|
***
|
The
energy challenge facing California is real.
Every Californian needs to take immediate action
to reduce energy consumption
|
|
***
|
For
a list of simple ways to reduce demand and cut
your energy costs, see the tips at: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/news/echallenge.html
|
The
Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting of March 11, 1999
has been canceled due to a lack of quorum. Items
scheduled to be heard at this meeting will be continued
until the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting
currently scheduled for April 22, 1999, unless new
Board appointments are made that would allow for
a special meeting to be held before then. The meeting
will be held at the City of Camarillo Council Chambers,
601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo beginning at 9:00 a.m.
If you need more information, please contact Robyn
Goodman, Executive Assistant at 323/266-7514.
Relocation of Regional Board Office
The Regional Board offices are planned to move from our current location in Monterey Park to the new Junipero Serra Building in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, March 12th. To accommodate this move, Regional Board offices will be closed for business from Wednesday March 10th through Wednesday, March 17th. During that period, staff will be engaged in extensive field assignments in addition to move related activities. To accommodate the extensive packing necessary for our files, there will be no file reviews conducted from March 8th - March 19th. Our new address is 320 W. 4th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 and our new general phone number will be 213 576-6600.
New Staff Members
Miriam Zech, Water Resource Control Engineer, and Tracy Woods, Environmental Specialist III, have joined the Regional Board's new TMDL Unit. Myriam received a Masters in Environmental Engineering from ENPC in Paris France. Before joining the Board, Myriam was an independent contractor working on stormwater runoff, water quality impacts, and water treatment in Northern California. Tracy received a degree in Environmental Biology from Humboldt State University. Most recently Tracy has been working Planning issues with the Central Valley Regional Board. Prior to the Regional Board Tracy was with the Ecological Studies Branch of the Department of Water Resources, analyzing environmental data to determine the impacts of water diversions from the San Joaquin Delta.
Dr. Weixing Tong, Underground Storage Tank section, L.A. Coastal unit, and Dr. Jau Ren Chen in the LA Coastal Watershed Unit joined also joined the Regional Board in February 1999. Dr. Tong is an Associate Engineering Geologist. He has his Ph.D. in Earth Science from UC Santa Cruz, and is a California registered geologist. He has worked for private consulting firm, Geoscience support services, for the last four years before joining us, and has many years' experience in the field of water supply. Dr. Chen is a Water Resource Control Engineer. He completed his Ph.D in Environmental Science from USC in 1998. He also has master degrees in environmental science and environmental health.
MUN Dedesignations
On November 2, 1998, the Regional Board voted to amend the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region (Basin Plan), by adopting a resolution to "Incorporate Changes in Beneficial Use Designations for Selected Waters." This amendment removes the beneficial use designation for "Municipal and Domestic Supply" (MUN) from 8 coastal surface waters and 2 ground water areas along the coast. At a public hearing on February 18, 1999, the State Board voted to approve this amendment. Before becoming effective, the amendment needs to be approved by the Office of Administrative Law and the US EPA. The Office of Administrative Law should complete review of the amendment by April.
Trash TMDL-East Fork San Gabriel River
The East Fork of the San Gabriel River, located in the Angeles National Forest, is a popular area for families to picnic on the weekends. On a typical summer weekend, about 7500 people will recreate in the area. The enormous number of day users generates a huge amount of trash. Due to the large amount of trash in and around the river, the East Fork was listed as impaired on the 303d list. As a condition of a Regional Board permit for the San Gabriel Canyon Sediment Management Plan, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACPW) agreed to develop a TMDL for trash in the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. LACPW and the US Forest Service estimate, using the most readily available measurement, that about 222 bags of 32-gallon garbage bags of trash are removed each weekend day from the area. Every type of litter is found, from broken glass to diapers. This TMDL will focus reduction efforts on public education and increasing the accessibility of trash receptacles. The draft TMDL was presented to the San Gabriel River Watershed Council on February 17 by Jon Bishop of the Regional Board and Pat Wood of LACPW. The goal of the East Fork TMDL is to achieve "zero avoidable trash" by October 31, 2000. "Unavoidable" litter in the area totals about 6 32-gallon bags of trash on weekend days. A public workshop is planned for April. The TMDL will be submitted to the Board for approval in June 1999.
