PREPARED BY: AMANDA BOOTH DATE OF MEETING: 09/03/2024
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO’S GRANT APPLICATION FOR $8,000,000 TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) SAN FRANCISCO BAY WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUND (SFBWQIF) FOR THE POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCB) TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) SPECIAL STUDIES AND IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT
CEQA: The project is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a funding action as it is not a project under CEQA nor an activity that may cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical environment change pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(a) and 14 California Code of Regulations Section 15002(d).
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
Major Policy Goal: Enhance Community Resilience - 202: Develop and Implement Long-Term Environmental Stewardship Goals is an adopted policy item contained in the FY 2023-25 City Council Priority Workplan, adopted on May 1, 2023 and updated July 15, 2024.
BACKGROUND
In 2008, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted a clean water action plan (known as a TMDL) for PCBs in the Bay. PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) are a group of man-made organic chemicals used in industrial and commercial applications that were eventually banned in 1979. The plan requires municipalities, industry, and others to reduce PCBs in the San Francisco Bay (the Bay). PCBs are pollutants found in the Bay that are toxic, persist in the environment, and accumulate in the tissues of fish, wildlife, and humans. The TMDL plan was created to identify and control sources of PCBs in the Bay and has identified the control of urban stormwater runoff as a major key to achieving PCB reduction goals. The EPA SFBWQIF is allocating noncompetitive funds towards programs that support San Francisco Bay’s PCB TMDL studies and implementation actions.
The City of San Pablo, as one of the Bay Area Municipal Stormwater Collaborative (BAMSC) members, participates in the implementation efforts to reduce PCB contamination of the Bay as required by the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permit. The BAMSC is an association composed of 103 agencies, including 88 cities and towns, 8 counties, and 7 special districts. The agencies work together on requirements under the various NPDES permits for stormwater and other regulatory programs including TMDL implementation.
EPA expects work funded by the grant to benefit underserved communities and meaningfully involve affected communities experiencing adverse and disproportionate environmental harm and health risks. As the fiscal agent, the City of San Pablo, on be behalf of the 103 region wide agencies, would be awarded $8,000,000 in increments distributed over a five-year period to implement PCBs special studies and implementation actions. The PCBs TMDL Special Studies and Implementation Project activities include:
• Monitoring - The proposed grant will help support ongoing monitoring to address the following priority areas including, but not limited to, source identification, management actions, and analyzing trends of PCB loads in watersheds.
• Mapping - Mapping tasks funded through the grant funding will focus on the local government agencies in watersheds where mapping has yet to occur.
• Planning and Implementing PCB Control Measures - The grant will support existing PCB control actions in areas containing known or suspected sources.
On August 7, 2024, EPA Region 9 requested the City of San Pablo to apply for the noncompetitive $8,000,000 grant for the implementation of the above described PCB program. As a member of the BAMSC, the City of San Pablo has been requested to be the fiscal agent of the noncompetitive grant funds to support the implementation of projects and studies necessary to further the PCBs TMDL. The City of San Pablo would be reimbursed for all staff time required for implementation of the grant. In addition, the grant's primary focus is to implement the NPDES requirements for PCBs, which would reduce compliance costs for the City of San Pablo.
Staff recommends applying for the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund Grant in the amount of $8,000,000 for the PCBs TDML Special Studies and Implementation Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact to apply for the funding, beyond the estimated 6 hours in staff time to prepare this report and coordinate with the BAMSC members. However, if awarded it is estimated that the City will be reimbursed $150,000 over the 5-year grant period in staff time for work to administer the grant. In addition, the City expects an increase in return to source Stormwater Utility Assessment (SUA) funding in the amount of $24,000 over the 5-year grant period due to reduced compliance costs.
This grant has a required match of 25%, or $2,666,667 which will be provided by the BAMSC partners. No match is required from the City of San Pablo. City staff are currently working to receive letters of commitment from all agencies for the matching funds. Once commitment letters are received, City staff will return to the City Council to request approval to accept the grant funding after it is awarded.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1- Resolution