ITEM 7: CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A STANDARD AGREEMENT WITH THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OR ANOTHER PUBLIC AGENCY TO ASSESS THE VULNERABILITY OF GROUND WATER RESOURCES TO POLLUTION BY METHYL TERTIARY BUTYL ETHER (MTBE) THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF A GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

DISCUSSION: Since the early 1990s, MTBE has been added to gasoline in relatively high concentrations to improve air quality. MTBE is highly water soluble and resistant to natural degradation and has a low taste and odor threshold. Once released into the environment, MTBE can quickly degrade a drinking water source.

Executive Order D-5-99 directs the State Water Resources Control Board to prioritize ground water recharge areas and aquifers that are most vulnerable to contamination by MTBE. Development of GIS-based ground water vulnerability assessment tools would allow regulatory caseworkers a simple, efficient, and needed means of prioritizing workload and addressing individual cases.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the State Water Resources Control Board authorize the Executive Director or his designee to execute and amend as necessary a standard agreement with the Regents of the University of California, U. S. Department of Energy or another public agency to develop a GIS to identify the location of underground fuel tanks in vulnerable ground water areas, and assess the threat that they pose?

FISCAL IMPACT: Expenditure authority in the amount of $500,000 is prosposed for inclusion in the Governor’s Budget,in the May Revision. None

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the State Water Resources Control Board authorize the Executive Director or his designee to execute and amend as necessary a standard agreement with the Regents of the University of California, U. S. Department of Energy or another public agency to develop a GIS to identify the location of underground fuel tanks in vulnerable ground water areas, and assess the threat that they pose.

WHEREAS:

1. Since the early 1990s, Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) has been added to gasoline in relatively high concentrations to improve air quality. MTBE is highly water soluble and resistant to natural degradation and has a low taste and odor threshold. Once released into the environment, MTBE can quickly degrade a drinking water source.

2. Executive Order D-5-99 directs the State Water Resources Control Board to prioritize ground water recharge areas and aquifers that are most vulnerable to contamination by MTBE. Development of a GIS-based ground water vulnerability assessment tool would allow regulatory caseworkers a simple, efficient, and needed means of prioritizing workload and addressing individual cases.

3. Expenditure authority for this agreement is included in the Governor’s Budget, as revised.
 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The State Water Resources Control Board authorize the Executive Director or his designee to enter into an agreement, not to exceed $500,000, and any amendments thereto, with the Regents of the University of California, U. S. Department of Energy or another public agency to develop a GIS to identify the location of underground fuel tanks in vulnerable ground water areas.

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 June 17, 1999.

______________________________
Maureen Marche
Administrative Assistant to the Board