State Revolving Fund 1999/2000 Applications Due March 12
The Regional Board is currently developing a Proposed Priority List for the State Revolving Fund loan program for state fiscal year 1999/2000. The State Revolving Fund is a low interest loan program designed to fund the construction of publicly owned wastewater treatment and water reclamation facilities; projects to mitigate pollution from non-point sources; and projects to enhance estuarine habitats. Parties who wish to apply for funds must submit an application to the Regional Board by March 12, 1999. Please note that projects on previous Priority Lists must reapply to be on the 1999/2000 Proposed Priority List. The Executive Officer will submit Region 4's List to the State Water Board for inclusion into the Statewide Priority List. The State Board will subsequently rank the projects using public health and water quality criteria as well as the applicant's readiness to proceed. For more information, please contact Bryan Schweickert at (323) 266.7520.
319(h)/205(j) Request for Proposals
The Request for Proposals (RFP) packets for 319(h)/205(j) grant funds will be mailed by March 1 by the State Water Resources Control Board to those on the current mailing list. Application forms may also be obtained after that date on the State Board website . General procedural information on applying for the funds may be obtained by contacting Shirley Birosik, Watershed Coordinator, at the Regional Board. She may be contacted by phone at (323)266-7617 or by E-mail at sbirosik@rb4.swrcb.ca.gov.
Watershed Management Initiative Chapter
Each Regional Board has completed the process of producing a "chapter" on how that Board is implementing watershed management in the Region. The consolidated statewide chapter will become the basis for funding decisions including allocating money for monitoring, TMDL development, and grant monies disbursement. Copies of this Region's chapter may be obtained by contacting the Regional Board office, Regional Programs Section secretary at 323/7521. The next update of this Chapter is scheduled for March 1999.
San Pasqual--Proposed Sewer Project
Wendy Phillips, Chief of the Regional Programs section, participated in a public hearing on February 6, 1999, led by the County of Los Angeles on behalf of a proposed sewer project for San Pasqual. San Pasqual is a neighborhood of about 700 properties in an unincorporated portion of the County of Los Angeles, southeast of Pasadena and north of San Marino. Residents in San Pasqual rely upon septic systems and cesspools for wastewater disposal. Due to the high density of the neighborhood and poor soil conditions, disposal systems in portions of the neighborhood have high failure rates. The residents will be voting in March to approve formation of an Improvement District for the sewer project. Preliminary cost estimates for the project are estimated to total about $6 million and the County hopes to fund most of these costs through the State's SRF Loan Program.
Industrial Storm Water Program
An important requirement under the General Permit for the Industrial Storm Water Program is annual reporting, including storm water monitoring at least twice a year. Monitoring efforts should include visual observations of storm water discharges, and collection and analyses of samples of storm water discharges. About 30% of the Industrial Storm Water permittees failed to collect samples for the 1997/98 wet season, and were sent Notices to Comply (Level 1 enforcement letters) in January.
Results of the permittees' monitoring efforts must be recorded on standard annual report forms, and submitted to Regional Boards by July 1 of each year. The compliance rate for 1998/99 annual reports had improved to 92% by February 1, 1999, which is the highest since inception of the program five years ago (when only about 50% of facilities complied with annual reporting requirements). For the 200 facilities that remain in violation of annual reporting requirements, Regional Board staff have begun issuing Administrative Civil Liabilities (ACLs), 10 of which were issued in December (and reissued in January and February due to the postponed Board meeting).
Chloride TMDL
In January 1997, the Regional Board adopted a Chloride Policy (Resolution No. 97-02: Amendment to the California Regional Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region, to incorporate a Policy for Addressing Levels of Chloride in Discharges of Wastewaters). This policy, in part, directs staff to work with concerned parties to consider revision of chloride objectives and/or wasteload allocations to ensure that all beneficial uses are adequately protected chloride. The Regional Board's most recent outreach effort was a workshop in Ventura on January 13th, at which Dr. Ben Faber (UC Cooperative Extension) discussed why irrigation water with chloride levels above 105 mg/L can harm sensitive crops (such as avocados and strawberries) under certain conditions. Board staff Jonathan Bishop and Elizabeth Erickson presented preliminary estimates of agricultural loading in the Santa Clara watershed and an evaluation of well data showing increasing chloride levels in ground water along the Santa Clara River.
On April 7, 1999, Regional Board staff will conduct another workshop, to reaffirm existing water quality objectives for chloride in the Santa Clara River and to discuss possible elements of a TMDL (including compliance strategies for growers and POTWs). An agenda for this workshop will be mailed out in early March. Please call Elizabeth Erickson at (323) 266-7609 with any questions or comments.
Chloride TMDL Workshop
Wednesday,
April 7, 1999 @ 10:00 a.m.
at the County of Ventura Admin. Building
3rd Floor Multi-purpose Room
800 South Victoria Blvd, Ventura
The Bay Protection Cleanup Plan
The Bay Protection Cleanup Plan, originally scheduled to be reviewed and adopted by the Regional Board in January, has been sent to the State Board under the Executive Officer's signature, following guidance from the State Board. The Regional Board's plan is needed to finalize the statewide program for submittal to the legislature by the statutory deadline of June 30, 1999. The Plan is being sent to interested parties with a notice that it will not be heard by the Board. Parties will have another opportunity to comment on issues at the time of public review for the statewide plan.
City of Los Angeles - Program Status Update on the Nitrogen Removal Program
The City of Los Angeles (City) staff made presentation to Regional Board staff on the progress of the nitrogen removal programs for the Los Angeles - Glendale and Tillman Water Reclamation Plants which discharge reclaimed water to the upper Los Angeles River. The NPDES permits for the two reclamation plants were renewed in June 1998. The NPDES permits were augmented with formal Time Schedule Orders for the two plants for various constituents including nitrite. The NPDES permits also include provision for compliance for ammonia nitrogen by the year 2002 and includes a finding acknowledging Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for ammonia and total nitrogen. Currently, the plants aren't configured to remove nitrogen to the levels acknowledged in the Time Schedules or permits. Subsequently, the City has evaluated alternatives for removing nitrogen and has conducted pilot testing at the two plants using biological treatment for the removal of nitrogen. The City presented the technical details of the work done to date as well as cost projections and schedules.
Nitrification-Denitrification (NDN) Process at CSDLAC's Valencia WRP
In June 1995, the Board issued a revised NPDES permit for the Valencia WRP. The permit contains a requirement to implement the Basin Plan ammonia objectives or to conduct studies leading to an approved, less restrictive, site-specific objective for ammonia. To comply with this requirement, in early January 1999, the Districts has begun a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of converting the existing activated sludge process to a single sludge NDN process. In this NDN process, ammonia is first converted to nitrate in an oxidation stage
(nitrification); then, nitrate is converted to nitrogen gas (denitrification).
The pilot NDN process at Valencia utilizes one of seven activated sludge aeration tanks and one of seven final clarifiers. During startup, variations in effluent levels of nitrate as expected have caused slight exceedances of the effluent limitation for nitrates plus nitrites since the plant currently operates close to the limit. However, after the process was stabilized, total nitrogen, including nitrates and nitrites, was reduced significantly. Although the exact results at Valencia cannot be predicted at this time, an overall decrease in total nitrogen is expected. A similar mode of operation has been successful at the Districts' Whittier Narrows WRP in reducing both nitrate and ammonia concentrations in the final effluent.
250,000 Gallons of Raw Sewage Spilled to the Ventura Harbor
On January 25, 1999, MERCO Construction, a contractor to the City of Ventura Water Reclamation Facility, hit the primary power feed cables of the wastewater treatment plant while excavating for placement of a storm water control sump. This accident resulted in loss of power for the entire treatment plant including pumping stations for a period of one hour and forty-four minutes until emergency power could be engaged. During the power loss, wastewater in the sewer collection system immediately above the treatment plant headworks overflowed from manholes for approximately forty minutes. It is estimated that approximately 250,000 gallons of wastewater reached the Ventura Harbor. Also because of the power outage, the 2.0 NTU turbidity discharge limit for the treatment plant was violated for two days.
The City's field crews began to cleanup of the areas affected by overland flow of wastewater immediately after the overflow ceased. Water samples from the Harbor and nearby beaches were taken by the Ventura County Environmental Health and the City of Ventura. Three miles of beach near the Harbor were posted with warning signs. Regional Board staff responded the incident with an immediate inspection of the cleanup operations and a follow-up inspection to the Harbor to verify the adequacy of posting. Investigation for the incident is going on, as detailed reports and analytical data become available. Appropriate enforcement actions are being considered.
Public Hearing on the University of California's Report on the Health and Environmental Assessment of Methyl tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
On February 19, 1999, Regional Board staff attended a Public Hearing on the University of California's Report on the Health and Environmental Assessment of MTBE (November 1998). Senate Bill 521 (Mountjoy), the MTBE Public Health and Environmental Protection Act of 1997, directed, in part, the University of California to research the health and environmental effects of MTBE. There were 12 research topics focusing on the assessment of the risk and benefits to human health and the environment from MTBE. The Report summarizes the findings and opinions of the University of California with respect to the use of gasoline additives such as MTBE.
