Waste Discharge Requirements and CWA Section 401 WQC for the Statewide Utility Wildfire General Order EIR

The State Water Resources Control Board is overseeing the adoption of a General Order providing Waste Discharge Requirements and Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification for statewide electric utility wildfire prevention, response, and maintenance activities. This regulatory action aims to protect California's water quality while streamlining the permitting process for publicly owned electric utilities and cooperatives performing wildfire risk mitigation, such as vegetation management, pole repairs, and powerline undergrounding. The project supports the mandates of Senate Bill 901 and authorizes the discharge of fill into state and federal waters. To comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, the Board prepared a Final Environmental Impact Report that analyzes potential environmental effects across various categories, including air quality, biological resources, and hydrology. The framework includes a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program to ensure the enforceability of environmental safeguards. Compliance is managed through specific inspection criteria, where Category A dischargers must inspect 5% of active projects, and water quality monitoring is required for projects involving in-water work. A public meeting is scheduled for August 19, 2026, to consider the formal adoption of the General Order and its associated Environmental Impact Report.