NOTICE OF REQUEST AND PUBLIC HEARING OF SILICON VALLEY CLEAN WATER FOR APPROVAL BY THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD OF SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATIONS TO SVCW INDUSTRIAL PRETREATMENT PROGRAM LOCAL LIMITS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the governing Commission of Silicon Valley Clean Water (“SVCW”), a public entity, will hold a public hearing on the date, time and place hereinafter specified to consider its request for approval of proposed substantial modifications to SVCW Industrial Pretreatment Program Local Limits by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board in accordance with the requirements set forth in Government Code Section 40 CFR 403.18. This notice is also intended to service as the public notice of request for approval of a pretreatment program substantial modification required by 40 CFR 403.18(c)(4) and 40 CFR 403.11(b)(1).
The SVCW service area has changed significantly since 1990 with regards to industrial dischargers and the wastewater characteristics. Many of the area’s metal plating businesses and computer chip manufacturers have closed or relocated out of the area. The industrial flow to SVCW was 1.38 MGD in 1990. In 2017 the industrial flow had dropped to 0.23 MGD. This dramatic change in industrial flow and loading to the SVCW treatment facility prompted the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board (“Regional Board”) to require a re-evaluation and update to the SVCW Local Limits contained within its Industrial Pretreatment Program.
SVCW’s Industrial Pretreatment Program is codified in its document titled “Regulations of the Silicon Valley Clean Water Establishing Uniform Standards, Conditions and Requirements for the Use of the Sanitary Sewerage Facilities of Said Authority and its Member Agencies” (“Regulations”). In accordance with 40 CFR 403.18, SVCW submitted a request to the Regional Board on August 29, 2019 requesting approval for a substantial modification to SVCW’s Regulations. The proposed changes apply to all wastewater dischargers from the cities of Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, and Woodside; and for the service area of the West Bay Sanitary District, which collects wastewater from the cities of Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and areas of East Palo Alto, Woodside, and unincorporated areas of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
The proposed substantial modification consists of updated local limits for chromium and copper, and for the removal of the local limits for carbon disulfide, phenolic compounds, and polycyclic hydrocarbons. The proposed changes will be incorporated into Sections 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5 of the Regulations and may require modification and/or reissuance of existing wastewater discharge permits issued to Industrial Users by SVCW.
A summary of the proposed new local limits is available online during the public comment period here. SVCW’s 2019 Local Limits Analysis Report is available upon request at info@svcw.org. The documents are also available at SVCW at 1400 Radio Road, Redwood City, CA 94065.
Interested persons may submit written comments to SVCW regarding the proposed modifications within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this notice (“30-day public comment period”), in addition to submitting comments prior to or at the public hearing as hereinafter specified. SVCW will provide all written comments submitted during the 30-day public comment period to the Regional Board in accordance with 40 CFR 403.11(b). Further, interested persons may request that the RWQCB hold a public hearing to consider the proposed modifications by submitting a written request for hearing during the 30-day public comment period. In accordance with 40 CFR 403.11(b)(2)(i), the request for hearing shall indicate the interest of the person filing such request and the reasons why a hearing is warranted. RWQCB will hold a public hearing if there is significant public interest in issues relating to whether or not the proposed program modification should be approved.
In accordance with 40 CFR 403.18(c)(3), SVCW’s modification request may be approved without change and without a public notice of decision if no comments or no substantive comments to this notice are received during the 30-day public comment period. In such event, this notice shall constitute the notice of approval or disapproval required by 40 CFR 403.11(e) and no additional notice shall be provided. Subsequently, this substantial modification will be reflected and incorporated into SVCW’s NPDES permit.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that a public hearing by the SVCW Commission to receive comments will be held as hereinafter specified:
Date: September 20, 2021
Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the SVCW Commission
Time: 8:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard
Place: Due to COVID-19, the public hearing will be conducted remotely and telephonically in accordance with Governor Newsom’s Executor Order N-29-20. All interested persons may attend the hearing by dialing the following telephone number:
CALL IN PHONE NUMBER: +1 747-216-0281
CONFERENCE ID: 96585336#
Inquiries regarding this notice or comments regarding the subject matter of the public hearing shall be made in writing to the SVCW Manager on or before the time set for hearing at 1400 Radio Road, Redwood City, CA 94065, or by e-mail to THerrera@svcw.org.
Date of Notice: August 26, 2021