HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05062008 - C.32 C3Z
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS " Coll
FROM: William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director Costa
---
o; ,�x Ws; ;�.;
By: Randall L. Sawyer, Hazardous Materials Director __. ,,;
SATE: May 6,2008 ~ � CQ U my
SUBJECT: Support Position on AB 2286 (Feuer) Unified Program Management ..w
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND JUSTIFICATION
RECOAIMENDATION(S):
SUPPORT Assembly Bill 2286 (Feuer), a bill that establishes deadlines and a funding mechanism
to help C.alEPA establish the electronic geographic information management system for regulated
hazardous materials and hazardous wastes already required to be established by existing law, as
recommended by the Health Services Director and County Administrator.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact to the County-
BACKGROUND/REASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDATION(S):
The author contends that placing deadlines for, and providing a funding mechanism for,
development and implementation of a comprehensive and standardized electronic data reporting
system for Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs) and regulated businesses will put some
teeth into the current open-ended and unfunded requirement that such a system be developed. The
author believes that the long-term savings realized by the regulated business community from
using the electronic data reporting system will exceed the costs of paying a higher oversight
surcharge for three years.
1. Most CUPAs receive the hazardous materials inventories, emergency response plans,and site
plans as paper submissions. This information is used by emergency response agencies to know
what hazards exist at a facility before they arrive so the emergency response agency can take the
appropriate actions. Receiving this in a paper format for over 2,400 Contra Costa County
facilities is difficult to use for this purpose. Receiving this information electronically will assist
in the response.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNAT RE:
__LZRECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
L--'APPROVE OTHER
r
SIGNATURE (S):
ACTION OF BOARD O APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED_� �R
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ABSENTe'Iil�- 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.
Contact Person: ATTESTED e a
JOHN CULL CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
CC: Health Services Department (Contracts) SUPERVISO S AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Auditor Controller
Contractor BY DEPUTY
Board Order
Page 2
2. Most, if not all regulated businesses and local regulatory agencies would realize cost savings
and/or reductions in cost in electronic compliance reporting, since manual inputting of this data
w.ill not be required.
3. Electronic reporting has been a goal of the Certified Unified Program since its inception 12
years ago. This will allow for better accessibility by the public, including more information on
Contra Costa Health Services Website.
4. CalEPA has made significant strides towards this goal, particularly over the past three years,
but has been hampered by a lack of funding, unclear directives, no direct statutory mandate and
some resistance from local agencies to unfunded State mandates. Current federal finding will be
exhausted by the end of 2008.
5. CalEPA collects $24 annually from each regulated business as an oversight surcharge. This
bill will increase the surcharge by no more than $25 per year for no longer than 3 years to fund
both CaiEPA and local agency costs. The locals and CalEPA will prepare estimates on system
development and implementation costs as soon as possible. The additional surcharge may be
adjusted accordingly.
6. While Certified Unified Program Agencies have the authority to raise their permit/inspection
fees, doing so for 84 separate Certified Unified Program Agencies would likely be cumbersome,
time-consuming and unpredictable.
7. It is estimated that approximately $3 milllion per year for three years could be raised with
120,000 facilities paying the additional surcharge.