Water quality: state certification.

Assembly Member Soria's water quality certification measure establishes new procedural requirements for hydroelectric facility licensing while maintaining the State Water Resources Control Board's role as California's primary water pollution control authority. The legislation requires the state board to conduct public hearings at least 21 days before acting on certification applications for hydroelectric facility operations and prohibits delegation of certification authority for these facilities.

The bill preserves the state board's ability to issue certifications before completing environmental reviews when waiting could risk waiver of state certification authority under federal law. In such cases, the board retains power to modify certifications after providing public notice and comment opportunities. This provision allows the board to incorporate measures addressing environmental impacts identified through subsequent review while meeting federal timeline requirements.

These changes apply specifically to hydroelectric facility certifications within the existing framework of state and federal water quality laws, including the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. The state board continues to serve as the designated agency for implementing federal water quality programs and issuing certifications that activities under its jurisdiction meet applicable federal and state requirements.