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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 12061983 - 2.6 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 1983 6 December , Adopted this Order on by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers , Fanden, McPeak, Torlakson, Schroder NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Water Hyacinth Control Program The Board �having received a letter dated November 21 , 1983, from Congressman George Miller advising of his concerns with respect to the use of herbicides in controlling water hyacinths in the Delta and that he has written Governor Deukmejian urging that he forbid the use of herbicides containing ethylene dibromide (EDB) in the State 's water hyacinth control program (a copy of Congressman Miller's letter being attached hereto and by reference incorporated herein) ; and Board members having discussed same and having heard comments by Elin Crawford on the subject matter; NOW, THEREFORE , IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the aforesaid communication is REFERRED to the Public Works Director and the Water Committee (Supervisors McPeak and Torlakson) . IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the Chairman send a letter to the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife asking that hearings be held in Contra Costa County on this issue and other water issues of importance to the County and its residents; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a letter also be sent to Congressman Miller seeking his :support in obtaining funding from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for the water hyacinth control program (including mechanical harvesting as a method of control) and in getting the U.S . Bureau of Reclamation involved in the program. 1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on WX MI'nu108 of the Board of 5uperaisoc3 On the date cho i- ATTE•STED: im. OLSSON, COUNTY CLERK ar:d ex officio 0167 of the 806rd BY_ ,Deputy Orig. Dept.: Clerk of the Board Cc: Public Works Director Water Committee 's _County Administrator .1 16 ' DISTRICT OFFICES: GEORGE MILLER 7TH DISTRICP,CALIFORNIA 367 Civic DRIVE i PLEASANT HILL,CALIFORNIA 94523 (415)687-3260 2422 WASHINGTON,D.C.205115ttD1N° ROBERT T.HUGHES �Oltt e�� of the ? 1�Ite� �tate� (202)225-2095 DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR JOHN A.LAWRENCE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT joouoe of Etproentatiba *4 ALVARADO SOUARE P.O.BOX 277 COMMITTEES: Nubin on, 39.C, 20515 SAN PABLO,CALIFORNIA 94SOB231-6791 EDUCATION AND LABOR a" (415) CHAIRMAN, - SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR STANDARDSNovember 21, 1983 ANTIOCH CITY HALL BUDGET ANTIOCH,CALIFORNIA 94509 (415)778-3777 INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS CHAIRMAN, SELECT COMMITTEE ONM RECri�DCHILDREN,YOUTH AND FAMILIES I Mr. Robert Schroder Chairman, Contra Costa Board of Supervisors E` i-i �p 19c County Administration Building P. x 911 R. a�SSON Ma t z ,' CA 94553 LE OF SUPERVI - Dea As you are aware, ; the California Department of Boating and Waterways has completed a three-week chemical spraying program to eliminate water hyacinths from the Delta. Due to a court order prohibiting the use of the herbicide 2,4-D, the State applied, Diquat, which is known to contain ethylene dibromide (EDB) . Recently, in my capacity as Chairman of the House Labor Standards Subcommittee, I held an oversight hearing on the use and control of ethylene dibromide in the workplace, An official from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health who testified at the hearing told my staff that no detectable level of EDB should be considered acceptable in drinking water. Subsequently, EDB was banned by the Environmental Protection Agency', although existing stockpiles may still be used. I have written today to Governor Deukmejian (copy enclosed) urging him to forbid the use of herbicides containing EDB in the state' s water hyacinth control program. Although the water hyacinth control program has temporarily ended, water hyacinths remain, posing a tremendous problem for commercial and noncommercial boaters in the Delta. I know that you share myl, concern that the people of Contra Costa County are not exposed to drinking water that has been contaminated by EDB. As discussions both within the County and with the State begin to focus on plans for water hyacinth abatement in the spring, I encourage you to develop an abatement strategy that will assure that there is no possibility of EDB contamination of Contra Costa' s drinking water system. Should the Court rule that the spraying of 2 ,4-D is allowable in Contra Costa, the County and the CCCWD should assure that no contamination of the County' s drinking water occur. To adequately addres's this need, I recommend ongoing monitoring in the vicinity of Rock Slough and other Delta intakes. In' addition, samples should be taken from the Martinez Water Plant and from selected taps throughout/East County. r , Mr. Robert Schroder November 21 , 1983 Page 2 These measures would b•e consistent with the efforts the County