ITEM 2: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A TWO-YEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REGION 9 (USEPA) FOR THE NORTH COAST REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD TO PREPARE SITE ASSESSMENTS FOR RANKING SITES FOR SUPERFUND CONSIDERATION.

DISCUSSION: The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), on behalf of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB), first entered into a $300,000 Cooperative Agreement with the USEPA in 1992, to conduct Preliminary Assessments (PAs) and Site Investigations (SIs) at sites within the North Coast Region. Since that time, the SWRCB, on behalf of the NCRWQCB, has entered into new Cooperative Agreements to continue the program. Under these agreements, the NCRWQCB staff have conducted assessment and investigation activities, overseen and managed assessments and investigations conducted by responsible parties, and ensured the accuracy of those assessments. The screening and PA/SI process involves assessing the likelihood of a release of hazardous materials requiring further evaluation at the site screening stage, then further assessing the site to project a Hazard Ranking System (HRS) score during the PA, and verifying the ranking score during the SI. Since the initial agreement, the NCRWQCB has completed over 25 PA Reports, 19 SI Reports, and are preparing additional PA/SI Reports. The USEPA is satisfied with the NCRWQCB's progress under the current Cooperative Agreement, and has commended the NCRWQCB for its work.

The USEPA and the NCRWQCB wish to continue the PA/SI program by entering into a new Cooperative Agreement extending to September 30, 2000, and providing an additional $400,000 to the North Coast Region for two federal fiscal years. The baseline funding in the NCRWQCB's budget for this project is about $200,000 per fiscal year. NCRWQCB staff has developed a draft workplan for USEPA's review. This workplan includes site screening, PA reporting, and SI reporting tasks. NCRWQCB staff plan to complete 70 screening documents and 14 PA/SIs over two years beginning October 1, 1998. The screening documents will be completed for those sites first coming to the attention of the NCRWQCB and other sites where insufficient information has been gathered. The PA/SI work will be conducted on sites established on a priority list jointly developed by the USEPA and NCRWQCB staffs. NCRWQCB staff will submit semi-annual reports summarizing work progress, future work schedules, and issues and problems identified during the semi-annual period. Following completion of the PA and SI, site cleanup oversight is addressed either under the SLIC cost recovery program or the USEPA's Superfund Program.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB authorize the Executive Director, or his designee, to accept federal funds to execute the Cooperative Agreement on behalf of the NCRWQCB?

FISCAL IMPACT: Acceptance of the Cooperative Agreement will result in $400,000 of Federal funding to perform water quality protection activities. The funds will be utilized as follows: $100,000 will augment in fiscal year 1998-1999 the residual funding from the last Cooperative Agreement to reach the baseline funding of $200,000; $200,000 will be used in fiscal year 1999-2000; and the balance of $100,000 will be utilized for work assignments in fiscal year 2000-2001.

The NCRWQCB has 1.5 personnel years and $200,000 in their FY 1998-1999 and FY 1999-2000 baseline budgets to complete this work, which may include use of contract interns or temporary help. The NCRWQCB does not anticipate needing any additional budget authority.

RWQCB IMPACT: Yes. NCRWQCB.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The SWRCB should authorize the Executive Director to negotiate and execute the proposed Cooperative Agreement.

DRAFT AUGUST 3, 1998

WHEREAS:

1. USEPA has provided funding to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) to conduct site screening, preliminary assessments, and site investigations for ranking sites for Superfund consideration.
   
2. The USEPA has commended the NCRWQCB on its work and has offered the NCRWQCB $400,000 to continue preparing site screening documents, Preliminary Assessments, and Site Investigations at potential hazardous waste sites.
   
3. Negotiation of new Cooperative Agreement will provide federal funds to assess water quality problems.
   

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The State Water Resources Control Board authorizes the Executive Officer to execute a $400,000 Cooperative Agreement with USEPA to complete Site Screening Documents, conduct preliminary Assessments and Site Investigations at potential hazardous waste sites.

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