Report 2012-120 Recommendation 3 Responses

Report 2012-120: State Water Resources Control Board: It Should Ensure a More Consistent Administration of the Water Quality Certification Program (Release Date: June 2013)

Recommendation #3 To: Water Resources Control Board

To ensure that applicants pay the correct fee amounts for the certification program, the state water board should direct North Coast as well as the other regional water boards to verify the accuracy of fees that applicants submit to them.

1-Year Agency Response

The Executive director issued a formal written memorandum directing the regional board to verify the accuracy of fees that applicants submit. In addition, the State Board staff application review checklist noted in the response to recommendation 2 includes checking fees.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

UNDERWAY

Staff is developing a formal written memorandum providing direction on a process for verifying the project dredge or fill discharge to ensure that the fee paid is appropriate and then adjust the fee if needed. In addition, the State Board staff application review checklist noted in the response to recommendation 2 includes checking fees.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

COMPLETE

Direction was given to the Regional Boards at the Management Coordinating Committee that staff should check that fees paid match the project description.

UNDERWAY

The State Board Executive Director will issue additional direction as a formal written memorandum signed by the director providing direction on a process for verifying the project dredge or fill discharge to make sure that the fee paid was appropriate and then adjusting the fee if needed. The State Board staff application review checklist noted in the response to Recommendation 1 includes checking fees.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

The documentation that the state water board provided does not specifically direct the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (North Coast) or the other regional boards to review the accuracy of fees that applicants submit to them. As it indicates in its response, the state water board has additional action to take to fully address the recommendation.

All Recommendations in 2012-120

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.