Today, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) released for public comment its Draft Industrial Storm Water Permit and supporting documents. This is the fourth (and likely final) version of the Draft Industrial Storm Water Permit, which is designed to replace the existing Industrial Storm Water Permit issued in 1997.

The Draft Industrial Storm Water permit is relevant to the beverage industry because it will affect currently regulated California based breweries, wineries and distilleries, and also will require previously unregulated breweries, wineries and distilleries to either comply with the permit or show that storm water does not come into contact with their industrial activities and materials.

The public comment period on the Draft permit runs until Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at 12:00 noon. The State Board will only accept and consider “written and oral comments that are limited to the identified proposed revisions to the Final Draft Industrial General Permit made since July 19, 2013.” (Notice of Adoption Meeting and Notice of Availability of Draft Documents (Feb. 19, 2014).)

The Draft Industrial Storm Water permit is slated for adoption at the April 1, 2014, State Board hearing. If adopted on April 1st, the Draft Industrial Storm Water permit will be effective on July 1, 2015, giving all California wineries, breweries and distilleries a little over a year to come into compliance.

Stoel Rives attorneys are analyzing the Draft Industrial Storm Water permit, and future posts will report on the public comments submitted as well as discuss potential problems or concerns with the draft permit.

For more information, please contact Missy Foster at mafoster@stoel.com or (916) 319-4673 or Ryan Waterman at rrwaterman@stoel.com or (858) 794-4114, or your Stoel Rives relationship partner.

Photo of Chris Hermann Chris Hermann

Chris Hermann is the founding chair of Stoel Rives’ Brewery, Winery, and Distillery group and a former co-chair of the firm’s Beverage and Hospitality group. He has worked with Northwest breweries, wineries, vineyards, and distilleries for many years. Chris has particular experience with…

Chris Hermann is the founding chair of Stoel Rives’ Brewery, Winery, and Distillery group and a former co-chair of the firm’s Beverage and Hospitality group. He has worked with Northwest breweries, wineries, vineyards, and distilleries for many years. Chris has particular experience with transactions involving the purchase, sale, and LLC formation of breweries, wineries, vineyards, and distilleries, preparing and prosecuting trademark applications, obtaining water rights and land use permits and approvals, advising owners on employment and termination agreements, and drafting and negotiating grape purchase contracts, vineyard leases and custom crush, joint proprietorship, vineyard development and maintenance, and bottling and distribution agreements. Since 2013, Chris has been listed by Chambers USA as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Nationwide) in the Food & Beverages: Alcohol practice area.

Click here for Chris Hermann’s full bio.