The Contra Costa Clean Water Program (the “CCCWP”) consists of Contra Costa County, its 19 incorporated cities/towns, and the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (referred to collectively as “Permittees”). The CCCWP was established in 1991 through a Program Agreement in response to the 1987 amendments to the federal Clean Water Act (“CWA”), which established a framework for regulating municipal stormwater discharges under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) Permit Program. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency published final rules implementing the 1987 CWA amendments in November 1990. The rules mandate that Permittees obtain and implement stormwater permits designed to reduce and eliminate the discharge of pollutants into and from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems they own and operate. Through the CCCWP, Permittees conduct many of the mandated activities collectively (referred to as “Group Activities”), such as water quality monitoring, special studies, public education and outreach. The roles and responsibilities of the CCCWP and Permittees are outlined in the Program Agreement, which was last updated and adopted by all Permittees in June 2010.  
  
The CCCWP Permittees are requesting to retain Arini Geographics LLC to assist CCCWP with GIS administration, system design and modification, technical assistance and training quality assurance and control to meet compliance with the NPDES Permit.

If this Contract with Arini Geographics LLC is not approved, the CCCWP would not be able to fulfill the permit mandates, and municipalities could be found in non-compliance with the NPDES permits issued by the Water Boards. Fines totaling $10,000 per day and $10 per gallon of stormwater discharge could potentially be imposed.