HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-09-2019 Legislative Committee Meeting Complete Agenda PacketOrange County Sanitation District
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Agenda
Monday, December 9, 2019 - 12:00 PM
Board Room
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE DISABLED: Meeting Rooms are wheelchair accessible. If you require any
special disability related accommodations, please contact the Orange County Sanitation District Clerk of the
Board’s office at (714) 593-7433 at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Requests must specify the
nature of the disability and the type of accommodation requested.
AGENDA POSTING: In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code Section 54954.2, this
agenda has been posted outside the main gate of the Sanitation District’s Administration Building located at
10844 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, California, and on the Sanitation District’s website at www.ocsd.com not
less than 72 hours prior to the meeting date and time above. All public records relating to each agenda item,
including any public records distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting to all, or a majority of the
Board of Directors, are available for public inspection in the office of the Clerk of the Board.
AGENDA DESCRIPTION: The agenda provides a brief general description of each item of business to be
considered or discussed. The recommended action does not indicate what action will be taken. The Board of
Directors may take any action which is deemed appropriate.
MEETING AUDIO: An audio recording of this meeting is available within 24 hours after adjournment of the
meeting. Please contact the Clerk of the Board's office at (714) 593-7433 to request the audio file.
NOTICE TO DIRECTORS: To place items on the agenda for a Committee or Board Meeting, the item must be
submitted in writing to the Clerk of the Board: Kelly A. Lore, MMC, (714) 593-7433 / klore@ocsd.com at least 14
days before the meeting.
FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA, BOARD MEMBERS MAY CONTACT STAFF AT:
General Manager: Jim Herberg, jherberg@ocsd.com / (714) 593-7300
Asst. General Manager: Lorenzo Tyner, ltyner@ocsd.com / (714) 593-7550
Asst. General Manager: Rob Thompson, rthompson@ocsd.com / (714) 593-7310
Director of Human Resources: Celia Chandler, cchandler@ocsd.com / (714) 593-7202
Director of Engineering: Kathy Millea, kmillea@ocsd.com / (714) 593-7365
Director of Environmental Services: Lan Wiborg, lwiborg@ocsd.com / (714) 593-7450
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Agenda Monday, December 9, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
DECLARATION OF QUORUM:
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
If you wish to address the Committee on any item, please complete a Speaker’s Form (located at the table outside
of the Board Room) and submit it to the Clerk of the Board or notify the Clerk of the Board the item number on
which you wish to speak. Speakers will be recognized by the Chairperson and are requested to limit comments to
three minutes.
REPORTS:
The Committee Chairperson and the General Manager may present verbal reports on miscellaneous matters of
general interest to the Directors. These reports are for information only and require no action by the Directors.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Consent Calendar Items are considered to be routine and will be enacted, by the Committee, after one motion,
without discussion. Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion will be considered in
the regular order of business.
1.2019-720APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs
Committee held November 4, 2019.
Originator:Kelly Lore
Agenda Report
11-04-2019 Legislative Committee Minutes
Attachments:
NON-CONSENT:
2.2019-766PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2019
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Public Affairs Update for the month of November 2019.
Originator:Jim Herberg
Agenda Report
Outreach Report November 2019
Media Clips November 2019
Attachments:
Page 1 of 3
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Agenda Monday, December 9, 2019
3.2019-779LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
2019
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of November 2019.
Originator:Jim Herberg
Agenda Report
Federal Update - ENS Resources.pdf
Federal Legislative Matrix - ENS Resources.pdf
State Update - Townsend Public Affairs.pdf
State Legislative Matrix - Townsend Public Affairs.pdf
Grant Matrix
CASA Coalition Wipes Support Letter
Attachments:
4.2019-7822020 LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY PLAN
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Orange County Sanitation District 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Plan.
Originator:Jim Herberg
Agenda Report
2020 Legislative Regulatory Plan
Attachments:
5.2019-785LEGISLATIVE CONCEPTS
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Legislative Concept 2: Amend Public Contracting Code for sanitation districts
to allow sanitation districts, whose service area includes a population of more than 1
million, the opportunity to utilize Job Order Contracting as a bid procurement
procedure. This change should be an addition to Public Contract Code, Division 2,
Part 3, Chapter 1, Article 50.
Originator:Jim Herberg
Agenda ReportAttachments:
INFORMATION ITEMS:
None.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
Page 2 of 3
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Agenda Monday, December 9, 2019
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF
ANY:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS INITIATED ITEMS FOR A FUTURE MEETING:
At this time Committee Members may request staff to place an item on a future agenda.
ADJOURNMENT:
The next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, February
10, 2020 at 12:00 p.m.
Page 3 of 3
Orange County Sanitation District
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2019-720 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:1.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
Originator: Kelly A. Lore, Clerk of the Board
SUBJECT:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee held
November 4, 2019.
BACKGROUND
In accordance with the Board of Directors Rules of Procedure,an accurate record of each meeting
will be provided to the Directors for subsequent approval at the following meeting.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Resolution No. OCSD 19-19
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)are included in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website
(www.ocsd.com) with the complete agenda package:
·Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting held November 4, 2019
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 11/27/2019Page 1 of 1
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Orange County Sanitation District
Minutes for the
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Monday, November 4, 2019
12:00 PM
Board Room
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
CALL TO ORDER
A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Committee
Chair Peter Kim on Monday, November 4, 2019 at 12:01 p.m. in the Administration Building of
the Orange County Sanitation District. Chair Kim led the pledge of allegiance.
DECLARATION OF QUORUM:
A quorum was declared present, as follows:
Present:Peter Kim, Allan Bernstein, Lucille Kring, Christina Shea, David
Shawver and John Withers
Absent:Erik Peterson
STAFF PRESENT:
Jim Herberg, General Manager; Robert Thompson, Assistant General Manager; Lorenzo Tyner,
Assistant General Manager; Kathy Millea, Director of Engineering; Tina Knapp, Assistant Clerk of
the Board; Jennifer Cabral; Daisy Covarrubias; Lisa Frigo; Al Garcia; Rebecca Long; Kelly Lore;
Kelly Newell; Tyler Ramirez; and Wally Ritchie.
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hogin, General Counsel; Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via teleconference); Eric O’Donnell,
Townsend Public Affairs (TPA); Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA); Jessica Gauger,
California Association of Sanitation Agencies; and Bruce Channing, Association of California
Cities-Orange County.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REPORTS:
Chair Kim reminded the Committee about the GWRS Final Expansion Groundbreaking event
taking place on Friday, November 8 at the Orange County Water District. He also reminded
the Committee that, due to upcoming holidays, the Board of Directors meetings will take place
one week earlier than usual in November and December - November 20 and December 18.
General Manager Jim Herberg did not provide a report.
Page 1 of 4
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes November 4, 2019
CONSENT CALENDAR:
1.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2019-697
Originator: Kelly Lore
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO:
Approve Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs
Committee held October 14, 2019.
Ayes:Peter Kim, Allan Bernstein, Lucille Kring, Christina Shea, David
Shawver and John Withers
Noes:None
Absent:Erik Peterson
Abstentions:None
NON-CONSENT:
2.PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2019 2019-696
Originator: Jim Herberg
Administration Manager Jennifer Cabral introduced Daisy Covarrubia who was recently
promoted to Principal Public Affairs Specialist who, in turn, provided an update on
recent public affairs activities and upcoming activities.
Chair Kim thanked staff for an outstanding State of the District event and Annual
Report.
WITHOUT OBJECTION ACTION TAKEN TO: Recommend to the Board of Directors
to:
Receive and file the Public Affairs Update for the month of October 2019.
3.LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
2019
2019-698
Originator: Jim Herberg
Rebecca Long, Senior Public Affairs Specialist, provided a brief recap on the State of
the District event and indicated that OCSD is in the process of applying for a $3 million
grant from CalRecycle.
Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, provided a PowerPoint presentation and a brief
overview of key legislative activities for the month including: FY 2020 Appropriation
Page 2 of 4
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes November 4, 2019
Status, Extended NPDES Permit Terms and WOTUS, and PFAS/PFOA: National
Defense Authorization Act.
Eric O'Donnell and Cori Williams, TPA, provided a PowerPoint presentation recapping
the legislative schedule and looking ahead, update to priority two-year bills, and
legislative proposals for 2020, specifically OCSD-led legislative concepts.
WITHOUT OBJECTION ACTION TAKEN TO: Recommend to the Board of Directors
to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of October 2019.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
4.CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SANITATION AGENCIES AND
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA CITIES-ORANGE COUNTY
2019-549
Originator: Jim Herberg
Ms. Long introduced Jessica Gauger, Director of Legislative Advocacy for the California
Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), who provided a PowerPoint presentation
that overviewed the 2019 legislative priorities that included SB 332 (Hertzberg): Ocean
Discharge, AB 1672 (Bloom): Wet wipe labeling, SB 69 (Wiener): Ocean Resiliency
Act, and housing related bills. Ms. Gauger's presentation also provided an outlook for
legislative interests for 2020.
Ms. Long introduced Bruce Channing, Executive Director for the Association of
California Agencies-Orange County (ACC-OC), who provided a PowerPoint
presentation that overviewed the recent infrastructure tour; ACC-OC committees; the
ACC-OC Legislative and Regulatory Committee; legislative platform issues; the
ACC-OC Energy, Environment, and Water Committee; the ACC-OC Housing
Committee; and a look-forward on ACC-OC positioning and activities.
WITHOUT OBJECTION THIS ITEM WAS:
Information Item.
5.DRAFT 2020 LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY PLAN 2019-550
Originator: Jim Herberg
Ms. Long provided a PowerPoint presentation on this item that reviewed guiding
priciples of the legislative plan, how the plan is developed, new portions of the plan
focusing on PFAS/PFOA, and the legislative team. Board Chair Shawver asked that
the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee be added to the legislative team list.
Chair Kim indicated that the Committee is in agreement with the plan and to move
forward with Board approval. Using the concepts presented in the State legislative
Page 3 of 4
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes November 4, 2019
update (Bill Concept 1 - Bid Advertising Requirements, Bill Concept 2 - Job Order
Contracting, Bill Concept 3 - Video Surveillance, and Bill Concept 4 - Raising the
Contract/Bid Threshold), Chair Kim summarized the interests of the Committee by
indicating that there is interest to move forward with Bill Concepts 1, 2, and 4; and
asked that these items be presented to the Committee in December (draft Bill language
and prioritization of each Bill Concept).
WITHOUT OBJECTION THIS ITEM WAS:
Information Item.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF
ANY:
None.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS INITIATED ITEMS FOR A FUTURE MEETING:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Committee Chair Kim declared the meeting adjourned at 1:25 p.m. to the next Legislative and
Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, December 9, 2019 at 12:00 p.m.
Submitted by:
_____________________
Tina Knapp, MMC
Assistant Clerk of the Board
Page 4 of 4
Orange County Sanitation District
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2019-766 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:2.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2019
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Public Affairs Update for the month of November 2019.
BACKGROUND
Staff will provide an update on recent public affairs activities.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
·Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
·Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators, stakeholders and
neighboring communities
·Listen to and seriously consider community input on environmental concerns
PROBLEM
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District)is well recognized within the
water/wastewater industry;however,within our service area there is limited knowledge by our
customers of the important work we do to protect public health and the environment.In general,the
customers we serve do not realize that when they improperly dispose of waste into the sanitation
system,it can negatively affect our sewer lines,our treatment plants,and the quality of water we
supply for the Groundwater Replenishment System.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
By providing tours,community outreach,education,and general communication via the Sanitation
District’s website,social media outlets,and direct mailings,we have the ability to educate the
community,local agencies,and businesses on our messaging such as the What2Flush program,
energy production,water recycling,biosolids,and our source control program.This,in turn,helps
improve the quality of wastewater that is recycled or released to the ocean.
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File #:2019-766 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:2.
TIMING CONCERNS
N/A
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not educate the community,local agencies,and area businesses about the Sanitation
District, we may not have the support necessary to deliver our mission.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
N/A
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
November 2019
Activity ## of Guests
OCSD/OCWD Tours 4 83
OCSD Tours 12 181
Speaking Engagements 4 110
Events 3 450
Current Activities - November 2019
Groundwater Replenishment System Groundbreaking
On November 8,the Orange County Water District (OCWD)and Sanitation District celebrated the
Final Expansion of the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS)with a groundbreaking
ceremony attended by more than 250 elected officials,project stakeholders,and industry
professionals.
The Final Expansion of the GWRS is the third and final phase of the project.The GWRS first began
operating in 2008,producing 70 million gallons of water a day (MGD)and,in 2015,the GWRS
underwent a 30 MGD expansion.When the Final Expansion is completed in 2023,the GWRS will
produce 130 MGD of highly purified water to meet the needs of 1 million people.
Speaking Engagement
On November 14,Rob Thompson,Assistant General Manager,participated in the Construction
Management Association of America Southern California Chapter State of the Economy forum
alongside executive members from Orange County Public Works and Orange County Transportation
Authority.Mr.Thompson presented on the Sanitation District’s Capital Improvement Program,
highlighting the plan for the next couple of years.
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File #:2019-766 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:2.
Turing Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards Ceremony
Last month,staff attended the Orange County Business Council’s Ninth Annual Turning Red Tape
Into Red Carpet award ceremony.The Sanitation District submitted nominations for the following
efforts:Odor and Corrosion Program,Converting Food Waste Into Green Energy,Battery Energy
Storage System,and was included in an entry for our partnership with Orange County Health Care
and Public Works,South Orange County Wastewater Authority for our joint effort with the Ocean
Water Protection Program.We are happy to announce that we won an award in the Sustainable and
Green Development Category for our Interim Food Waste Diversion Program.
Communications Audit is Underway
The Communications Audit,led by Tripepi Smith and Associates,is expected to be completed in
March 2020.Sanitation District staff and Board members have been interviewed to assess the
effectiveness of the Sanitation District’s internal and external communication pieces.When
complete,recommendations will be made for improvements to the Sanitation District’s
communication efforts.This valuable information will be used to formulate the Public Affairs Strategic
Plan for FY 2020-2022.
Construction Outreach
The Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI)Rock Stabilization Removal project in the City of Yorba Linda
continues.Nearly half of the 22,000 tons of rock have been removed from the Santa Ana River.
Work has commenced near residential neighborhoods and a notification was provided to the
surrounding community to alert them of activity they may notice.Flyer boxes with copies of the
notification were also set up along the bike trail adjacent to the river.
