ITEM 9: ACCEPTANCE OF A $114,058 GRANT AMENDMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) FOR GENERAL PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF CALIFORNIA/ MEXICO BORDER ACTIVITIES AND PREPARATION OF A DRAFT REPORT TITLED - BINATIONAL STUDY REGARDING THE PRESENCE OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN THE NEW AND LOWER COLORADO RIVERS

DISCUSSION: EPA has offered $114,058 in Federal Fiscal Year 1997 funds for general planning and coordination of border activities and preparation of a draft report, Binational Study Regarding the Presence of Toxic Substances in the New and Lower Colorado Rivers. The fund and associated work will amend the Mexicali Wastewater Treatment Planning Grant.

EPA is requesting the State Water Resources Control Board's (SWRCB) assistance to the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC)/North American Development Bank (NADBank) agencies to identify and develop border environmental infrastructure projects. In addition, EPA has asked the SWRCB to complete a draft Binational Study Report. EPA will use the Report as a basis for discussions with the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico Sections, and the National Water Commission of Mexico prior to preparation by EPA of a final binational document. The draft report will summarize and evaluate data gathered in a recent one-year long binational monitoring program on the New and lower Colorado Rivers.

The SWRCB will act as coordinator of all State of California activities associated with border wastewater infrastructure and will contract for completion of the draft Binational Study Report. The objective of this assistance is to ensure that technical solutions to border water pollution are identified, cost-effective, and sufficient to protect border water quality and also to facilitate implementation of infrastructure projects in cooperation with the BECC and State and local agencies. Completion of the draft Binational Study will facilitate future binational actions to improve the New and Lower Colorado Rivers' water quality.

POLICY ISSUE Should the SWRCB accept the $114,058 additional funds from EPA to carry out activities for general planning and coordination of California/ Mexico border activities and preparation of the draft report titled - Binational Study Regarding the Presence of Toxic Substances in the New and Lower Colorado Rivers and authorize the Executive Director or his designee to accept any fund augmentations or future amendments to this grant?

FISCAL IMPACT: Acceptance of the grant will increase the SWRCB's federal funds by $114,058. We have $440,000 current authority for the existing grant. Additional authority will be needed for this amendment. We currently have $341,000 federal authority for border work under the Cooperative Agreement with the U. S. Corps of Engineers. We will need $100,000 of this authority for Federal Year 1997-98. We will transfer authority from the agreement to cover the authority for this grant amendment.

RWQCB No.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the SWRCB accept the additional $114,058 grant funds from EPA for general planning and coordination of California/Mexico border activities and preparation of a draft report titled - Binational Study Regarding the Presence of Toxic Substances in the New and Lower Colorado Rivers and authorize the Executive Director or his designee to accept any fund augmentations or future amendments relating to the grant.

June 23, 1997 DRAFT

WHEREAS:

1. The State Water Resources Control Board will assist EPA by coordinating all State of California activities associated with border wastewater infrastructure and will complete the Binational Study Report.

2. The objective of this assistance is to ensure that technical solutions to border water pollution are identified, cost-effective and sufficient to protect water quality.

3. $114,058 is available from EPA for coordinating activities and completion of a draft binational report on toxic substances in the new and lower Colorado Rivers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The State Water Resources Control Board hereby authorizes the Executive Director to accept the $114,058 additional funds from EPA to carry out activities for general planning and coordination of California/Mexico border activities and preparation of a draft report titled - Binational Study Regarding the Presence of Toxic Substances in the New and Lower Colorado Rivers and also authorize the Executive Director or his designee to accept any fund augmentations or future amendments to the grant.

The undersigned, Administrative Assistant to the Board, does hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board held on July 17, 1997.

_________________________

Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board