The opinion
Filed 12/10/20
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
MALAGA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT,
F075868
Plaintiff and Appellant,
(Super. Ct. No. MCV071280)
v.
STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL OPINION
BOARD et al.,
Defendants and Respondents.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Madera County. James E.
Oakley, Judge.
Costanzo & Associates and Neal E. Costanzo for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Robert W. Byrne, Assistant Attorney General,
Eric M. Katz and Adam L. Levitan, Deputy Attorneys General, for Defendants and
Respondents.
-ooOoo-
This is one of several cases before this court involving disputes between the
Malaga County Water District (Malaga) and the agencies involved in issuing and
enforcing the permits necessary for Malaga to operate its waste treatment facility. In this
case, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Quality Board)
imposed penalties totaling $78,0001 on Malaga for violating the water discharge
requirements of its permit. Through an administrative writ review, Malaga contends
these penalties were inappropriately imposed for several reasons. For the reasons set
forth below, we agree with Malaga that laches is a proper defense in administrative
sanctions proceedings, and that the Water Quality Board utilized a void underground
regulation when it issued the “Hearing Procedure for Administrative Civil Liability
Complaint R5-2013-0527” (Hearing Procedure) in this case. (Some capitalization
omitted.) The first issue may only affect some of the penalties imposed by the Water
Quality Board while the second may require a full rehearing. The trial court previously
concluded that laches was not a defense and the Hearing Procedure was not an
underground regulation. We therefore reverse the trial court’s order and remand the
matter to the trial court to determine whether a writ should issue based on one or both of
Malaga’s right to present a laches defense and the Water Quality Board’s use of a void
underground regulation via the Hearing Procedure. In all other respects, we affirm the
trial court’s order.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
This case follows a determination by the Water Quality Board that Malaga had
violated certain wastewater discharge requirements and an accompanying $78,000 total
penalty. The formal administrative proceedings began on May 1, 2013, with the filing of
an administrative civil liability complaint (complaint). Attached to the complaint was a
list summarizing the purported violations, created by Water Quality Board staff members,
reflecting several violations occurring between 2007 and 2011.
These violations were initially identified to Malaga through a July 8, 2010 notice
of violation and a subsequent November 5, 2010 revised notice of violation. A new
notice of violation and draft record of violations issued December 9, 2011, identifying
1 During these proceedings, the total penalty was modified to $75,000.
2.
alleged violations occurring between March 14, 2008, and October 30, 2011. The
complaint also stated that Malaga had additional violations between February 1, 2004,
and March 13, 2008, that were subject to mandatory minimum penalties. Malaga
contends that it responded to each of the notices of violation at issue in this case, but that
its responses did not lead to further dialog. It also notes that early violations occurring
between 2008 and 2010 were purportedly addressed and suspended prior to these notices,
provided Malaga completed certain compliance projects.
At some point prior to the administrative hearing, Malaga was provided with the
Hearing Procedure that would be utilized. Malaga claims the document was not timely
provided, being received by Malaga on May 6, 2013, and counsel on May 16, 2013,
despite having deadlines of May 10, 2013, for objections. The document further limited
the time to present to 30 minutes for each side and stated that all evidence other than
witness testimony, all witness lists, and all legal and technical arguments must be
submitted in advance of the hearing to the Prosecution Team or the Advisory Team.
Malaga objected to the Hearing Procedure. Responses to these objections
suggested the Hearing Procedure was adopted in 2012 by the chairman of Water Quality
Board, but that various deadlines may have been set by the Prosecution Team based on
formulas provided by the Water Quality Board. A senior counsel on the Advisory Team,
David Coupe, provided an email that summarized prior rulings by the chairman stating
the procedures were appropriate.
Malaga also objected to the Prosecution Team submitting any evidence in the
case, claiming it was irrelevant because the proceedings were barred by laches. Coupe’s
email summarized a ruling that the evidence was not irrelevant under the statutory
scheme, but it also modified the Hearing Procedure to allow for an additional 10 minutes
per side to argue the laches issue.
The administrative hearing occurred on July 25, 2013. At that hearing, Malaga
raised objections to Coupe’s opinions and the Hearing Procedure. These objections were
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overruled by the Chairman of the Water Quality Board, Dr. Karl Longley. Malaga also
objected to several filings and a prior State Water Resources Control Board (State Water
Board) decision in an unrelated case that was submitted for review. These objections
were also overruled.
With respect to the evidence presented, the Prosecution Team primarily relied
upon Lonnie Wass. Wass provided a summary of the known violations compiled by
Water Quality Board staff from Malaga’s self-monitoring reports, provided his opinion
on why certain violations required imposition of mandatory minimum penalties, and
explained why the total violation penalty recommendation was $78,000. Malaga made
objections to the testimony, which were overruled by Chairman Longley. A later motion
to strike Wass’s testimony was also overruled by Chairman Longley.
Malaga then cross-examined Wass on his testimony. Wass confirmed that he
could not identify specific documents supporting his summary but was relying on staff
efforts to compile the violations from Malaga’s self-monitoring reports. As Malaga’s
cross-examination continued, the Prosecution Team raised objections. These were
generally, but not universally, sustained by Chairman Longley, a point Malaga contends
affected its opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
Malaga’s president, Charles Garabedian, testified on behalf of the company. He
testified that due to the delay in proceedings, Malaga had lost the ability to determine
who had caused the effluent violations and therefore could not shift the cost of the
penalties to the polluter. He further testified that the proposed penalty was around
15 percent of Malaga’s budget, and that Malaga could not afford to pay such a penalty.
Malaga claims that it was precluded from presenting additional evidence about its
claimed inability to pay, in part because the Water Quality Board voted to approve an
opinion Coupe provided that a laches defense was not valid.
The Water Quality Board ultimately imposed the recommended $78,000 penalty
without granting any of the relief options available when penalties are issued to rural
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wastewater treatment facilities serving small communities. The order entered parroted
the language of the complaint, with additional language rejecting the laches claim.
Malaga petitioned the State Water Board for review of this order. This petition was
dismissed by the executive director of the State Water Board for failing “to raise
substantial issues that are appropriate for review by the State Water [] Board.” Malaga
then filed a petition for writ of administrative mandamus pursuant to Code of Civil
Procedure section 1094.5. The trial court concluded that laches was not a defense to the
assertions brought by the Water Quality Board, and otherwise concluded no substantive
or procedural errors arose in the proceedings. This appeal timely followed.
DISCUSSION
Malaga’s brief identifies three main contentions and includes several subparts,
some of which are well defined and some of which are not. At the highest level, Malaga
first contends the trial court wrongly concluded that laches is not a defense in the
underlying administrative proceedings. Further, Malaga argues that laches should arise
after a one-year delay in prosecution, and, under that period, all claims brought against
Malaga were improper. Next, Malaga contends the Water Quality Board violated the
Administrative Procedure Act (APA; Gov. Code, § 11340 et seq.) in multiple ways, with
the result being that Malaga did not receive a fair trial. Finally, Malaga contends that
only hearsay evidence was used to support the Water Quality Board’s conclusion.
