Bill Text: CA AB134 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Appropriation of water: Sacramento Regional County

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-09-06 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 212, Statutes of 2011. [AB134 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB134-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 134	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 15, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 23, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Dickinson
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Steinberg)
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Huber)
   (Coauthor: Senator Wolk)

                        JANUARY 12, 2011

   An act to add Section 1486 to the Water Code, relating to water
resources.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 134, as amended, Dickinson. Appropriation of water: Sacramento
Regional County Sanitation District.
   Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board
administers a water rights program pursuant to which the state board
grants permits and licenses to appropriate water.
   Existing law requires the owner of a wastewater treatment plant to
obtain the approval of the state board prior to making any changes
in the point of discharge, place of use, or purpose of use of treated
wastewater, and requires the state board to review the proposed
changes in accordance with prescribed procedures.
   This bill would authorize the Sacramento Regional County
Sanitation District to file an application for a permit to
appropriate a specified amount of water that is based on the volume
of treated wastewater that the district discharges into the
Sacramento River, as specified. The bill would authorize the state
board to grant a permit to appropriate that treated wastewater upon
terms and conditions determined by the state board.  The bill
would require the board, prior to granting a permit pursuant to these
provisions, to comply with   permit, approval, and review
requirements and other laws applicable to the appropriation of water.

   This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to
the necessity of a special statute for the Sacramento Regional County
Sanitation District.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
   
  SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares
all of the following:
   (a) The people of the State of California have a primary interest
in the development of facilities to produce recycled water to
supplement existing surface water and groundwater supplies and to
assist in meeting the future water requirements of the state.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the state
expeditiously undertake all possible steps to encourage the
development of water recycling facilities so that recycled water may
be made available to meet the growing water supply needs of the
state.
   (c) It is in the best interest of the people of the State of
California, in enacting this act, to provide an additional means for
the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District to realize the
benefit of its production and discharge of high-quality recycled
water, and to provide a potential revenue stream to offset the high
costs associated with upgrades to the sanitation district's
wastewater treatment plant, to meet new wastewater treatment
requirements under the national pollutant discharge elimination
system permit issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control
Board, Central Valley. 
   SEC. 2.   SECTION 1.   Section 1486 is
added to the Water Code, to read:
   1486.  (a) The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, and
any successor thereto, with respect to treated wastewater produced
by the sanitation district that meets the requirements of the
California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley, 
as may be amended or modified,  and that is discharged into the
Sacramento River, may file an application for a permit to
appropriate  an amount of water  up to the amount of treated
wastewater that is discharged into the Sacramento River, less
diminution by seepage, evaporation, transportation, or other natural
causes between the point of discharge from the wastewater treatment
plant and the point of diversion out of the Sacramento River or the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
   (b) Upon application for a permit to appropriate water pursuant to
subdivision (a), the board may grant the permit subject to the terms
and conditions as in the board's judgment are necessary for the
protection of the rights of any legal user of the water. 
   (c) Prior to the board granting a permit under subdivision (b),
the board shall comply with the provisions of Part 2 (commencing with
Section 1200) of Division 2, and other applicable law, and may
impose terms and conditions authorized thereunder.  
   (c) 
    (d)  Water appropriated in accordance with this section
may be sold or utilized for any beneficial purpose.
   SEC. 3.   SEC. 2.   The Legislature
finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general
law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of
Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique
problems applicable to the full utilization of the waters of the
Sacramento River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, into which
treated wastewater discharged by the Sacramento Regional County
Sanitation District flows.