Press Release: Completion of Regulatory Improvement Initiative Tasks

For Immediate Release (C-01-97)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
January 13, 1997

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-9670
FAX (916) 445-5563

SACRAMENTO--California Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock today announced the completion of 37 tasks identified by the public during last year's Regulatory Improvement Initiative.

"Governor Wilson asked Cal/EPA to travel across the State and find new ideas for regulatory reform and we found them. In fact, more than 2,600 outdated regulations were eliminated or modified.  Today we are happy to announce that additional steps are being taken to improve the way we protect our environment," Strock said.

From more than 500 suggestions received during a week-long trip from San Diego to Walnut Creek last fall, Cal/EPA has made key reforms which will allow both our economy and environment to advance together.

• Cal/EPA has certified 32 CUPAs and issued Notices of Intent to certify another 24 applicants.
• Through an expansion of the Permit Assistance Center network from 9 to 13 centers, the public has been given more single points-of-contact for environmental permitting.
• Key fees have been reduced and all fees have been posted on the Internet.
• Consistency between Cal/EPA organizations has been improved through new agreements and cooperation on enforcement policies.
• Regulations and processes are more easily understood.

• Risk Assessment practices have been reviewed and updated and an economic analysis unit has been established.
• A report from the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory have led to changes to the underground tank program have been made to reduce the cost and time of cleanup.

"These reforms, along with dozens more, will enable California to achieve its high environmental standards while reducing the costs of compliance for millions of enterprises Governor Wilson's vision of high standards and improved process has been the guide posts for these reforms," Strock concluded.

A complete list of the 37 major reforms is listed below:

THEME: CERTIFIED UNIFIED PROGRAM AGENCY (CUPA)
(Six state programs to be delegated to local government)

ACCOMPLISHMENT

1. Certified 32 CUPAs and issued Notices of Intent to certify another 24 applicants.
2. Established Internet access to all guidance training documents for CUPA's.
3. Local Unified Programs Implementation Committee (LUPIC) meeting notes are now on the Internet.
4. LUPIC identified training needs were placed on the Internet.

THEME: SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT

ACCOMPLISHMENT

5. Expanded the number of Permit Assistance Centers from nine to thirteen.
6. California Environmental Protection Agency Cal/EPA Boards and Department identified and resolved new areas of potential overlap. (i.e. Regulatory Structure Update (RSU) activities by DTSC formed a workgroup with Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMB) and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).
7. Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)/SWRCB completed a Lead Agency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on water permits at hazardous waste sites.

THEME: FEES

ACCOMPLISHMENT

8. CUPA service fees were set for 1996-97 at seven percent below 1995-96 level.
9. SB 1469 DTSC Fee Accountability Report was placed on the Internet.
10. All Cal/EPA Boards and Departments placed their Fee Structures and Statutes that set fees on the Internet.
11. A Cal/EPA staff training program on fees was established.
12. Air Resources Board (ARB) and Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) reduced Hot Spot fees and reporting requirements for low threat facilities.

THEME: CONSISTENCY

ACCOMPLISHMENT

13. Ombudsman Forums were held in May and October.
14. All Cal/EPA Strategic Plan "update" schedules were made available on the Internet to allow stakeholders input.
15. A Cal/EPA multi-media enforcement training symposium was held, sponsored by ARB.
16. Customer service training for all Cal/EPA employees was designed and implemented.
17. Both SWRCB and DTSC issued Brownfield Perspective Purchase Agreements. These agreements give protection to developers who commit to property changes and do not add to the existing contamination.
18. A review of enforcement policies of Cal/EPA Boards and Departments was completed by the Enforcement Coordinator's workgroup.
19. The Cal/EPA Agency DATA Access Study was placed on the Internet.

THEME: COMPLIANCE & REGULATORY PROCESS

ACCOMPLISHMENT

20. Pharmaceutical waste was moved to Department of Health Services for regulatory oversight (SB1966).
21. Updated and continued the SWRCB Compliance Assistance Initiative which provides guidance to the public.
22. The IWMB provided Advisories they produce to LUPIC as potential templates for future CUPA enforcement policies.
23. OEHHA produced a plain English pamphlet explaining Prop. 65.
24. OEHHA proposed a process to delist Prop. 65 chemicals.
25. OEHHA proposed regulations to clarify information requirement prior to instituting Prop. 65 legal proceedings.
26. ARB held hearings on draft regulations regarding the inter-changeability of emission reduction credits.

THEME: STANDARDS

ACCOMPLISHMENT

27. OEHHA issued the Risk Assessment Advisory Committee Findings.
28. RSU project issues are placed on the Internet.
29. Industrial Storm Water Permit was improved, revised and released for public comment.
30. Draft policy on non-Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste used in agricultural applications was placed on the Internet.
31. Industrial storm water permits were placed on the Internet for increased public access.

THEME: SCIENCE

ACCOMPLISHMENT

32. Economic Analysis Unit was established at ARB.
33. SB1731 draft stochastic exposures assessment guidelines were placed on the Internet for public access.

THEME: SITE REMEDIATION

ACCOMPLISHMENT

34. The Lawrence Livermore National Lab Report Advisory Committee recommendations were released on underground tank cleanups.
35. SWRCB adopted amendments to Resolution 92-49, establishing the ability to designate containment zones.
36. Regional Water Quality Control Board continue to close underground tank cases in compliance with the December 8, 1995, Walt Pettit memorandum on sites exhibiting low environmental threats.
37. DTSC completed a written guidance on mining waste for local agencies.

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