CEQA
N/A
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
The following attachment(s)are included in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website
(www.ocsd.com) with the complete agenda package:
·Outreach Report November 2019
·Media Clips November 2019
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 11/27/2019Page 3 of 3
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Outreach Report November 2019
Date Event Attendees
11/1/2019 Chapman Univ. Tour 20
11/2/2019 EcoChallenge 200
11/4/2019 Hope University Tour 9
11/5/2019 CSSD Tour 7
11/7/2019 Speaking Engagement - Biosolids 6
11/7/2019 Speaking Engagement - CA Alliance for Sewer System Excellence 20
11/8/2019 Golden West College Tour 5
11/8/2019 GWRS Expansion Event 200
11/8/2019 Cal Poly Tour 30
11/9/2019 SCC Wastewater Class tour 9
11/14/2019 Speaking Engagement - CMAA 25
11/15/2019 OCC Tour 17
11/15/2019 FV Disaster Prep Expo 50
11/18/2019 GWC Tour 17
11/21/2019 International Bottled Water Assoc. Tour 25
11/22/2019 OCC Tour 30
11/25/2019 CSULB Nursing Tour 13
11/26/2019 New Employee/Open Tour 25
11/26/2019 OCWD Dir. Zahra Tour 1
Table of Contents
GWRS…………………………………………… ................................ PAGE 1
November 7, 2019
O.C. districts to break ground on final phase of groundwater
replenishment system
By: Daily Pilot Staff
Daily Pilot
November 8, 2019
Orange County’s pioneering wastewater recycling system embarks
on major expansion
By: Martin Wisckol
OC Register
November 8, 2019
Press Release
By: Gina Ayala / Rebecca Long
November 8, 2019
U.S. EPA celebrates WIFIA project with groundbreaking at Orange
County Water District
By: Soledad Calvino
EPA
November 11, 2019
OCWD breaks ground on GWRS final expansion project in
California
By: NS Energy Staff
NS Energy
November 12, 2019
Orange County’s pioneering wastewater recycling system embarks
on major expansion
U.S. Breaking News
November 13, 2019
The World’s Largest Water Reuse Project is in its Final Stages
Environmental Protection
November 14, 2019
California’s OCWD breaks ground on GWRS final expansion project
Smart Water Magazine
November 18, 2019
U.S. EPA Celebrates WIFIA Project
Christina Tuser
Water & Wastes Digest
HUMAN INTEREST…………………………………………… ................. PAGE 26
October 15, 2019
Metropolitan, Sanitation Districts launch new water recycling demo
plant
WaterWorld
October 22, 2019
OCWD Wins AMWA Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Water OnLine
October 22, 2019
Poseidon, Doheny desalination plants advance in EPA funding
quest
By: Martin Wisckol
OC Register
October 22, 2019
U.S. EPA to provide $585 Million for Climate-Resilient Huntington
Beach Seawater Desalination Plant
Business Wire
October 23, 2019
Orange County College invests $22 million in new training center for
maritime programs
By: Lou Ponsi
OC Register
October 23, 2019
EPA to Provide $585 Million for Climate-Resilient Huntington Beach
Seawater Desalination
Efficient Gov
October 24, 2019
California college begins construction of Mariner training center
Mike Kennedy
American School & University
October 31, 2019
London’s sewer’s 40-ton fatberg cleared after 3 weeks, debris
removed by hand, officials say
By: Stephen Sorace
Fox News
November 4, 2019
2019 Excellence in Environmental Engineering and Science Awards
Competition Winners
American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists
TWITTER POSTINGS …………………………………………… ............. PAGE 56
FACEBOOK POSTINGS ……………………………………………………PAGE 57
INSTAGRAM POSTINGS……………………………………………………PAGE 60
OCSD Public Affairs Office
Monthly News Clippings
November 2019
1
Around Town:
O.C. districts to break ground on final phase of groundwater replenishment
system
By DAILY PILOT STAFF
NOV. 7, 2019
1:49 PM
The Orange County Water District and Orange County Sanitation District will host a
groundbreaking event Friday for the final expansion of the groundwater
replenishment system in Fountain Valley.
Daily Pilot
November 7, 2019
2
The system, billed as the world’s largest potable reuse facility, treats sewer water
and protects the county’s groundwater basin.
The final expansion, set to be complete in 2023, will allow the system to provide
enough water for one million people in north and central Orange County.
The groundbreaking ceremony will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. at 18700 Ward St.
3
Orange County’s pioneering wastewater
recycling system embarks on major
expansion
The virtually drought‐proof program is touted as the largest of its kind
in the world.
Orange County Register
November 8, 2019
4
By MARTIN WISCKOL | mwisckol@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: November 8, 2019 at 4:01 pm | UPDATED: November 8, 2019 at 8:42 pm
Orange County’s wastewater recycling program, a pioneering idea that’s already touted as the
largest of its type in the world, is about to get bigger.
Big enough, in fact, to serve the tap water needs of about 1 million residents, according to the
Orange County Water District and Orange County Sanitation District. Dubbed the Groundwater
Replenishment System, the project produces water that is half the price of imported water and
is virtually immune to both drought and reductions in imports.
5
The water and sanitation districts, partners in the 11‐year‐old project, hosted a
groundbreaking ceremony Friday to celebrate its expansion. The Fountain Valley event drew
about 250 local, state and federal officials, consultants and employees. Actual construction is
scheduled to begin next week and be completed in early 2023.
“It’s probably one of the most innovative water systems in the world,” Vicente Sarmiento,
chairman of the water district board, told attendees over the whine of the system’s machinery.
The program runs treated wastewater through an additional cleansing process that includes
microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light. The result is water that’s purer than
imports or storm water. The process removes virtually all contaminants, including any trace of
PFAS carcinogens.
The water is then used to replenish the groundwater aquifer, where it’s stored until the Orange
County Water District’s 19 member retailers pump it to residential and business customers.
The Orange County Water District supplies water to the north and central parts of the county,
accounting for about 2.5 million of the county’s 3.2 million residents. The 103,000 acre feet of
water currently produced annually by the recycling project accounts for about 25% of the
district’s total water supply, with imported water providing another 25%.
The expansion will increase annual production of the recycled water to 134,000 acre feet and
use all of the sanitation district’s reclaimable water, which would otherwise be pumped into
the ocean. One acre foot is enough water for about two households of four annually, according
to the water district.
Sarmiento reminded attendees at Friday’s ceremony that the concept of making wastewater
potable wasn’t even a pipe dream in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, that idea is increasingly
being implemented. Just a few miles up the 405 Freeway in Carson, a pilot project was
launched in October that could eventually result in a recycled water project producing 150,000
acre feet a year.
6
Imported water costs Orange County agencies about $1,100 an acre foot while groundwater
suffused with purified wastewater costs them $587 including pumping costs, according to John
Kennedy, Orange County Water District’s executive director of engineering and water
resources.
7
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS: Gina Ayala, (714) 378-3323, gayala@ocwd.com
Rebecca Long, (714) 593-7444, rlong@ocsd.com
ORANGE COUNTY WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICTS BREAK GROUND ON
PROJECT THAT RECYCLES 100% OF AVAILABLE WASTEWATER FLOWS INTO
DRINKING WATER FOR 1 MILLION PEOPLE
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (November 8, 2019) – Today, the Orange County Water District
(OCWD) and Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) celebrated the Final Expansion of the
Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by elected
officials, project stakeholders and industry professionals.
The Final Expansion of the GWRS is the third and final phase of the project. The GWRS first began
operating in 2008 producing 70 million gallons of water a day (MGD) and in 2015, it underwent a
30MGD expansion. When the Final Expansion is completed in 2023, the plant will produce 130
MGD.
“Today marks an important milestone in Orange County’s water future,” said OCWD President
Vicente Sarmiento. This is what we work for day in and day out—to provide a high-quality, reliable
water supply to 2.5 million people in our service area. Total production will be enough water for 1
million people when the expansion is completed. The GWRS is vital to combatting climate change
and sustaining Orange County’s water supplies and its thriving economy.”
The GWRS, the world’s largest water reuse project of its kind, is the result of decades of collaboration
between OCWD and OCSD to overcome the stigma associated with these types of projects and bring
water reliability to the region.
OCWD and OCSD see wastewater as a resource. Instead of discharging treated wastewater to the
Pacific Ocean, OCSD treats it and produces water clean enough to undergo purification at the GWRS.
This water is then purified at the GWRS using a three-step advanced process consisting of
microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide. The result is high quality
water that meets and exceeds state and federal drinking water standards. This purified water is then
injected into a seawater barrier and pumped to recharge basins where it naturally percolates into the
GWRS
November 8, 2019
8
Orange County Groundwater Basin, managed by OCWD, and supplements Orange County’s drinking
water supplies. Currently, GWRS water accounts for one-third of the water that is put into the basin.
“We are honored to partner with the Orange County Water District in ensuring strict source control of
the wastewater and working to increase the amount of water sent to the GWRS,” stated OCSD Board
Chairman, David J. Shawver. “We have made significant investments and are dedicated to the prudent
use of public funds for this and all future projects benefiting our community.”
The Final Expansion requires a total treated wastewater flow from OCSD of approximately 175 MGD
in order to produce 130 MGD of advanced purified recycled water. “This project will allow the region
to recycle 100% of OCSD’s reclaimable flows, which will be yet another first in the industry,” added
Shawver.
The GWRS is a financially responsible project that produces water at a lower cost than imported water.
Funding for the Final Expansion includes $135 million from the Environmental Protection Agency’s
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and $1.1 million in grants from the
U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI Water Infrastructure Improvements
for the Nation (WIIN) program.
“The Orange County Water District’s advanced system expansion will benefit the local community,
the economy and the environment,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker.
“We are honored to help fund this project and reduce borrowing costs through our WIFIA loan
program.”
Additionally, the Final Expansion received the highest ratings for all North Orange County projects
submitted through the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) program for Prop 1 grant
funding managed by the California Department of Water Resources. The project is currently slated to
receive $3.6 million in grants through the IRWM program. The remaining $186 million will be funded
through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan program.
For more information about the GWRS and the Final Expansion, please visit
https://www.ocwd.com/gwrs.
About the Orange County Water District
The Orange County Water District is committed to enhancing Orange County’s groundwater quality
and reliability in an environmentally friendly and economical manner. The following cities rely on the
groundwater basin, managed by OCWD, to provide 77% of their water demands: Anaheim, Buena
Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La
Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin,
Villa Park, Westminster and Yorba Linda. For more information about OCWD, please visit
www.ocwd.com, like @OCWaterDistrict on Facebook, follow @OCWDWaterNews on Twitter,
follow @OCWD on Instagram, and follow Orange County Water District on LinkedIn.
About the Orange County Sanitation District
OCSD is a public agency that provides wastewater collection, treatment, and recycling for
approximately 2.6 million people in central and northwest Orange County. OCSD is a special district
that is governed by a 25-member Board of Directors comprised of 20 cities, four special districts, and
one representative from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. OCSD has two operating facilities
that treat wastewater from residential, commercial and industrial sources. For more information, about
the Orange County Sanitation District visit www.ocsd.com.
9
United States Environmental Protection Agency
News Releases from Region 09
U.S. EPA celebrates WIFIA
project with groundbreaking at
Orange County Water District
11/08/2019
Contact Information:
Soledad Calvino (calvino.maria@epa.gov)
415‐972‐3512
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
the Orange County Water District (OCWD) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony
for the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) Final Expansion in Orange County,
California. This project is funded in part by a $135 million Water Infrastructure Finance
and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan.
“Not only will OCWD’s Ground Water Replenishment System provide Orange County
residents and businesses with an additional local drinking water supply, it will also
ensure the community is more resilient against periods of drought,” said EPA Pacific
Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “Good water quality and wastewater
management is vital to our health, communities, and economy. Through the WIFIA loan
program, EPA is helping renew our nation’s aging water infrastructure.”
EPA
November 8, 2019
10
“OCWD greatly appreciates the WIFIA funding that will support public water
infrastructure in Orange County,” said OCWD President Vicente Sarmiento. “The GWRS
Final Expansion will produce enough water for 1 million people, while also recycling
100% of the reclaimable wastewater from the Sanitation District. It’s truly a win‐win and
we will continue to implement projects and programs that bring increased water
reliability to the region.”
Today, the OCWD hosted an event in Fountain Valley, California, to break ground on the
GWRS Final Expansion project. Speakers included officials from OCWD, Orange County
Sanitation District, State Water Resources Control Board and EPA, as well as elected
officials. In August 2018, EPA announced the closing of this WIFIA loan.
Upon completion, the expanded system will purify treated wastewater from the Orange
County Sanitation District to produce an additional 30 million gallons per day of drinking
water, which will be stored in the Orange County Groundwater Basin. This additional
drought‐proof drinking water supply reduces the region’s need to import water, benefits
the environment through reduced discharges into the ocean, and increases
replenishment of the local groundwater source.
The Orange County Water District estimates the project will cost $310 million. Because
the WIFIA program offers loans with low interest rates, the Orange County Water District
is expected to save up to $16 million compared to municipal bonds. Project construction
is expected to create 700 jobs and is scheduled to begin in 2019 and be completed in
2023.
Background on WIFIA
Established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, the WIFIA
program is a federal loan and guarantee program administered by EPA. WIFIA’s aim is to
accelerate investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long‐term and
low‐cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects.
EPA has issued 14 WIFIA loans totaling over $3.5 billion in credit assistance to help
finance over $8 billion for water infrastructure projects and create over 15,000 jobs.
Through WIFIA, EPA is playing a leading role in President Trump’s efforts to upgrade our
nation’s infrastructure, protect public health, and create jobs.
For more information about the WIFIA program, visit https://www.epa.gov/wifia.
11
OCWD breaks ground on GWRS final
expansion project in California
POWERCLEAN TECHNOLOGYWATER AND WASTEWATER
By NS Energy Staff Writer 11 Nov 2019
The Groundwater Replenishment System final expansion project will help in producing an
additional 30 million gallons of drinking water per day
NS Energy
November 11, 2019
12
Image: EPA supports water treatment plant in California. Photo: Courtesy of
DengdaiFengQi/Pixabay.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Orange County Water District (OCWD)
have announced the start of construction on a new Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS)
final expansion project in Orange County, California.
The plant will help in purifying treated wastewater from the Orange County Sanitation District to
produce an additional 30 million gallons per day of drinking water. The drinking water will be
stored in the Orange County Groundwater Basin.
It is funded in part by a $135m Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan.
The plant will act as an additional drought‐proof drinking water supply source and will reduce
the region’s need to import water, benefiting the environment through reduced discharges into
the ocean and will increase the replenishment of local groundwater.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be $310m and with the support from EPA’s WIFIA
programme, the Orange County Water District could save up to $16m compared to municipal
bonds.
EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker said: “Not only will OCWD’s Ground
Water Replenishment System provide Orange County residents and businesses with an
additional local drinking water supply, it will also ensure the community is more resilient against
periods of drought.
“Good water quality and wastewater management is vital to our health, communities, and
economy. Through the WIFIA loan program, EPA is helping renew our nation’s aging water
infrastructure.”
During the project’s construction phase, 700
new jobs will be created
The construction phase of the project, which is expected to be completed in 2023, could create
up to 700 jobs.
13
Orange County Water District president Vicente Sarmiento said: “OCWD greatly appreciates the
WIFIA funding that will support public water infrastructure in Orange County.
“The GWRS Final Expansion will produce enough water for 1 million people, while also recycling
100% of the reclaimable wastewater from the Sanitation District. It’s truly a win‐win and we will
continue to implement projects and programs that bring increased water reliability to the
region.”
EPA announced the $135m loan to Orange County Water District last August.
14
Orange County’s pioneering wastewater
recycling system embarks on major
expansion
November 12, 2019
Orange County’s wastewater recycling program, a pioneering idea that’s already touted as the
largest of its type in the world, is about to get bigger.
Big enough, in fact, to serve the tap water needs of about 1 million residents, according to the
Orange County Water District and Orange County Sanitation District. Dubbed the Groundwater
Replenishment System, the project produces water that is half the price of imported water, and is
virtually immune to both drought and reductions in imports.
U.S. Breaking News
November 12, 2019
15
Cups of water filtered from wastewater sit on stage as Vicente Sarmiento, president of the Orange County Water
District, addresses visitors during an expansion groundbreaking ceremony in Fountain Valley, CA, on Friday, Nov 8,
2019. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Assemblyman Steven Choi (CA‐68) joins other officials, including, Vicente Sarmiento, president of the Orange County
Water District, stripped tie, and David Shawver, chairman of the Orange County Water District, as they toast to, and
drink, water that has been filtered from wastewater during an expansion groundbreaking ceremony in Fountain Valley,
CA, on Friday, Nov 8, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
16
Vicente Sarmiento, president of the Orange County Water District, addresses visitors during an expansion
groundbreaking ceremony in Fountain Valley, CA, on Friday, Nov 8, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County
Register/SCNG)
The water and sanitation districts, partners in the 11‐year‐old project, hosted a groundbreaking
ceremony Friday to celebrate its expansion. The Fountain Valley event drew about 250 local,
state and federal officials, consultants and employees. Actual construction is scheduled to begin
next week and be completed in early 2023.
“It’s probably one of the most innovative water systems in the world,” Vincente Sarmiento,
chairman of the water district board, told attendees over the whine of the system’s machinery.
The program runs treated wastewater through an additional cleansing process that includes
microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light. The result is water that’s purer than
imports or storm water. The process removes virtually all contaminants, including any trace of
PFAS carcinogens.
