HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-03-28 City CouncilCity of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Repor.t
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
AGENDA DATE: March 28, 1996 CMR:202:96
SUBJECT:1996 Clean Bay Plan
REQUEST
This is an information report outlining the activities to be conducted in the 1996 Clean Bay
Plan.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This item is informational only. No action is recommended.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The 1996 Clean Bay Plan contains Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP)
plans to implement existing City policies regarding environmental protection and taking all
reasonable actions to achieve compliance with environmental permits.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In response to strict discharge requirements imposed on it, the 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 1996, called the 1996 Clean Bay Plan, describes
the sewer and stormwater pollution prevention activities that the RWQCP and the City of Palo
Alto are conducting to protect San Francisco Bay. The Clean Bay Plan also describes the
regulatory requirements and environmental setting that led the City to implement its water
pollution prevention program and provides an evaluation of program performance to date.
Appendices contain fact sheets on major RWQCP programs and tables recording progress in
carrying out the pollution prevention elements of the agreement between the RWQCP and the
Coalition for Effluent Action Now South Bay.
CMR:202:96 Page 1 of 2
One major element of the 1996 Clean Bay Plan is an assessment of the RWQCP’s current
compliance status and recent progress in reducing- discharges of pollutants of concern. Last
year, the RWQCP made substantial progress toward compliance with nickel and tri-butyl tin
effluent limitations and was recognized by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for
reduced air emissions health risk due to reduced chromium and cadmium discharges.
Copper continues to be the most difficult compliance problem for the RWQCP. In the last few
years local residents, businesses, and industries have dramatically reduced copper discharges,
reducing RWQCP influent copper levels by 28 percent. Industrial reductions are particularly
notable, industrial discharges now make up only 16 percent of the copper received by the
RWQCP. Such data points the way for future pollution prevention activities. With 51 percent
of the RWQCP’s influent copper coming from corrosion, it becomes apparent that future
pollution prevention efforts will need to address this source if additional reductions in copper
discharge to the Bay are mandated in the future. 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 1996 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:
DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW:
Kelly D. Moran
GLENN S. ROBERTS
Director of Public Works
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
BERNARD M. STROJN~ Q.
Assistant City Manager
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