Malaga argues that relying on hearsay evidence in this context is improper and precludes
the Water Quality Board from finding any violations.
Standard of Review
Decisions made by the Water Quality Board or the State Water Board may be
reviewed by way of a writ of mandate. (Wat. Code, § 13330, subds. (a), (b).)2 These
writ proceedings are governed by Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5. (Wat. Code,
2 Undesignated statutory references are to the Water Code.
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§ 13330, subd. (e).) In such proceedings, the trial court’s review “shall extend to the
questions whether the respondent has proceeded without, or in excess of, jurisdiction;
whether there was a fair trial; and whether there was any prejudicial abuse of discretion.”
(Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5, subd. (b).) An abuse of discretion can occur three different
ways: (1) “the respondent has not proceeded in the manner required by law,” (2) the
“decision is not supported by the findings,” or (3) “the findings are not supported by the
evidence.” (Ibid.)
The primary issue in this appeal is Malaga’s contention that the Water Quality
Board and trial court wrongly determined, as a matter of law, that laches is not a defense
to the administrative proceedings at issue. As this determination is purely legal in nature,
we utilize a de novo review. (See Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian v. Kent (2019)
36 Cal.App.5th 413, 421 [“ ‘If a question of law is presented, we undertake a de novo
review of the [agency’s] ruling’ ”]; Hoitt v. Department of Rehabilitation (2012)
207 Cal.App.4th 513, 522 [“Issues of law raised in a petition for a writ of administrative
mandate, including the interpretation of applicable statutes or regulations, are for the
courts to resolve de novo”].)
Malaga also contends, identifying various issues, that it did not receive a fair trial
in its administrative proceedings. We also “ ‘review the fairness of the administrative
proceeding de novo.’ (Doe v. University of Southern California, [(2018)] 28 Cal.App.5th
[26,] 34; see Doe v. University of Southern California (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 221, 239
[‘ “challenge to the procedural fairness of the administrative hearing is reviewed de novo
on appeal because the ultimate determination of procedural fairness amounts to a
question of law” ’].) Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5, subdivision (b)’s
‘requirement of a “ ‘fair trial’ ” means that there must have been “a fair administrative
hearing.” ’ (Gonzalez v. Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services (2014)
223 Cal.App.4th 72, 96.)” (Lateef v. City of Madera (2020) 45 Cal.App.5th 245, 252.)
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Finally, Malaga argues there was insufficient evidence to support the penalties
issued. Central to this contention is the assertion that the Water Quality Board relied
exclusively on hearsay evidence to reach its conclusion. “In determining whether
administrative findings are supported by the evidence, the superior court applies one of
two tests: (1) independent judgment or (2) substantial evidence. (§ 1094.5, subd. (c).)
The appropriate test depends on the nature of the right affected by the agency’s action or
decision .…” (Nathan G. v. Clovis Unified School Dist. (2014) 224 Cal.App.4th 1393,
1403.) “Courts decide whether an administrative decision substantially affects a
fundamental vested right on a case-by-case basis.… ‘ “The ultimate question … is
whether the affected right is deemed to be of sufficient significance to preclude its
extinction or abridgement by a body lacking judicial power.” ’ ” (Nathan G., at p. 1404,
italics omitted.)
Malaga argues for an independent judgment review, contending a “permit gives
rise to a fundamental vested right to operate under the permit,” and that any
administrative decision affecting the permit thus requires an independent review. We do
not agree. As the State Water Board points out, there can be no vested right to pollute the
waterways, and the statutory scheme appears to specifically preclude an independent
review for writ proceedings following a decision or order issued under section 13323.
(§§ 13263, subd. (g) [“No discharge of waste into the waters of the state, whether or not
the discharge is made pursuant to waste discharge requirements, shall create a vested
right to continue the discharge. All discharges of waste into waters of the state are
privileges, not rights”], 13330, subd. (e) [“Except as provided in this section,
Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall govern proceedings for which
petitions are filed pursuant to this section. For the purposes of subdivision (c) of
Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the court shall exercise its independent
judgment on the evidence in any case involving the judicial review of a decision or order
of the state board issued under Section 13320, or a decision or order of a regional board
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for which the state board denies review under Section 13320, other than a decision or
order issued under Section 13323”].) Moreover, the case law shows that other, more
fundamental, water rights are subject to the substantial evidence review when violated.
(See Stanford Vina Ranch Irrigation Co. v. State of California (2020) 50 Cal.App.5th
976, 1005 [curtailment orders affecting pre-1914 riparian water rights do not affect
fundamental rights and are thus subject to substantial evidence review].) Accordingly,
we review the entire record in this case to determine whether substantial evidence
supports the Water Quality Board’s decision. (50 Cal.App.5th at p. 1006.)
Laches is an Equitable Defense to Violations of Section 13385
The primary dispute in this case is whether laches is an equitable defense to
administrative penalties imposed by the State Water Board or a regional board. Both the
Water Quality Board and the trial court concluded that, as a matter of statutory
interpretation, laches could not apply to administrative proceedings pursued under
section 13385. Malaga argues this conclusion is wrong. As this issue is a matter of law
involving statutory interpretation, our review is de novo. (Hoag Memorial Hospital
Presbyterian v. Kent, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at p. 421.) In this portion of the opinion, we
conclude laches is an equitable defense to penalties imposed under section 13385, and
review what time period, if any, may create a presumption of laches in administrative
proceedings under this section.
Overview of laches
Laches is an equitable principle that bars certain claims or proceedings based on a
combination of unreasonable delay in pursuing the claims and prejudice based on that
delay. It is “ ‘ “designed to promote justice by preventing surprises through the revival of
claims that have been allowed to slumber until evidence has been lost, memories have
faded, and witnesses have disappeared. The theory is that even if one has a just claim it
is unjust not to put the adversary on notice to defend within the period of limitation and
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that the right to be free of stale claims in time comes to prevail over the right to prosecute
them.” ’ ” (Robert J. v. Catherine D. (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 1500, 1521.)
This principle “has been made applicable to quasi adjudicative proceedings as a
common law policy pursuant to the ‘inherent power [of courts] independent of statutory
provisions to dismiss an action on motion of the defendant where it is not diligently
prosecuted.’ ” (Brown v. State Personnel Bd. (1985) 166 Cal.App.3d 1151, 1158
(Brown).) Thus, in “ ‘appropriate circumstances, the defense of laches may operate as a
bar to a claim by a public administrative agency … if the requirements of unreasonable
delay and resulting prejudice are met.’ ” (Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical
Center v. Bonta (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 316, 323.) Notably, “delay alone does not
constitute laches because ‘[t]he policy of this state with respect to lapse of time is
[separately] embodied in statutes [of limitation].’ ” (Brown, at p. 1159.)
