U.S. EPA issues wastewater permit to Dry Creek Rancheria

SAN FRANCISCO – On April 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a wastewater discharge permit to the Dry Creek Rancheria in Sonoma County, near Geyserville, California.

The permit, issued under the Clean Water Act’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit program, allows Dry Creek Rancheria to discharge treated wastewater into a tributary of the Russian River. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources, such as pipes or other man-made devices that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States.

The permit incorporates discharge limits to meet the EPA’s national standards and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board standards, which prohibit discharge to the Russian River from May 15 to September 30 each year and require extensive wastewater monitoring to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act.

“Dry Creek Rancheria’s permit meets our federal standard for wastewater discharge as well as the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s requirements,” said Alexis Strauss, Director of the Water Division for the Pacific Southwest region. “We are committed to protecting water quality and will work with Dry Creek Rancheria to ensure compliance with permit conditions.”

The permit was issued following the agency’s public comment period and public workshop. As a result of significant public interest, the EPA extended the normal comment period to over 90 days and received written and oral comments from over 60 citizens and groups that addressed over 75 separate issues related to the proposed permit. The EPA worked with stakeholders and tribal leadership to address public concerns and has prepared a formal response to comments document.

The final permit, statement of basis and written copies of all comments are available for review online at: http://www.epa.gov/region09/water/npdes/permits.html

For more information on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program, go to: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/