Workshop to Focus on Runoff Permit

State water officials will hold a public workshop June 1 to discuss a five-year renewal of the urban runoff discharge permit for Orange County and 25 of its cities.

The most contentious changes will involve stronger regulations of runoff management from new projects that include any of the following: developments of at least 10 homes; 100,000 square feet of commercial development; automotive repair shops; restaurants bigger than 5,000 square feet; hillside developments on more than 5,000 square feet; developments of more than 2,500 square feet of impervious surface near environmentally sensitive areas; parking lots of more than 5,000 square feet; and gas stations.

The earliest that the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board could vote on permit changes is during its July 20 meeting. The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, which has jurisdiction over south Orange County and its cities, is expected to make a similar permit modification by the end of the year.