It is frequently recognized that there are two general ways to demonstrate
unreasonable delay and resulting prejudice. In the first, the party arguing laches bears the
burden of proof and is required to present evidence sufficient to tip the equitable balance
toward preclusion in order to prevail. In the second, an unreasonable delay is established
as a matter of law and prejudice is presumed. In this scenario, the party opposing the
imposition of laches bears the burden of demonstrating there was a reasonable excuse for
delay. (See Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center v. Bonta, supra,
75 Cal.App.4th at pp. 323–324.)
As a burden shifting proposition in administrative proceedings, the second
scenario discussed above is difficult to invoke. It is well understood that statutes of
limitation are inapplicable to administrative proceedings. (Coachella Valley Mosquito &
Vector Control Dist. v. California Public Employment Relations Bd. (2005) 35 Cal.4th
1072, 1088.) To establish unreasonable delay as a matter of law and presume prejudice,
courts “sometimes adopted for purposes of laches ‘a period within which its aid must be
sought similar to that prescribed in analogous cases at law.’ ” (Brown, supra,
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166 Cal.App.3d at p. 1159.) Thus, where “no statute of limitations directly applies but
there is a statute of limitations governing an analogous action at law, the period may be
borrowed as a measure of the outer limit of reasonable delay in determining laches.” (Id.
at pp. 1159–1160.) “Whether or not such a borrowing should occur depends upon the
strength of the analogy.” (Id. at p. 1160.)
Overview of relevant laws
Malaga’s penalties were imposed under section 13385.3 Subdivision (a) imposes
liability upon those that violate waste discharge requirements or otherwise violate various
provisions of California or federal clean water laws. Subdivisions (b) and (c) provide
alternative enforcement means with differing penalties for those accused of violations.
Thus, in subdivision (b), a civil action may be filed by the Attorney General that results
in maximum penalties of approximately $25,000 per day. In subdivision (c),
enforcement may be achieved through an administrative hearing brought “by the state
board or a regional board pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 13323) of
Chapter 5,” but the maximum penalties may not exceed approximately $10,000 per day.4
Subdivision (e) provides statutory guidance for calculating the proper amount for the
penalty actually imposed, including various factors to consider, with its final guidance
being that at a “minimum, liability shall be assessed at a level that recovers the economic
benefits, if any, derived from the acts that constitute the violation.”
Relevant to the dispute in this case, subdivisions (h) and (i) identify minimum
penalties to impose in specific circumstances. Thus, in subdivision (h)(1), the statute
provides that “[n]otwithstanding any other provision of this division, and except as
provided in subdivisions (j), (k), and (l), a mandatory minimum penalty of three thousand
dollars ($3,000) shall be assessed for each serious violation.” Subdivision (h)(2) defines
3 Undesignated subdivisions refer to section 13385.
4 The maximum penalties may be increased by an additional amount for larger discharges
not susceptible to cleanup. (§ 13385, subd. (c)(2).)
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a serious violation as “any waste discharge that violates the effluent limitations contained
in the applicable waste discharge requirements for a Group II pollutant, as specified in
Appendix A to Section 123.45 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, by 20
percent or more or for a Group I pollutant, as specified in Appendix A to Section 123.45
of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, by 40 percent or more.”
Similarly, in subdivision (i), a mandatory minimum penalty of $3,000 is to be
assessed “whenever the person does any of the following four or more times in any
period of six consecutive months, except that the requirement to assess the mandatory
minimum penalty shall not be applicable to the first three violations: [¶] (A) Violates a
waste discharge requirement effluent limitation. [¶] (B) Fails to file a report pursuant to
Section 13260. [¶] (C) Files an incomplete report pursuant to Section 13260. [¶]
(D) Violates a toxicity effluent limitation contained in the applicable waste discharge
requirements where the waste discharge requirements do not contain pollutant-specific
effluent limitations for toxic pollutants.” (§ 13385, subd. (i)(1)(A)–(D).)
Subdivisions (j), (k), and (l), as referenced in both subdivisions (h) and (i), provide
for limited exceptions to these minimum penalties. Thus, in subdivision (j), the minimum
penalties in subdivisions (h) and (i) are not applicable to discharges resulting from “[a]n
act of war”; “[a]n unanticipated, grave natural disaster or other natural phenomenon of an
exceptional, inevitable, and irresistible character, the effects of which could not have
been prevented or avoided by the exercise of due care or foresight”; “[a]n intentional act
of a third party, the effects of which could not have been prevented or avoided by the
exercise of due care or foresight”; the “operation of a new or reconstructed wastewater
treatment unit during a defined period of adjusting or testing” provided various
requirements are met (§ 13385, subd. (j)(1)(A)–(D).); or “a violation of an effluent
limitation where the waste discharge is in compliance with either a cease and desist order
… or a time schedule order” under very specific circumstances (id., subd. (j)(3)).
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Under subdivision (k), the statute provides an alternative to issuing all or a part of
the minimum penalties against “a publicly owned treatment works serving a small
community.” Under this provision, the penalties can be replaced by a project designed to
bring the discharger into compliance with its applicable requirements. This is permitted
if three conditions are met: (1) the compliance project is designed to correct the
violations within five years; (2) the project is in accordance with the enforcement policy
of the State Water Board; and (3) there is a financing plan to complete the compliance
project prepared. (§ 13385, subd. (k)(1)(A)–(C).) This exception is narrowed by the fact
that a publicly owned treatment works serving a small community is defined by statute as
one “serving a population of 20,000 persons or fewer or a rural county, with a financial
hardship as determined by the state board after considering such factors as median
income of the residents, rate of unemployment, or low population density in the service
area of the publicly owned treatment works.” (§ 13385, subd. (k)(2).)
Finally, under subdivision (l), with the discharger’s consent, a specified portion of
the minimum penalty can be directed toward “a supplemental environmental project.”
(§ 13385, subd. (l).)
Discussion
Availability of laches as a defense to administrative actions under section 13385
Based on the policy embodied in Brown, we begin with the understanding that
laches should typically be available as a defense in administrative proceedings run by the
state. The State Water Board makes two arguments why we should nonetheless conclude
that section 13385 does not permit a defense of laches to its administrative enforcement
proceedings. In the first, the State Water Board argues that equitable defenses cannot be
used to countermand statutory commands on matters that are plain and fully covered by a
positive statute. Under this argument, the State Water Board contends that section 13385
is plain and clear on the position that the only recognized defenses to the mandatory
minimum penalties contained in subdivisions (h) and (i) are those specific examples
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contained in subdivision (j), which do not include any equitable rights. In the second
argument, the State Water Board contends that imposition of laches would impermissibly
nullify an important policy adopted for the public’s benefit and thus cannot be invoked
against a government agency’s actions. We do not agree with the State Water Board on
either point.
On the first argument, that the statutory scheme plainly and fully covers this
situation, the State Water Board’s position turns exclusively on the claim that the express
identification of defenses in subdivision (j) demonstrates that all equitable defenses were
expressly precluded. We reject this position for two reasons.
First, the language of section 13385 does not plainly exclude a defense of laches.
