A Beacon Economics report revealed that proposed stormwater rules could generate a cost of $10.8 billion for San Bernardino County municipalities.
The proposed regulations for San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties will be discussed by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board at a Water Board workshop at Cypress City Hall at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.
The State Water Board is one of six environmental entities operating under the authority of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Impacting 16 cities
An analysis by Beacon Economics shows that proposed revisions to stormwater regulations could impose billions in costs on San Bernardino County and 16 of its cities over the next 20 years, county officials said.
The impacted cities include Big Bear Lake, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Upland and Yucaipa.
The revision would create “an unprecedented financial burden while impeding new road construction, potentially increasing housing costs and disproportionately impacting disadvantaged communities,” the report said.