HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08032010 - C.09RECOMMENDATION(S):
AUTHORIZE Chair of the Board to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department of Commerce and National Marine Fisheries Service and Contra Costa County
for Cooperative Development of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) Environmental
Impact Report/Statement (EIR/S), as recommended by Supervisor Mary N. Piepho.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is potential for federal funding support to cover staff time and scientific analysis,
which is being explored at this time. If the County signs the agreement, current costs to the
County without federal funding would include staff time at monthly coordination meetings.
BACKGROUND:
For over two years the County, and to varying degrees, the Delta counties comprising the
Delta Counties Coalition, have been attempting to become involved in the Bay Delta
Conservation Plan (BDCP), the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) process by which a
peripheral canal
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 08/03/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Lara DeLaney,
925-335-1097
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: August 3, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: EMY L. SHARP, Deputy
cc:
C. 9
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Supervisor Mary N. Piepho
Date:August 3, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Cooperating Agency MOU for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan EIR/EIS
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
(or tunnel) is being planned. To date the counties have been prevented from involvement
on the BDCP Steering Committee, due to a peripheral canal ‘precondition’ clause in
agreements requiring our signature. Signature in this circumstance would essentially
denote ‘agreement’ in some form, to a peripheral canal. Where the County has not been
opposed to study of a canal, one would expect to see results of studies prior to that type of
commitment. As a result, the County has largely been prevented from a meaningful level
of participation and the ability to potentially influence the process.
As federal agencies have become more involved with Delta issues and specifically with
the BDCP process, the counties have been actively advocating with federal agencies for
local involvement, with a greater level of success. The attached MOU allows the County
to participate as a Cooperating Agency in the development of the environmental impact
documents. Among other things, Cooperating Agency status requires attendance at
monthly meetings and allows for review and comments on early (administrative) drafts of
(at least portions of) the environmental documents. Where there may be requests of us for
information, there is, however, also the potential for some level of funding assistance
associated with our participation.
County Counsel has reviewed the MOU, having been lead in negotiations on language
contained in the document. The federal agencies involved have approved the attached
MOU. The other four Delta Counties are still waiting for the federal agencies to approve
a slightly different version of the agreement.
ATTACHMENTS
Cooperating Agency MOU