Subdivisions (h) and (i) both impose mandatory minimum penalties for those adequately
proven discharges or actions that meet certain specific criteria. In other words, they are
mandatory minimum penalties for a subset of violations of subdivision (a)’s identification
of actions subject to civil liability. As such, subdivisions (h) and (i)’s language is
couched in terms of penalties for certain actions but says nothing about when or whether
those actions can be brought in an administrative or judicial proceeding. Indeed, as
Malaga notes, the prefatory language of both subdivisions (h) and (i), “[n]otwithstanding
any other provision of this division, and except as provided in subdivisions (j), (k),
and (l)” (§ 13385, subds. (h)(1), (i)(1)), parallels the well-known term of art,
“ ‘ “notwithstanding any other provision of law” ’ ” that has been consistently interpreted
to preclude only conflicting laws, and not all potential applicable laws (Arias v. Superior
Court (2009) 46 Cal.4th 969, 931). In the context of subdivisions (h) and (i), potentially
conflicting provisions or laws are those calling for a calculation of civil liability, such as
that contained in subdivision (e), that accounts for various factors such as ability to pay,
gravity of the violation, and prior cleanup efforts, and could warrant lowering a penalty
below the statutory minimums.
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No similar language is contained in subdivision (j). Rather, subdivision (j) begins
by limiting itself to only identifying situations where the mandatory minimum penalties
will not be applicable. (§ 13385, subd. (j) [“Subdivisions (h) and (i) do not apply to any
of the following .…”].) This subdivision is thus a limited set of specific defenses to the
imposition of mandatory minimum liability penalties, suggesting subdivision (j) is
designed to narrowly limit some substantive defenses and not to broadly counteract all
potentially contradicting laws. Even if it did contain such a notion, we see nothing in the
substantive defenses identified in subdivision (j), or the mandatory minimum provisions
of subdivisions (h) or (i) to which it refers, that would conflict with the application of a
long-standing judicial policy curtailing the ability to belatedly prosecute stale claims to
the detriment of one who had relied upon their lack of prosecution. Accordingly, we do
not agree that the statute’s identification of a limited set of substantive defenses to
mandatory minimum liability figures plainly and clearly precludes the application of
laches.
Second, we also reject the State Water Board’s argument because allowing the
application of laches is consistent with the overall statutory scheme. The limited
substantive defenses of subdivision (j), like the mandatory minimum penalties of
subdivisions (h) and (i) and their similarly situated exceptions in subdivisions (k) and (l),
are not applicable only to administrative proceedings brought under subdivision (c).
They are equally applicable to judicial proceedings brought by the Attorney General
under subdivision (b). In the context of judicial proceedings, the need to limit
prosecution of stale claims has been clearly stated in Code of Civil Procedure
section 338, subdivision (i), where a three-year statute of limitations has been imposed on
any “action commenced under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Division 7
(commencing with Section 1300) of the Water Code),” of which Water Code
section 13385 is a part. (Code Civ. Proc., § 338, subd. (i).) Nothing in the statutory
scheme or the case law suggests that the Legislature intended to limit potentially stale
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actions brought in court but permit those same actions to proceed through administrative
hearings.
Rather, the legislative history suggests the opposite. As detailed in City of
Brentwood v. Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Bd. (2004)
123 Cal.App.4th 714, 725 (Brentwood), when discussing the legislative history of the
mandatory minimum penalties provisions and their exceptions, such as subdivision (j),
“the goal of the legislation was to ensure prompt, streamlined enforcement to create a
powerful incentive for discharges to comply with permit requirements.” (Brentwood, at
p. 724.) Thus, when enacted, the bill included legislative findings noting recent
“ ‘investigations indicate that current enforcement efforts of the state board and the
regional boards may not be achieving full compliance with waste discharge requirements
in a timely manner, and that swift and timely enforcement of waste discharge
requirements will assist in bringing the state’s waters into compliance and will ensure
that violators do not realize economic benefits from noncompliance.’ ” (Ibid.) As
Brentwood noted, as a parallel to and part of the federal NPDES permitting system, the
overall statutory scheme’s purpose “is ‘to keep enforcement actions simple and
speedy.’ ” (Id. at p. 723.) This is done by limiting the fact finding and analysis necessary
for imposition of penalties by requiring self-reporting that serves as admissions, and
limiting the discretion in implementing penalties. (Ibid.) This framework strongly
suggests that the application of laches was not intended to be precluded by the mandatory
minimum penalties and limited defenses thereto.
For this same reason we also reject the State Water Board’s contention that laches
cannot bar agency enforcement actions because it would nullify an important policy
adopted for the public’s benefit. In streamlining the proof required for demonstrating a
violation, specifically creating a statute of limitations for court actions while permitting
state-level administrative actions to enforce these violations where a common-law
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application of laches exists,5 and highlighting the need to ensure speedy and effective
prosecutions, the overall framework of California’s enforcement scheme is designed to
quickly stop and remedy polluting discharges. The legislative history suggests that this
design is intentional, purposefully seeking to correct statistics showing only 1 percent of
known violations were resulting in administrative penalties. (Brentwood, supra,
123 Cal.App.4th at p. 725.)
The application of laches furthers a policy of quick and timely enforcement and,
ultimately, of ensuring the state’s waters are clean. While the State Water Board suggests
that laches will hinder effective enforcement of polluting dischargers, this seems
unlikely. Indeed, it was a history of delays in administrative prosecution that led to the
statutes the State Water Board now wants to use to support delays in prosecution.
Allowing the government to store endless years of prior violations for prosecution in
administrative proceedings rather than requiring immediate correction and cleanup
through administrative penalties, where those same violations cannot be adjudicated in
court, would provide an impermissible end-run around the goals of effective and speedy
enforcement embodied in the statutory scheme, and could potentially lead to long-
standing uncorrected pollution of the state’s waters. Permitting the doctrine of laches to
5 We note here the difference between California and federal law. Although not entirely
consistent across the nation, under the federal system, laches either cannot be used to hinder the
government’s enforcement of its rights in this area or is disfavored. (See Coeur D’Alene Lake v.
Kiebert (D.Idaho. 1992) 790 F.Supp. 998, 1006 [noting the Ninth Circuit disfavors use of laches
in public interest environmental litigation]; Student Public Interest Research Group of New
Jersey, Inc. v. P.D. Oil & Chemical Storage, Inc. (D.N.J. 1986) 627 F.Supp. 1074, 1085 [laches
no defense to government suit to enforce a public right or protect a public interest].) This applies
to administrative, civil, and private enforcement actions, although other restrictions may arise,
such as the inability of private enforcement actions to remedy wholly past conduct. (See Friends
of Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services (TOC), Inc. (2000) 528 U.S. 167, 174–175
[noting restrictions on citizen suits].) Under California law, laches is generally accepted as a
defense in quasi-adjudicative agency proceedings. (See Brown, supra, 166 Cal.App.3d at
pp. 1158–1159.)
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preclude stale violations thus furthers the goals of constant monitoring, effective and
speedy enforcement, and immediate cleanup of the state’s waters.
