HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08121986 - 4.1 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on August 12, 1986 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson, Powers
NOES: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Fanden
ABSTAIN: None
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBJECT: Fish Contamination
The Board received a letter dated July 29 , 1986 from Pete
Bontadelli , Chief Deputy Director, State Department of Fish and
Game, 1416 . Ninth Street, Sacramento 95814 , regarding contamination
of sturgeon by toxic substances.
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the aforesaid letter is
REFERRED to the Water Committee (Supervisors McPeak and Schroder) .
cc : Water Committee
Paul Kilkenny
County Administrator
I hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copy of
an action taken and entered 0:3 the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: /.Tr /98.G
PHIL BA-M- :t.OR, Clenk of the Board
of Supery s^rz and County Administrator
By ��C�J , Deputy
STATE OF CALIFORNIA—THE RESOURCES AGENCY GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, Governor
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
1416 NINTH STREET w 4
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 E �-j-j
( 916 ) 445-5095
1966
ro-C: B'TCb�E:C2
C1 �:•.° pf sUF<<:v; ORS July 29 , 1986
CO TA C
D De ut
Mr . Tom Powers
Contra Costa County
Board of Supervisors
County Administration Building
651 Pine Street, Room 106
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Mr. Powers:
This is in response to your letter of July 8, 1986 , regarding
contamination of sturgeon by toxic substances and the public
health effects implications .
The Department of Fish and Game conducted limited analyses of
sturgeon flesh and reproductive organs for mercury and
polychlorinated biphenols ( PCBs) from 1981 to 1984 . During this
period, 128 sturgeon were examined for mercury content in flesh.
Seven of these ( 5% ) contained 0 . 5 ppm [Department of Health
Services (DOHS) advisory level ] or more total mercury.
PCB content in flesh of 31 specimens examined revealed one
individual ( 3% ) with 2 ppm (U.S . Food and Drug Administration
action level ) . Most of the specimens were below the detection
limit of . 05 ppm. The analysis of 18 roe samples revealed that
eight of the samples ( 44% ) were greater than the 2 ppm action
level with the highest value recorded at 6 . 5 ppm.
These data have been forwarded to DOHS for health risk analysis.
The results of their evaluation will be a major factor in
determining the State' s response to your request.
We appreciate your interest and share your concern in this most
important issue . Unfortunately, our personnel and funding
allocations are severely limited and, therefore, we cannot fully
address all issues . It is no secret that impacts of toxic
substances upon California fish and wildlife are considerable,
even extending to their suitability for human consumption.
Presently, we are engaged in several studies of significant broad
based environmental concern. Included are selenium contamination
of fish and waterfowl , acid degradation of high mountain trout
lakes and streams, fish kill investigations , oil spills , etc .
D2ST; I&'-U DON
Members
County Administrator
yiealth services
Community Development
Pubic V.-orks
c:ur:y counsel
This does not mean that contamination of Bay-Delta sturgeon is
less important than the other issues we are now addressing. It
is simply a question of priority conflicts. Nevertheless, we
will maintain close contact with DOHS to discuss the need for
additional collections and analyses.
Sincerely,
Pete Bontadelli
Chief Deputy Director
c: Dr. Steven Book, DOHS