Los Angeles Basin Contaminated Sediments Task Force

Summary of the Implementation Committee Meeting
September 5, 2000

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Attendees

Ralph Appy (POLA), Maile Gee (CCC), Jack Gregg (CCC), Steven John (USEPA), Michael Lyons (LARWQCB), David Moore (MEC), Barbara Munoz (CLB), Mitzy Taggart (HTB)

General Information - Reminder to Advisory Committee to stick around after the meeting to discuss comments on the POLA MCD project.

Save the Date - November 14-17 for the CSTF Workshop in Los Angeles. Please keep your calendar open and let Maile Gee know if you are interested in attending and which day(s) are best for you. We would like everyone to attend, and we would also like ideas on topics for the workshop (and volunteers for presenters). Discussed the need to get more public attendance at the workshop.

  1. Comments on the Draft Consolidated Dredge Permit Application
  2. Ralph Appy discussed the history of the Draft Consolidated Dredge Permit Application. The application was e-mailed to everyone, and additional copies handed out at the meeting. He would like to get comments from everyone by close-of-business on September 22nd, 2000 (via e-mail is fine). After this round of comments, he would like everyone to take it through their legal and administrative review. The RWQCB and CCC may need to put the application through a form approval process. Ralph will send the application to Army Corps Regulatory for their review (Mark Durham/Russ Kaiser). POLA will also contact Larry Cotrill, coordinator of Port Master Plan. The group agreed that as part of the permit streamlining process, the application should also apply to dredging projects in the LA Basin that involve regular sediments.

  3. Long Term Data Storage Needs/Funding

Steven John gave us an update on the proposed database (Study 6) and the group discussed ideas on how to fund long term maintenance and management of additional data as it is collected post Strategy. CSTF Study 6 database will put data in one place but long-term management will not be part of the project due to budget constraints. The ports and agencies both have a strong interest in having the data in one spot and to create a "living database." The ports would like to be able to populate the database in the future and use the data in GIS.

Additional funding may come if the CSTF changes its charter to include a long-term maintenance program. Another option is to give the long-term maintenance task to the RWQCB or SCCWRP. The Ports can have consultants populate the database in the future. Once the sediment quality guidelines are set long-term funding will be needed, and a DMMO may be created to maintain the database. Heal the Bay commented that if other guidelines are found that can be used they may negate the necessity of an ongoing database. The RWQCB has the SWIM database which could be used.

** There is a need to clarify the initial format for the database first, then the Sediment’s and Watershed Subcommittees will determine if we need a centralized or distributed database.

  1. USACE Dredged Material Management Plan Project Schedule

The CSTF Strategy will include some of the results of Dredge and Disposal Alternatives analysis by USACE for the DMMP. USACE has indicated that the Draft Feasibility Study will be available January of 2003 and the Final DMMP will be available in approximately December of 2003. Both of these documents will be available after the CSTF Strategy is scheduled for submittal to the Legislature. Results of the Alternative Review Conference will be available in approximately July of 2002 and would be useful to the CSTF.

Problem: Timing of release of information for inclusion in Strategy

Possible Solutions:

  1. CSTF can use preliminary data to formulate Strategy and propose to update Strategy after DMMP is finalized
  2. CSTF can request extension to postpone Strategy submittal to Legislature until after DMMP is finalized.

There was a suggestion by ACOE at the June meeting to include CSTF standards in final DMMP which will be a Federal Plan. Some stakeholders had concerns about doing this.

The Ports have not agreed to cost sharing yet. What has been discussed is a 50% cost shared between 4-5 different parties (Ports, City of Long Beach and LA County). The involved parties are waiting for a letter from the ACOE defining what they want. The cost sharing agreement could hold up the project even if the ACOE gets funding in October as expected.

The CSTF Draft Strategy is due January of 2002. The CSTF may need to change this deadline to include the preliminary results of the DMMP.

Decision: This issue needs to be raised at the CSTF meeting to determine whether this warrants a decision by the Executive Committee.

  1. Role of Advisory Committee

Problems with current Advisory Committee process are that some deadlines have been missed and the process may be too informal. All members present at the meeting agreed that the Interim Advisory Committee process should be formalized. The "Interim" should be dropped and the Advisory Committee guidelines (available on web site) should be revised. The Advisory Committee definitely needs to have ACOE and USFWS involvement. May need to formalize the requests for comments in a letter format. Need to select a chair or chairs of the committee to lead meetings and review process. The question of creating a DMMO was raised, but the Ports prefer formalizing the Advisory Committee process at this time.

Get proposed changes to the Advisory Committee guidelines along with the Consolidated Permit comments to Ralph Appy at POLA by September 22, 2000. He will provide us with new drafts during the week of October 16, 2000 for our review before the next meeting.

Next Meeting – November 1, 2000 at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at POLA

Need to comment on latest revisions to the Consolidated Dredging Permit and the Advisory Committee guidelines. Develop proposal of alternatives to present to the Executive Committee regarding scheduling conflicts with the ACOE DMMP. Consider updating the Subcommittee Workplans for the CSTF.


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