Adopting a relevant statute of limitations
Having concluded that laches may be asserted as a defense to administrative
enforcement actions under Water Code section 13385, we next consider whether a statute
of limitations exists that is sufficiently analogous to the relevant procedures such that it
can be properly adopted as the point at which unreasonable delay and prejudice in
enforcement is presumed. In this analysis, Malaga argues we should adopt the one-year
period of limitations for actions upon a statute for a penalty or forfeiture contained in
Code of Civil Procedure section 340. Malaga contends this is appropriate because the
penalty is penal in nature and thus the general rule that penal penalties are subject to a
one-year statute of limitations applies. The State Water Board counters that, if any period
is adopted, the three-year period contained in Code of Civil Procedure section 338,
subdivision (i) should apply. That statute provides for a three-year limitation on an
“action commenced under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Division 7
(commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code,” and explains that such causes of
action “shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery … of the facts
constituting grounds for commencing actions.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 338, subd. (i).)
Our discussion above, concerning whether laches applies to administrative actions,
demonstrates that the relevant statutory scheme and policies underlying it support
adopting a statute of limitations for a violation of Water Code section 13385 as part of the
laches analysis. The need to quickly and effectively remedy pollution of the state’s
waters, and the dual nature of the enforcement actions embodied in the statute,
demonstrate that delays in administrative prosecutions beyond those applicable to
enforcement actions in the court system should be viewed as potentially stale. We agree
with the State Water Board, however, that the proper period to employ under such a
17.
conclusion is the three-year period contained in Code of Civil Procedure section 338,
subdivision (i).
We recognize, in line with Malaga’s arguments, that nondiscretionary penalties
not based on actual losses incurred are generally covered by the one-year statute of
limitations for actions upon a statute for a penalty contained in Code of Civil Procedure
section 340. (See Hypertouch, Inc. v. ValueClick, Inc. (2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 805, 842.)
In such situations, general causes of action may be subject to a two-tier limitations
period, with claims for actual damages subject to one limitation and other claims limited
by Code of Civil Procedure section 340, as was the case in Hypertouch, Inc.
(Hypertouch, Inc., at pp. 841–845.) However, even assuming the penalties in this case fit
that description, this general principle does not preclude the Legislature from adopting a
different limitation period. Indeed, as an interpretive guideline, where two potential
limitation periods conflict, the more recent and more specific limitation period will
generally control. (Lopez v. Sony Electronics, Inc. (2018) 5 Cal.5th 627, 634.)
In this case, the three-year statute of limitations contained in Code of Civil
Procedure section 338, subdivision (i) specifically referencing the “Porter-Cologne Water
Quality Control Act (Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code,”
was first adopted in 1981. (Stats. 1981, ch. 247, § 1, pp. 1300–1301.) Although the
provisions of Water Code section 13385 were not introduced until 1987 (Stats. 1987,
ch. 1189, § 10), and the mandatory minimum penalties were not included until 1999
(Stats. 1999, ch. 92, § 6), at the time Code of Civil Procedure section 338, subdivision (i)
was adopted, there were already civil penalties contained within the Water Code that
could be enforced through litigation. (See Wat. Code, § 13350, as amended by Stats.
1971, ch. 668, § 1; People ex rel. Younger v. Superior Court (1976) 16 Cal.3d 30, 39
[civil penalties under Wat. Code, § 13350 are not simply and solely punitive in nature but
fulfill legitimate compensatory functions]; City of Modesto Redevelopment Agency v.
Superior Court (2004) 119 Cal.App.4th 28, 43 [discussing legislative history in context
18.
of “ ‘causes or permits’ ” language].) In contrast, the relevant one-year statute of
limitations contained in Code of Civil Procedure section 340 is based upon a statute that
has been present since approximately 1850 and was present at the time Code of Civil
Procedure section 338, subdivision (i) was adopted. (See code comrs. notes, 13C West’s
Ann. Code Civ. Proc. (2006 ed.) foll. § 340, p. 77.)
The timeline of the amendments to the relevant statutory provisions show that
Code of Civil Procedure section 338, subdivision (i) is the newer relevant limitation
period. The express reference to the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act in Code
of Civil Procedure section 338, subdivision (i) shows that it is the more specific
limitation period involved. The fact that this three-year period in Code of Civil
Procedure section 338, subdivision (i) applied to similar types of penalties as those now
contained in Water Code section 13385 shows that the three-year period was in fact
intended to apply to all types of proceedings envisioned within the statutory scheme.
Further, that several amendments have been made to both Water Code
section 13385 and Code of Civil Procedure sections 338 and 340 without any
amendments that would change the three-year limitation period contained in Code of
Civil Procedure section 338, subdivision (i), strongly suggests the Legislature has
intended to maintain a single limitation period for actions under the Porter-Cologne
Water Quality Control Act, as opposed to a dual limitation scheme as may be present
when multiple generic limitation statutes are applicable. Combined, these facts present a
compelling argument that it is proper to adopt the limitation period of Code of Civil
Procedure section 338, subdivision (i), and employ a three-year period before allowing
the burden to shift to the agency to demonstrate any delay in enforcement was reasonable
and without prejudice.
Conclusion
Accordingly, although it may be difficult for Malaga to succeed on a laches
defense, even accounting for the potential burden shifting arising from the relevant
19.
statute of limitation, given its own self-monitoring reports are deemed admissions and it
is statutorily limited in potential substantive defenses (see Wells Fargo Bank v.
Goldzband (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 596, 632–633 [substantial delay in enforcing well
closure requirements not prejudicial as the final order did not create liability that did not
otherwise exist and any action for indemnification was a private matter between the
plaintiff and other parties]), we conclude that the Water Quality Board wrongly
concluded that the equitable defense of laches was unavailable to Malaga. We further
note that any claims where the Water Quality Board could be said to have known of the
violation more than three years before the enforcement action was initiated are subject to
the burden shifting presumption that the delay in initiating an action was unreasonable
and prejudicial. The trial court thus erred in concluding laches was not a viable defense
in this case.
Malaga’s APA Violation Claims
In addition to the argument that laches applies to the relevant administrative
proceedings, Malaga also raises a multitude of issues regarding the proceedings
themselves. Malaga does this in a free-form argument that does not separate its
arguments by heading or topic. Malaga alleges that the issues raised are violations of the
APA and that they deprived Malaga of a fair trial. Although not perfectly clear in scope,
upon review of the briefing it appears Malaga is raising the following issues: (1) that the
Hearing Procedure issued and a “Water Quality Enforcement Policy” allegedly utilized in
the proceedings are invalid underground regulations; (2) that the executive director of the
State Water Board acted in excess of their authority by denying Malaga’s petition for
review and determining Malaga is not a publicly owned facility serving a community
with a financial hardship; (3) that the Water Quality Board improperly relied upon
precedent that is not indexed or published as required by statute; (4) that the Advisory
Team counsel improperly acted as part of the Prosecution Team; and (5) that Chairman
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Longley acted in excess of his authority in ruling on pending motions. We take each in
turn.
1) Malaga’s underground regulations claim
Malaga’s first APA violation claim is an assertion that two documents utilized by
the Water Quality Board or the State Water Board to govern the underlying
proceedings—the Hearing Procedure and another document described as a “Water
Quality Enforcement Policy”—constitute underground regulations. Malaga expands
upon this argument in its reply brief, focusing first on an assertion the State Water
Board’s executive director could not rely on the water quality enforcement policy in
making any decisions because it was adopted as a guideline and not a formal regulation.
