Utility Wildfire General Order

Project Subject
Utility Wildfire and Similar Operations and Maintenance Activities Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification and Waste Discharge Requirements General Order (Utility Wildfire General Order)

State Water Board Staff is preparing the Utility Wildfire General Order, responses to comments and the final EIR for consideration of adoption. Details about the Board Meeting for adoption will be provided in a public notice that will be sent out at least 30 days before the Board Meeting date.

The State Water Board accepted written comments on the revised draft Utility Wildfire General Order from March 28 to April 29, 2025. Key dates and links to document links, including redlined copies showing revisions between the revised Utility Wildfire General Order and the June 28, 2024, draft, are provided below.

The State Water Board held a public workshop to provide an overview of the Draft Utility Wildfire General Order scope, contents and significant changes compared to prior draft on April 23, 2025, at 1p.m. The workshop was held virtually. Oral comments were not accepted at this workshop. Comments must be submitted in writing as described in the Public Notice linked below.

Key Dates:

Document Links: – Posted on March 28, 2025

Ex Parte Disclosure
The Utility Wildfire General Order is subject to ex parte communication disclosure requirements of Water Code section 13287, as explained in a Memo from the Office of the Chief Counsel. Any communications between interested persons and Board Members (other than at a noticed Board Meeting or submitted as a comment letter in compliance with the public notice) must be disclosed by the interested person within seven days of the communication.