EPA, Port of Stockton Agree on Stormwater Management
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with California’s Port of Stockton to correct deficiencies in the port’s stormwater program to bring it into compliance with the Clean Water Act and improve water quality in the San Joaquin River.
In a 2008 audit of the port's stormwater management and control systems, EPA and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board found deficiencies with the permit program concerning construction and industrial oversight, municipal operations, standard development, and toxicity monitoring. Discharges from the port’s sewer system flow directly or indirectly to the San Joaquin River.
Under the agreement, the port is to improve its toxicity testing program, oversight of industrial tenants and construction sites, and management practices for pesticide storage, catch basins, sumps, stormwater retention basins, and street sweeping by July 1, 2010.
Through its Ports Initiative, EPA’s Pacific Southwest regional office is evaluating stormwater management at various ports. This effort involves both individual inspections of port tenants and audits of the municipal stormwater programs implemented by the ports.