Stormwater is the number one source of urban pollution – it runs off of paved surfaces like parking lots, sidewalks, and streets when it rains, carrying toxins into nearby waterways. In California, industrial facilities and local governments are required to have stormwater permits, which aim to control stormwater pollution that runs off of sites like manufacturing plants, landfills, hazardous waste facilities, larger sewage and wastewater plants, recycling facilities, and oil and gas facilities.
Unfortunately, there is a large gap in California’s stormwater management program. Commercial facilities are currently unregulated for stormwater pollution, leaving an unfair playing field. Commercial facilities amass pollution from every car that uses their parking lots and are major contributors of pollutants such as heavy metals (copper, zinc, lead), oil, and grease. In Los Angeles, commercial facilities represent 25% of the total land use but contribute over 80% of the toxic metal pollution in local waters.
Since commercial facilities are not regulated under the Clean Water Act, their pollution unfairly becomes the responsibility of local cities and counties. Research has found that local governments spend between $18–$46 per household for stormwater permit compliance.
To help fill this gap, CCKA has partnered with Assemblymember Papan to introduce Assembly Bill (AB) 1313. AB 1313 would require the development of a statewide Commercial Stormwater Permit to regulate commercial properties that are large enough to be a significant contributor of pollution (ex: Costco parking lots, malls, Amazon fulfillment centers). Importantly, the bill would require commercial properties to address their contribution of pollution, and incentivize compliance with their stormwater permit through building green space on-site or by helping to fund a regional green space that would capture and infiltrate the community’s stormwater runoff and treat it as a resource instead of a liability.
Including commercial properties as part of California’s stormwater program shifts the legal responsibility and cost of cleanup away from local governments and industrial facilities, balancing liability between all parties.
AB 1313 heads to its first legislative committee later this month. Stay tuned as the bill continues its way through the legislature.
Photo: Thomas Hawk
Executive Director Sean Bothwell leads CCKA’s initiatives to fight for swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters for all Californians.
