Administrative Procedure Act: State Water Resources Control Board and California regional water quality control boards.

Existing law establishes the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards and authorizes them to adopt regulations to carry out their powers and duties. Existing law generally requires state agencies to adopt regulations in accordance with prescribed procedures and requirements, and requires the Office of Administrative Law to review adopted regulations and to make specified determinations. However, existing law grants to the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards various exemptions to the above requirements, including an exemption for the adoption of regulations for the issuance, denial, or revocation of specified waste discharge requirements and permits. This bill would provide that the exemption for the adoption of regulations for the issuance, denial, or revocation of specified waste discharge requirements and permits shall not apply to any general permits or waivers issued under state law or the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, as defined, thereby requiring the State Water Resources Control Board and the California regional water quality control boards to comply with provisions that require the adoption of regulations under those circumstances.