ITEM: 5

SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT A GRANT OF APPROXIMATELY $700,000 FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (U.S. EPA), REGION 9, AND TO NEGOTIATE A WORKPLAN TO CONTINUE SOURCE INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

DISCUSSION: Since October 1985, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) has been investigating sources of ground water contamination in the San Gabriel Valley as part of the former Well Investigation Program.

The San Gabriel Superfund sites were placed on U.S. EPA's National Priority List in 1984. As part of the requirements under Superfund, U.S. EPA must attempt to identify potential responsible parties. In addition, for any clean-up program to be effective, the existing sources of contamination must be identified and mitigated. At its August 1988 meeting, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) endorsed a strategy for addressing the ground water contamination program in the San Gabriel Valley. Subsequently, staff developed an action plan for implementing each of the four work components in the strategy. The proposed Cooperative Agreement with U.S. EPA addresses the source investigation component of the strategy.

The LARWQCB began using funds from the initial grant in June 1989 and is currently using funds from the ninth such grant, which is for the period January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1998.

SWRCB staff proposed to apply to U.S. EPA for a grant of approximately $700,000 to continue the project in Federal Fiscal Year 1999. If funds are available, U.S. EPA has indicated that it intends to offer the grant. U.S. EPA grant funds will be used by the LARWQCB to continue source identification activities in the San Gabriel Valley. This allows State-funded LARWQCB staff to concentrate on the soil and ground water assessment portions of the source investigation program.

The five tasks to be supported by the proposed grant are summarized below:

1. Generate a list of potential sources of ground water contamination in each study area in the San Gabriel Valley.
   
2. Conduct site inspections at all potential sources to evaluate the likelihood and potential of discharge from each to and/or ground water.
   
3. Confirm or deny discharge at the sites identified in Task 2 above.
   
4. Provide coordination among the U.S. EPA, SWRCB, LARWQCB and administer the program.
   
5. Track all aspects of the program with an automated Data Management System and provide for the reporting needs of the LARWQCB, SWRCB, and U.S. EPA.
   

The grant will continue funding for 6.0 positions at the LARWQCB and 0.3 position at the SWRCB for technical, administrative, and legal support.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB apply for a Federal grant of approximately $700,000 from U.S. EPA to continue source investigation activities in the San Gabriel Valley?

FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed grant would continue the San Gabriel Valley Pollutant Source Investigation Project with Federal grant funds. The FY 1998-99 SWRCB budget has adequate expenditure authority.

RWQCB IMPACT: Yes. LARWQCB.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

That the SWRCB authorizes the Executive Director to:

1. Apply for and accept approximately $700,000 in Federal grant funds, and
   
2. Negotiate a workplan with LARWQCB to continue source investigation activities in the San Gabriel Valley.

WHEREAS:

1. The San Gabriel Valley ground water basin provides drinking water for over one million people.

2. A portion of the San Gabriel Valley ground water basin is contaminated with volatile organic compounds and nitrates at concentrations exceeding State and Federal drinking water standards.

3. The San Gabriel Valley ground water basin was placed on U.S. EPA's National Priorities List in 1984.

4. The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) has been investigating sources of ground water contamination in the San Gabriel Valley since October 1985 in an attempt to identify potential responsible parties.

5. In April 1988, the LARWQCB endorsed a program strategy and action plan for continuing the cleanup of the San Gabriel ground water basin.

6. U.S. EPA is making a grant of approximately $700,000 available to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to fund staff of SWRCB and LARWQCB to continue source identification activities in the San Gabriel Valley.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The SWRCB authorizes the Executive Director to:

1. Apply for and accept a Federal grant of approximately $700,000 from U.S. EPA, and

2. Negotiate a workplan with LARWQCB to continue source identification activities in the San Gabriel Valley.

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on August 26, 1998.
_____________________________________

Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board