The water is then used to replenish the groundwater aquifer, where it’s stored until the Orange
County Water District’s 19 member retailers pump it to residential and business customers.
The Orange County Water District supplies water to the north and central parts of the county,
accounting for about 2.5 million of the county’s 3.2 million residents. The 100,000 acre feet of
water currently produced annually by the recycling project accounts for about 25% of the
district’s total water supply, with imported water providing another 25%.
The expansion will increase annual production of the recycled water to 130,000 acre feet and use
all of the sanitation district’s reclaimable water, which would otherwise be pumped into the
ocean. One acre foot is enough water for about two households of four annually, according to the
water district.
17
Sarmiento reminded attendees at Friday’s ceremony that the concept of making wastewater
potable wasn’t even a pipe dream in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, that idea is increasingly being
implemented. Just a few miles up the 405 Freeway in Carson, a pilot project was launched in
October that could eventually result in a recycled water project producing 150,000 acre feet a
year.
Imported water costs Orange County agencies about $1,100 an acre foot while groundwater
suffused with purified wastewater costs them $587 including pumping costs, according to John
Kennedy, Orange County Water District’s executive director of engineering and water resources.
As part of Friday’s ceremony, Sarmiento invited the officials on stage to a toast with glasses of
the purified wastewater.
“The tradition is that we have to finish every last drop,” he told them.
18
The World’s Largest Water Reuse
Project is in its Final Stages
The final expansion of the Groundwater Replenishment System was celebrated in Orange
County yesterday. The project poses high hopes for the future of California’s water systems.
Nov 13, 2019
Technology allows us to repurpose used water in a number of ways through chemical processes.
Agricultural runoff, potable drinking water, and even wastewater can all undergo water treatment
systems to be filtered, repurposed, and used again. But, not surprisingly, this kind of recycling
requires funds and the right organizations to support it.
Environmental Protection
November 13, 2019
19
The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) celebrated
the final expansion step in California’s most recent water system initiative: the Groundwater
Replenishment System (GWRS).
In attendance at the ceremony were elected officials, project stakeholders, and industry professionals
to see the last step in the project, due to be completed in 2023. The GWRS first began operating
nearly 11 years ago and then produced an average of 70 million gallons of water a day (MGD). Upon
completion, it will produce almost double at 130 MDG.
The state of California has long seen struggles in serving its millions of residents with clean and
accessible water. Now, with the success of the GWRS, the state and organizations alike have hopes
that the project will help serve their water demands to the approximate 2.6 million people in central
and northwest Orange County.
The Orange County Water District released the following press release on the ceremony and final
step in the project:
Today, the Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD)
celebrated the Final Expansion of the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) with a
groundbreaking ceremony attended by elected officials, project stakeholders and industry
professionals.
The Final Expansion of the GWRS is the third and final phase of the project. The GWRS first began
operating in 2008 producing 70 million gallons of water a day (MGD) and in 2015, it underwent a 30‐
MGD expansion. When the Final Expansion is completed in 2023, the plant will produce 130 MGD.
“Today marks an important milestone in Orange County’s water future,” said OCWD President Vicente
Sarmiento. This is what we work for day in and day out—to provide a high‐quality, reliable water
supply to 2.5 million people in our service area. Total production will be enough water for 1 million
people when the expansion is completed. The GWRS is vital to combatting climate change and
sustaining Orange County’s water supplies and its thriving economy.”
The GWRS,the world’s largest water reuse project of its kind, is the result of decades of collaboration
between OCWD and OCSD to overcome the stigma associated with these types of projects and bring
water reliability to the region.
OCWD and OCSD see wastewater as a resource. Instead of discharging treated wastewater to the Pacific
Ocean, OCSD treats it and produces water clean enough to undergo purification at the GWRS. This
water is then purified at the GWRS using a three‐step advanced process consisting of microfiltration,
20
reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide. The result is high quality water that
meets and exceeds state and federal drinking water standards. This purified water is then injected into a
seawater barrier and pumped to recharge basins where it naturally percolates into the Orange County
Groundwater Basin, managed by OCWD, and supplements Orange County’s drinking water supplies.
Currently, GWRS water accounts for one‐third of the water that is put into the basin.
“We are honored to partner with the Orange County Water District in ensuring strict source control of
the wastewater and working to increase the amount of water sent to the GWRS,” stated OCSD Board
Chairman, David J. Shawver. “We have made significant investments and are dedicated to the prudent
use of public funds for this and all future projects benefiting our community.”
The Final Expansion requires a total treated wastewater flow from OCSD of approximately 175 MGD in
order to produce 130 MGD of advanced purified recycled water. “This project will allow the region to
recycle 100% of OCSD’s reclaimable flows, which will be yet another first in the industry,” added
Shawver.
The GWRS is a financially responsible project that produces water at a lower cost than imported
water.Funding for the Final Expansion includes $135 million from the Environmental Protection
Agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and $1.1 million in grants
from the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI Water Infrastructure
Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) program.
“The Orange County Water District’s advanced system expansion will benefit the local community, the
economy and the environment,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “We
are honored to help fund this project and reduce borrowing costs through our WIFIA loan program.”
Additionally, the Final Expansion received the highest ratings for all North Orange County projects
submitted through the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) program for Prop 1 grant
funding managed by the California Department of Water Resources. The project is currently slated to
receive $3.6 million in grants through the IRWM program. The remaining $186 million will be funded
through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan program.
For more information about the GWRS and the Final Expansion, please
visit https://www.ocwd.com/gwrs.
21
California's OCWD breaks
ground on GWRS final expansion
project
Orange County Water District
OCWD takes the limited water supply found in nature and supplements it to provide water for more than 2.5
million people in Orange County, California.
14/11/2019
Smart Magazine
November 14, 2019
22
The Orange County Water District and Orange County Sanitation District
celebrated the Final Expansion of the Groundwater Replenishment System with
a groundbreaking ceremony attended by elected officials, project stakeholders
and industry professionals.
The Final Expansion of the GWRS is the third and final phase of the
project. The GWRS first began operating in 2008 producing 70 million gallons
of water a day (MGD) and in 2015, it underwent a 30- MGD expansion. When
the Final Expansion is completed in 2023, the plant will produce 130 MGD.
“Today marks an important milestone in Orange County’s water future,” said
OCWD President Vicente Sarmiento. This is what we work for day in and day
out—to provide a high-quality, reliable water supply to 2.5 million people in our
service area. Total production will be enough water for 1 million
people when the expansion is completed. The GWRS is vital to combatting
climate change and sustaining Orange County’s water supplies and its thriving
economy.”
The GWRS, the world’s largest water reuse project of its kind, is the
result of decades of collaboration between OCWD and OCSD to
overcome the stigma associated with these types of projects and bring water
reliability to the region.
OCWD and OCSD see wastewater as a resource. Instead of discharging treated
wastewater to the Pacific Ocean, OCSD treats it and produces water clean
enough to undergo purification at the GWRS. This water is then purified
at the GWRS using a three-step advanced process consisting of microfiltration,
reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide. The result is high
quality water that meets and exceeds state and federal drinking water standards.
23
This purified water is then injected into a seawater barrier and pumped to
recharge basins where it naturally percolates into the Orange County
Groundwater Basin, managed by OCWD, and supplements Orange County’s
drinking water supplies. Currently, GWRS water accounts for one-third of the
water that is put into the basin.
Chairman, David J. Shawver. “We have made significant investments and are
dedicated to the prudent use of public funds for this and all future projects
benefiting our community.”
The Final Expansion requires a total treated wastewater flow from OCSD of
approximately 175 MGD in order to produce 130 MGD of advanced
purified recycled water. “This project will allow the region to recycle 100%
of OCSD’s reclaimable flows, which will be yet another first in the industry,”
added Shawver.
The GWRS is a financially responsible project that produces water at a lower
cost than imported water. Funding for the Final Expansion includes $135
million from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure
Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program and $1.1 million in grants from
the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI Water
Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) program.
“The Orange County Water District’s advanced system expansion will benefit the
local community, the economy and the environment,” said EPA Pacific
Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “We are honored to help fund
this project and reduce borrowing costs through our WIFIA loan program.”
Additionally, the Final Expansion received the highest ratings for all
North Orange County projects submitted through the Integrated Regional
24
Water Management (IRWM) program for Prop 1 grant funding managed by the
California Department of Water Resources. The project is currently slated to
receive $3.6 million in grants through the IRWM program. The remaining $186
million will be funded through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
Loan program.
25
BY CRISTINA TUSER
NOV 18, 2019
FACEBOOKTWITTERLINKEDIN
BUSINESS NEWS: U.S. EPA CELEBRATES WIFIA
PROJECT
The U.S. EPA and the Orange County Water District (OCWD) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the
Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) expansion in Orange County, Calif.,
U.S. EPA Celebrates WIFIA Project
The U.S. EPA and the Orange County Water District (OCWD) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the
Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) Final Expansion in Orange County, Calif. The project is funded in
part by a $135 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan, according to an EPA
press release.
“Not only will OCWD’s Groundwater Replenishment System provide Orange County residents and businesses
with an additional local drinking water supply, it will also ensure the community is more resilient against
periods of drought,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “Good water quality and
wastewater management is vital to our health, communities, and economy. Through the WIFIA loan program,
EPA is helping renew our nation’s aging water infrastructure.”
“The GWRS Final Expansion will produce enough water for 1 million people, while also recycling 100% of the
reclaimable wastewater from the Sanitation District,” said OCWD President Vicente Sarmiento. “It’s truly a
win‐win and we will continue to implement projects and programs that bring increased water reliability to the
region.”
Water & Wastes Digest
November 18, 2019
26
Metropolitan, Sanitation Districts
launch new water recycling demo
plant
Facility in Carson to develop new local water source for the
region, could become one of largest recycling plants in the
U.S.
Oct 15th, 2019
CARSON, CA, OCT 15, 2019 -- In a major step toward the potential
construction of one of the largest water recycling plants in the nation, the
Water World
October 15, 2019
27
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Sanitation
Districts of Los Angeles County were joined today by federal, state and local
water leaders to celebrate the start of operations at the Regional Recycled
Water Advanced Purification Center.
The 500,000-gallon-per-day demonstration facility takes cleaned wastewater
from the Sanitation Districts’ Joint Water Pollution Control Plant and
purifies it using an innovative process that could significantly improve
efficiencies and reduce costs in water recycling.
Over the next 15 months, Metropolitan will put this treatment process
through rigorous testing to ensure the process effectively removes impurities
and the resulting water meets the highest quality standards. The testing and
other analyses will help the agencies determine whether to grow the facility to
a full-scale plant that could potentially produce up to 150 million gallons of
purified water daily – enough to serve more than 500,000 homes and
industrial facilities.
“Today marks a key step in Metropolitan’s endeavor to directly develop a
drought-proof local water supply for millions of Southern Californians,” said
Metropolitan Board Chairwoman Gloria D. Gray. “Over the last two decades,
Metropolitan has steadily diversified the region’s water supply portfolio and
prepared for a changing climate by investing in conservation and local supply
projects. Metropolitan is now scaling that commitment up to a higher level.”
Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, State Water Resources Control Board
Chairman Joaquin Esquivel and Los Angeles Regional Board Chairwoman
Irma Muñoz joined Metropolitan and the Sanitation Districts in celebrating
the launch of operations.
“We have long been leaders and advocates in recycling water,” said Sanitation
Districts General Manager Robert Ferrante. “Most of the water from our
other ten plants is currently reused. This project would use the region’s
largest untapped source of cleaned wastewater. We are excited to have
Metropolitan as a partner in finding a solution that will benefit the entire
Southern California region.”
28
Construction on the $17 million demonstration plant began in late 2017.
While the water purification process being tested at the facility is based on
proven technologies, it uses a new combination of treatment processes –
starting with membrane bioreactors and followed by reverse osmosis,
ultraviolet light and advanced oxidation – that could significantly increase
efficiencies in treatment.
“There are certainly proven technologies to safely recycle water. But as we
embark upon this major future investment, we need to explore how the
process can be improved,” Metropolitan General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger
said. “Others around the globe are watching as well.”
In addition to gaining regulatory approval, the research facility will help
confirm treatment costs, assess economic viability, and produce data to
inform decisions for the future design, operation and optimization of a full-
scale project. A later phase of testing will explore the potential of direct
potable reuse, through raw water augmentation.
“The Regional Recycled Water Program is an ambitious project that requires
the partnership of two large regional agencies with the right knowledge and
expertise. We are thankful to be partnering with the Sanitation Districts,”
Kightlinger added.
As envisioned, the full-scale program, including associated distribution lines,
would take about 11 years to construct, once approved. Purified water would
be delivered through 60 miles of new pipelines to: four groundwater basins in
Los Angeles and Orange counties for groundwater recharge and storage,
industrial facilities, and, potentially, two of Metropolitan’s existing water
treatment plants for direct potable reuse.
29
News | October 22, 2019
OCWD Wins AMWA Gold Award For
Exceptional Utility Performance
Fountain Valley, CA –– The Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) received the
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies’ (AMWA) 2019 Gold Award for Exceptional
Utility Performance. The presentation was made on October 21 at AMWA's Executive
Management Conference in Newport, Rhode Island.
The AMWA Gold Awards for Exceptional Utility Performance recognize the large public
drinking water systems that exhibit high levels of performance in the areas of product quality,
customer satisfaction, employee and leadership development, operational optimization,
financial viability, community sustainability, enterprise resiliency, infrastructure strategy and
performance, stakeholder understanding and support, and water resource sustainability. Gold
Award winners also show achievement in the areas of leadership, strategic business planning,
knowledge management, measurement, and continual improvement management. The honor
was bestowed by a distinguished panel of peer judges for OCWD’s significant contribution to
the drinking water industry.
Water OnLine
October 22, 2019
30
“This award is recognition by your colleagues that your agency has made remarkable efforts
to compete in a highly challenging and constantly changing environment. Congratulations on
this high achievement,” said Diane VanDe Hei, AMWA chief executive officer.
“Acknowledgement by our industry peers for our strong record of effective utility
management is a true honor,” said OCWD President Vicente Sarmiento. “This prestigious
award spotlights our efforts towards community sustainability and pays special tribute to our
employees and executive leadership.”
The Orange County Water District began in 1933 as a California Special District to protect the
local rights to Santa Ana River water and to manage the vast Orange County Groundwater
Basin. It is now an international leader in water reuse and groundwater management and is
home to the Groundwater Replenishment System—the world’s largest advanced water
purification project for potable reuse.
OCWD was the first to use reverse osmosis to purify wastewater to drinking water quality;
and staff were called as consultants as California shaped its Sustainable Groundwater
Management Act in 2014. The District’s Philip L. Anthony Water Quality Laboratory is one of
four public agency labs in the nation to have an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) 4 program for five EPA methods. It is
also the first laboratory in California to receive certification for polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) detection.
OCWD created the largest constructed wetlands in the West to help purify Santa Ana River
waters and for greater water yield while protecting endangered species. The Orange County
Groundwater Basin, which OCWD manages, is non-adjudicated, and yet, because of a unique
method of assessments and incentives, its 19-member groundwater producers can pump 77%
of their drinking water (approx. 104 billion gallons per year) while the basin remains reliable.
Sound planning and investment, high standards for water reliability, exceptional water
quality, environmental stewardship, sound financial management, and transparency are the
District’s hallmarks and standards, and they guide its ultimate mission to provide a reliable,
high quality water supply in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner for 2.5
million people in north and central Orange County, California.
31
About Orange County Water District (OCWD)
The Orange County Water District is committed to enhancing Orange County’s groundwater
quality and reliability in an environmentally friendly and economical manner. The following
cities rely on the groundwater basin, managed by OCWD, to provide 77 percent of their water
demands: Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden
Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia,
Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster and Yorba Linda. For more
information about OCWD, please visit www.ocwd.com, like @OCWaterDistrict on Facebook,
follow @OCWDWaterNews on Twitter, and follow @OCWD on Instagram.
About Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA)
The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies is an organization of the largest publicly
owned water utilities in the United States. AMWA is the voice of metropolitan water systems
on federal water policy issues, and its programs foster sustainable, innovative utility
management. Headquartered in Washington, DC, additional information about AMWA may
be obtained by visiting https://www.amwa.net/. You can follow @AMWA_water on Twitter.
SOURCE: Orange County Water District (OCWD)
32
Poseidon, Doheny desalination plants
advance in EPA funding quest
The low‐interest federal loans would help make the projects more
financially viable.
By MARTIN WISCKOL | mwisckol@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: October 22, 2019 at 4:11 pm | UPDATED: October 22, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Desalination plants proposed for Huntington Beach and Dana Point got a boost Tuesday when
the federal EPA selected them to apply for huge low‐interest loans that would increase the
viability of the projects.
Orange County Register
October 22, 2019
33
Poseidon’s $1‐billion plan for Huntington Beach and the South Coast Water District’s $110
million proposal near Doheny State Beach were two of 38 water projects nationwide chosen to
proceed with final applications for the money. Poseidon is pursuing a $585 million loan while
South Coast is seeking $60 million.
“It’s significant,” said Karl Seckel, assistant general manager of the Municipal Water District of
Orange County. “The loans would improve the economics of the projects. This is good news for
both of these projects.”
While both plants would provide a drought‐proof alternative to imported water, they also have
detractors and regulators in their path.
The more controversial Poseidon project needs to receive permits from the Regional Water
Quality Control Board and the state Coastal Commission before it can try to finalize a contract
with the Orange County Water District. Cost of the desalinated water could prove a key issue in
contract approval.
While Poseidon is a private, investor‐backed project that would need such a contract, the much
smaller Doheny plan is being pursued by a public agency that would sell the water to its own
retail customers. But the South Coast Water District is still studying the economics of the
proposal and has not yet begun the regulatory permit process beyond approving an
environmental study for its own project.
Nonetheless, the Doheny project has been praised by some environmentalists who oppose the
Poseidon plan. And those environmentalists aren’t the only ones who prefer South Coast’s
desalination.
The Doheny project also fared better in a study last year by the Municipal Water District. The
district, which oversees the distribution of water imported into the county, examined and
ranked six major water projects — including variations of two — proposed throughout the
county. One variation of the Doheny project ranked first and another ranked fourth. Two
versions of the Poseidon project ranked at the bottom of the list.
Seckel was unable to say whether the federal loan would improve Poseidon’s ranking. But he
did note the impact it would have on the project’s financing.
34
His district’s study of the six projects did not include federal loan money for Poseidon and
calculated the interest rate at 4.87%. With a $585 million federal loan at 2% interest, the total
blended interest rate for the project would drop to 3.5%, he said.
35
U.S. EPA to Provide $585 Million for Climate-
Resilient Huntington Beach Seawater
Desalination Plant
BY BUSINESS WIRE ARTICLE RATING: GIVE IT 1/5
OCTOBER 22, 2019 02:21 PM EDT
Poseidon Water released the following statement in response to today’s announcement that the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency has selected the proposed Huntington Beach Desalination Project to apply for
$585 million in credit assistance under the federal government’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation
Act (WIFIA).
“We are pleased by the U.S. EPA’s acknowledgment that the Huntington Beach Desalination Project is an
environmentally sound, regionally significant project that will produce clean, safe drinking water and high-
quality jobs,” said Poseidon Water CEO Carlos Riva. “WIFIA will make a tangible difference for Orange County,
providing ratepayers with affordable water that is locally controlled and climate resilient. The program is an
excellent example of how the federal government can foster Public-Private Partnerships that modernize our
nation’s water infrastructure.”
In 2015, Poseidon Water and the Orange County Water District entered into a Water Purchase Agreement Term
Sheet for the purchase of the plant’s full 50 MGD capacity. The Project’s WIFIA application was sponsored by
the Orange County Water District, which stated, “A WIFIA financing award will help reduce the ratepayer cost
of the potable water produced by the desalination Project, accelerating the Project development and ultimately
provide a new, locally controlled drought-proof supply of drinking water for Southern California.”
The WIFIA program accelerates investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost
supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects. The benefits of the credit assistance
provided by WIFIA to the Huntington Beach Project will result in a direct financial pass through to Orange
Business Wire
October 23, 2019
36
County water ratepayers, which Poseidon estimates will reduce consumer water costs by $290 million over the
life of the Project as compared to current financing options.
The WIFIA program was established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, during the
last term in public office for former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, a California environmental icon.
“When the WIFIA program was established by Congress, it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Everyone, regardless of party, knew it would be a great way to reduce costs to the consumer, encourage state of
the art technology, create jobs, and help our country meet the challenges of climate change. The legislation
created a high bar for a project to meet and the Huntington Beach Project meets every criteria,” said Senator
Boxer.
This year, EPA will help finance over $6 billion in water infrastructure investments that will create up to
190,000 jobs, upgrade aging infrastructure, reduce lead exposure, and improve the lives of millions of
Americans across the country. In 2018, construction of the final phase of the Orange County Water District’s
Groundwater Replenishment System received a WIFIA loan.
After a robust, statutorily required review process, the Huntington Beach Desalination Project was selected as
one of 38 projects nationwide, representing large and small communities, who submitted letters of interest to
EPA in response to the 2019 WIFIA Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Together, the selected borrowers
will receive WIFIA loans totaling up to $6 billion to help finance over $12 billion in water infrastructure
investments and create up to 190,000 jobs.
With EPA’s WIFIA loan, the Huntington Beach Desalination Plant will provide 50 million gallons per day
(56,000-acre-feet per year) of reliable, climate-resilient water to approximately 400,000 people in Orange
County. The plant will be Orange County’s largest single source of local supply water supply.
The plant will provide a highly reliable water supply produced with state-of-the-art technology to reduce energy
demands, and it will also be one of the only water infrastructure projects in the state to have a zero net carbon
footprint. The Huntington Beach Desalination Project will include over 1.5 million labor hours in Orange
County, supporting an estimated 3,000 jobs and infusing $500 million into the local economy.
The Huntington Beach Desalination Plant will open a new chapter in water supply reliability for the Orange
County region and the state by tapping the potential of the Pacific Ocean and reducing dependence on strained
resources such as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta. It is bolstering the region’s self-reliance, and in turn,
its future by meeting the needs of future generations.
About Poseidon Water
Poseidon Water is a private company that partners with public agencies to deliver water infrastructure
projects. The company's primary focus is developing large-scale reverse osmosis seawater desalination plants
implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the
developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon’s Carlsbad Desalination Plant, visit
carlsbaddesal.com and for more information on Poseidon’s Huntington Beach desalination plant, visit
HBfreshwater.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191022006058/en/
37
Orange County College invests $22
million in new training center for its
maritime programs
By LOU PONSI |
PUBLISHED: October 23, 2019 at 3:35 pm |
Orange County Register
October 23, 2019
38
After years of planning, a complicated land purchase and sale and necessary approvals from
multiple public agencies, expansion of Orange Coast College’s School of Sailing & Seamanship is
finally underway.
Construction has begun on a 12,000‐square‐foot, $22 million Mariners Training Center across
the street from the existing harbor‐front school facility in Newport Beach.
A skyway bridge over Pacific Coast Highway will connect the sailing school with the new
center, which will be built above ground‐level parking and will feature a radar training room, a
full mission bridge simulator, state‐of‐the‐art lab space, classrooms, a conference room and a
student lounge.
The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2021. It’s being paid for through the bond
measure voters approved in 2012 to finance nearly $700 million in improvements and
construction in the Coast Community College District.
Brad Avery, director of the School of Sailing and Seamanship, said the program only had two
classrooms at the harbor and one back on the Orange Coast College campus. “So this was about
providing a new home for this program. It’s going to be fantastic.”
OCC’s School of Sailing & Seamanship opened almost 60 years ago, offering basic boating
instruction for the general population.
The program, which currently serves more than 1,500 students annually, has since expanded
to include a professional program, offering certificates and associates degrees to students
pursuing maritime careers.
Opportunities exist working on commercial shipping vessels, private yachts, charter boats,
whale watching and dive boats, cruise ships, passenger ferries and tugboats. Many students go
on to earn four‐year degrees at maritime colleges.
“We’re getting more calls from people looking for employees than we have students,” said
Sarah Hirsch, director of OCC’s Community Boating program. She was recently hired to help
oversee the expansion. “It’s exciting down here. For us, this is an opportunity to have more
classroom space right here where we already have our program.”
39
The seamanship and sailing school had been looking to expand for several years, Avery said.
When seven contiguous lots across the street went up for sale 17 years ago, he finally saw the
opportunity.
But it took about 15 years for the Coast Community College District to acquire the land, he said.
The Orange County Sanitation District was looking to rebuild pump stations at the time and
partnered with college district on the land acquisition.
The sanitation district bought the land, built a pump station first, which took about six years,
and then sold a portion of the property to the community college district
“This is an exciting step forward for the college and the community,” John Weispfenning,
chancellor of the Coast Community College District, said at the recent groundbreaking
ceremony. “The Mariners Training Center solidifies Orange Coast College and Newport Beach
in preparing students for boating and maritime‐related industries.”
Nearly all of the vessels and equipment used for teaching students has been donated over the
years, Avery said. That includes a 92‐foot yacht, the Nordic Star, along with smaller sail boats
and power boats.
“One of the provisions is that we keep bettering and expanding to match the needs of the
community,” Avery said. “A lot of partnerships are going on here to make this work.”
40
Here’s what you can (and can’t) do about PFAS
contamination in your water
Hundreds of drinking water water utilities across California have been ordered to test for PFAS, a class of toxic chemicals
linked to cancer.
(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
By ANNA M. PHILLIPSSTAFF WRITER
OCT. 23, 2019
3 AM
Los Angeles Times
October 23, 2019
41
WASHINGTON —
After The Times reported last week that nearly 300 drinking water wells and other
water sources in California had been contaminated with toxic chemicals linked to
cancer, readers wanted to know what they could do. For many, it was the first time
they had read about this class of chemicals, called perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances — or PFAS. We talked to industry experts, and the
following are their best answers to some of the most often-asked questions we
received.
Will the water filter pitcher I have in my fridge remove PFAS?
If only it were that easy. Common water pitcher brands like Brita and Pur are
perfectly fine if you want to reduce bad-tasting chlorine and contaminants like
heavy metals. But they weren’t designed to remove PFAS or even reduce their
concentration in your tap water.
NSF International, a group that tests and certifies water filtration systems, lists 77
products that can reduce PFAS to below the Environmental Protection Agency’s
health advisory level. Some of them function like pitchers — you fill them manually
and they don’t have to be installed under your sink — but they do have to be
docked into a filtration system that sits on your counter and has to be plugged in.
They cost about $100-$150.
What type of home filtration system is best?
According to the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a public health advocacy
organization that has called for more regulation of PFAS, the gold standard for in-
house filtration is a reverse osmosis filter, commonly called RO.
42
Reverse osmosis filters work by forcing water through a membrane that traps
contaminants. These filters are considered the most effective, but they produce
large amounts of wastewater — about three times as much water as they treat.
Ranging from $200 to $1,800, a reverse osmosis system is typically the most
expensive option and may require a professional plumber to install it under the
sink.
The second best option is an activated carbon filter, which also goes under the sink.
These systems are less expensive than reverse osmosis and their cartridges are
often cheaper to replace.
EWG doesn’t endorse any particular brand and NSF International gives you 10
different manufacturers to choose from.
There are several caveats to these recommendations.
First, the federal government does not regulate PFAS and there is no agreed-upon
safe level for drinking water. Though NSF-certified filters are proven to reduce
contaminant levels below the EPA guideline, there’s debate among scientists and
public health advocates about whether the federal government’s advisory level is
too high.
For example, New Hampshire has the strictest PFAS standards in the country, which
are significantly lower than the EPA’s level. Whether a home filtration system can
meet these tighter standards is unclear.
Also, NSF certifies products to remove the two most common variants in the PFAS
class — PFOA and PFOS — but there are thousands more. It’s unknown how
effective water filters are on the second generation of PFAS.
43
Just because you live close to a well with elevated levels of PFAS does not mean
your tap water comes from that source. California has about 3,000 water providers,
some of which purchase water from wholesalers that operate their own
groundwater wells.
However, if your water does come from a utility with one or more contaminated
wells, keep in mind that the PFAS level found in a well may not be the same as
what comes out of your faucet. Some California water utilities have shut down
contaminated wells, put them on “emergency-only” status or processed their water
through treatment plants. Others have begun blending contaminated sources with
clean ones to lower the concentration.
If you’re concerned, the best course of action is to call your water provider.
Can I test my tap water for PFAS?
Yes, you can hire a certified laboratory to test your water. It’s also possible to
sample water yourself and send it to a laboratory, but it’s quite complicated.
Because these chemicals have been used in a dizzying array of consumer products,
cross-contamination is a serious concern.
Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality has detailed instructions that
warn against wearing latex gloves, water resistant clothing, or even certain kinds of
lotion and sunscreen that contain the contaminants, while collecting samples. It’s
easy to inadvertently ruin a sample by wearing or touching something with PFAS in
it.
44
If you’re interested in testing, California drinking water officials recommend that
you contact a laboratory that’s accredited for PFAS testing. However, testing is
expensive. Prices range from $400 to $1,000 per sample.
I get my water from a private well. Should I wait for the state to test it or do it
myself?
So far, California’s State Water Resources Control Board has tested about 600 water
sources — a small fraction of the whole system — and it’s unclear how quickly the
state will move to require more. State officials have said they are prioritizing wells
and other sources near areas that are known to be contaminated, such as military
bases, wastewater treatment plants, municipal airports and landfills.
Unlike Michigan, which has committed to testing all of its public water providers,
California has not said whether it will do the same, much less turn its attention to
private drinking water wells. If you don’t want to wait for the state to act, you can
have a laboratory test your water.
Will my water bill go up if PFAS are found in my area?
It’s possible. Although state-ordered PFAS testing is only beginning in California,
already there are examples of water districts spending money to build new
treatment facilities or purchasing clean water from elsewhere to replace wells that
were shut down. Orange County officials have warned that if the chemicals spread
throughout the groundwater basin, residents there could see their water bills rise
by as much as 15%.
But because testing is ongoing, it’s unclear how widespread or how expensive the
cleanup effort will ultimately be. California is still trying to understand the scale of
45
the problem. As more testing is conducted, it seems likely that state officials will
focus on the chemical companies and military branches that introduced PFAS into
the environment. In the end, “who pays?” may be a question for the courts.
46
EPA to Provide $585 Million for Climate‐Resilient
Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Plant
October 23, 2019
by Efficient Gov Staff
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The assistance comes through the federal government’s Water
Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act.
Efficient Gov
October 23, 2019
47
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Poseidon Water released the following statement in response to
yesterday’s announcement that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected the
proposed Huntington Beach Desalination Project to apply for $585 million in credit assistance
under the federal government’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA).
We are pleased by the U.S. EPA’s acknowledgment that the Huntington Beach
Desalination Project is an environmentally sound, regionally significant project that will
produce clean, safe drinking water and high-quality jobs,” said Poseidon Water CEO
Carlos Riva.
“WIFIA will make a tangible difference for Orange County,” he continued, “providing
ratepayers with affordable water that is locally controlled and climate resilient. The program is
an excellent example of how the federal government can foster Public-Private Partnerships
that modernize our nation’s water infrastructure.”
In 2015, Poseidon Water and the Orange County Water District entered into a Water
Purchase Agreement Term Sheet for the purchase of the plant’s full 50 MGD capacity.
The Project’s WIFIA application was sponsored by the Orange County Water District, which
stated, “A WIFIA financing award will help reduce the ratepayer cost of the potable water
produced by the desalination Project, accelerating the Project development and ultimately
provide a new, locally controlled drought-proof supply of drinking water for Southern
California.”
