action requirements. After this occurs, the county agency or regional board will inform the responsible party in writing that no further work is required.

Number of cleanup cases groundwater contaminant migration under control

Means a count of all open Water Board-lead cases and Shared-lead cases where groundwater contaminant migration has been evaluated as of the end of the Fiscal Year.

( Page last updated:  9/29/15 )