(a) The state board shall adopt sediment quality objectives pursuant to the workplan submitted pursuant to Section 13392.6.

(b) The state board shall adopt the sediment quality objectives pursuant to the procedures established by this division for adopting or amending water quality control plans. The sediment quality objectives shall be based on scientific information, including, but not limited to, chemical monitoring, bioassays, or established modeling procedures, and shall provide adequate protection for the most sensitive aquatic organisms. The state board shall base the sediment quality objectives on a health risk assessment if there is a potential for exposure of humans to pollutants through the food chain to edible fish, shellfish, or wildlife.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), in adopting sediment quality objectives pursuant to this section, the state board shall consider the federal sediment criteria for toxic pollutants that are being prepared, or that have been adopted, by the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 1314 of Title 33 of the United States Code.

(2) If federal sediment criteria have been adopted, the state board shall review the federal sediment criteria and determine if the criteria meet the requirements of this section. If the state board determines that a federal sediment criterion meets the requirements of this section, the state board shall adopt the criterion as a sediment quality objective pursuant to this section. If the state board determines that a federal sediment criterion fails to meet the requirements of this section, the state board shall adopt a sediment quality objective that meets the requirements of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1157, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1994.)