STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD

BOARD MEETING SESSION – DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY

OCTOBER 21, 1999

 

ITEM       4

 

SUBJECT

 

CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (USEPA) FOR IMPLEMENTING SANTA MONICA BAY RESTORATION PROJECT’S FISCAL YEAR (FY) 1999-00 WORKPLAN

 

DISCUSSION

 

Public concern about the health of Santa Monica Bay (Bay) led the State of California and

USEPA to include the Bay in the National Estuary Program in 1988.  Many stakeholders --government, industry, environmental organizations, and the public -- worked together cooperatively in the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project (SMBRP) to assess the Bay’s problems, develop solutions, and prepare a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).  The CCMP, known as the Bay Restoration Plan (Plan), was approved by the SMBRP Management Committee in September 1994 and subsequently was approved by former Governor Pete Wilson of California and USEPA Administrator Carol Browner in 1995.

 

The Plan identifies solutions and sets forth a course of action for restoration of the Bay and its natural resources.  A key strategy of the Plan is to emphasize pollution prevention at its source.  The SMBRP’s current mission is to implement specific actions in the Plan, to oversee the implementation, and to support efforts by local, State and federal entities to implement the Plan.

 

The Plan designates the Bay Watershed Council to serve as the governing body of the SMBRP during Plan implementation.  The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB), through a cooperative agreement with the USEPA, are the primary fiscal agents for federal and State funding to the SMBRP; and they provide administrative, management and financial support.  The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation also acts as a fiscal agent to the SMBRP for federal, local, and private funds that support implementation actions of the Plan.

 

The SWRCB Executive Director submitted a grant application in September 1999 to USEPA for

$207,406 to support a portion of the SMBRP’s FY 1999-00 workplan (attached).  This grant award will amend the existing grant (NW 999732-01) which extends through June 30, 2000.

 

POLICY ISSUE

 

Should the SWRCB authorize the Executive Director, or his designee, to accept a grant from USEPA for an amount up to $207,406 to continue the Cooperative Agreement for FY 1999-00 and  to negotiate and execute contracts and agreements to implement the CCMP for Santa Monica Bay in accordance with the workplan approved by the SMBRP Steering Committee.

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

This grant award of $207,406 will be amended to the existing grant (NW 999732-01), which extends through June 30, 2000.  There is adequate federal authority in the SWRCB budget, and sufficient State matching funds are available ($69,135 from PCA 44201 TBT) for this grant.

 

RWQCB IMPACT

 

Yes.  LARWQCB.

 

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

 

That the SWRCB authorize the Executive Director, or his designee, to accept a grant from USEPA for an amount up to $207,406 to continue the Cooperative Agreement for FY 1999-00 and to negotiate and execute contracts and agreements to implement the CCMP for Santa Monica Bay in accordance with the workplan approved by the SMBRP Steering Committee.

 

Note:  The SMBRP’s FY 1999-00 workplan is not available electronically.  For copies, please contact:  Elena Tarailo/Division of Water Quality/State Water Resources Control Board/P.O. Box 944213/Sacramento, CA 94244-2130/(916) 657-0583 or FAX (916) 657-2388

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

September 27, 1999  DRAFT

 

STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD

RESOLUTION NO. 99-

 

AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ACCEPT A GRANT

FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR IMPLEMENTING

SANTA MONICA BAY RESTORATION PROJECT’S FISCAL YEAR (FY) 1999-00 WORKPLAN

 

WHEREAS:

 

1.  The Santa Monica Bay was included in the National Estuary Program in July 1988 in order to restore the beneficial uses of Santa Monica Bay.

 

2.  On July 22, 1999 the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project’s (SMBRP) Steering Committee approved the SMBRP’s FY 1999-00 implementation workplan.

 

3.  The State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Executive Director submitted a grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for $207,406 of Federal Fiscal Year 1998 funds pursuant to Clean Water Act Section 104(b)(3).

 

4.  Sufficient funds ($69,135) are available for the SMBRP in FY 1999-00 through the Tobacco Tax Fund to meet State matching funds requirements for the Federal grant.

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

 

The SWRCB authorizes the Executive Director, or his designee, to accept a grant from USEPA for an amount  up to $207,406 to continue the Cooperative Agreement for FY 1999-00 and to  negotiate and execute contracts and agreements to implement the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Santa Monica Bay in accordance with the workplan approved by the SMBRP Steering Committee.

 

CERTIFICATION

 

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 October 21, 1999.

 

 

__________________________________

Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board