Board authorizes Santa Ana regional monitoring program using SEP funds administered by SCCWRP
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Summary
The board approved a resolution allowing the Santa Ana regional board to aggregate SEP/MMP funds and authorize Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) to administer two regional monitoring programs to improve long‑term ambient monitoring across coastal and watershed systems.
The State Water Resources Control Board voted to authorize the use of Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) funds to support two regional monitoring programs in the Santa Ana region administered by the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP).
Paul Ciccarelli of the Office of Enforcement introduced the resolution and said the SEP program permits settling parties to fund environmentally beneficial projects to offset penalties. Chuck Griffin, senior water resources control engineer for the Santa Ana Regional Water Board, told the board the proposal would allow aggregation of smaller Mandatory Minimum Penalty (MMP) amounts and discretionary liabilities to fund region‑wide monitoring that would otherwise be difficult to realize at the local level.
Griffin said SCCWRP would administer funds to support the Southern California Bight regional monitoring program and the Southern California Stormwater Coalition regional watershed monitoring program. The resolution similarly authorizes exceptions — including allowing aggregation of smaller penalty amounts to support a viable monitoring project and providing limited administrative flexibilities appropriate to a regional monitoring model — while preserving core SEP policy requirements (nexus, project completion within 36 months, reporting and accountability). If aggregated funds are not expended within the authorized period, they would revert to the statutory account.
Board members expressed support for strengthening regional ambient monitoring as the necessary data backbone for permitting and program decisions. Vice Chair D'Adamo moved adoption. After a roll‑call vote the board adopted the resolution unanimously.
Why it matters: Regional monitoring programs provide systematic, long‑term data that are foundational for permit decisions, trend analysis and adaptive management. The resolution creates a pathway to turn smaller penalty collections into sustained regional monitoring investments rather than leaving them unspent or spent piecemeal.
Vote: Motion to adopt made and seconded; Vice Chair D'Adamo, Board members Morgan and Firestone, and Chair Esquivel voted 'Aye.'