At the hearing, the Regional Board's Executive Officer provided testimony focused on the impacts from MTBE on this Regions surface and groundwater resources. This Region is especially sensitive to MTBE due to the large number of UST's and other potential sources including bulk storage terminals, refineries, and refined product pipelines. A total of 12 water production wells within the Region have detected MTBE. Of these 12 production wells, 8 wells are out of service. In addition, 2 production wells were shut down due to imminent threat from MTBE. MTBE has also been detected in Lake Castiac, which is used as a surface source for drinking water. The source of the MTBE pollution in Lake Castiac is attributed to the use of recreational motor craft.
Generally we are seeing an increasing in number of sites where MTBE is being detected. In part, this reflects the increasing utilization of MTBE containing gasoline and required testing for MTBE at all tank leak sites. When MTBE is identified at a tank leak site it increases the overall cost of assessment, monitoring, and cleanup. A complete copy of the University of California's report can be obtained on the Internet at the CAL/EPA's website http://www.calepa.ca.gov/.
Charnock Sub-basin MTBE Investigation Area
The activities within the Charnock Sub-basin Investigation Area have entered Phase II Enforcement activities. The PRPs selected a single group (Shell/Chevron/Exxon Group) to negotiate with the Agencies on October 2, 1998. The PRP group responded to the Agencies on November 20, 1998, with a redline version of the Draft Consent Decree and Scope of Work provided to all PRP's on July 20, 1998. The agencies are currently evaluating potential changes and or modifications to the Draft Consent Decree and Scope of Work.
Additional activities by Regional Board staff are focused on reviewing subsurface investigation reports, notifying PRP's that require additional soil and/or groundwater assessment, overseeing remedial site assessment investigation work, and implementing soil and groundwater cleanup plans where needed. Extensive soil gas and soil sampling work was implemented to complete assessment activities along the Equilon Pipeline (formerly Shell Oil Company). A workplan to complete similar soil gas and soil sampling assessment work was approved for the Chevron Pipeline on January 8, 1998.
Arcadia Wellfield MTBE Investigation
The shallow aquifer in the vicinity of the former Mobil Station 18-LDM has been undergoing active cleanup using a low flow pump, treat, and discharge system. The treatment system is capable of pumping 35 gallon per minutes (GPM) of extracted groundwater water. Currently, up to 14 GPM of groundwater are being pumped from 12 shallow groundwater extraction/monitoring wells. To date, the shallow groundwater recovery and treatment system has removed an estimated 42 pounds of TPH and 120 pounds of MTBE. Residual soil contamination remaining in the vadose zone will be further treated with a vapor extraction system (VES) that will be in operation by the end of February 1999. A Production Aquifer Remediation System (PARS) using activated carbon filtration to clean up the production aquifer has been designed and submitted for agencies' review. Mobil is in the process of applying for permits from local agencies. Construction of PARS is expected to be completed in March 1999. The PARS will be pilot tested to and may become fully operational by late May to June 1999. Mobil has applied to this Regional Board for a NPDES permit to discharge treated water to the storm drain during the pilot testing period.
Southern California Water Company MTBE Pollution Investigation of the Malone Well
In September 1998, the Regional Board was notified that Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) was detected in a Southern California Water Company's (SCWC) drinking water well (Malone Well) located in San Dimas. In October 1998, the Regional Board conducted area-wide inspections and record searches, and identified ten potential responsible parties (PRP's) within a one-mile radius of the Malone Well. In December 1998, the Regional Board sent information request letters to the ten PRP's notifying them of the MTBE detection and requiring site information pertaining to their underground storage tank operations and the results of assessment work completed for tank leaks. The information from the PRP's was due to the Regional Board by January 22, 1999. Site information was received from six of the ten PRP's. One letter for a PRP was returned and will be resent. Three PRP's were sent enforcement letters on February 22, 1999, indicating that their technical report is delinquent.
On January 29, 1999, the SCWC provided production well construction, operation, and hydrogeologic information as requested in our December 29, 1998. The production well (Malone Well) is currently in use for domestic water supply with monthly monitoring required by the Department of Health Services-Drinking Water Field Operations Branch.
