The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) has released draft emergency regulations increasing many of the fees paid under the agency’s various water quality programs, including land disposal operations and confined animal facilities. For the first time ever, the State’s proposal also includes fees on legal marijuana cultivation in the North Coast and Central Valley regions, with the biggest operations assessed a $10,000 annual fee, and includes a sizeable $150,000 annual fee for the High Speed Rail Authority.
The State Water Board was enabled to assess a fee on marijuana growers by the creation of a new marijuana enforcement program in the 2014-15 State Budget. The program’s fees will be used primarily for cleanup and mitigation of water pollution from illegally deployed pesticides and herbicides, as well as fixing issues caused by unauthorized stream diversion for irrigation of marijuana crops. RCRC, along with several individual counties, has been working closely with various state agencies and legislators to explore ways to stop the adverse environmental impacts of illegal marijuana cultivation activities on the State’s water supply, wildlife, and forest lands. The water quality fee is the first in many proposed steps California will be taking to mitigate the damage and stifle illegal operations.
Since the proposal has been given emergency status, there will only be a short seven-day public comment period, with written comments due by noon on September 18, 2014. The State Water Board is scheduled to hear the proposal at its September 23, 2014 meeting. The fee proposal and supporting documents can be accessed here.