HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 5344 RESOLUTION NO. 5344
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ENCOURAGING LOCAL AND
REGIONAL AGENCIES TO WORK COOPERATIVELY TO FIND A RAPID
RESOLUTION TO THE WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN
CENTRAL AND SAN GABRIEL BASINS AND RECOMMENDING AN ACTION
PLAN TO ENSURE THE RELIABILITY OF THE GROUNDWATER SUPPLY.
WHEREAS, the San Gabriel Groundwater Basin has been named a United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site due to the existence of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) in the groundwater table; and
WHEREAS, eight years of EPA study and $14 million of study expenses have not
resulted in any expenditures for groundwater cleanup; and
WHEREAS, the Central Groundwater Basin also has isolated areas of
contamination currently encompassing 20 of 300 well locations; and
WHEREAS, the EPA has published a draft White Paper which suggests the
establishment of a single agency with the authority to collect funds to pay the costs and
direct the remediation activities involved in cleaning up the San Gabriel Basin; and
WHEREAS, the Regional Water Quality Control Board is woefully understaffed
for the magnitude of preventive inspections and Superfund cleanup investigations required
in the Los Angeles County area; and
WHEREAS, the Central Basin Municipal Water District, and the Central and West
Basin Water Replenishment Districts have taken steps to become actively involved in the
protection of the Central Basin from the groundwater contamination that exists in the San
Gabriel Basin, and have allocated funds for the implementation of remediation programs
to treat localized groundwater contamination; and
WHEREAS, the programs by the Central and West Basin Replenishment Districts
include state legislation authorizing the levying of additional groundwater extraction fees
up to 50 percent to cover the cost of remediation; and
WHEREAS, the protection of the local groundwater supply is a concern of all
levels of government and of primary importance to the local municipalities in the Los
Angeles County area; and
WHEREAS, local leadership is essential to protect the Central Basin's water
supply because of limited resource of regulatory agencies at the regional, state and
federal levels of government;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Downey declares that the
vulnerability of groundwater in the Central Basin is a matter of urgent local interest and
hereby resolves that the following action plan be undertaken to ensure the reliability of
the local water supply.
1. In order to foster coordinated groundwater management to:
(a) Authorize a Central Basin Agency to undertake groundwater remediation
and prevention activities.
(b) Consolidate or formally coordinate the groundwater policies and activities
of the Central Basin Municipal Water District and the Central and West
Basin Replenishment Districts.
2. Municipal agencies in the Central Basin are hereby requested to:
(a) Assign technical staff to the urgent task of developing cooperative
measures and flexible funding alternatives for well -head treatment
measures to protect groundwater resources from local and migrating
contaminants.
(b) Cooperatively monitor and participate in activities of the Central Basin
Municipal Water District and the Central and West Basin Replenishment
Districts. Cooperative municipal oversight should foster coordinated
groundwater management and enhance public understanding of groundwater
quality issues and policy alternatives.
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Resolution No. 5344
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3. An integrated local management program is hereby encouraged in the San
Gabriel Basin to oversee the collection of funds and remediation activities to
prevent its contamination from spreading to the Central Groundwater Basin.
4. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency is hereby requested to:
(a) Upgrade the relatively low priority it places on preventing the spread of
San Gabriel Basin contamination plumes; and
(b) Conduct a public workshop in the Central Basin on the status of its
prevention efforts at Whittier Narrows.
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5. The proposed Central Basin scientific study to assess the vulnerability of local
aquifers to contamination migration at various pumping depths is hereby
endorsed.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of October, 1990.
ATTEST:
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I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City g Y P Y Y --0r
Council of the City of Downey at a regular meeting thereof held on the 9th day of
October, 1990, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: 5 Council Members: Boggs, Hayden, Brazel ton, Cormack, Paul
NOES: 0 Council Members: None
ABSENT: 0 Council Members: None
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City Clerk