Based on the Regional Board's review and evaluation of the information provided and to be provided from the PRP's and SCWC, a determination will be made on the need for any future assessment work in the surrounding area to assist in determining the source(s) and cause(s) of the MTBE pollution.
Mobil Oil Company Service Station No. 18-FG9, Sherman Oaks
Mobil Oil Company (Mobil) operates a service station at 13272 Moorpark Avenue in Sherman Oaks. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) received a permit application from Mobil to operate a catalytic incinerator system as part of a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system to cleanup residual soil and groundwater pollution at the service station site. St. Francis de Sales and Dixie Canyon Elementary schools are located approximately 1/4 mile from the Mobil Oil Service Station. The SCAQMD Permit process requires that residents and the schools be notified of the proposed permit and receive comments from the community on the proposed plan prior to permit approval. Two community meetings were held on November 5, 1998 and November 18, 1998, to provide information to residents in the area and to discuss neighborhood concerns.
A workplan was received on December 18, 1998, for completing a soil gas survey and the installation of additional groundwater monitoring well(s). Copies of the workplan were sent to the designated repository set up by the community group. A 40-day review period of the workplan by interested parties was completed on February 5, 1999. A conditional workplan was approved for implementation on February 24, 1999. A technical report containing the results of the investigation will be submitted to the Regional Board and community group representatives in April 1999. The results from the soil gas survey and the additional groundwater monitoring wells will be used to determine alternatives for site management and the level of cleanup that may be necessary
Update on the Status of the December 22, 1998, Compliance Date for UST Upgrades
The compliance deadline date for the upgrading, replacing, or closing of underground storage tanks (UST) was December 22, 1998. This culminates a more than ten year federal and State program which started in the fall of 1988 to have all UST's meet higher standards for construction, secondary containment, overfill protection, corrosion protection, automatic line leak detectors and pump shut-off, striker plates, monitoring, and spill prevention. Current estimates (mid-February 1999) received from the smaller Local Implementing Agencies (LIA's) indicate they have achieved a compliance rate of 90% or greater. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works reports that 50% of the UST sites under their jurisdiction are in full compliance. The remaining sites are either in the process of getting certified by completing upgrade work necessary or will abandon their UST's. Currently, upgrade certificates are being issued by Los Angeles County at a rate of approximately 30 per week. The City of Los Angeles reports that approximately 60% of their sites are in full compliance and they are issuing additional upgrade certificates at a rate of approximately 20 per week.
Completion of Corrective Action at Leaking Underground Fuel Storage Tank Sites
Board staff have reviewed corrective actions taken for soil and groundwater contamination problems from leaking UST's for the time of January 8, 1999 through February 17, 1999, and determined that no further corrective actions are required:
Olympic
Car Wash, Los Angeles (900190043)
Former Exxon Service Station, Inglewood (I-11970)
Air Conditioning Company, Glendale (912010016)
Spills, Leaks, Investigation, and Cleanup (SLIC)
The Belmont Learning Complex (located on 39 acres in downtown Los Angeles) has been the focus of legislative and media attention. Concerns have been raised regarding the LAUSD's purchase of contaminated properties. We have received legislative inquiries regarding disposal of contaminated soils removed from this site for disposal.
San Fernando Valley Chromium Study
U.S. EPA has granted the Regional Board approximately $600,000 to investigate chromium-impacted sites in San Fernando Valley and complete the chlorinated impacted site investigation in the Verdugo Groundwater Basin. In addition, part of the funding is being used to compile a San Fernando Valley database. This database will contain facility-specific chemicals (and their corresponding maximum concentrations), including the chlorinated compounds, that have been reportedly stored, used, and/or detected (in the soil and groundwater) on-site. Once completed, USEPA and Regional Board staff will have the ability to locate potential sources of newly discovered groundwater contaminants in San Fernando Valley.
Jefferson New Middle School - Los Angeles
Follow-up Phase II investigation activities at the Jefferson school were conducted after school hours and on the weekend of February 5-7, 1999. The activities consisted of collecting soil vapor samples from soil vapor probes and groundwater samples from groundwater monitoring wells. A final Phase I-A and a draft Phase I-B supplemental investigation and assessment report have been completed by a consultant and submitted to agencies for review and comment. A Phase I-C soil vapor extraction system evaluation report is being prepared and will be submitted to agencies for review.