It then focuses its arguments on the Hearing Procedure, mirroring the arguments it raised
in another pending appeal, case No. F078327, while discussing the specific facts of this
case. Malaga contends generally that reliance on an underground regulation, as a
violation of the APA, requires reversal of the underlying order in all instances.
For the reasons set forth in the next section, we decline to reach whether the State
Water Board’s use of the water quality enforcement policy satisfies the test for relying on
an underground regulation. As noted there, claims against the State Water Board have
been waived and, regardless, would fail on the merits. However, despite the limited
analysis provided by Malaga with respect to the Hearing Procedure, we reach a different
conclusion with respect to that document. In our analysis in case No. F078327, we
conclude that a more recent version of the Hearing Procedure utilized by the Water
Quality Board constitutes an underground regulation, but that its use does not mandate
immediate reversal. Rather, it is incumbent upon Malaga to demonstrate prejudice
arising from its use to warrant reversal of the underlying penalties. We take judicial
notice of those proceedings and fully incorporate our legal analysis as if set forth fully
herein.
21.
Recognizing that a hearing procedure can constitute an underground regulation
under certain factual scenarios, we next consider whether Malaga has demonstrated the
Hearing Procedure in this case also qualifies as an underground regulation. As we
explained in our companion analysis, there are two principal identifying characteristics
for regulations. (See Tidewater Marine Western, Inc. v. Bradshaw (1996) 14 Cal.4th
557, 571.) “First, the agency must intend its rule to apply generally, rather than in a
specific case. The rule need not, however, apply universally; a rule applies generally so
long as it declares how a certain class of cases will be decided. [Citation.] Second, the
rule must ‘implement, interpret, or make specific the law enforced or administered by
[the agency], or ... govern [the agency’s] procedure.’ ” (Ibid.)
Malaga makes a sufficient showing to demonstrate that the Hearing Procedure is
intended to be a general rule that governs the agency’s procedure. Similar to the
proceedings in case No. F078327, Malaga points out here that the Hearing Procedure
implements a pre-approved template designed for use in all proceedings. And, upon
review, the Hearing Procedure in this case shares at least some of the additional
requirements, such as pre-hearing submission of rebuttal evidence, that we concluded
were improper for exceeding the duly adopted regulations in this area when considering
the hearing procedure document in case No. F078327. In addition, Malaga provides
evidence that the Hearing Procedure set its submission deadlines based on a standardized
timeline utilized in all cases, raising additional problems with the document.
The State Water Board contends the Hearing Procedure cannot be a regulation
because it satisfies the requirements of Government Code section 11425.10 and was
customized for the proceedings. For the reasons set forth in case No. F078327, we reject
the claim that Government Code section 11425.10 justifies the use of the Hearing
Procedure in this case. Similarly, as we concluded in case No. F078327, the use of an
underlying underground regulation to set the specific deadlines or procedural
requirements for a specific case is problematic even if the final document issued is
22.
designed to cover only the case at issue. As we stated in case No. F078327, we, like our
Supreme Court, decline to endorse an approach that would allow an agency to avoid APA
requirements by driving a regulation further underground, in this case by repeating a
settled policy in individual cases with minimal modification.
While an underground regulation defined the procedural requirements for
Malaga’s hearing, as discussed in case No. F078327, this does not mean reversal is
required. Rather, consistent with Reilly v. Superior Court, 57 Cal.4th 641, we concluded
a harmless error analysis applies in such circumstances. Here, as in case No. F078327,
there has been no factual development or findings regarding prejudice by the trial court.
Given this issue affects whether the underlying penalties were appropriately imposed, we
believe it most efficient to remand this issue to the trial court.
2) To the extent Malaga raises claims against the State Water Board, they fail
The next portion of Malaga’s argument is devoted to a partially developed claim
that the trial court ignored issues raised before it and improperly concluded Malaga had
waived its claims against the State Water Board. Malaga’s arguments contain no citation
to any law or any direct legal argument, but they contend that the executive director of
the State Water Board acted improperly by rejecting Malaga’s petition for review of the
Water Quality Board’s ruling and by determining whether “Malaga is or is not a publicly
owned facility serving a community with a financial hardship.” Respondent properly
argues that such thin arguments are considered waived on appeal. (See In re Marriage of
Falcone & Fyke (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 814, 830 [“The absence of cogent legal
argument or citation to authority allows this court to treat the contentions as waived”].)
However, even were we to consider Malaga’s arguments, we would find no error.
The actions Malaga focuses on were ultimately irrelevant. To the extent Malaga
contends the executive director acted improperly by denying its petition for review, we
note that petitions for review not acted upon by the State Water Board are deemed denied
as a matter of law. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 23, § 2050.5, subd. (b).) Thus, whether by the
23.
executive director or operation of law, Malaga’s petition for review is properly
considered denied at this point, triggering this appellate review. With respect to the
publicly owned facility argument, the record reflects that staff recommended, and the
Water Quality Board agreed, that mandatory minimum penalties would be appropriate in
this matter regardless of Malaga’s status as a publicly owned facility serving a
community with financial hardship. The Water Quality Board acknowledged Malaga’s
prior status as such an entity but noted that past failures to comply warranted the
mandatory minimum penalties, particularly given that no alternatives were offered at the
time of their decision. As avoiding mandatory minimum penalties through alternative
procedures is a discretionary decision by the Water Quality Board, its decision not to
seek an alternative penalty even if available is independent from any allegedly improper
determination by the executive director—an alleged decision that the record does not
show affecting the Water Quality Board’s decisionmaking process.
3) The Water Quality Board did not improperly rely on a draft order
Malaga contends that the Water Quality Board’s decision rejecting the
applicability of laches as a defense improperly relied upon a draft State Water Board
order. Specifically, Malaga argues that the order in question was not properly declared to
be precedent and thus could not be cited under Government Code section 11425.60. We
do not agree.
Government Code section 11425.60 provides, in part, that a “decision may not be
expressly relied on as precedent unless it is designated as a precedent decision by the
agency,” and requires the agency to “maintain an index of significant legal and policy
determinations made in precedent decisions” that is available to the public and updated at
least annually. (Gov. Code, § 11425.60, subds. (a), (c).)
The trial court found, and Malaga does not contest, that the Water Quality Board
did not “expressly” rely on the draft order. Regardless, Malaga argues the Water Quality
Board does “not need to expressly rely” on the draft order to violate the statute and points
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out that the language of the order adopted in this case mirrored the language in the draft
order. The State Water Board replies by citing In re Fishery Protection and Water Right
Issues of Lagunitas Creek (Jan. 18, 1996) State Water Resources Control Board Order
No. WR 96-1, page 17, footnote 11 [1996 Cal. Env Lexis 4, p. *25, fn. 11], an old
administrative order designating all decisions precedential as required under the statute,
noting the Water Quality Board discussed many precedents supporting its conclusion, and
contending any error is harmless as the underlying dispute concerning the scope of laches
as a defense is an issue of law decided de novo on appeal.