has made to date to assure the health. and safety of Contra Costan water consumers. The County and CCCWD should also assure that all citizens are adequately warned prior to and during the application of any chemical through the posting of signs , the distribution of notices in affected -areas , and communications with the media. The County is limited in its ability to control the dumping of herbicides and other chemicals into the Delta by marina owners and other private citizens. The County must take responsibility, however, for the quality of its water- . I , therefore, urge you to monitor any independent efforts at water hyacinth control , to the extent possible. I have requested that Governor Deukmejian, in addition to prohibiting the use of herbicides containing EDB, (1) require the Department of Boating and Waterways and other responsible State agencies to conduct Environmental Impact Reports prior to the use of any hyacinth control, (2) require the Department of Boating and Waterways to work with the County to provide adequate notification to all residents in the vicinity of areas of the State to be sprayed with chemical controls, and (3) immediately make available funds to counties interested. in utilizing non-chemical. hyacinth contol methods , such as mechanical harvesting, in the vicinities of drinking water intakes. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Y y"LER I Member of Congress Enc . GM/jwb cc: Supervisor Nancy C. Fanden Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak Supervisor Tom Powers Supervisor . Tom Torlakson 11� GEORGE Rf I LLER DISTRICT OFFICES: 7TH DISTRICT,CALIFORNIA 367 CIVIC DRIVE r PLEASANT HILL,CALIFORNIA 94523 V.'_2 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING (416)6$7-3260 1h ASHI D.C.20616 Congre;� of tbt �lYittb btote� ROBERT T.HUGHES (202)2)22 225-2095 DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR JOHN A.LAWRENCE route of Rtpregentatibef ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 4 P.O.Box SQUARE NN tt G P.O.Box 277 COMMITTEES: Mobinatolh O.C. 20515 SAN PABLO,CALIFORNIA 94806 EDUCATION AND LABOR (415)231-6791 SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR STANDARDS - November 21, 1983 ANTIOCH CITY HALL BUDGET ANTIOCH,CALIFORNIA 94509 INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS (415)778-3777 CHAIRMAN, SELECT COMMITTEE ON TTY(202)224-2793 CHILDREN,YOUTH AND FAMILIES Governor George Deukmejian State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Governor Deukmejian, Earlier this fall the California Department of Boating and Waterways completed a three-week chemical spraying program to eliminate water hyacinths from the Delta. Due to a court order prohibiting the use of the herbicide 2,4-D in Contra Costa, the state applied Diauat, which contains ethylene dibromide (EDB) . As chairman of the House Labor Standards SubomT ittee, I recently held an investigation into the use and control of IDB in the workplace. An official from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health who testified at that hearing informed my staff that no detectable level of IDB should be considered acceptable in drinking water. Subsequently, EDB was banned by the Environmental Protection Agency, although existing stockpiles may still be used. Since water hyacinth control activities are likely to.resume next. spring, I am writing to urge you to forbid the use of herbicides containing EDB in the state's program. Although test applications of 2,4-D were taken prior to initiation of the state's spray program, no such testing occurred before Diquat was applied in Contra Costa County. Given the substantial level of concern regarding the health and environmental effects of 2,4-D, Diquat, and other substances to control water hyacinths, I strongly.reconmend that the state conduct thorough Environmental Impact Reports before applying any additional hyacinth Controls to the Delta. The state should also assist counties interested in utilizing non- chemical hyacinth control methods in the vicinity of drinking water intakes. In Contra Costa County, there is areat concern regarding the use of chemical controls near Rock Slough, the major intake for drinking water in the East County. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted last April to spend funds for mechanical harvesting. 119 Governor George Deukmejian November 21,--1983 . Page 2 The State Water Resources Control Board, after initially agreeing to match county funds, withdrew its offer. I urge you to assure that funds will be made available to counties which prefer non-chemical controls in areas potentially affecting drinking water. Finally, I am concerned that during this past year the Department of Boating and Waterways did not adequately .forewarn citizens in the vicinity of areas scheduled to be sprayed. Adequate notification should be conducted in coordination with county efforts and should include the posting of signs, the distribution of notices in affected areas and communications with the media before spraying. Thank you for consideration of this matter. cerely, �F RCS *�iI Member of ngress, 7th District G /jwb 1'2 0