The WIFIA program accelerates investment in the nation’s water infrastructure by providing
long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects. The
benefits of the credit assistance provided by WIFIA to the Huntington Beach Project will result
in a direct financial pass through to Orange County water ratepayers, which Poseidon
estimates will reduce consumer water costs by $290 million over the life of the Project as
compared to current financing options.
The WIFIA program was established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
of 2014, during the last term in public office for former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, a
California environmental icon.
. When the WIFIA program was established by Congress, it passed with overwhelming
bipartisan support. Everyone, regardless of party, knew it would be a great way to reduce
costs to the consumer, encourage state of the art technology, create jobs, and help our
country meet the challenges of climate change. The legislation created a high bar for a project
to meet and the Huntington Beach Project meets every criteria,” said Senator Boxer.
This year, EPA will help finance over $6 billion in water infrastructure investments that will
create up to 190,000 jobs, upgrade aging infrastructure, reduce lead exposure, and improve
the lives of millions of Americans across the country. In 2018, construction of the final phase
of the Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System received a WIFIA
loan.
48
After a robust, statutorily required review process, the Huntington Beach Desalination Project
was selected as one of 38 projects nationwide, representing large and small communities,
who submitted letters of interest to EPA in response to the 2019 WIFIA Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA).
Together, the selected borrowers will receive WIFIA loans totaling up to $6 billion to help
finance over $12 billion in water infrastructure investments and create up to 190,000 jobs.
With EPA’s WIFIA loan, the Huntington Beach Desalination Plant will provide 50 million
gallons per day (56,000-acre-feet per year) of reliable, climate-resilient water to
approximately 400,000 people in Orange County. The plant will be Orange County’s largest
single source of local supply water supply.
The plant will provide a highly reliable water supply produced with state-of-the-art technology
to reduce energy demands, and it will also be one of the only water infrastructure projects in
the state to have a zero net carbon footprint. The Huntington Beach Desalination Project will
include over 1.5 million labor hours in Orange County, supporting an estimated 3,000 jobs
and infusing $500 million into the local economy.
The Huntington Beach Desalination Plant will open a new chapter in water supply reliability
for the Orange County region and the state by tapping the potential of the Pacific Ocean and
reducing dependence on strained resources such as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-
Delta. It is bolstering the region’s self-reliance, and in turn, its future by meeting the needs of
future generations.
49
Orange
Coast College
Rendering of plans for the Orange Coast College’s Mariners Training Center in Newport Beach.
PLANNING & DESIGN>NEW CONSTRUCTION
California college begins construction of
Mariner training center
The 12,000‐square‐foot, $22 million Mariners Training Center in Newport Beach will enable Orange
Coast College’s School of Sailing & Seamanship to expand.
American School & University
October 24, 2019
50
Mike Kennedy | Oct 24, 2019
After years of planning, the expansion of Orange Coast College’s School of Sailing &
Seamanship is finally underway.
The Orange County Register reports that construction has begun on a 12,000‐square‐foot, $22
million Mariners Training Center across the street from the existing harbor‐front school
facility in Newport Beach, Calif.
A skyway bridge over Pacific Coast Highway will connect the sailing school with the center,
which will be built above ground‐level parking and will feature a radar training room, a full
mission bridge simulator, state‐of‐the‐art lab space, classrooms, a conference room and a
student lounge.
The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2021. It’s being paid for through the bond issue
that voters approved in 2012 to finance nearly $700 million in improvements in the Coast
Community College District.
Brad Avery, director of the School of Sailing and Seamanship, says the program had only two
classrooms at the harbor and one on the Orange Coast College campus in Costa Mesa.
“So this was about providing a new home for this program," he says. "It’s going to be
fantastic.”
The college's School of Sailing & Seamanship opened almost 60 years ago, offering basic
boating instruction for the general population.
The program, which now serves more than 1,500 students annually, has since expanded to
include a professional program that offers certificates and associate degrees to students
pursuing maritime careers.
Opportunities exist working on commercial shipping vessels, private yachts, charter boats,
whale watching and dive boats, cruise ships, passenger ferries and tugboats.
“We’re getting more calls from people looking for employees than we have students,” says
Sarah Hirsch, director of the college's Community Boating program. “It’s exciting down here.
For us, this is an opportunity to have more classroom space right here where we already have
our program.”
The seamanship and sailing school had been looking to expand for several years, Avery says.
But it took about 15 years for the Coast Community College District to acquire the land.
The Orange County Sanitation District was looking to rebuild pump stations at the time and
partnered with college district on the land acquisition.
The sanitation district bought the land, built a pump station first, which took about six years,
and then sold a portion of the property to the community college district
51
Nearly all of the vessels and equipment used for teaching students have been donated over
the years, Avery says. That includes a 92‐foot yacht, the Nordic Star, along with smaller sail
boats and power boats.
52
London sewer’s 40‐ton fatberg cleared
after 3 weeks, debris removed by hand,
officials say
By Stephen Sorace | Fox News
British engineers have finally cleared a massive 40‐ton block of waste known as a
“fatberg” from a South London sewer after spending three weeks chiseling down the
clog, officials said.
Engineers with Thames Water, a private utility company serving the London area,
used high‐powered water jets that blast the congealed blockage loose, the company
said in a news release Wednesday. Workers then removed the debris, a combination
of fat, grease and other materials, by hand.
“This was a massive and disgusting blockage that took a great deal of effort and
teamwork to clear and get the sewer working well again,” said Matt Rimmer, Thames
Water’s head of waste networks.
FOX News Channel
October 31, 2019
53
The mammoth clog, discovered earlier this year, weighed the same as three of
London’s famed red double‐decker buses and took up as much as 80 percent of the
sewer’s capacity, the news release said. If the huge blob wasn’t handled, it could have
grown even bigger, causing sewage to back up into homes and businesses. It could
have also harmed the environment.
The blob of congealed waste weighed 40 tons, about the same as three of London's famed red buses, Thames
Water said. (Thames Water)
WORK BEGINS TO REMOVE MAMMOTH 'FATBERG' UNDER BRITISH TOWN
Fatbergs are formed when grease, fat and oil are disposed of down sinks or other
drains and fuse with “unflushable” items like wet wipes, diapers and cotton swabs,
according to Thames Water.
“We’d urge everyone to help fight the fatberg by only flushing the 3Ps ‐‐ pee, poo and
paper ‐‐ as well as disposing of fat and oils in the bin, not the sink,” Rimmer said.
Several enormous fatbergs have popped up in England over the past several years.
54
Earlier this year, a 210‐foot fatberg was removed from a popular southwestern
English resort town. In 2017, an 820‐foot fatberg was found in sewers beneath
Whitechapel in east London.
55
November 4, 2019
2019 Excellence in Environmental Engineering and
Science™ Awards Competition Winners
The award recipients are listed below. Detailed information on the project categories and awards
can be found at: https://www.aaees.org/e3scompetition. Click on the links below to view a full
profile of each winning project.
Superior Achievement
Multipronged Collection System Odor Control Program at OCSD; Less Odors and Lower Costs
Entrant: Orange County Sanitation District
Engineer in Charge: Jeffrey Brown, P.E., BCEE
Location: Fountain Valley, California
Planning
Honor Award
Wastewater Collection and Treatment Facilities Master Plan
Entrant: Orange County Sanitation District
Engineer in Charge: Eros Yong, P.E., BCEE
Location: Fountain Valley, California
American Academy of
Environmental Engineers
November 4, 2019
56
Twitter Posts
November 2019
57
Facebook Posts
November 2019
58
59
60
Instagram Posts
November 2019
Orange County Sanitation District
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2019-779 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:3.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2019
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of November 2019.
BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District’s (Sanitation District) legislative affairs program includes
advocating the Sanitation District’s legislative interests, sponsoring legislation (where appropriate),
and seeking Local, State, and Federal funding for projects and programs. Staff will provide an
update on recent legislative and grant activities.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
·Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
·Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators, stakeholders, and
neighboring communities
PROBLEM
Without a strong advocacy program,elected officials may not be aware that the Sanitation District is
more than a wastewater treatment plant - treating and sending water to the ocean.
The Sanitation District is an environmentally engaged organization which recycles more than 50
percent of its wastewater.Additionally,to help meet the goal of 100 percent recycling,the Sanitation
District uses the byproducts from the wastewater treatment process to produce biosolids to fertilize
crops and energy used to help power the two plants in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Continue to work with Local,State,and Federal officials to advocate the Sanitation District’s
legislative interests.Help to create/monitor legislation and grants that would benefit the Sanitation
District,the wastewater industry,and the community as a whole.To assist in our relationship building
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 11/27/2019Page 1 of 2
powered by Legistar™
File #:2019-779 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:3.
District,the wastewater industry,and the community as a whole.To assist in our relationship building
activities,we will continue to reach out to our elected officials providing facility tours,one-on-one
meetings, and trips to D.C. and Sacramento.
TIMING CONCERNS
N/A
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not work with Local,State,and Federal elected officials,legislation could be passed that
negatively affects the Sanitation District and the wastewater industry as a whole.Additionally,this
could affect our chances of receiving grant funding.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Sanitation District is applying for a grant through CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program for the
Food-Waste Co-Digestion facility at Plant No.2 in Huntington Beach.The amount the Sanitation
District would be eligible to receive is up to $3 million. The grant application is due December 5.
On Thursday,November 21,the Sanitation District signed onto the California Association of
Sanitation Agencies’(CASA)coalition letter supporting Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47)and
Senator Tom Udall’s (D-N.M.)legislation to address the plastic waste crisis.As supported in the
Sanitation District’s Legislative Platform,the proposal sets requirements for labeling non-flushable
wet wipe products and sets parameters for which wipes can be labeled as “flushable”or “sewer and
septic safe.”
Additionally,the draft language includes provisions that would require wipes manufacturers to include
statements about wet wipes containing plastic content.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
N/A
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)are included in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website
(www.ocsd.com) with the complete agenda package:
·Federal Update - ENS Resources
·Federal Legislative Matrix - ENS Resources
·State Update - Townsend Public Affairs
·State Legislative Matrix - Townsend Public Affairs
·Grant Matrix
·CASA Coalition Wipes Support Letter
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 11/27/2019Page 2 of 2
powered by Legistar™
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Rebecca Long
FROM: Eric Sapirstein
DATE: November 18, 2019
SUBJECT: Washington Update
Congress and the White House continue to discuss a path forward on finalizing fiscal
year 2020 spending bills, to avoid a governmental shutdown on November 21 when
the stopgap spending bill expires. An apparent agreement has been reached that
would extend governmental operations through December 20, providing House and
Senate leadership about three weeks to strike a compromise with the White House
to finalize a spending blueprint for all federal agencies for the remaining nine
months of the fiscal year. In addition to the focus on spending decisions,
congressional leaders made incremental progress on water infrastructure
policymaking and are working to break the gridlock on Per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS/PFOA) cleanup mandates as part of the National Defense
Authorization Act. The following summarizes these and other matters of interest.
Finalizing Fiscal Year 2020 Spending Decisions Likely to Extend into December
Earlier in the month, the Senate approved the first of several “minibus” spending
packages. The Senate passed the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill (H.R.
3055) by 84-9. The bill funds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as
well as the Department of the Interior. The action puts the minibus in a position to
be conferenced with the House-passed version of the bill. However, this effort is
now likely to be rolled into a massive omnibus spending agreement.
2 | P a g e
Regardless of the overall effort to strike a deal that includes funding of the border
wall project, funding of water infrastructure programs like the State Revolving Loan
(SRF) Program and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovative Act (WIFIA) are
expected to be near record levels with the SRF funded at almost $1.8 for clean water
projects. In addition, USEPA’s budget is likely to contain funding for the agency to
continue studies into PFAS chemicals and how best to regulate these chemicals to
protect human health and clean up contaminated groundwater basins. However, as
detailed below, efforts to include provisions mandating liability for PFAS
contamination under Superfund is unlikely this year.
The Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill (H.R 2740), that provides
funding for water recycling projects and related studies, is wrapped into a second
“minibus” that is awaiting consideration by the Senate. Along with the Energy and
Water Development bill, the second “minibus” also includes the Defense of
Department and Homeland Security budgets, and this has stymied progress, because
these spending bills would include funding for the border wall project. Nonetheless,
it appears increasingly likely that an agreement to provide funding, with a
prohibition on the transfer of defense program funding, to increase construction
assistance will be fashioned to allow for Senate passage of the “minibus” as part of
the overall spending bill that we anticipate in late December. Failing an agreement,
it becomes more likely that Congress would settle upon a third and final stopgap
spending bill, carrying fiscal year 2019 spending levels into the remaining months of
fiscal year 2020. In a worst-case scenario, water recycling funding assistance would
remain at approximately $30 million instead of about $60 million as contemplated
in the proposed fiscal year 2020 spending measures.
House and Senate Committees Remain At Loggerheads on PFAS Issues
The House and Senate Conference Committee that is working to finalize the National
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA—H.R. 2500/S. 1790) remain at an impasse as to
how to legislate cleanups of groundwater PFAS contamination. As noted in last
month’s update, the House position is unyielding in its demands to designate PFAS
as a hazardous substance under Superfund. The Senate opposes this position,
because of concerns that such designation could impose substantial liability on
water agencies that simply are delivering water that might contain PFAS. Under
Superfund, for example, an agency that conveys contaminated water or disposes of
biosolids containing PFAS could be named as a responsible party, triggering legal
actions for cleanup contributions. The Senate NDAA version provides for USEPA to
develop monitoring and treatment standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act,
sidestepping the liability debate.
The intractable nature of the PFAS debate between the House and Senate
conference committee members, coupled with a White House veto threat of the
House-approved PFAS language in its version of the NDAA, has caused Senator Jim
Inhofe (R-OK), who is serving as the conference committee chair, to call for passage
of a scaled back NDAA. His approach does not include any PFAS language.
3 | P a g e
Should this occur, any effort to address PFAS cleanup needs would fall to USEPA to
issue its findings on the nature and extent of the PFAS threats and then detail its
plans and timetable to regulate the monitoring, treatment and disposal of PFAS
contaminants. If this is the outcome, we expect that the PFAS issue and Superfund
liabilities will resurface next year. Assuming this occurs, speculation exists that
congressional proponents of PFAS Superfund liability would seek to attach PFAS
liability provisions to a Water Resources Development Act of 2020.
Clean Water State Revolving Fund Infrastructure Bill Advances in House
The House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure approved, on a bipartisan
basis, the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019 (H.R. 1497). The
bill is notable as it is the first substantive step to address clean water and water
recycling infrastructure needs. It also provides for a prescriptive approach to secure
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for periods of up
to ten years but would eliminate administrative extensions for five-year permits. In
the absence of extensions, a state either completes a renewal in a timely manner or
it would lose the authority to renew the permit in question and USEPA would
assume responsibility. If this were to occur, the permittee would be held harmless
during such an event so that it would not be in violation of operating without an
NPDES permit. As noted in our prior update, the Senate is unlikely to adopt similar
language to eliminate the authority of a state to issue an administrative extension of
a five-year permit.
Under the measure, the Clean Water SRF would be authorized at $14 billion over
five years, grants to agencies to construct water recycling projects would be
authorized at $150 million and a series of setaside spending mandates would be
provided to support workforce training, green infrastructure and enhanced
subsidies for disadvantaged communities to construct water infrastructure.
House floor debate and votes on H.R. 1497 could occur in December, but more likely
early next year. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has
indicated that any water infrastructure policymaking will not occur outside of its
consideration of a Water Resources Development Act of 2020. The committee
hopes to begin formal consideration of such a bill in February, but this could be
delayed by other Senate business.
Administrative-Related Activities
A handful of notable non-legislative matters occurred over the past month. First, the
Administration, acting through USEPA, formally repealed the contentious Waters of
the U.S. (WOTUS) rule that the Obama Administration issued. This action means
that the application of Clean Water Act mandates returns to the 1990’s standard
where defining which waters are subject to regulation is made on a case-by-case
basis.
