San Francisco Estuary Partnership’s Role

The Estuary Partnership provides third-party oversight for selected SEPs, ensuring that projects are implemented in a timely and effective manner consistent with the requirements of the ACL order. The Estuary Partnership’s oversight duties include but are not limited to:

• Assisting with identifying potential projects and maintain a list of potential projects
• Assisting with drafting SEP deliverables and milestones for ACL orders
• Reviewing SEP quarterly reports, project milestones, and other deliverables
• Evaluating SEP progress and whether milestones are achieved
• Communicating to Regional Water Board any significant delays or threats to project completion
• Assisting Regional Water Board and discharger with required documentation such as SEP Completion Reports, Certifications of Completion, or Satisfaction letters
• Updating and maintaining records in California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) and Electronic Content Management (ECM)
• Managing communications and fielding inquiries from discharger and involved parties

Note: Estuary Partnership staff do not conduct and may not be involved in any portion of enforcement actions, collection of fines or fees, or direct responses to citizen complaints beyond collecting information from submitted deliverables.

What kinds of projects can become an SEP?

Dischargers propose SEPs to the Water Board, and often make use of a separate entity to implement the project. In order to be approved, a proposed SEP must:

• Comply with the 2017 State Water Board’s Policy on Supplemental Environmental Projects;
• Further the enforcement goals and other important policies of the Water Boards;
• Have a nexus to the location or nature of the violation; and
• Have environmental value above and beyond the otherwise applicable discharger obligations.

Note: All SEPs are subject to oversight by the Water Boards.

What is the process for establishing an SEP?

A discharger proposes to direct up to 50 percent of a monetary assessment toward the completion of an acceptable SEP. The San Francisco Estuary Partnership maintains a list of potential projects for consideration and provides assistance to the Regional Water Board and dischargers in identifying potential projects.

After a project has been proposed, Regional Water Board Enforcement staff (and other staff as necessary) review the scope to ensure it meets all applicable requirements. Upon mutual agreement between all parties, Enforcement staff incorporate the SEP (i.e., project description, responsibilities, deliverables, and milestones) into the ACL order. There should be a high level of certainty that the project can be completed during the specified timeframe because there are typically no changes allowed once an ACL order is finalized. An exception to this is that ACL orders typically allow for a time extension under certain circumstances pending Water Board approval.

Dischargers: Considering Undertaking an SEP? Use This List of Potential Projects

Dischargers considering an SEP in partial restitution of a water quality violation may consult the Potential Projects List maintained by the Estuary Partnership. The list can be downloaded here.

If you’re considering any of these projects and would like further information, please contact us.

Project Implementers: How to Get Your Project Considered for an SEP

SEP opportunities arise when: 1) a violation or unauthorized discharge occurs; 2) the Water Board successfully pursues enforcement action, and 3) the discharger elects to resolve the enforcement action in part through an SEP rather than paying the full ACL liability, or fine. Because the timing, funding, and approval for an SEP is contingent on these factors, there is no way to know whether or when an SEP may be selected.

In order to minimize the effort involved for project proponents, we ask for a simple concept proposal initially. If your project is selected by a discharger for consideration, you will be asked to develop a broader proposal including a detailed project description, budget, milestones, description of benefit, and performance measures. The full proposal must demonstrate consistency with the State Water Board’s SEP Policy.

SEPs are generally considered for projects exceeding $20,000. There is no upper limit; however, most funded projects fall in the $100,000-$250,000 range.

To submit a project concept, please download the form here. If you have questions, please contact us.

Ongoing Projects