Los Angeles Basin
Contaminated Sediments Task Force

Summary of Executive Committee Meeting on February 2, 2000

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Welcome and Introductions

The Executive Committee members attending were Alexis Strauss (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), Peter Douglas (California Coastal Commission), Dennis Dickerson (Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board) and Charles Landry (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). Others attending included Steven John (EPA), Jaime Kooser (Ca Coastal Commission), Michael Lyons (LA Regional Board), Doland Cheung, Tony Risko and Mo Chang (Army Corps of Engineers), Tom Johnson and Robert Kantor (Port of Long Beach), Mitzy Taggart and Mark Gold (Heal the Bay), Steve Bay (Southern California Coastal Waters Research Project), Guang-yu Wang (Santa Monica Restoration Project), Dean Smith (Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors), Paul Johansen and Kathryn Curtis (Port of Los Angeles), Korie Johnson (National Marine Fisheries Service) and Geoffrey Owu (Los Angeles County Department of Public Works).

Presentation on Past Year’s Activities

Michael Lyons and Jaime Kooser presented a brief power point presentation covering the background of the Contaminated Sediments Task Force (membership, mission, goals and objectives), success stories during the past year (multi-user disposal site, improved permitting process, long-term strategy adoption process), and next steps (continue subcommittee work on long-term strategy, further streamline permitting process, develop funding strategy to complete studies to fill data gaps).

Focus on Funding

Michael Lyons, Tony Risko and Dean Smith presented background information on the Task Force’s recent efforts to secure funding for data gaps studies. Each action subcommittee working on particular components of the long-term management plan has identified data gaps, cost estimates to complete the needed studies and potential funding mechanisms. The Task Force has prioritized these data gaps to focus on several critical projects: create sediment monitoring database ($100,000), develop sediment quality guidelines ($1 million or more), evaluate dredging operations control measures ($175,000), studies for a regional aquatic disposal site ($200,000), pilot studies for beneficial re-use feasibility ($100,000) and development of watershed source control measures ($200,000).

The Executive Committee suggested that a more detailed breakdown of specific tasks associated with each study would be useful. We also need to determine the appropriate time frame (i.e., do all of the studies need to be completed in one year, or can some tasks be split over multiple years or performed sequentially?).

The Executive Committee strongly encouraged coordination of our efforts with other groups performing similar tasks, particularly with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (coordination should start at a high level within the agency, e.g. with Don Wolfe).

After some discussion of various alternatives to secure funds (enforcement actions by the LA Regional Board or EPA, upcoming water and parks bonds, collaboration with LA County Dept of Public Works and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), the Executive Committee asked whether the Los Angeles Regional Board would be the appropriate entity to oversee completion of data gap studies. Dennis Dickerson indicated that the Regional Board could perform this function. The Executive Committee then recommended that the Task Force develop a package of proposals + dollar amounts for funding the Regional Board and pursue a one-time allocation from the legislature in May 2000. Peter Douglas and Dennis Dickerson volunteered to talk to the State Water Resources Control Board and Cal EPA to facilitate approval of such a package (the Regional Board requires approval from these two groups before proceeding to the Department of Finance with a budget change proposal).

For this package of proposals, we need a clear statement of purpose and justification for the proposed studies, as well as good documentation for the cost estimates. We need to consider whether techniques from other areas can be adapted for local application. We also need to discuss the ramifications of failing to complete any critical studies.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discussed the ongoing Marina del Rey feasibility study, which will lead to development of a dredged material management plan for dealing with contaminated sediments from this area (North Energy Island Borrow Pit appears to be the preferred alternative) and a sediment control plan (preliminary sediment and trash control measures). The CMANC group still is seeking augmentation of the Corps of Engineers’ budget by $400,000 from Congress in March to perform additional work as part of a feasibility study. The group has been pretty successful in the past at securing funds, thanks to the participation of local congressmen (Kuykendahl, Horn).

Legislative Report

We were running out of time when we reached this item. The Executive Committee members had reviewed the draft version of the legislative report and agreed to submit written comments by February 25, 2000. The Task Force members were encouraged to review the report as well and submit any comments by this same date. In general, the Executive Committee suggested that we condense the report and submit a more streamlined version to the legislature. Once comments have been received, we will revise the draft and circulate an improved version for review.

Conclusions

Given the acute need for additional funding to complete data gaps studies, the Task Force will focus upon preparation of a budget change proposal within the next two weeks. The Executive Committee agreed that it would be useful to meet again in approximately 6 months (around August 2000).


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