ITEM: 5
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT A GRANT OF APPROXIMATELY $600,000 FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (USEPA), REGION 9, AND TO NEGOTIATE A WORKPLAN TO CONTINUE SOURCE INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
DISCUSSION: The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) has been investigating sources of ground water contamination in the San Fernando Valley as part of its Underground Tank and Well Investigation Program since 1984.

Four separate areas within the San Fernando Valley were included in USEPA's National Priority List (NPL) for Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites and the analogous State Priority Ranking List prepared by the Department of Health Services in 1986. Three of the NPL sites are located in the San Fernando Basin and include the North Hollywood/Burbank, Crystal Springs, and Pollock well fields. The fourth site is the Crescentia Valley and Glorietta well fields located in the Verdugo Basin.

As part of the requirements under Superfund, USEPA must attempt to identify potential responsible parties. In addition, for any clean-up program to be effective, the existing source of contamination must be identified and mitigated. The proposed cooperative agreement will augment the LARWQCB and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) resources to identify and mitigate the sources contributing to pollution within the NPL site areas and to develop a list of potential responsible parties for enforcement and recovery of clean-up costs.

The LARWQCB began using funds from the initial grant in March 1990. Funds from an eighth grant are now being used. The grant period for the seventh grant expires June 30, 1999. SWRCB staff proposes to apply to USEPA for a grant of approximately $600,000 to continue the project in Federal Fiscal Year 1999. If funds are available, USEPA has indicated that it intends to offer the grant to the SWRCB.

USEPA grant funds will be used by the LARWQCB to continue source identification activities in the San Fernando Valley. This allows State-funded LARWQCB staff to concentrate on the soil and ground water assessment portions of the source investigations program.

The tasks to be supported by the proposed cooperative agreement are summarized below:

1. Generate a focused list of potential sources of ground water contamination in the Verdugo Basin area.

2. Conduct site inspections at all potential sources to evaluate the likelihood that a discharge has occurred.

3. Organize information on existing chemical use in the San Fernando Valley into a data system with Geographic Information System capabilities.

4. Enter soil analysis data from previous investigations into a regional data system.

5. Determine the lateral and vertical extent of chromium contamination at facilities with known chromium problems in the Verdugo Basin area.

6. Administer the program and coordinate activities among USEPA, SWRCB, and LARWQCB.

The grant will continue funding for 3.2 positions (3.0 personnel years [PYs]) at the LARWQCB and 0.3 position (0.3 PY) at the SWRCB for technical, administrative, and legal support.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB authorize the Executive Director or his designee to apply for and accept a Federal grant of approximately $600,000 from USEPA and negotiate a workplan to continue source investigation activities in the San Fernando Valley?

FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed grant would continue the San Fernando Valley Pollutant Source Investigation Project with Federal grant funds. Division of Water Quality staff is working with the Budget Office to increase the Fiscal Year 1998-99 SWRCB budget to ensure adequate expenditure authority.

RWQCB IMPACT: Yes, LARWQCB

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the SWRCB authorizes the Executive Director or his designee to:

1. Apply for and accept a Federal grant of approximately $600,000 from USEPA.

2. Negotiate a workplan to continue source investigation activities in the San Fernando Valley.

December 28, 1998 DRAFT

WHEREAS:

1. The San Fernando Valley ground water basin provides drinking water for over 600,000 people.

2. A portion of the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo ground water basins are polluted with volatile organic compounds, chromium, and nitrates at concentrations exceeding State and Federal drinking water standards.

3. Four areas within the San Fernando Valley were placed on USEPA's National Priority List (NPL) for Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites in 1986. The four areas are: North Hollywood/Burbank, Crystal Springs, Pollock well fields in the San Fernando Valley Basin, and the Crescentia Valley and Glorietta well fields in the Verdugo Basin.

4. The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) has been investigating sources of ground water contamination in the San Fernando Valley under its Underground Tank and Well Investigation Programs since 1984 in an attempt to identify sources contributing to ground water pollution.

5. If funding is appropriated, USEPA will make a grant available to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) which will continue funding for additional staff positions to continue source investigation activities in the San Fernando Valley.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The SWRCB authorizes the Executive Director or his designee to:

1. Apply for and accept a Federal grant of approximately $600,000 from USEPA.

2. Negotiate a workplan to continue source investigation activities in the San Fernando 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 January 21, 1999.

Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board