The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 06061995 - 1.95 1.95 through 1. 100 THE BOARD OR SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on _June 6, 1995 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Smith, DeSaulnier, Torlakson, Bishop NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ---------------------------------------------------------------- SUBJECT: Correspondence 1.95 LETTER from Robert A. Baker, Deputy Chief Engineer, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, 5019 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA 94553- 4392, expressing concern with the policy in the Land use and Resource Management Plan for the Primary Zone of the Delta which may be interpreted to restrict the beneficial reuse of both water and biosolids. ***REFERRED TO WATER COMMITTEE AND HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR 1.96 LETTER from Linda Arcularius, Chairperson, Board of Supervisor, County of Inyo, P. o. Box N, Independence, CA 93526, urging support for the repeal of the Mountain Lion Preservation Act. ***REFERRED TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR 1.97 LETTER from John Caffrey, Chairman, State Water Resources Control Board, P. O. Box 100, Sacramento, CA 95812-0100, in response to the Board's letter, referred to the discharge of agricultural drainage to the Bay-Delta Estuary, and advising that any application for a discharge permit will be subject to the public review process. ***REFERRED TO WATER COMMITTEE 1.98 LETTER from Ken Etherington, Browning-Ferris Industries, P. O. Box 23164, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, expressing support for a workshop for the dissemination of factual -information on special waste disposal. ***REFERRED TO DIRECTOR, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY 1.99 RESOLUTION adopted by the City Council, City of Orinda, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563, requesting the cancellation and refund of property taxes in the amount of $2,714.70 paid upon the purchase of the Orinda Oaks property for use as a public parkland. ***REFERRED TO TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR, COUNTY COUNSEL, AND ASSESSOR FOR RECOMMENDATION 1.100 LETTER from Matt Fong, Treasurer, Office of the State Treasurer, Sacramento, California, requesting that the Board write to the appropriate Congressional Committee Chairs encouraging the Federal Government to increase the amount of Mortgage Credit Certificates and Bonds California can issue for housing and other public benefits. ***REFERRED TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the recommendations as noted (***) are APPROVED. cc: Correspondents County Administrator Water Committee I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Health Services Director an action taken and entered on the minutes of the GMEDA Boari of Supervisors on the date shown. _ Treasurer-Tax Collector ATTESTED: County Counsel PHIL tATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board Assessor of Supervisors and County Administrator Community Development Director B} - ,Deputy x1 �s Central Contra Costa Sanitary District 00711391 nil I ' May 15, 1995 r .ROGERenJ. Chief Engineer RECEIVE® ��°NL.�M Counsel for the District Ms. Gayle Bishop (510)938-1430 Chair, Contra Costa County Supervisors PHY 651 Pine Street [W:1710 Secreeta.yoftheDE. �r 4th Floor - N Wing Martinez, CA 94553-0095 CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA CO. Dear Ms. Bishop: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE LAND USE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE PRIMARY ZONE OF THE DELTA In 1992 the state legislature passed the Delta Protection Act (Senate Bill 1866). The Act established the Delta Protection Commission, which consists of 19 representatives from local governments (Supervisor Tom Torlakson was the County's representative), reclamation districts, local water agencies, and several state agencies. The commission was tasked with the development of a comprehensive, long-term, resource management plan for land use within the primary zone of the Delta. The primary zone includes land in Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo counties. Within six months of the completion of the plan, affected counties are required to propose revisions to their General Plans which are consistent with the Land Use and Resource Management Plan. The Land Use and Resource Management Plan is a valuable document which will help to protect and preserve the Delta from environmental degradation. However, we are concerned with a policy in the Plan (Utilities and Infrastructure Policy P-3) which may be interpreted to restrict the beneficial reuse of both water and biosolids. Water and biosolids reuse are currently regulated by state and federal agencies with the specific authority to protect the environment. Exclusion of water reuse would be detrimental to state efforts to supplement water supplies by water reuse. Water reuse in the primary zone of the Delta should be based on the merits of specific projects which comply with all regulatory requirements and are consistent with the main objectives of the Delta Protection Act. Water reuse projects in the primary zone of the Delta may never occur, but restricting water reuse without merit has negative implications on water reuse and may be used as justification to further restrict water reuse elsewhere in the state. With limited water supplies in California and the recognized need to maximize water conservation and reuse, we believe this is an inappropriate message to send to state-wide water users. Similarly; biosolids use is regulated extensively at the federal and state level and has been