HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10231984 - 2.2 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on October 23, 1984 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Fanden , Schroder , McPeak , Torlakson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Powers
ABSTAIN: None
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SUBJECT: Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites
Notification Procedures
In response to a request from the Board on October 16 ,
1984, Dr . Wendel Brunner , Assistant Health Services Director , Public
Health , appeared before the Board this date to report on a recent
incident in which IT Corporation was cited and fined by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) for a variety of procedural
and non-compliance violations .
Dr . Brunner stated that the EPA charges were the result of
an investigation conducted by the regulatory agencies after two
explosions that took place at the. IT toxic waste site in Vine Hill
in December 1983 and February 1984. He commented that there are two
issues of major public health concern . One is the possible mixing
of incompatible materials at the dump sites , leading to further
explosions , and the second is the migration of toxic materials into
ground water supplies . He informed the Board that the EPA is now
requiring IT Corporation to characterize each load of material
dumped at the sites to make sure that no incompatible material is
mixed . He stated that after evaluating IT Corporations' s monitoring
program, the EPA is now requiring more stringent procedures for
monitoring ground water contamination .
Supervisor Fanden commented that the Board had not been
informed of the incident at IT , or of past incidents in the County,
and had only become aware of it when they read about it in the
newspapers . She stated that she felt the Board should be informed
immediately when such incidents occur .
Supervisor Sunne W. McPeak stated that the problem seemed
to be a lack of communication between internal County departments ,
since in the case of most environmental infractions the EPA will
communicate directly with the District Attorney's office rather than
the Environmental Health Division or the Board of Supervisors .
Supervisor Tom Torlakson suggested that Dr . Brunner be
requested to provide the Board with a monthly progress report on the
resolution of the IT violations , and that the County Administrator
be requested to develop protocol procedures ensuring communication
between County departments on such issues .
David Bauer , Vice President of Environmental Affairs , IT
Corporation , appeared and informed the Board that his company will
be challenging the EPA allegations . He stated that IT Corporation
has both an excellent ground water monitoring program , and an
excellent mechanism and set of procedures for characterizing waste .
He commented that while he has no objection to the County interfacing
with his company and/or the regulatory agencies , it appears that the
State and Federal agencies ' roles are changing radically and there
is a lack of communication from the agencies .
Supervisor McPeak stated that it might be helpful to enter
into a formal communication agreement with the State and Federal
regulatory agencies in order to assure communication on these issues .
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There being no further discussion , IT IS BY THE BOARD
ORDERED that the Health Services Director is REQUESTED to report to
the Board monthly on the procedures taken by IT Corporation to correct
deficiencies at its hazardous waste disposal site .
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the County Administrator is
REQUESTED to develop a protocol procedure for notifying the Board of
situations occurring in this County that may affect the health and
welfare of County residents , and also to send letters to appropriate
State agencies urging them to communicate more directly on matters
of this type that affect Contra Costa County.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Health Services Director
and County Administrator are REQUESTED to investigate the feasibility
of establishing a formal communication agreement between the County
and the State and Federal regulatory agencies .
cc: County Administrator
Health Services Director
I hereby corlity thmt:h's:is Z! 7-r'to .. .,
an action !.ken and . ..:c
Board of 5up0!71:;C7S en 1i2,, dct2 si L—Ai;.
ATTESTED: �L-�� 3 �9f 4/
PHIL SATCHELON, C!2:k c7 the E3:;:r:.; �•
o! Supervisors and Court; Ada;inis:rator
By ►�(Lx.c� . Deputy
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