The Exploratorium, San Francisco, San Francisco County - Reissuance of NPDES Permit

The permit reissuance allows the Exploratorium in San Francisco to continue discharging non-contact heating and cooling water, as well as filtered backwash water, directly into San Francisco Bay at coordinates 37.8019°, -122.3969°. These discharges are part of the facility’s operational system and are regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The permit applies specifically to the non-contact systems used for thermal regulation and does not include direct contact with wastewater or other contaminants. The location of the discharge is clearly defined within the bay near the Exploratorium’s waterfront site. The permit is being administered by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Region 2 – San Francisco Bay, based in Oakland, California, with Michelle Thompson, Environmental Scientist, serving as the primary point of contact for inquiries. The posting date indicates this is a forecasted action scheduled for June 12, 2026, suggesting the formal reissuance process is forthcoming and will involve public review or commentary periods prior to finalization. The permit does not indicate a set-aside type or NAICS code, reflecting its regulatory nature rather than a competitive procurement. All discharges remain subject to ongoing monitoring and environmental protection requirements enforced by the state agency.