We note at the outset that we disagree with Malaga’s contention that express
reliance on a nonprecedential decision is not required. The clear language of the statute
dictates that no decision may be “expressly relied upon as precedent” unless designated
as such, thus confirming express reliance is required. Such a rule makes sense, as the
agency should be permitted, as all courts are, to review its nonprecedential decisions to
gain a greater understanding of how the law has been viewed and issues resolved in the
past. It is only when treating those decisions as binding that the need for designation as
precedential arises. As there is no argument in this case, other than a similarity in
language, that the Water Quality Board treated the draft order as binding precedent, we
find no error. This conclusion is buttressed by the fact that the Water Quality Board was
informed of relevant decisions by counsel and discussed additional recent precedent that
they concluded supported their decision. These precedents are not subject to Malaga’s
attack. Thus, even if the order’s final language parroted a nonprecedential decision, the
record reflects the fact that the Water Quality Board was considering and relying upon
properly designated decisions it found precedential in reaching its conclusion. While we
have ultimately disagreed with the Water Quality Board’s legal conclusion, we see no
error in the procedural process by which it was reached.
25.
4) Coupe did not improperly act as a member of the Prosecution Team
Malaga argues that the Water Quality Board’s senior counsel on the Advisory
Team, David Coupe, acted improperly during the proceedings such that his role should be
viewed as encroaching on the separation of the Advisory Team and Prosecution Team
required by the APA. More specifically, Malaga contends that Coupe acted as the de
facto decision maker on several motions raised by Malaga, dictated to the Water Quality
Board what its rulings and actions must be, provided testimony regarding the
appropriateness of any delay in prosecuting the action, and improperly cut off counsel to
ask questions of witnesses. We find none of these claims persuasive.
With respect to rulings made during the proceedings, Malaga’s argument is
somewhat inconsistent with another position taken in this litigation, that the Water
Quality Board’s chairman could not act alone in ruling on motions. If Malaga’s
contention is correct, that Chairman Longley made these rulings, its contention that
Coupe acted improperly cannot stand. Regardless, in our review we see nothing
improper about Coupe’s alleged role in drafting orders to be signed by the Water Quality
Board or its chairman. The record regularly reflects Chairman Longley requesting advice
from Coupe but no indication the Water Quality Board or Chairman Longley believed
that advice binding. Indeed, Water Quality Board members made multiple motions to
resolve disputed issues based on the evidence presented before them. The overall record
provides no indication that Coupe served as a de facto or other type of decision maker for
the Water Quality Board. Similarly, we see no indication Coupe’s advice was seen as
binding by the Water Quality Board or Chairman Longley such that Malaga’s claim
Coupe was dictating the results of the proceedings can withstand scrutiny.
We also reject Malaga’s claims that Coupe acted improperly by providing
testimony on substantive issues or by precluding counsel from asking relevant questions.
With respect to the testimony issue, Malaga concedes in its argument that most of the
alleged testimony was either “argument in support of the assertions in his written
26.
decision” or “in the form of a legal opinion that laches was not a recognized defense in
these proceedings.” Upon review of the record cited by Malaga in support of its claim, it
is abundantly clear that Coupe is providing his opinion on the state of the law and the
reasons why the law dictates a specific result in this case. Moreover, in all of these
instances, Coupe’s alleged testimony arose after a Water Quality Board member
specifically asked for legal advice or opinion on an issue. In the only instance where
Coupe provided any general factual detail not already covered within the record, he
expressed to the Water Quality Board that he recalled personal experiences with
mandatory minimum penalties being issued many years after the relevant discharges in
support of his legal opinion that the law did not permit laches as a defense to mandatory
minimum penalties. Upon review, we see nothing improper in Coupe’s recounting of
past practices as additional support for his legal advice. Similarly, in our review of the
record and Malaga’s citations thereto, we find no instance where Coupe precluded
Malaga from asking relevant questions. Rather, in our review we found only one oddity,
where Coupe asked a witness two clarifying questions following certain questioning from
Chairman Longley that added no new substantive material to the record. In that instance,
Coupe does not appear to have argued any substantive positions or otherwise utilized his
position as advisory counsel to act in a prosecutorial role.
5) Chairman Longley could properly rule on pending motions
Malaga next contends that Chairman Longley exceeded his authority by ruling on
motions, evidentiary objections, and other procedural matters. Citing Government Code
section 11430.70, Malaga claims the presiding officer in these administrative hearings
(i.e., the entity permitted to rule on such matters) is defined by statute as the “agency
head or other person or body to which the power to hear or decide is delegated.” In the
context of the penalties at issue, Malaga notes that the Water Quality Board is the body
authorized to make a final decision on penalties. (See Wat. Code, §§ 13323, 13385,
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subd. (c).) Malaga extrapolates from this that Chairman Longley could not rule on any
motions because the Water Quality Board as a whole had to act on each one.
The State Water Board disputes this logic, arguing Chairman Longley was
authorized to rule on these matters as the presiding officer of the Water Quality Board
and citing Government Code sections 11425.10, 11445.40, 11513, subdivision (f) and
California Code of Regulations, title 23, section 648.4. The State Water Board argues a
contrary finding would lead to absurd results through the waste of time that would occur
should the full board have to vote on every nonsubstantive issue. Further, the State
Water Board contends that any error in authority would be harmless because, at Malaga’s
request, the full board ultimately authorized all rulings made by Chairman Longley.
We agree with the State Water Board. Malaga’s claim that a “presiding officer” is
defined under Government Code section 11430.70 as the “agency head or other person or
body to which the power to hear or decide is delegated” is misplaced. The definition is
actually provided in Government Code section 11405.80, which states the presiding
officer is “the agency head, member of the agency head, administrative law judge,
hearing officer, or other person who presides in an adjudicative proceeding.” There
appears no doubt that Chairman Longley is safely categorized as a hearing officer or
“other person” who presided in an adjudicative proceeding.
Government Code section 11430.70, and Malaga’s citation to Department of
Alcoholic Beverage Control v. Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Bd. (2006)
40 Cal.4th 1, 11–15, do not change this definition. Rather, those precedents discuss
restrictions on ex parte communications to agency heads and say nothing about how to
define a presiding officer under the relevant statutory scheme. Indeed, Government Code
section 11430.70, subdivision (a) specifically notes the difference between a presiding
officer and the agency head subject to Malaga’s alleged definition, explaining “the
provisions of this article governing ex parte communications to the presiding officer also
govern ex parte communications in an adjudicative proceeding to the agency head or
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other person or body to which the power to hear or decide in the proceeding is
delegated.” (Gov. Code, § 11430.70, subd. (a).)
