Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Heather Forshey, Director, Environmental Health Services
Subject: Authorization to Apply for and Accept Groundwater Protection Local Oversight Program Grants from the State Water Resources Control
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) The County of San Mateo to apply for and accept all available funds from the State Water Resources Control Board for Groundwater Protection Local Oversight Program for Fiscal Years July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030; and
B) The Chief of County Health or designee to execute in th e name of San Mateo County all necessary applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, and all other documents necessary for the purposes of securing grant funds, implementing the approved grant projects, and carrying out the purposes specified in the grant applications for Fiscal Years July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.
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BACKGROUND:
Since 1988, the Groundwater Protection Program (GPP) in County Health’s Environmental Health Services (EHS) division has been funded by grants from the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). GPP functions as a Local Oversight Program authorized under the California Health and Safety Code for the oversight abatement of hazardous substances from underground storage tanks. The GPP ensures the timely characterization and cleanup of fuel releases that could impact the public health and environment of San Mateo County. Since being established, the GPP has guided more than 1,246 leaking fuel underground storage tank cases through characterization, remediation, and final closure. The GPP continues to handle approximately 121 active cases, including sites contaminated by fuels, solvents, metals, and pesticides. The GPP also manages all of the closed cases with residual contamination when sites are redeveloped.
DISCUSSION:
Continued SWRCB grant funding would ensure the GPP’s operation and oversight of leaking underground fuel tank remediation cases for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. The current SWRCB grant funding funds approximately 40% of one Full-Time Employee (FTE) Program Supervisor, 80% of one FTE Hazardous Materials Specialist IV, and 80% of one FTE Hazardous Materials Specialist III.
Once SWRCB issues grant agreements for signature, grantees are generally allowed only a three-week turnaround to execute a grant agreement. In addition, the SWRCB requires a Board-approved resolution if anyone other than the Board will be signing the grant agreement. Advance authorization is therefore being requested to allow the Chief of San Mateo County Health, on behalf of the County of San Mateo, to 1) approve all necessary applications, contracts, payment requests, agreements, amendments, and all documents necessary for the purpose of securing grant funds; 2) implement the approved grant projects; and 3) carry out the purposes specified in the grant applications for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
It is anticipated that 95% of remediation facilities will be reviewed by EHS in FY 2024-25.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Percentage of remediation facilities reviewed by EHS |
95% 115 facilities |
97% 117 facilities |
EQUITY IMPACT:
This resolution will positively impact all County visitors and residents, especially those underserved communities that may be disproportionally impacted by hazardous environmental releases. Acceptance of State grant funds allows for continued County oversight and program management of environmental cleanup cases on a local basis. As part of this program, EHS translates written documents to communicate during the remediation and case closure process with those property owners who are responsible parties in the language of their choice, as requested. EHS is developing a short statement, to appear in multiple threshold languages at the bottom of all of its outgoing mailed communications, directing all recipients who wish to receive the mailed communication in a threshold language to contact our office.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The anticipated SWRCB grant amount for FY 2025-26 is approximately $820,672. The appropriations and revenue will be included in the Environmental Health FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future years. There is no Net County Cost associated with this resolution.