| #Q001 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Compliance with California Water Code and Part 503 | wastewater, agricultural water, other | In California, the beneficial reuse of treated municipal sewage sludge (a.k.a. biosolids) generally must comply with the California Water Code in addition to meeting the requirements specified in Part 503 in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations. | Applies to the beneficial reuse of treated municipal sewage sludge (biosolids) | high |
| #Q002 | administrative | operational | recommended | Contact Appropriate Regional Board for Coverage | wastewater, agricultural water | Persons interested in seeking coverage under the General Order should contact the appropriate Regional Water Quality Control Board. | When interested in seeking coverage under the General Order | high |
| #Q003 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Authorization Prerequisites for Land Application | wastewater, agricultural water, other | Only applicants who submit a complete Notice of Intent(NOI), appropriate application fee, and are issued a Notice of Applicability by the executive officer of the appropriate Regional Water Quality Control Board are authorized to land apply biosolids at an agricultural, horticultural, silvicultural, or land reclamation site as a soil amendment under the General Order. | Required to land apply biosolids as a soil amendment under the General Order | high |
| #Q004 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Obtain Additional Permits and Authorizations | wastewater, other | It is the responsibility of all interested parties to make appropriate inquiries and to obtain any additional federal or local governmental agency permits or authorizations prior to the application of biosolids at each site. | Prior to the application of biosolids at each site | high |
| #Q005 | operational | operational | mandatory | Develop ADM Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) | wastewater | To receive immediate regulatory coverage, Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) that receive anaerobically digestible material (ADM) for co-digestion must develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) that ensure safe operation of the new ADM receiving and digestion system. | Applies to POTWs seeking immediate regulatory coverage for receiving ADM for co-digestion | high |
| #Q006 | operational | operational | mandatory | Required Contents for ADM SOPs | wastewater | The SOP shall include a spill response and contingency plan, vector and odor control, avoidance of introduction of any materials that could cause upset of the treatment process, and operation and maintenance procedures. | Required for the ADM standard operating procedures | high |
| #Q007 | corrective_action | operational | mandatory | Spill Response and Contingency Plan Procedures | wastewater | The spill response and contingency plan must outline procedures for spill containment, recovery, and cleanup procedures. | Required within the spill response and contingency plan | high |
| #Q008 | operational | operational | mandatory | Update O&M Manuals for ADM Systems | wastewater | Operations and maintenance (O&M) manuals shall be updated with instructions to properly operate and maintain the system. | Applies to POTWs receiving ADM | high |
| #Q009 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Submit Notification Letter for ADM Co-digestion | wastewater | In addition, POTWs wishing to receive regulatory coverage must submit a notification letter to the appropriate Regional Water Quality Control Board. | Required for POTWs wishing to receive regulatory coverage for ADM | high |
| #Q010 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Tailor Notification Letter to Engaged Activity | wastewater | The notification letter template must be tailored to describe the activity in which you are engaged. | Applies when preparing the notification letter | high |
| #Q011 | reporting | operational | unknown | Retain Copy of Notification Letter and Incorporate SOPs | wastewater | Please retain a copy of the letter on file and incorporate the SOPs into your training program and your Operations and Maintenance Manual. | Post-submission of notification letter | medium |
| #Q012 | prohibition | reporting | recommended | Prohibition on Submitting SOPs with Notification Letter | wastewater | The SOPs should not be submitted with the notification letter. | When submitting the notification letter to the Regional Water Quality Control Board | high |
| #Q013 | administrative | operational | mandatory | NPDES Permit Requirement for Point Source Discharges | wastewater | If you discharge pollutants from a point source to a water of the United States you need an NPDES permit. | discharge of pollutants from a point source to a water of the United States | high |
| #Q014 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Regional Water Board Program Manager Coordination | wastewater | Using the map, determine where your discharge will occur and contact the appropriate Regional Water Board NPDES Program Manager for that region. | | high |
| #Q015 | operational | operational | mandatory | Regional Water Board Compliance and Enforcement | wastewater | Regional Water Boards ensure compliance with their permits through compliance inspections, monitoring report reviews, and enforce actions, if necessary. | Applicable to Regional Water Boards in the implementation of the NPDES Program | high |
| #Q016 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Annual Fee Adjustment Requirement | wastewater | The California Water Code requires the State Water Board to adjust the fees each fiscal year to conform with the revenue levels set forth in the California Budget Act. | Performed each fiscal year | high |
| #Q017 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Water Boards Mandate for Water Quality Plans and WDRs | wastewater | It is the responsibility of the Water Boards to preserve and enhance the quality of the state's waters through the development of water quality control plans and the issuance of (WDRs. | | high |
| #Q018 | administrative | operational | mandatory | State Water Board Statewide Policy and Oversight Duties | wastewater | The State Water Board establishes statewide plans, policies, and regulations that help protect and restore the water quality in California. The State Water Board also oversees the implementation of the NPDES Program throughout the state. As such, it coordinates with and supports Regional Water Board efforts, and reviews Regional Water Board actions. | | high |
| #Q019 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Regional Water Board Jurisdictional Decisions | wastewater | Each Regional Water Board makes critical water quality decisions for its region. | | high |
| #Q020 | administrative | operational | guidance | Permit Fee Schedule Verification | wastewater | For NPDES Permit Fee information please check this Fee Schedule link and see the corresponding section for each type of NPDES permit. | | high |
| #Q021 | administrative | operational | mandatory | CDFA Spray Application Permit Coverage | agricultural water, aquatic life | The Spray Applications Permit covers the point source discharge of biological and residual chemical pesticides to waters of the U.S. resulting from spray applications by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. | Point source discharge of biological and residual chemical pesticides to waters of the U.S. by CDFA | high |
| #Q022 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Tribal Land Discharge Permit Exclusion | other | The permit does not cover California Department of Food and Agriculture discharges on tribal lands which are regulated by a federal permit. | California Department of Food and Agriculture discharges on tribal lands | high |