Suva Schools - Bell Gardens
An environmental investigation report for multi-agency environmental investigation at the Suva Elementary and Intermediate School was completed on January 25, 1999. Results of soil sampling at Suva indicate that the primary chemical of concern, hexavalent chromium, was detected on the Suva Schools property at generally low concentrations. The cancer risk at Suva Schools from exposure to hexavalent chromium in the soil is considered to be a safe level. The classroom sampling at Suva Schools indicates that hexavalent chromium was not detected in significant amounts, however, elevated levels of lead were detected in a few dust samples. Water fountain sampling at Suva Schools indicate that the water meets State and Federal drinking water standards. Preliminary ambient air sampling data at Suva Schools indicate that cancer risk via the direct inhalation air pathway is 4.1E-05 (4.1 excess cancers in a population of 100,000). The risk is believed to be primary attributable to the Chrome Crankshaft facility stack emissions.
On February 22, 1999, staff attended a meeting at the DTSC office in Glendale and discussed the duty of each agency during a coming workshop for the Suva Schools environmental investigation. Regional Board staff will attend a workshop on Saturday, March 13, 1999, starting at 10:00 a.m., at Suva Elementary School (6740 E. Suva Street, Bell Gardens), and present the results of this Regional Board's investigation for drinking water sampling at Suva Schools and surface soil sampling at neighboring facilities.
C. COASTAL WATERS/ WATERSHEDS UPDATES
Calleguas Creek Watershed
The Water Quality/Water Resources Subcommittee met on February 5. The Subcommittee is currently in the process of drafting a Water Resources/Water Quality Chapter in the Calleguas Creek Watershed Management Plan. Subcommittee members have developed a list of their goals and objectives for water quality and water resources and are working to clarify participants' goals and objectives, identify possible solutions to problems, pinpoint concrete actions which will be taken to address the problems, filter out long-term from short-term goals, and reach agreement on what issues to deal with first. Seven primary goals have been identified including achieving 1) an adequate supply of water, 2) groundwater overdraft protection, 3) water quality protection, 4) maintaining aging infrastructure, 5) protection of natural habitat, 6) protection of lands from floods and erosion, and 7) regulatory streamlining. Agricultural best management practices (BMPs) and concerns over use of household water softeners and their contributions of chloride to treatment plants are two early action items that have been identified.
The Public Education/Outreach Subcommittee has completed the first edition of a newsletter to cover watershed issues and events. It will eventually have its own website with links to other web pages. This group last met on January 11.
The Habitat/Recreation Subcommittee met on January 13 and continues work on a wetlands study which includes a habitat mapping component. Its next meeting is scheduled for March 9.
The Steering Committee for the Watershed Management Plan met on January 6 and received detailed reports and presentations on subcommittee activities. The Committee's next scheduled meeting is February 26.
The full Management Committee met on February 10. The watershed effort will be receiving $200,000 in grant funding from Congress. The committee has begun planning for a State of the Watershed conference to be held in early 1999. Also, each subcommittee presented information on their most recent activities. Information about the management committee and its subcommittees can be found at <www.calleguas.com>.
The Surface Water Element of the Calleguas Creek Characterization Study Monitoring Program continues. Samples are collected on the first Wednesday of each month.
Los Angeles River Watershed
The Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council meets on the third Wednesday of each month. The most recent meetings were held on January 20 and February 17. The January 20 meeting included a workshop featuring the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District and a discussion of options they have identified for disposal of effluent during the six-month period each year their NPDES permit prohibits discharge to Malibu Creek. One option being explored is a new discharge to the Los Angeles River of 3 million gallons per day of reclaimed water during three of those six months when demand for the reuse of the water is low. The February 17 meeting included a presentation by Board staff on the draft trash TMDL for the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. The Council is close to finalizing an arrangement for a website. The Friends of the LA River now has a Los Angeles River e-mail discussion forum. To subscribe, e-mail to <la-river-discuss-subscribe@makelist.com> . The Council will next meet on March 17.
Santa Monica Bay Watershed
The Modeling and Monitoring Subcommittee of the Malibu Creek Watershed Advisory Council is developing a watershed-wide monitoring program for the Malibu Creek Watershed. The group met on September 24, October 16, November 23, and again on January 14; a monitoring program is close to being finalized. Another meeting is scheduled for February 25. A major task soon will be finding partners to participate in this voluntary program to assess and help correct the water quality concerns in this area.