4 | P a g e
OCSD should not experience any adverse impacts, since the existing regulatory
exemption for wastewater agencies being subjected additional mandates remains in
place. USEPA is expected to issue a new WOTUS rule within the next few months. It
is not expected to adversely impact OCSD regulatory compliance activities.
The U.S. Supreme Court also heard oral arguments over a Maui, HI decision that the
disposal approach of discharging treated wastewaters through land application that
migrates through groundwater into surface waters is subject to securing an NPDES
permit. The court heard arguments from Maui (friend of the court filings, including
CASA) that the Clean Water Act reserves such authority to the states and that if the
federal government wishes to impose management of groundwater, it cannot be
through an NPDES program given the fact that this program is reserved for “point
source discharges”. While it is never a certainty on how the Court might rule, it
seems that a decision to ensure that groundwater regulation remains a state
primacy will prevail given the arguments before the Court’s Justices.
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 1162 Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA)
Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act. Establishes a grant
program for the funding of water recycling and reuse projects, and for other
purposes.
House - 6/13/19
Subcommittees Hearings
held
Watch CASA SUPPORTS
H.R. 1497 Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019. Provides nearly
$23.5 billion in direct infrastructure investment over the next five years to
address wastewater infrastructure and local water quality challenges. This
bill allocates $20 billion in grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
House - 10/29/19
Ordered to be Reported
Out as amended by
voice vote Watch CASA SUPPORTS
H.R. 535 Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI)R
PFAS Action Act of 2019. To require the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency to shall designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as
hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980.
House - 9/26/19
Forwarded to Full
Committee by voice vote Watch NYC
H.R. 876 Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR)
Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act of 2019. Requires the
FEMA to develop a plan for the purchase and installation of an earthquake
early warning system for the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The term "Cascadia
Subduction Zone".
House - 2/6/19 Passed
House by voice vote,
received in Senate and
referred to Committee
on Homeland Security
and Governmental
Affairs
Watch NYC
H.R. 667 Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
Regulatory Certainty for Navigable Waters Act. Repeals the Waters of the
United States rule and amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
definition of navigable waters, and for other purposes.
House - 2/7/19 Referred
to Subcommittee on
Water Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
Federal Legislation 2019 - 2020
Priority
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
S. 403 Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
A bill to encourage the research and use of innovative materials and
associated techniques in the construction and preservation of the
domestic transportation and water infrastructure system, and for other
purposes.
Senate - 2/7/19 Referred
to Committee on
Environment and Public
Works
Watch NYC
H.R. 977 Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL)
To require the Corps of Engineers to notify affected communities before
releasing water contaminated with cyanobacteria from flood risk
management projects, and for other purposes.
House - 2/7/19 Referred
to Subcommittee on
Water Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
H.R. 892 Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit attorney fees
and penalties in citizen suits, and for other purposes.
House - 2/7/19 Referred
to Subcommittee on
Water Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
H.R. 358 Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA)
California New River Restoration Act of 2019. Requires the USEPA to
establish a California New River restoration program for the New River.
USEPA must (1) implement projects, plans, and initiatives for the New River
supported by the California-Mexico Border Relations Council; and (2)
provide grants and technical assistance for coordinating restoration and
protection activities.
House - 2/7/19 Referred
to Subcommittee on
Water Resources and
Environment Watch NYC
S. 376 Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
Defense Environment and Property Act of 2019. A bill to amend the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify the definition of navigable
waters, and for other purposes.
Senate - 2/7/19 Referred
to Committee on
Environment and Public
Works
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 658 Rep. Rosa DeLauro
National Infrastructure Development Bank Act. Facilitates efficient
investments and financing of infrastructure projects and new job creation
through the establishment of a National Infrastructure Development Bank,
and for other purposes.
House - 2/7/19 Referred
to Subcommittee on
Economic Development,
Public Buildings, and
Emergency Management Watch NYC
H.R. 1137 Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA)
To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to repeal the
authority relating to reprogramming during national emergencies.
House - 2/12/19
Referred to the
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
H.R. 1317 Rep. Harley Rouda (D-CA)
Coastal Communities Adaption Act. Improves the resilience of the built and
natural environment to natural disasters and climate change using, among
other measures, natural and nature-based features, and for other purposes.
House - 3/619 Referred
to Subcommittee on
Water Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
S. 638 Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE)
PFAS Action Act. A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency to designate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as
hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, Liability Act of 1980, and for other purposes.
Senate - 2/28/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
S. 611 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of 2019. A
bill to provide adequate funding for water and sewer infrastructure, and for
other purposes.
Senate - 2/28/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
H.R. 1331 Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN)
Local Water Protection Act. To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to nonpoint source
management, and for other purposes.
House - 4/9/19 Passed
House 329-56. Received
in Senate, referred to
Committee on
Environment and Public
Works
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 1764 Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA)
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to
permitting terms, and for other purposes.
House - 3/15/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch CASA, NACWA,
ACWA - SUPPORTS
S. 950 Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
PFAS Detection Act of 2019. Requires the Director of the United States
Geological Survey to perform a nationwide survey of perfluorinated
compounds, and for other purposes.
Senate - 3/28/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
S. 933 Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
BLUE GLOBE Act. Improves data collection and monitoring of the Great
Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts, and for other purposes.
Senate - 3/28/19
Referred to Committee
on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
Watch NYC
S. 914 Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2019. Reauthorizes
the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, to clarify
the authority of the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration with respect to post-storm assessments, and to require the
establishment of a National Water Center, and for other purposes.
Senate - 4/3/19 Referred
to Committee on
Commerce, Science, and
Transportation Watch NYC
H.R. 2019 Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA)
Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Act of 2019. Provides for a smart water
resource management pilot program.
House - 4/9/19 Referred
to Committee on
Science, Space, and
Technology
Watch NYC
H.R. 1904 Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-CA)
Indian Water Rights Settlement Extension Act. Amends the Omnibus Public
Land Management Act of 2009 to make the Reclamation Water Settlements
Fund permanent.
House - 4/4/19
Committee on Natural
Resources Hearings Held Watch NYC
H.R. 2205 Rep. David McKinley (R-WV)
Water Quality Certification Improvement Act of 2019. Amends the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act to make changes with respect to water quality
certification, and for other purposes.
House - 4/11/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 2189 Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD)
Digital Coast Act. Requires the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to
establish a constituent-driven program to provide a digital information
platform capable of efficiently integrating coastal data with decision-support
tools, training, and best practices and to support collection of priority
coastal geospatial data to inform and improve local, State, regional, and
Federal capacities to manage the coastal region, and for other purposes.
House - 9/18/19
Reported out of
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure as
amended by unanimous
consent
Watch NYC
S. 1069 Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to
establish a constituent-driven program to provide a digital information
platform capable of efficiently integrating coastal data with decision-
support tools, training, and best practices and to support collection of
priority coastal geospatial data to inform and improve local, State,
regional, and Federal capacities to manage the coastal region, and for
other purposes.
Senate - 11/13/19
Ordered to be Reported
out of Committee on
Commerce, Science, and
Transportation favorably Watch NYC
S. 1087 Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to make changes
with respect to water quality certification, and for other purposes.
Senate - 4/9/19 Referred
to Committee on
Environment and Public
Works
Watch NYC
H.R. 2473 Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA)
S.A.V.E. Water Resources Act. Promotes water supply reliability and
improved water management for rural communities, the State of
California, and the Nation, and for other purposes.
House - 6/13/19
Subcommittees Hearings
held
Watch NYC
S. 1251 Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act of 2019. Improves and coordinate
interagency Federal actions and provide assistance to States for responding
to public health challenges posed by emerging contaminants, and for other
purposes.
Senate - 4/30/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
H.R. 2458 Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL)
WISE Act. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require a
certain percentage of funds appropriated for revolving fund capitalization
grants be used for green projects, and for other purposes.
House - 5/1/19 Referred
to Subcomittee of Water
Resrources and
Environment
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 2377 Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA)
Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act of 2019. Requires the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to address the level of perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Specifically, the EPA
must publish a maximum contaminant level goal and promulgate a national
primary drinking water regulation for total PFAS. PFAS are man-made
chemicals that may lead to adverse human health effects.
House - 9/26/19
Forwarded to Full
Committee by voice vote
Watch NYC
H.R. 2533 Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Providing Financial Assistance for Safe Drinking Water Act. To assist
community water systems affected by PFAS contamination, and for other
purposes.
House - 9/26/19
Forwarded to Full
Committee by voice vote Watch NYC
H.R. 2566 Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL)
To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
revise the Safer Choice Standard to provide for a Safer Choice label for
pots, pans, and cooking utensils that do not contain PFAS, and for other
purposes.
House - 9/26/19
Forwarded to Full
Committee by voice vote Watch NYC
H.R. 2577 Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY)
PFAS Right-To-Know Act. Amends the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-To-Know Act of 1986 to include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on
the Toxics Release Inventory, and for other purposes.
House - 9/26/19
Forwarded to Full
Committee by voice vote Watch NYC
S. 1372 Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
A bill to encourage Federal agencies to expeditiously enter into or amend
cooperative agreements with States for removal and remedial actions to
address PFAS contamination in drinking, surface, and ground water and
land surface and subsurface strata, and for other purposes.
Senate - 5/8/19 Referred
to Committee on
Environment and Public
Works
Watch NYC
H.R. 2740 Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-CT)
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign
Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020.
Making appropriations for energy and water development and related
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other
purposes.
House - 6/19/19 Passed
House 226-203
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 3055 Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY)
Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and
Drug Administration, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs,
Transportation, and House and Urban Development Appropriations Act,
2020. Making appropriations for the Department of the Interior,
environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2020, and for other purposes.
House - 6/25/19 Pased
House 227-194. 11/4/19
- Passed Senate 84-9. Watch NYC
H.R. 2705 Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
Water Infrastructure Trust Fund Act of 2019. To establish a Water
Infrastructure Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
House - 5/15/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
H.R. 2755 Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA)
Buy America 2.0 Act. To standardize and extend certain Buy America
Provisions.
House - 5/16/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on
Aviation
Watch NYC
S. 1473 Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY)
Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act of 2019. A bill to amend the Safe
Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency to set maximum contaminant levels for certain chemicals,
and for other purposes.
House - 5/15/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
S. 1535 Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)
Reinventing Economic Partnerships and Infrastructure Redevelopment Act.
A bill to facilitate efficient investments and financing of infrastructure
projects and new, long-term job creation through the establishment of an
Infrastructure Financing Authority, and for other purposes.
Senate - 5/16/19
Referred to Committee
on Finance Watch NYC
H.R. 2776 Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA)
Stop Sewage Overflow Act. To make certain municipalities eligible for
grants under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and for other
purposes.
House - 5/16/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 2800 Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
PFAS Monitoring Act of 2019. To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to
require continued and expanded monitoring of perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water, and for other purposes.
House - 5/16/19
Referred to Committee
on Energy and
Commerce
Watch NYC
S. 1507 Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (D-WV)
A bill to include certain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in
the toxics release inventory, and for other purposes.
Senate - 6/27/19 Passed
as an amendment to
National Defense
Authorization Act (S.
1790)
Watch NYC
S. 1613 Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)
Contaminant and Lead Electronic Accounting and Reporting Requirements
for (CLEARR) Drinking Water Act of 2019. Amends the Safe Drinking Water
Act to update and modernize the reporting requirements for contaminants,
including lead, in drinking water, and for other purposes.
Senate - 5/22/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
S. 1570 Sen. James Risch (R-ID)
Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act. Provides flexibility to allow greater aquifer
recharge, and for other purposes.
Senate - 7/18/19
Subcommittee Hearings
Held
Watch NYC
H.R. 2871 Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID)
Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act. Provides flexibility to allow greater aquifer
recharge, and for other purposes.
House - 6/10/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
S. 1604 Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Local Water Protection Act. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to nonpoint source
management, and for other purposes.
Senate - 5/22/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
S. 1730 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Living Shorelines Act of 2019. Directs the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to make grants to State and local
governments and nongovernmental organizations for purposes of carrying
out climate-resilient living shoreline projects that protect coastal
communities by supporting ecosystem functions and habitats with the use of
natural materials and systems, and for other purposes.
Senate - 6/5/19 Referred
to Committee on
Commerce, Science and
Transportation Watch NYC
H.R. 3226 Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ)
Safe Water for Military Families Act. Directs the Secretary of Defense to
prohibit the use of firefighting foam containing perfuoroalkyl or
polyfluoroalkyl substances, and for other purposes.
House - 6/12/19
Referred to Committee
on Armed Services
Watch NYC
S. 1837 Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY)
PIPE Act. A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency to establish a discretionary grant program for drinking water and
wastewater infrastructure projects, and for other purposes.
Senate - 6/13/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
H.R. 3254 Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-NY)
PIPE Act. To require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency to establish a discretionary grant program for drinking water and
wastewater infrastructure projects, and for other purposes.
House - 6/14/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 3521 Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ)
Wastewater Infrastructure Workforce Investment Act. To amend the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to wastewater
infrastructure workforce development, and for other purposes.
House - 6/27/19
Referred to the
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
H.R. 3541 Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
Coastal State Climate Preparedness Act of 2019. To amend the Coastal
Zone Management Act of 1972 to require the Secretary of Commerce to
establish a coastal climate change adaptation preparedness and response
program, and for other purposes.
House - 11/15/19 Placed
on Union Calendar Watch NYC
S. 2086 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
National Opportunity for Lead Exposure Accountability and Deterrence Act
of 2019. To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to improve transparency
under the national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper,
and for other purposes.
Senate - 7/11/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
S. 1932 Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Infrastructure Act. To support water
infrastructure in Reclamation States, and for other purposes.
Senate - 7/18/19
Subcommittee Hearings
Held
Watch
CASA, NACWA,
NWRA, ACWA -
SUPPORTS
H.R. 3115 Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Living Shorelines Act of 2019. To direct the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to make grants to State and local
governments and nongovernmental organizations for purposes of carrying
out climate-resilient living shoreline projects that protect coastal
communities by supporting ecosystem functions and habitats with the use of
natural materials and systems, and for other purposes.
House -9/25/19
Ordered to be Reported
Out as amended by
voice vote Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 3510 Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA)
Water Resources Research Amendments Act. To amend the Water
Resources Research Act of 1984 to reauthorize grants for and require
applied water supply research regarding the water resources research and
technology institutes established under that Act.
House - 7/25/19
Subcommittee on
Water, Oceans, and
Wildlife held
Watch NYC
H.R. 3723 Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA)
Desalination Development Act. To promote desalination project
development and drought resilience, and for other purposes.
House - 7/25/19
Subcommittee on
Water, Oceans, and
Wildlife hearing held
Watch NYC
H.R. 3677 Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI)
National Opportunity for Lead Exposure Accountability and Deterrence Act
of 2017. To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to improve transparency
under the national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper,
and for other purposes.
House - 7/10/19
Referred to Committee
on Energy and
Commerce
Watch NYC
H.R. 3919 Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Creating Opportunity And Sustainability Through Science Act. To require
research in coastal sustainability and resilience, to ensure that the Federal
Government continues to implement and advance coastal resiliency efforts,
and for other purposes.
House - 8/7/19 Referred
to Subcommittee on
Water, Oceans, and
Wildlife
Watch NYC
S. 2236 Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Environmental Justice Act of 2019. To require Federal agencies to address
environmental justice, to require consideration of cumulative impacts in
certain permitting decisions, and for other purposes.
Senate - 7/23/19
Referred to Committee
and Public Works
Watch NYC
H.R. 4033 Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI)
Water Justice Act. To provide supplemental appropriations for safe and
secure water, and for other purposes.
House - 9/4/19 Referred
to Subcommittee on
Commodity Exchanges,
Energy, and Credit
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 3944 Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK)
To amend the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 to
modify the procedure for communicating certain emergency risks, and for
other purposes.
House - 7/25/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
H.R. 3923 Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
Environmental Justice Act of 2019. To require Federal agencies to address
environmental justice, to require consideration of cumulative impacts in
certain permitting decisions, and for other purposes.
