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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08072001 - C.107 - Contra Costa TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ' s>4�---•T r CU,Ih FROM: DENNIS M. BARRY, AICP County COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR DATE: August 7, 2001 SUBJECT: Letter to Congressman Miller regarding the Coastal Impact Assistance Program SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter to Congressman Miller thanking him for his assistance in working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to increase the County's allocation of funds from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program. FISCAL IMPACT None. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS As a part of FY2001 Budget Act, Congress authorized a new program called the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CTAP). This program directs a portion of offshore oil lease revenues to coastal states to assist in mitigating the impacts of offshore oil production. 35% of the funding for each state is.passed on to coastal counties, including Contra Costa County. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ("NOAX) initially allocated $202,497 of CIAP funds to the County based on a formula that considered three factors: distance to nearest off-shore oil lease site, population, and length of shoreline. Congressman Miller was instrumental in drafting the CIAP legislation to provide special consideration for California counties that were relatively far away (200 miles or more) from active oil leases but had one or more oil refineries within their borders. Allocations for such counties were to be adjusted upward. NOAA's initial allocation for Contra Costa County did not incorporate the oil refinery provision. NOAA claimed the County was only 197 miles away from the nearest oil lease and therefore too close to be considered for the oil refinery provision. NOAA calculated the 197 mile distance by measuring from the oil lease to the nearest portion of the County's border (the southeast corner of the County)rather than to the County's shoreline. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE 1 . RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITT E APPROVE OTHER r SIGNATURE(S):�]! - 5;;�, �� -— - ACTION OF BO ON August 7. 2001 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDEDU_ OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE xx UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ----- ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: John Kopchik (925) 335-1227 ATTESTED August 7. 2001 cc: Community Development Department (CDD) JOHN SWEETEN, CLERK OF County Administrator BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WAPersonal\John main\ciapMillerletter.doc BY W , DEPUTY heoort on Coastal Impact Assistance Program August 7, 2001 Page 2 of 2 Congressman Miller and Congressional staff pursued the matter with NOAA on the County's behalf, and succeeded in convincing NOAA that the allocation for Contra Costa County should be increased to reflect the oil refinery provision. As a consequence, NOAA recently announced new allocations, including $253,256 for Contra Costa County. This adjustment could have lasting significance if Congress authorizes the CIAP in future years. Attachments: • Draft letter to Congressman Miller W:\Personal\John main\ciapMiIlerletter.doc The3card of Supervisors John Sweeten Contra Clerk ot the Board Count Administration Building Costa and Y g County Administrator 651 Pine Street. Room 106 I 'n (925)335-1900 Martinez,California 94553-1293 County John Gioia, 1st District Gayle B.Uilkema,2nd District Donna Gerber,3rd District _ Mark DeSaulnier,4th Districtj. o.w '9 Federal D.Glover,5th District August 7, 2001 Honorable George Miller U S House of Representatives Congressional District 7 1333 Willow Pass Road #203 Concord, CA 94520 Re: Coastal Impact Assistance Program Dear Congressman Miller: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has authorized this letter to convey our gratitude for your work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to increase Contra Costa County's allocation of funds from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program. We understand that the oil refinery provision of the allocation formula was included in the authorizing legislation at your request, and we very much appreciate your efforts not only to include that provision, but also in seeing it through to implementation. Should Congress renew the CIAP in future years, your work on the funding allocations may also carry future benefits for the County. We also wish to express our thanks to Congressional staff, in particular to John Lawrence. As you know, we are working with the Muir Heritage Land Trust on a plan for spending the CIAP fiends to benefit the coastal resources of Contra Costa County. Should you have questions on the expenditure of CIAP funds, please contact Dennis Barry, Community Development. Director at (925) 335-1277, or John Kopchik of the Community Development Departtnent staff at(925) 335-1227. `Sincerely, \ Gayle B. Uilkema, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors GBU/jk cc- John Lawrence Christina Batt, N41ILT W:\t'ersonalVolul main\ciapnullerletter.doc