ITEM 1: ACCEPTANCE OF A $315,642 GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR NEW RIVER WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND DEVELOPMENT OF MEXICALI WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

DISCUSSION: EPA has offered a $315,642 grant for Federal Fiscal Year 1998 funds activities for the New River and Mexicali pollution abatement projects. The funds will be used to continue the work of the Mexicali Wastewater Treatment Planning Grant.

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will provide EPA and federal, state and local agencies with technical assistance in development of Mexicali pollution abatement projects.

The Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRBRWQCB) will provide technical assistance in the development of New River Pollution abatement projects, facilitate communications with participating Mexican agencies, and conduct monthly monitoring of the New River at the International Boundary and the binational monitoring of the New River in Mexico and the United States.

The objective of this assistance is to ensure that technical solutions to Mexicali pollution sources are cost-effective and sufficient to protect border quality and also to facilitate implementation of these projects with the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and State and local agencies.

POLICY ISSUE: Should the SWRCB accept the $315,642 federal funds from EPA to carry out activities to continue New River water quality monitoring and to carry out activities for the New River and Mexicali pollution abatement projects 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 $315,642. We have $440,000 current federal authority for this work that will cover receipt of these funds.

RWQCB IMPACT: The Regional Board will receive $257,581 of these funds. There is sufficient budget authority under the $440,000 to cover their expenditures.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: That the SWRCB accept the $315,642 grant funds from EPA to carry out activities to continue New River water quality monitoring and to carry out activities for the New River and Mexicali pollution abatement projects and authorize the Executive Director or his designee to accept any fund augmentations or future amendments to this grant.

DRAFT AUGUST 3, 1998

WHEREAS:

1. The State Water Resources Control Board (Board) will assist EPA by continuing the State of California activities associated with the New River Water Quality Monitoring Program:

2. The Board will carry out activities for the New River and Mexicali pollution abatement projects;

3. EPA has offered the Board a grant of $315,642 to provide technical assistance for New River Quality Monitoring and development of Mexicali Wastewater Projects;

4. The objective of this assistance is to ensure that technical solutions to Mexicali pollution sources are cost-effective.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The State Water Resources Control Board hereby authorizes the Executive Director to accept the $315,642 grant from EPA to carry out activities to continue New River water quality monitoring and to carry out activities for the New River and Mexicali pollution abatement projects and also authorizes the Executive Director or his designee to accept any fund augmentations or future amendments to this 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 August 26, 1998.

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Maureen Marché

Administrative Assistant to the Board