House - 8/15/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on the
Constitution, Civil Rights,
and Civil Liberties
Watch NYC
S. 2456 Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM)
Clean Water Through Green Infrastructure Act. To establish centers of
excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure, and for other
purposes.
Senate - 9/10/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
H.R. 4266 Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA)
Clean Water Through Green Infrastructure Act. To establish centers of
excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure, and for other
purposes.
House - 9/11/19
Referred to
Subcommittee on Water
Resources and
Environment
Watch NYC
S. 2466 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Water Justice Act. To provide supplemental appropriations for safe and
secure water, and for other purposes.
Senate - 9/11/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
S. 2470 Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2020. Provides FY2020 appropriations for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil
works projects, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, the
Department of Energy (DOE), and independent agencies such as the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission.
Senate - 9/12/19
Reported out of
Committee on
Appropriations 31-0.
Watch NYC
H.R. 4378 Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Health Extenders Act of 2019 House - 9/18/19 Passed
House 301-123.
Received in Senate.
Watch NYC
H.R. 4347 Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
PREPARE Act of 2019. To enhance the Federal Government’s planning and
preparation for extreme weather and the Federal Government’s
dissemination of best practices to respond to extreme weather, thereby
increasing resilience, improving regional coordination, and mitigating the
financial risk to the Federal Government from such extreme weather, and
for other purposes.
House - 9/17/19
Reported out of
Committee on
Transportation and
Infrastructure by voice
vote
Watch NYC
S. 2596 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Voluntary Water Partnership for Distressed Communities Act of 2019. To
amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to authorize certain community water
systems to enter into partnerships to improve the water systems, and for
other purposes.
Senate - 10/15/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
S. 2636 Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Clean Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act. To amend the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a program to make grants
to eligible entities to increase the resilience of publicly owned treatment
works to natural hazards, and for other purposes.
Senate - 10/17/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
H.R. 4687 Rep. Harley Rouda (D-CA)
SMART Infrastructure Act. To waive certain procurement provisions for a
project that receives funds from certain Federal agencies.
House - 10/17/19
Referred to Committees
on Transportation and
Infrastructure, Science,
Space, and Technology,
Agriculture, and Energy
and Commerce
Watch NYC
Updated November 2019
OCSD
Federal
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD POSITION OTHER
POSITIONS
H.R. 4780 Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
National Infrastructure Investment Corporation Act of 2019. To establish a
Government corporation to provide loans and loan guarantees for
infrastructure projects, and for other purposes.
House - 10/22/19
Referred to Committee
on Transportation and
Infrastructure
Watch NYC
S. 2687 Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Programs Act of 2019. To amend
the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to
establish pilot programs to assist low-income households in maintaining
access to sanitation services and drinking water, and for other purposes.
Senate - 10/23/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
S. 2674 Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (D-WV)
Assuring Quality Water Infrastructure Act. To amend the Safe Drinking
Water Act to establish a grant program for improving infrastructure asset
management by small public water systems, and for other purposes.
Senate - 10/23/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
S. 2767 Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL)
A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a pilot
competitive grant program for improving the sharing of water quality data,
and for other purposes.
Senate - 10/31/19
Referred to Committee
on Environment and
Public Works
Watch NYC
Legend:
ACC-OC- Association of California Cities, Orange County
LOCC- League of California Cities
NYC- Not Yet Considered
CASA- California Association of Sanitation Agencies
NACWA - National Association of Clean Water Agencies
ACWA- Association of California Water Agencies
CSDA- California Special Districts Association
Updated November 2019
To: Orange County Sanitation District
From: Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Date: November 20, 2019
Subject: Legislative and Public Affairs Agenda Report
State Political Update
The Legislature will return from Interim Recess on January 6, 2020 to start the second year of the
current two-year session. When they return, they face quick deadlines to pass all legislation from
last year that did not make it out of its house of origin. The second year of a two-year session is
slightly condensed, resulting in quicker policy and appropriations deadlines for bills.
All bills that did not make it out of their first house in 2019 will need to pass their respective house
by January 31, 2020. Additionally, legislators will have another opportunity to introduce new
legislation in 2020 and will have to do so by the deadline on February 21, 2020.
Although there were several major policy topics addressed this year including housing,
homelessness, and public safety, there are still several topics of interest to OCSD that did not
make it past the finish line. Potential topics for 2020 that are of interest to OCSD include
development impact fees, flushable wipes, ocean discharge reduction mandates, and a potential
natural resources/climate change bond.
Utility Power Shutoffs
In response to the wildfires that have erupted across the state the past few months, utility
companies have initiated blackouts throughout several local communities. Millions of customers
have gone without power to prevent fallen or compromised power lines from sparking a wildfire.
In response, Governor Newsom has appointed members to the California Wildlife Safety Advisory
Board, a board of independent expert advisors that will advise the California Public Utilities
Commission on wildfire safety measures. This Board was established as outlined in AB 1054
(Holden – D, Pasadena) which was signed into law in July 2019.
Additionally, the Governor appointed members to the California Catastrophe Response Council.
The Council was established as part of AB 111, the wildfire agencies budget trailer bill. The
Council will oversee the operations and management of the Wildfire Fund to pay eligible claims
resulting from a wildfire determined to be caused by an electric utility. The Council will direct the
Wildfire Fund administrator to prepare and present its operation plans on an annual basis.
November 2019 Report 2
Senate Pro Tempore Atkins has also announced the formation of a Senate working group that
will study the issue of public safety power shut offs. The members of the working group are the
following Senators:
• Susan Rubio (D – West Covina)
• Mike McGuire (D – San Rafael)
• Hannah-Beth Jackson (D – Santa Barbara)
• Ben Hueso (D – Chula Vista)
• Benjamin Allen (D – Redondo Beach)
• Henry Stern (D – Calabasas)
• Nancy Skinner (D – Oakland)
• Jerry Hill (D – San Mateo)
• Scott Wiener (D – San Francisco)
In addition to the working group, the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee
conducted an oversight hearing on November 18 to “begin investigating and reviewing options to
address the serious deficiencies with the PSPS process”.
Representatives from the Investor Owned Utilities, the Governor’s Office, and the CPUC were on
hand for several hours to present, answer questions, and consider solutions to Public Safety
Power Shutoffs (PSPS) especially as they relate to local and regional public safety concerns. A
significant amount of time was also spent discussing other intricacies of related issues including
technological solutions as well as funding sources for utility hardening.
TPA anticipates several bills will be introduced next year to address the PSPS process and other
issues surrounding power shut offs. We expect that many of these bills will be gut and amends
when the Legislature returns in January 2020, as the issue will still be fresh on legislators’ minds.
To that end, SB 378 (Wiener – D, San Francisco) will be amended to require the CPUC to create
a process where businesses, individuals, and local governments can recover costs as a result of
a PSPS. Early draft amendments to the bill would:
• Promote better collection of data on utility equipment in order to assess the risk level prior
to a blackout
• Ensure that customers cannot be billed for transmission, distribution, and other costs
during a planned blackout
• Prevent utility companies from spending funds hat oppose the formation of a new
municipal utilities
TPA will continue to provide timely updates on this issue as it progresses this year and into 2020.
November 2019 Report 3
Housing Development Fee Legislation
Beginning this month, Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D – Concord) started to conduct
roundtable discussions regarding housing development fees and subsequent 2020 legislation.
The Assemblymember intends to use these public hearings and discussions about impact fees
with developer advocates and local government representatives to learn more about the issue
and brainstorm solutions. We anticipate that the public hearings will result in a housing impact fee
bill or package that could significantly impact cities and special districts.
TPA has been working with California Special Districts Association, the League of California
Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and others who are part of local government
advocacy groups to develop a strategy coming out of these roundtable stakeholder meetings. The
goal of TPA and the local government lobby is to ensure that any housing impact fee bill or
package does not jeopardize or change OCSD’s ability to levy vital connection or capacity fees.
TPA anticipates this issue will be a major topic of discussion in the 2020 legislative session and
will continue to provide updates as they become available.
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 11 Chiu [D]Community Redevelopment Law of 2019 Current law dissolved
redevelopment agencies as of February 1, 2012, and designates
successor agencies to act as successor entities to the dissolved
redevelopment agencies. This bill, the Community Redevelopment Law
of 2019, would authorize a city or county, or two or more cities acting
jointly, to propose the formation of an affordable housing and
infrastructure agency by adoption of a resolution of intention that meets
specified requirements, including that the resolution of intention include a
passthrough provision and an override passthrough provision, as
defined.
Two Year Bill Watch State Priorities: Continue to
monitor the state budget
process and actively protect
the allocation of local
property taxes to
special districts.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Oppose
unless amended
AB 68 Ting [D]Land use: accessory dwelling units. The Planning and Zoning Law
authorizes a local agency to provide, by ordinance, for the creation of
accessory dwelling units in single-family and multifamily residential
zones and sets forth required ordinance standards, including, among
others, lot coverage. This bill would delete the provision authorizing the
imposition of standards on lot coverage and would prohibit an ordinance
from imposing requirements on minimum lot size.
Signed into law Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
AB 69 Ting [D]Land use: accessory dwelling units. Current law requires the
Department of Housing and Community Development to propose
building standards to the California Building Standards Commission, and
to adopt, amend, or repeal rules and regulations governing, among other
things, apartment houses and dwellings, as specified. This bill would
require the department to propose small home building standards
governing accessory dwelling units smaller than 800 square feet, junior
accessory dwelling units, and detached dwelling units smaller than 800
square feet, as specified, and to submit the small home building
standards to the California Building Standards Commission for adoption
on or before January 1, 2021.
Two Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
AB 134 Bloom [D]Safe Drinking Water Restoration Would require the State Water
Resources Control Board to report to the Legislature by July 1, 2025, on
its progress in restoring safe drinking water to all California communities
and to create an internet website that provides data transparency for all
of the board’s activities described in this measure. The bill would require
the board to develop metrics to measure the efficacy of the fund in
ensuring safe and affordable drinking water for all Californians.
Two Year Bill Watch State Priorities: Support
legislation or regulations that
restrict the use of
microplastics in any product
that is disposed of through
the sewer system.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
Proposed Legislation 2019-2020
High Priority
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 223 Stone [D]California Safe Drinking Water Act: microplastics The California Safe
Drinking Water Act requires the State Water Resources Control Board to
administer provisions relating to the regulation of drinking water to
protect public health. Current law requires the state board, on or before
July 1, 2020, to adopt a definition of microplastics in drinking water and,
on or before July 1, 2021, to adopt a standard methodology to be used in
the testing of drinking water for microplastics and requirements for 4
years of testing and reporting of microplastics in drinking water, including
public disclosure of those results. This bill would require the state board,
to the extent possible, and where feasible and cost effective, to work with
the State Department of Public Health in complying with those
requirements.
Two Year Bill Watch State Priorities: Support
legislation or regulations that
restrict the use of
microplastics in any product
that is disposed of through
the sewer system.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
AB 231 Mathis [R]California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: recycled water.
Would exempt from CEQA a project to construct or expand a recycled
water pipeline for the purpose of mitigating drought conditions for which
a state of emergency was proclaimed by the Governor if the project
meets specified criteria. Because a lead agency would be required to
determine if a project qualifies for this exemption, this bill would impose
a state-mandated local program. The bill would also exempt from CEQA
the development and approval of building standards by state agencies
for recycled water systems.
Two Year Bill Watch State Priorities: Support
efforts to reform the
California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA)to
streamline current
procedures
and regulations for projects
to refurbish or replace
existing infrastructure
facilities.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Support
AB 291 Chu Emergency preparedness Would establish a Local Emergency
Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation Fund to support staffing, planning,
and other emergency mitigation priorities to help local governments meet
emergency management, preparedness, readiness, and resilience goals.
The bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require the
Controller to transfer $500,000,000 to the fund. The bill would require the
Office of Emergency Services to establish the Local Emergency
Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation Fund Committee under the
Standardized Emergency Management System Advisory Board.
Two Year Bill Watch State Priorities: Secure
funding through grants and
legislation for infrastructure,
collection improvements and
alternative renewable energy
at the Fountain Valley, Plant
No. 1 and Huntington Beach,
Plant No. 2.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
AB 292 Quirk [D]Recycled water: raw water and groundwater augmentation Current
law requires the State Water Resources Control Board, on or before
December 31, 2023, to adopt uniform water recycling criteria for direct
potable reuse through raw water augmentation, as specified. This bill
would eliminate the definition of “direct potable reuse” and instead would
substitute the term “groundwater augmentation” for “indirect potable
reuse for groundwater recharge” in these definitions. The bill would
require, on or before December 31, 2023, the state board to adopt
uniform water recycling criteria for raw water augmentation.
Two Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Water Quality and
Supply - Support measures
that promote and provide for
the use of reclaimed water
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Support
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 352 E. Garcia [D]Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and
Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020. Would enact the Wildfire
Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood
Protection Bond Act of 2020, which, if approved by the voters, would
authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $3,920,000,000
pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a wildlife
prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection
program.The bill would provide for the submission of these provisions to
the voters at the November 3, 2020, statewide general election.
Two Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Grant Funding -
Support legislation, bonds,
programs and projects that
provide funding for:
infrastructure construction
and rehabilitation, special
studies and research or
projects relating to security,
environmental education,
water quality, wastewater
processing, urban runoff,
wastewater recycling,
biosolids and organics
management, water quality
improvement, resource
recovery, or alternative
energy.
AB 405 Rubio [D]Sales and use taxes: exemption: water treatment. Would exempt
from Sales and Use Tax the gross receipts from the sale in this state of,
and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of, chemicals
used to treat water, recycled water, or wastewater regardless of whether
those chemicals or other agents become a component part thereof and
regardless of whether the treatment takes place before or after the
delivery to consumers.
Two Year Bill Watch Guiding Principles: Seek
funds for OCSD projects
through grants,
appropriations, or other
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Support
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Support
AB 510 Cooley [D]Local government records: destruction of records. Current law
authorizes the head of a department of a county or city, or the head of a
special district to destroy recordings of telephone and radio
communications maintained by that county, city, or special district after
100 days if that person receives approval from the legislative body and
the written consent of the agency attorney. This bill would exempt the
head of a department of a county or city, or the head of a special district
from these recording retention requirements if the county, city, or special
district adopts a records retention policy governing recordings of routine
video monitoring and recordings of telephone and radio communications.
Two Year Bill Support Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Security - Support
legislation that would create
efficiencies around the
retention policy of
surveillance video for
innocuous recordings.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Sponsor
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 587 Friedman [D]Accessory dwelling units: sale or separate conveyance Current
property tax law establishes a welfare exemption under which property is
exempt from taxation if the property is owned and operated by a
nonprofit corporation that is organized and operated for the purpose of
building and rehabilitating single-family or multifamily residences for sale,
as provided, at cost to low-income families. This bill would authorize a
local agency to allow, by ordinance, an accessory dwelling unit that was
created pursuant to the process described above to be sold or conveyed
separately from the primary residence to a qualified buyer if certain
conditions are met.
Signed into law Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Work w/
author
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
AB 756 Garcia [D]Public water systems: perfluoroalkyl substances and
polyfluoroalkyl substances Would authorize the State Water
Resources Control Board to order a public water system to monitor for
perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The bill would
require a community water system or a nontransient noncommunity
water system, upon a detection of these substances, to report that
detection, as specified. The bill would require a community water system
or a nontransient noncommunity water system where a detected level of
these substances exceeds the response level to take a water source
where the detected levels exceed the response level out of use or
provide a prescribed public notification.
Signed into law Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Source Control -
Support legislation and
funding mechanisms that
reduce the amount of trash,
waste, chemicals, and
harmful organic material that
enter the sewer system.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
ACWA - Watch
CSDA - Watch
AB 841 Ting [D]Drinking water: contaminants: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl
substances. Would require the Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment to adopt and complete a work plan within prescribed
timeframes to assess which substances in the class of perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances should be identified as a potential risk to
human health, as provided. The bill would require the office, as part of
those assessments, to determine which of the substances are
appropriate candidates for notification levels to be adopted by the state
board. The bill would require the Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment, by January 1, 2022, to provide to the Legislature an update
on the assessment.
