Review of California´s Ocean Plan

The State Water Resources Control Board is conducting a review of its Ocean Plan, which contains policies, guidelines, and water quality criteria to protect beneficial uses of ocean waters. Issues under review include: (a) definition of terms such as "degraded marine life" and "indigenous marine community"; (b) the ban on marine sludge disposal; (c) regulation of toxic chemicals by mass emission rate vs. concentration; (d) recommendations for numerical standards for bacteria, metals, synthetic organic chemicals, floatables, grease, and oil; (e) adoption of standards for chemicals not previously listed; (f) rationale for 75% removal of suspended solids; and, (g) rationale for considering the "zone of initial diltuion" as part of the waste treatment process.