California Code, Water Code - WAT § 13396

No person shall dredge or otherwise disturb a toxic hot spot site that has been identified and ranked by a regional board without first obtaining certification pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1341) or waste discharge requirements.  The state board and any regional board to which the state board has delegated authority to issue certification shall not waive certification for any discharge resulting from the dredging or disturbance unless waste discharge requirements have been issued.  If the state board or a regional board does not issue waste discharge requirements or a certification within the period provided for certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. The certification shall be deemed denied without prejudice.  On or after January 1, 1993, the state and regional boards shall not grant approval for a dredging project that involves the removal or disturbance of sediment which contains pollutants at or above the sediment quality objectives established pursuant to Section 13393 unless the board determines all of the following: