California Code of Regulations
Title 23 - Waters
Division 3 - State Water Resources Control Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards
Chapter 23 - Water Quality Control Plans
Section 3007 - Amendments to the California Ocean Plan Adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board on October 16, 2012

(1) Implementation of State Water Board Resolutions 2010-0057 and 2011-0013 State Water Quality Protection Areas and State Marine Protected Areas. Establish a second category of State Water Quality Protection Areas (SWQPAs) that are less restrictive than the provisions associated with existing SWQPA -- Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) while providing a higher level of protection than the Ocean Plan provisions that apply to all ocean waters of the state. This new category is identified as SWQPAs -- General Protection (GP). This includes provisions for siting and designation of SWQPAs -- GP in State Marine Parks and State Marine Conservation Areas and provisions and prohibitions that protect water quality in SWQPAs -- GP from certain types of existing and future point and nonpoint discharges while allowing some low threat discharges to continue without additional conditions.

(2) Model Monitoring. Amend Appendix III of the Ocean Plan to include a question-driven model ocean discharge monitoring approach, encouraging regional monitoring and providing consistency through a monitoring framework for point source, storm water and nonpoint source discharges to ocean waters throughout the state.

(3) Control of Commercial Vessel Discharges and Invasive Species. Amend the Ocean Plan to be applicable to vessel discharges, to create consistency with the state and federal laws and regulation, and to provide direction to dischargers and regulators to interpret, implement and comply with the various laws and regulations.

(4) Non-Substantive Administrative Changes. Provide updates related to location of Marine Protected Areas, outfall locations, and minor grammatical and editorial changes.