determined to be suitable for agricultural use. The use of biosolids should also be judged C�,U ®Recycled Paper HOB Ms. Gayle Bishop Page 2 May 15, 1995 on the conditions of specific applications which comply with all regulatory requirements. Restrictions on biosolids use preclude an environmentally safe option to recycle wastewater products. The alternative is disposal of biosolids by landfilling and incineration. Again, the message being sent is detrimental to past efforts to promote beneficial uses of biosolids. We have previously met with County staff(Jim Cutler and Roberta Goulant) to discuss our concerns. Additionally, we have suggested language (refer to the attached letter) to be considered for the General Plan Amendment. We believe this language is compatible with the intent of the Delta Protection Act and addresses our concerns related to water and biosolids reuse. Your consideration of this matter and support for water and biosolids reuse would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Robert A. Baker Deputy Chief Engineer DJC\RAB:ns M, Mr. Tom Torlakson Ms. Roberta Goulart Mr. Jim Cutler J ty SAIV Ry DUBLIN 4�v1 0 7051 Dublin Boulevard Tit SAN R"ON Dublin,California 94568 SERVICES 0;6 ��I FAx 510 829 1180 DISTRICT �'ES DS5t4 510 828 0515 May 15, 1995 Mr. Jim Cutler Assistant Director, Comprehensive Planning 651 Pine Street 4th Floor - N Wing Martinez, CA 94553-0095 Dear Mr. Cutler: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE LAND USE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE PRIMARY ZONE OF THE DELTA The intent of this letter is to provide suggested language for an amendment to the County General Plan which is consistent with the requirements of the "Land Use and Resource Management Plan for the Primary Zone of the Delta." In 1992 the state legislature passed the Delta Protection Act (Senate Bill 1866). The Act established the Delta Protection Commission, which consists of 19 representatives from local governments (Supervisor Tom Torlakson was the County's representative), reclamation districts, local water agencies, and several state agencies. The Commission was tasked with the development of a comprehensive, long-term, resource management plan for land use within the primary zone of the Delta. The primary zone includes land in Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo counties. Within six months of the completion of the plan, affected counties are required to propose revisions to their General Plans which are consistent with the Land Use and Resource Management Plan. On February 23, 1995, the Delta Protection Commission adopted its Land Use and Resource Management Plan. Of particular concern is the Utilities and Infrastructure Policy P-3, which reads as follows: "New sewage treatment facilities (including storage ponds)and areas for disposal of sewage effluent and sewage sludge shall not be located within the Delta Primary Zone. (NOTE: The Rio Vista Project as described in the adopted Final Environmental Impact Report for such project and the Ironhouse Sanitary District use of Jersey Island for disposal of treated wastewater and biosolids are exempt for this policy.)" As written, the Utilities and Infrastructure Policy P-3 does not foreclose water reuse or beneficial use of biosolids, as they are not "disposal of sewage effluent and sewage sludge." The Uublln San Rd- UI-t Iv a hibllr Enllly C • e Mr. Jim Cutler Page 2 May 15, 1995 We support the exclusion of new sewage treatment facilities and disposal of sewage effluent and sewage sludge within the Delta Primary Zone. However, this exclusion should not include beneficial water reuse or beneficial reuse of biosolids, so long as such reuse is consistent with Section 29763.5 of the Delta Protection Act. An outright exclusion of beneficial water reuse and beneficial biosolids reuse is unnecessary to protect the Primary Zone of the Delta and the waters of the state. Water reuse in California is governed by state and federal anti-degradation policies and by the Porter-Cologne Act. These policies and statutes, along with Section 29763.5, amply protect the state's resources against any contamination. Thus an exclusion is unnecessary and potentially damaging to efforts to supplement the state's water supplies via water reuse. The message implied by an exclusion would be negative toward the concept and practice of water recycling and could be used to attack water reuse projects state wide. Similarly, the exclusion of beneficial biosolids use is unwarranted because it precludes an environmentally safe option to recycle wastewater products. Biosolids use is also extensively regulated at the state and federal level. The wastewater industry has expended a substantial effort to promote the beneficial use of biosolids. Efforts to restrict beneficial use of biosolids also sends an inappropriate message to potential agricultural users. Accordingly, we suggest that the County consider proposing the following amendment to its general plan so that it will be consistent with Utilities and Infrastructure Policy P-3: New sewage treatment facilities (including storage ponds) and areas for disposal of sewage effluent and sewage sludge shall not be located within the Delta Primary Zone. (NOTE.• The Ironhouse Sanitary District use of Jersey Island for disposal of treated wastewater and biosolids is exempt for this exclusion.)" Beneficial water reuse and beneficial reuse of biosolids may be permitted only after making all the written findings in section 29763.5 in the Delta Protection Act. Please review this suggestion and call if there are any questions or if I can be of any assistance. Sincerely, ROBERT BEEBE General Manager DC:JK:RB:ns cc: Ms. Roberta Goulart