Substantial Evidence Supports the Water Quality Board’s Determination
Finally, Malaga argues that there was insufficient evidence admitted to sustain the
Water Quality Board’s penalties. Related to this contention, and argued partially in
Malaga’s APA violation discussion, is the claim that no evidence was properly admitted
showing actual violations of the discharge requirements. Malaga states that the only
evidence entered at the hearing was the improper narrative testimony of Wass and an
attachment summarizing alleged violations that Malaga objects to as hearsay. Malaga
acknowledges that other documents, including Malaga’s own self-monitoring reports,
were made part of the administrative record, but claims their admission violates
Government Code section 11513.6 Malaga further claims the Water Quality Board
“simply never considered the self-monitoring reports and expressly based their decision
entirely on Wass’[s] testimony and Attachment A.” Malaga then attacks attachment A,
arguing it incorrectly summarized the self-monitoring reports and did not include
Malaga’s previously stated positions on the violation allegations. Malaga uses this attack
to assert that the Water Quality Board based its entire opinion on hearsay and thus
violated Government Code section 11513, which permits hearsay to supplement findings
but not to support them.
The State Water Board contests these positions. On the admission of relevant
evidence and narrative testimony, the State Water Board relies on the specific language
of Government Code section 11513 and the lack of any contradicting case law to claim
narrative testimony is permissible in administrative proceedings. It relies on Evidence
Code section 1220, Government Code section 11513, and Brentwood, supra,
6 Malaga appears to improperly identify this statute as part of the Evidence Code in its
brief. This court has identified no portion of the Evidence Code that would otherwise satisfy
Malaga’s argument and citation.
29.
123 Cal.App.4th at pages 723–724 for the position that Malaga’s self-reported violations
were nonhearsay, and a staff summary of those documents was admissible in an
administrative setting. As to the Water Quality Board’s final decision, the State Water
Board explains that this court presumes that all relevant documents in the record were
considered, whether or not specifically discussed at the hearing, and argues that specific
reliance on staff reports and testimony is further permissible because the underlying
documents were within the record.
“Government Code section 11513, subdivision (c), addresses the admissibility of
evidence generally in administrative hearings. It states: ‘The hearing need not be
conducted according to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses, except as
hereinafter provided. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence
on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs,
regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make
improper the admission of the evidence over objection in civil actions. Hearsay evidence
may be used for the purpose of supplementing or explaining other evidence but shall not
be sufficient in itself to support a finding unless it would be admissible over objection in
civil actions.’ ” (Lake v. Reed (1997) 16 Cal.4th 448, 458 (Lake).) Under the statute
there are two general principles. First, the evidence must be “the sort of evidence on
which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs.”
(Gov. Code, § 11513, subd. (c).) Second, while hearsay may be utilized, it may not be
the only evidence supporting a conclusion unless otherwise admissible in a civil action.
(Id., subd. (d).) In Lake, these principles permitted the admission of hearsay police
reports, but limited the utility of the statements in those reports such that they could only
be considered if they supplemented nonhearsay evidence properly admitted or hearsay
evidence subject to an exception. (Lake, at pp. 461–462.)
We conclude this issue is readily resolved through the principles underlying the
substantial evidence standard of review. The trial court and this court is obligated to
30.
review the entire administrative record to determine whether substantial evidence
supports the Water Quality Board’s decision. (See Bixby v. Pierno (1971) 4 Cal.3d 130,
149 & fn. 22.) Moreover, when a challenge is raised to “ ‘an administrative decision as
unsupported by substantial evidence in light of the record as a whole, it is [the]
appellant’s burden to demonstrate that the administrative record does not contain
sufficient evidence to support the agency’s decision.’ [Citation.] A recitation of only the
part of the evidence that supports the appellant’s position ‘is not the “demonstration”
contemplated under the above rule.’ ” (State Water Resources Control Bd. Cases (2006)
136 Cal.App.4th 674, 749) Indeed, a wholly one-sided argument style can even result in
waiver of the claim. (Ibid.)
In this case, Malaga has not raised any specific argument that its own self-
monitoring reports are not within the administrative record. In its response, the State
Water Board routinely cites to the administrative record when pointing this court to
portions of Malaga’s self-monitoring reports where violations are shown. Rather, Malaga
generally argues that these documents were not directly introduced or discussed at the
administrative hearing nor specifically referenced in the final statement of decision.
Malaga then contends that the summary of these self-monitoring reports was hearsay and
thus unreliable. While Malaga also hints that the summary was incorrect, Malaga raises
no specific argument as to how any of the identified violations were not actually
violations of the underlying discharge requirements nor how any specific violation should
not result in penalties.
As explained in Lake, supra, 16 Cal.4th at page 458, while hearsay evidence is
insufficient to support a point itself, it is perfectly acceptable evidence to rely upon in an
administrative proceeding to supplement or explain other admissible evidence. Thus,
while the Water Quality Board could not make a finding if the only evidence in the
record was the summary contained in attachment A, or the hearsay portions of Wass’s
testimony, such evidence may be introduced and relied upon if it supplements or explains
31.
other evidence showing violations. Upon review of the entire record, it is clear that such
evidence, admissible as a party admission by Malaga, is in the record in the form of
Malaga’s self-reported violations. Similar to Lake, once it is shown that such evidence is
in the record, it is perfectly acceptable to rely upon hearsay evidence that supplements or
explains what those documents show. Here, that evidence is Wass’s testimony and the
summary created by Water Quality Board staff. There appears no argument this evidence
is not the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely on in the
conduct of serious affairs.
While Malaga’s arguments distill to a claim the underlying self-reported violations
needed to be individually introduced at the hearing and specifically identified by the
Water Quality Board in its final decision, it cites no law which mandates such a specific
course of conduct. Regardless, a reviewing court’s duty to review the entire
administrative record, as opposed to only those documents cited by the agency,
necessarily undercuts any claim that the agency must identify each piece of evidence it
relied upon. Moreover, Malaga points to no legal bar to it contesting any specific
violations at the administrative hearing that it feels are not sanctionable, and yet the
record shows no meaningful contest to individual notices either at the administrative
proceedings or here.
Ultimately, Malaga cannot demonstrate the Water Quality Board’s choice to
utilize the limited time before it to listen to a summary of the evidence submitted, and to
rely upon that summary rather than requiring courtroom level evidence on each point, is
erroneous in the context of these administrative proceedings. Upon review of the entire
record, we conclude that substantial evidence was introduced in the proceedings that
supports the Water Quality Board’s imposition of penalties.
Conclusion
Upon consideration of the various issues Malaga has raised, we have found two
errors. First, laches is a proper defense to the administrative proceedings in this case. A
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three-year period should be used to determine whether laches is presumed to bar any
proposed penalties. Second, the Water Quality Board’s Hearing Procedure constitutes a
void underground regulation. However, to warrant voiding the penalties imposed here,
Malaga must demonstrate using the Hearing Procedure was not harmless. In all other
respects, we find no error.
DISPOSITION
The superior court’s order denying Malaga’s petition for a writ of administrative
mandamus is affirmed in part and reversed in part. The matter is remanded for the trial
court to determine whether the writ should issue based on one or both of Malaga’s right
to present a laches defense and the Water Quality Board’s use of a void underground
regulation via the Hearing Procedure.
Malaga is entitled to its costs on appeal.
HILL, P.J.
WE CONCUR:
LEVY, J.
DETJEN, J.
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