Title
Community Development Agency, Environmental Management Division, recommending the Board adopt Resolution 131-2013 that:
1) Authorizes the County of El Dorado to be the Local Oversight Program Agency for Fiscal Year 2013/2014 to assist property owners with the cleanup of contaminated ground water impacted by leaking underground storage tanks;
2) Authorizes the Chair to execute Agreement 13-026-550 in the amount of $99,745, for the term July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014; and
3) Authorizes the Community Development Agency Director, or his/her designee, to execute all necessary applications, payment requests, amendments and related documents for the purpose of implementing the Local Oversight Program.
FUNDING: California State Water Resources Control Board.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost
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$99,745 |
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Budgeted
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$99,745 |
New Funding
. |
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Savings
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Other
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$ |
Total Funding Available
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$99,745 |
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Change To Net County Cost
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$0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
Revenue is generated from State of California, California State Water Resources Control Board and is included in the Agency's FY 2013-14 budget. There is no change to Net County Cost.
Background
In the State of California, petroleum underground storage tank (UST) release abatement activities and regulatory oversight are funded by a $.02/gallon tax on motor vehicle fuels. In thirty-six (36) California counties, regulatory oversight is provided by the California Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs). In twenty-two (22) counties, regulatory oversight is provided by local government agencies.
Programs administered by local agencies are known as Local Oversight Programs (LOP). Under annual, renewable contracts between the State and LOP agencies, fuel tax revenues are transferred to the local agencies for program implementation. The LOP staff work directly with property owners, business operators and third parties to remediate the effects of petroleum releases.
There are thirty-nine (39) sites in El Dorado County that are currently implementing groundwater remediation activities - twenty (20) of them are regulated by the County's LOP. The Central Valley RWQCB provides oversight of eight (8) severely contaminated UST sites on the west slope, and the Lahontan RWQCB provides oversight for eleven (11) of the severely contaminated UST sites in the Lake Tahoe basin.
In 2006, the Environmental Management Division (EMD) hired a Registered Professional Geologist. With a Registered Professional Geologist on staff, EMD was able to contract with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to implement the LOP for Fiscal Years 2008-09 through 2012-13. The SWRCB and EMD concur that continued local oversight for Fiscal Year 2013-14 will result in expedited remediation activities, reducing water quality impacts and overall program costs.
The LOP is closely tied to the hazardous materials, underground storage tank and contaminated soil remediation programs EMD has implemented for over twenty (20) years. If this Resolution is adopted, EMD will continue to assume local oversight authority for twenty (20) of the thirty-nine (39) EDC contaminated UST sites.
Reason for Recommendation
EMD is seeking authorization to execute Agreement 13-026-550 with the SWRCB to continue to provide LOP services for petroleum underground storage tank release abatement activities and regulatory oversight.
Action to be taken following Board approval
Chair to sign resolution and two original Agreements.
Clerk of the Board to forward a copy of the signed resolution and both Agreements to EMD for submittal with the Agreement to the State.
Contact
Gerri Silva, M.S., REHS, Environmental Management Division Director
Concurrences: County Counsel