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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10041988 - IO.2 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 1.0. 2 FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE w, tra September 26, 1988 C�1.JJlG1 DATE: Status Report on Creation of SUBJECT: Hazardous Waste Strike Force SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Acknowledge receipt of this report from the Internal Operations Committee on the status of the formation of a Hazardous Waste Strike Force which could focus the efforts of several County departments on apprehending and convicting individuals of illegal dumping of hazardous wastes. 2 . Leave this item on referral to the Internal Operations Committee for the purpose of providing further oversight on the development of this most important adjunct to our hazardous waste enforcement capabilities. BACKGROUND: Several months ago, the Board of Supervisors asked the Hazardous Materials Commission and County staff to look into the problem. created by the illegal dumping of hazardous wastes and to determine ways in which additional resources could be brought to bear to stop this problem. On September 26, 1988, our Committee met with staff from the Hazardous Materials Commission and reviewed the attached memo. The Commission has been working with staff from various County departments to not only formulate the possible composition of a Hazardous Waste Strike Force, but to determine how it might be funded. As the attached memo indicates, staff have agreed on 'the need for a Strike Force consisting of perhaps 4 to 4 . 5 employees from Environmental Health, law enforcement, and the District Attorney' s Office at an annual cost of some $200, 000 per year. It is believed that eventually fines and penalties will be sufficient to fund the unit. In the meantime, it is suggested that the cities, special districts, and County utilize a . "Fair Share" method of distributing the costs until the collection of fines and penalties is sufficient to pay for the ongoing costs of the unit. The. Central Sanitary District has already agreed to a "Fair Share" concept and the city representatives from the Hazardous Materials Commission are going to be taking the concept to the cities for their consideration. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X _ YES SIGNATURE: _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X/ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE X AP ROVE - OT_kL9R -.--�� Xk+ s,�NATURs s : Sunne q. McPeak Tom Torlakson ACTION OF BOARD ON October 4, 1988 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT III AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. County Administrator cc: District Attorney ATTESTED Sheriff-Coroner PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Health Services Director SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Director, Environmental Health Staff, Haz. Materials Commission BY M382/7-83 'DEPUTY Page 2 We are providing this status report to the Board of Supervisors at this time primarily to let you know that work is proceeding on this subject and that our Committee will reportthis item back to the Board of Supervisors after the concept of "Fair Share" funding has been presented to the cities and the other sanitary districts. OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Administration Building 651 Pine Street Martinez, California. DATE: September 22, 1988 TO: Internal Operations Committee FROM: Sara M. Hoffman, Deputy County Administrato SUBJECT: Status of Hazardous Waste Strike Force The Board of Supervisors referred the issue of illegal dumping to the Hazardous Materials Commission for their review and recommendation. Significant.progress is being made in developing and providing funding for the program. Program Description Investigate and prosecute unlawful waste dischargers who disregard applicable law in their management, use, handling, storage, transportation or disposal of hazardous substances. Responsible Departments District Attorney, Health Services (Environmental Health Division), Law Enforcement. Staffing 0.5 FTE Deputy District Attorney 1.0 FTE DA Investigator 1.5-2 FTE Hazardous Materials Specialist 1.0 FTE Law Enforcement representative Program Cost and Funding Cost: $202,000 per year. Ongoing funding - violator fines and penalties (approximately 18 month lag from action to receipt of fines) Start-up funding - fair share by cities, special districts, and County. Central Sanitary District has endorsed the fair share concept as have the city representatives to the Commission. The issue is scheduled before the City Managers' meeting in October. Summary There seems to be universal agreement on the need for a Strike Force; however, assembly of the funding is a delicate process which takes time. Progress is being made as quickly as can be expected. SMH:hs IOCMEMO.DOC cc: Dan Bergman, Enviromental Health