A meeting of the Malibu Creek Watershed Council and Malibu Lagoon Task Force was held on January 16. The Task Force is concerned with lagoon breaching, the septic tracer study, and all aspects of the UCLA study of the lagoon. The Watershed Council meeting included a discussion of the UCLA study's preliminary findings. The study covers a hydrologic evaluation, appropriateness of biological and water quality objectives, water level management, eutrophication issues, pathogens, and the historical condition of the lagoon. This study is being funded by a California Coastal Conservancy grant with assistance by local agencies.
The Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Subcommittee met on January 14. A major topic was the volunteer monitoring program being sponsored by Heal the Bay.
A watershed committee has recently formed in the Topanga Creek Watershed. The most recent meetings were held on December 1 (consisting of a tour of the watershed) and January 25. A major goal will be to prioritize potential actions previously identified in a draft Topanga Creek Watershed Management Study and start a coordinated resource management planning (CRMP) process. A longer-term goal is preparation of a watershed management plan that will help address a number of issues including flood control in the canyon. The committee will meet next on February 27. The committee's website address is <www.TopangaOnline.com/twc/>.
Outreach Program
Contaminant Remediation Section staff member Michael Lyons attended the February 10, 1999, meeting of the Southern California Biological Technical Assistance Group. This interagency group, chaired by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, meets bimonthly to discuss issues of interest to biologists working for state, federal or local resource and regulatory agencies and private consultants. Michael was invited to present an overview of the Los Angeles Regional Board's activities over the past several years for the Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program and a summary of the Regional Cleanup Plan. Approximately 25 Southern California biologists attended the meeting and provided useful feedback and different perspectives on this significant statewide program.
Office Visitors
During the month of January, the Regional Board had 578 visitors.
Personnel Report
For the month of January our staff total was 102 - 83 technical staff (including 4 part-time technical staff), 5 permanent administrative support staff and 14 permanent clerical staff. There is one staff member currently using up leave credits before separating from this Region.
Staff is currently taking steps to fill 2 Unit Chief positions and 4 technical positions. The following appointments were made: 1 Environmental Program Manager I, 1 Senior Water Resource Control Engineer, 1 Sanitary Engineering Associate, 1 Environmental Specialist III, and 1 Associate Information Systems Analyst.
Freedom of Information Act and Public Records Act Requests for the month of January 1999.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and Public Record Act (PRA) requests to review or copy public documents are a very important part of the work at the Regional Board. The FOIA and PRA cover most of the documents at the Regional Board. The State legislature adopted statutory language requiring that these requests be tracked by the Regional Boards. The FOIA and PRA require agencies to provide a response on the availability of the requested document within 10 working days (FOIA) or 10 calendar days (PRA) of receiving the request. The Regional Board has a procedure to respond to, and a database to track these requests.
During
the month of January, 17 FOIA / PRA requests were
received and processed. In all cases but two, a
response was provided within the mandated time frame.
The two exceptions resulted from the complexity
of the request, which was resolved, and responses
were provided by Board Staff.
F. ENFORCEMENT
Summary
of Enforcement Actions - January 1-31, 1999
| Formal Enforcement Actions | |
| Cleanup and Abatement Order |
2
|
| Administrative Enforcement Actions | |
| Failure to comply with Time Schedule Order |
1
|
| Administrative Enforcement Actions for Overdue / Incomplete Reports | |
| Groundwater monitoring reports |
7
|
| Other technical reports |
1
|
| Site assessment plans |
3
|
| Site assessment reports |
3
|
| Site remedial action plans |
1
|
| Incomplete report |
1
|
| Administrative Enforcement Actions for Stormwater Permits | |
| Failed to submit annual report for 1997-98 |
758
|
| Failed to submit storm water pollution prevention plan |
7
|
|
|
|
| Total Enforcement Actions for January |
783
|
All Reported Spills
| Chemical |
18
|
| Crude oil |
2
|
| Diesel |
14
|
| Gasoline |
4
|
| Miscellaneous petroleum products |
12
|
| Oil |
1
|
| Other |
2
|
| Sewage |
7
|
| Waste water |
3
|
| Vapors |
15
|
|
|
|
| Total |
78
|
Spills which Entered Waterways or Waters
| Chemical |
4
|
| Crude oil |
2
|
| Diesel |
4
|
| Gasoline |
2
|
| Miscellaneous petroleum products |
9
|
| Oil |
1
|
| Other |
1
|
| Sewage |
7
|
| Waste water |
2
|
|
|
|
| Total |
32
|