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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-05 City CouncilCity of Palo ALto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DATE:JUNE 5, 1997 CMR:276:97 SUBJECT:TRANSMISSION OF 1997 CLEAN BAY PLAN TO CITY COUNCIL REQUEST The purpose of this report is to transmit the 1997 Clean Bay Plan to the City Council. Council action is required. No RECOMMENDATIONS This item is informational only. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In response to strict discharge requirements imposed on it, the Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) has developed a pollution prevention program. In. 1994, the RWQCP initiated a comprehensive annual planning process that integrates all of its water pollution prevention activities. While the planning process and ensuing report have been conducted in compliance with Regional Water Quality Control Board requirements, staff have prepared the document in a format suitable for other program purposes. The RWQCP’s pollution prevention plan for 1997, called the 1997 Clean Bay Plan, describes the sewer and storm water pollution prevention activities that the RWQCP and the City of Palo Alto are conducting to protect San Francisco Bay. The Plan also provides an update on the RWQCP’s progress in reducing pollutant discharges to San Francisco Bay. Appendices contain fact sheets on major RWQCP programs and tables recording the City’s progress in carrying out the pollution prevention elements of the agreement between the RWQCP and the Coalition for Effluent Action Now (CLEAN) South Bay. One major element of the 1997 Clean Bay Plan is an assessment of the RWQCP’s current compliance status and recent progress in reducing discharges of pollutants of concern (see Table 1, on pages 7 and 8 and Table 2, on page 12). Last year, the RWQCP achieved continued compliance with formerly problematic nickel and tri-butyl tin effluent limitations and saw CMR:276:97 Page 1 of 2 continued reductions in copper discharges. Measures that contributed to copper discharge reductions in 1996 include implementation of a Bay-Area-wide sales ban on copper-based root control products, and the successful efforts of local metal finishers and printed circuit board manufacturers to comply with Sewer Use Ordinance requirements (adopted in 1995 with a July 1996 final implementation deadline). Copper continues to be the most difficult compliance problem for the RWQCP. In the last few years local residents, businesses, and industry have dramatically reduced copper discharges, reducing RWQCP influent copper levels by 47 percent since 1989. Industrial reduction is particularly notable--industrial process discharges now make up only 5 percent of the copper received by the RWQCP. Such data points the way for future pollution prevention activities. With 61 percent of the RWQCP’s influent copper coming from corrosion of copper pipes in homes and businesses, it is apparent that future pollution prevention efforts must address this source if additional reductions in copper are required when the copper water quality standard is revised. Therefore, the Clean Bay Plan outlines potential future plans for corrosion control. The Clean Bay Plan uses information and analyses like this to explain the basis for program efforts. FISCAL IMPACT None. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT None required, as no action is before Council. ATTACHMENTS Copies of the 1997 Clean Bay Plan have been provided to Council. Others may obtain a copy of the Plan (or the Plan Summary) by calling the RWQCP at (415) 329-2598. PREPARED BY: Kelly D. Moran, Manager, Environmental Compliance Division DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: GLENN S. ROBERTS Director of Public Works CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:@E~L~ HARRISON Assistant City Manager CMR:276:97 Page 2 of 2