Two Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Source Control -
Support legislation and
funding mechanisms that
reduce the amount of trash,
waste, chemicals, and
harmful organic material that
enter the sewer system.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
ACWA - Watch
CSDA - Watch
AB 992 Mullin [D]Open meetings: local agencies: social media Would provide that the
Ralph M. Brown Act does not apply to the posting, commenting, liking,
interaction with, or participation in, internet-based social media platforms
that are ephemeral, live, or static, by a majority of the members of a
legislative body, provided that a majority of the members do not discuss
among themselves business of a specific nature that is within the subject
matter jurisdiction of the legislative body of the local agency.
Two Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Approve
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Support
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 1080 Gonzalez [D]California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act
Would establish the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution
Reduction Act, which would require the Department of Resources
Recycling and Recovery, in consultation with the State Water Resources
Control Board and the Ocean Protection Council, to adopt, on or before
January 1, 2023, regulations to achieve, by 2030, a 75% reduction by
manufacturers and retailers of the waste generated from single-use
packaging and products offered for sale or sold in the state through
source reduction, recycling, or composting.
Two Year Bill Watch State Priorities: Support
legislation or regulations that
restrict the use of
microplastics in any product
that is disposed of through
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Support
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
AB 1180 Friedman [D]Water: recycled water The California Safe Drinking Water Act requires
the State Water Resources Control Board to administer provisions
relating to the regulation of drinking water to protect public health.
Current law requires, on or before January 1, 2020, the state board to
adopt standards for backflow protection and cross-connection control
through the adoption of a policy handbook, as specified. This bill would
require that handbook to include provisions for the use of a swivel or
changeover device to supply potable water to a dual-plumbed system
during an interruption in recycled water service.
Signed into law Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Recycled Water -
support measures that
promote and provide for the
use of reclaimed water.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Support
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Support
AB 1184 Gloria [D]Public records: writing transmitted by electronic mail: retention
Would, unless a longer retention period is required by statute or
regulation, require a public agency for purposes of the California Public
Records Act to retain and preserve for at least 2 years every writing
containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business
prepared, owned, or used by any public agency that is transmitted by
electronic mail.
Vetoed Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Oppose
CASA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Oppose
AB 1588 Gloria [D]Drinking water and wastewater operator certification programs
Current law requires a person who operates a nonexempt wastewater
treatment plant to possess a valid, unexpired wastewater certificate or
water treatment operator certificate of the appropriate grade. This bill,
when applying for certification by the board as a water treatment
operator, distribution system operator, or wastewater operator, would
require operators of complex industrial facilities, including members of
the military and military service veterans, to receive appropriate
equivalent experience credit and education credit for work and tasks
performed that are directly related to the operation of water or
wastewater facilities, as specified.
Signed into law Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Support
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Support
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 1672 Bloom [D]Solid waste: flushable products The California Integrated Waste
Management Act of 1989, administered by the Department of Resources
Recycling and Recovery, generally regulates the disposal, management,
and recycling of solid waste. This bill would, among other things, on or
after January 1, 2021, prohibit a covered entity, as defined, from labeling
a covered product as safe to flush, safe for sewer systems, or safe for
septic systems, unless the product is a flushable wipe that meets certain
performance standards. The bill would require nonflushable products to
be labeled clearly and conspicuously to communicate that they should
not be flushed, as specified.
Two Year Bill Support Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Source Control -
Support legislation that
regulates the disposal of
flushable wipes.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Sponsor
ACWA - Support
CSDA - Support
ACA 1 Aguiar-Curry [D]Local government financing: affordable housing and public
infrastructure: voter approval. The California Constitution prohibits the
ad valorem tax rate on real property from exceeding 1% of the full cash
value of the property, subject to certain exceptions. This measure would
create an additional exception to the 1% limit that would authorize a city,
county, city and county, or special district to levy an ad valorem tax to
service bonded indebtedness incurred to fund the construction,
reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of public infrastructure,
affordable housing, or permanent supportive housing, or the acquisition
or lease of real property for those purposes, if the proposition proposing
that tax is approved by 55% of the voters of the city, county, or city and
county, as applicable, and the proposition includes specified
accountability requirements.
Currently on the
Assembly Floor
Watch Guiding Principles: Seek
funds for OCSD projects
through grants,
appropriations, or other
means;
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Support
CASA - Support
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Support
SB 1 Atkins [D]California Environmental, Public Health, and Workers Defense Act
of 2019. This bill seeks to freeze federal Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act,
Safe Drinking Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Fair Labor Standards
Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act and Coal Mine Health and
Safety Act requirements to those in place as of January 19, 2017. SB 1
refers to federal requirements existing as of this date, as “baseline
federal standards.” SB 1 is intended to “ensure continued protections for
the environment, natural resources, and public health and safety” in
California, even if the noted federal laws are “undermined, amended or
repealed” by making the baseline environmental standards the new floor
for environmental and worker protections in California
Vetoed Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Public Health:
Protection of public health is
OCSD’s core mission. OCSD
will work cooperatively with
county and state health
officers to assure local health
protection.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - Oppose
CSDA - NYC
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 5 Beall [D]Local-State Sustainable Investment Incentive Program Would
establish in state government the Affordable Housing and Community
Development Investment Program, which would be administered by the
Affordable Housing and Community Development Investment
Committee. The bill would authorize a city, county, city and county, joint
powers agency, enhanced infrastructure financing district, affordable
housing authority, community revitalization and investment authority,
transit village development district, or a combination of those entities, to
apply to the Affordable Housing and Community Development
Investment Committee to participate in the program and would authorize
the committee to approve or deny plans for projects meeting specific
criteria.
Vetoed Watch State Priorities: Continue to
monitor the state budget
process and actively protect
the allocation of local
property taxes to
special districts.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Support
CASA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
SB 13 Weickowski [D]Accessory dwelling units Would authorize the creation of accessory
dwelling units in areas zoned to allow single-family or multifamily
dwelling use. The bill would also revise the requirements for an
accessory dwelling unit by providing that the accessory dwelling unit may
be attached to, or located within, an attached garage, storage area, or
other structure, and that it does not exceed a specified amount of total
floor area. Bill was amended to remove the cap on capacity and
connection fees that agencies can charge new ADUs.
Signed into law Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Oppose
unless amended
CASA - Work w/
author
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Oppose
SB 33 Skinner Solid waste: reduction and recycling. The California Integrated Waste
Management Act of 1989, administered by the Department of Resources
Recycling and Recovery, generally regulates the disposal, management,
and recycling of solid waste.This bill would state the intent of the
Legislature to enact legislation that would address the collapse of foreign
recycling markets by reducing solid waste generation, encouraging
transition to compostable or recyclable materials, and fostering domestic
recycling markets.
Two Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Biosolids and
Biogas - Limit redundant
reporting requirements on
organics, recyclable material,
and solid waste as mandated
by AB 901.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 134 Hertzberg [D]Water conservation: water loss performance standards:
enforcement. Current law requires the State Water Resources Control
Board, no earlier than January 1, 2019, and no later than July 1, 2020, to
adopt rules requiring urban retail water suppliers to meet performance
standards for the volume of water losses. This bill would prohibit the
board from issuing an information order, written notice, or conservation
order to an urban retail water supplier that does not meet its urban water
use objective if the board determines the urban retail water supplier is
not meeting its urban water use objective solely because the volume of
water loss exceeds the urban retail water supplier’s standard for water
loss and the board is taking enforcement action against the urban retail
water supplier for not meeting the performance standards for the volume
of water losses.
Signed into law Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Water Supply -
Support legislation and
regulation that necessitate
the responsible use of water
in residential, commercial,
and industrial areas
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Support
SB 200 Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. Would establish the Safe
and Affordable Drinking Water Fund in the State Treasury to help water
systems provide an adequate and affordable supply of safe drinking
water in both the near and the long term. The bill would authorize the
board to provide for the deposit into the fund of federal contributions,
voluntary contributions, gifts, grants, and bequests and would provide
that moneys in the fund are available, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, to the board to fund grants, loans, contracts, or services to
assist eligible recipients.
Signed into law Watch State Tactics: Support tax
reform that
protects public agencies
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
SB 210 Leyva [D]Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program. Current
law requires the State Air Resources Board, in consultation with the
Bureau of Automotive Repair and a specified review committee, to adopt
regulations requiring owners or operators of heavy-duty diesel motor
vehicles to perform regular inspections of their vehicles for excessive
emissions of smoke. Current law requires the state board, in consultation
with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission, to adopt regulations requiring heavy-duty diesel motor
vehicles to use emission control equipment and alternative fuels. This bill
would require the state board, in consultation with the bureau and other
specified entities, to implement a pilot program that develops and
demonstrates technologies that show potential for readily bringing heavy-
duty vehicles into an inspection and maintenance program.
Signed into law Recommen
d Oppose
Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Air Quality -
Support measures that
maintain and enhance local
decision-making authority,
where appropriate, in the
development and
implementation of air quality
attainment strategies
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
ACWA - Watch
CSDA - Watch
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 332 Hertzberg [D]Wastewater treatment: recycled water. Would declare, except in
compliance with the bill’s provisions, that the discharge of treated
wastewater from ocean outfalls is a waste and unreasonable use of
water. The bill would require each wastewater treatment facility that
discharges through an ocean outfall and affiliated water suppliers to
reduce the facility’s annual flow as compared to the average annual
wastewater discharge baseline volume, as prescribed, by at least 50%
on or before January 1, 2030, and by at least 95% on or before January
1, 2040. The bill would subject the owner or operator of a wastewater
treatment facility, as well as the affiliated water suppliers, to a civil
penalty of $2,000 per acre-foot of water above the required reduction in
overall volume discharge for the failure to meet these deadlines.
Two Year Bill Watch State Legislation: Work with
legislators who introduced
legislation such as SB 163
(Hertzberg, 2015) in order to
ensure that no unrealistic
regulations are placed on
wastewater treatment
facilities, including OCSD
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Oppose
CASA - Oppose
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - Oppose
SB 457 Hueso [D]Biomethane: gas corporations Under existing law, the Public Utilities
Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas
corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and
charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges
be just and reasonable. Existing law requires the commission to adopt
policies and programs that promote the in-state production and
distribution of biomethane, as defined, and that facilitate the
development of a variety of sources of in-state biomethane. This bill
would require the Public Utilites Commission to extend the program until
December 31, 2026. This bill contains other related provisions and other
existing laws.
Signed into law Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Polciies: Biosolids and
Biogas - Support
streamlined legislation,
regulations and policies that
encourage the procurement
of biogas, biosolids, and
compost.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Refer to
Committee
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
SB 667 Hueso [D]Greenhouse gases: recycling infrastructure and facilities. Would
require the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to
develop, on or before January 1, 2021, and would authorize the
department to amend, a 5-year investment strategy to drive innovation
and support technological development and infrastructure, in order to
meet specified organic waste reduction and recycling targets, as
provided. The bill would require, on or before June 1, 2021, the
department, in coordination with the Treasurer, to develop financial
incentive mechanisms, including, but not limited to, loans and incentive
payments, to fund organic waste diversion and recycling infrastructure.
Two Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Polciies: Biosolids and
Biogas - Support the
promotion and funding of
local pilot programs, studies,
and research for the
beneficial use of biosolids.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Support
CASA - Support
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
OCSD
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OCSD
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 732 Allen [D]Transactions and use tax. Current law establishes the South Coast Air
Quality Management District vested with the authority to regulate air
emissions from stationary sources located in the South Coast Air Basin
and establishes a district board to govern the district. This bill would
authorize the south coast district board to impose a transactions and use
tax within the boundaries of the south coast district, as specified, with the
moneys generated from the transactions and use tax to be used to
supplement existing revenues being used for south coast district
purposes, as specified.
Two Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Polciies: Air Quality -
Support air quality
legislations, regulations,
rules, and policies that
emphasize the use of
advanced technologies and
promote greater flexibility and
financial incentives to reduce
air emission.
ACCOC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
CSDA - No
position
Legend:
ACC-OC - Association of California Cities, Orange County
LOCC - League of California Cities
NYC - Not Yet Considered
CASA - California Association of Sanitation Agencies
ACWA - Association of California Water Agencies
CSDA - California Special Districts Association
Name of Grant/Loan Synopsis of Grant/Loan Amount of Grant/Loan Amount
Applying for Applying Y/N Project/Program Reason Match Deadline Category Rcvd Grant/
Financing Y/N
Organics Grant Program
The Organics Grant Program is part of California Climate
Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-
and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving
public health and the environment - particularly in
disadvantaged and/or low-income communities. The Cap-
and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for
industries to invest in clean technologies and develop
innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate
Investments projects include affordable housing,
renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission
vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable
agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent
of these investments are made in disadvantaged and low-
income communities.
$16,112,753 ($13,312,753 is available for fiscal
year (FY) 2018–19, and $3 million is available
for fiscal year (FY) 2019–20)
TBD Yes if we qualify.
Food-Waste Co-Digestion
facility at Plant No.2 in
Huntington Beach to accept up
to 150 wet tons per day (wtpd)
of pre-processed source
separated organics.
We will review the possible funding
opportunity to determine if it is a fit for
the Sanitation District.
TBD 11/21/2019 Energy/Recycling TBD
Integrated Regional Water
Management (IRWM) Grant Program
The Proposition 1 IRWM Grant Program, administered by
DWR, provides funding for projects that help meet the
long term water needs of the state, including:
Assisting water infrastructure systems adapt to climate
change;
Providing incentives throughout each watershed to
collaborate in managing the region's water resources and
setting regional priorities for water infrastructure
$3,000,000.00 per grant award NA TBD (Round 2)NA
TPA and OCSD are monitoring the
grant program development from the
Santa Ana Watershed Project
Authority (SAWPA). The solicitation
for bids was announced by SAWPA
and staff determined that an
application for funding was not
warranted due to a lack of eligible
and competitive projects.
50%NA. Will return in 2021
for Round 2 Water No
The Water Infrastructure
Improvements Act (WIIN)
The Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects
funding opportunity allows for sponsors of water
reclamation and reuse projects that are congressionally
authorized or are eligible under section 4009(c) of the
WIIN Act to request cost-shared funding for planning,
design and/or construction of those Projects. Water
reclamation and reuse projects provide improved
efficiency, flexibility during water shortages and
diversifies the water supply.
Reclamation is making up to $20 million
available for those projects authorized under
the WIIN Act and $34 million for the
congressionally authorized Title XVI projects.
$550,000 Yes Final Expansion of GWRS
Headworks (P2-122)
The Sanitation District is applying for
Headworks Segregation project that
will help to bring more water to the
GWRS.
Title 16 will pay up to
25 percent of the
available money
7/27/2018 Water/ Infrastructure No
The Water Infrastructure
Improvements Act (WIIN)
The Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects
funding opportunity allows for sponsors of water
reclamation and reuse projects that are congressionally
authorized or are eligible under section 4009(c) of the
WIIN Act to request cost-shared funding for planning,
design and/or construction of those Projects. Water
reclamation and reuse projects provide improved
efficiency, flexibility during water shortages and
diversifies the water supply.
Reclamation is making up to $20 million
available for those projects authorized under
the WIIN Act.
$3 million Yes Final Expansion of GWRS
Headworks (P2-122)
The Sanitation District applied for
Headworks Segregation project that
will help to bring more water to the
GWRS.
Title 16 will pay up to
25 percent of the
available money
6/28/2019 Water/ Infrastructure TBD
Stormwater and CSO Grant Program USEPA is authorized to provide grants assistance of
public agencies to control stormwater flows and CSO's Funding cost-share is not identified in the law TBD TBD. We will monitor for possible
funding opportunities/A TBD Funding must be appropriated as part
of current FY 2019 budget impasse TBD TBD Water/ Infrastructure TBD
OCSD's Grant and Loan Funding Tracker 2018-2019
STATE
FEDERAL
Updated 10/14/2019
Name of Grant/Loan Synopsis of Grant/Loan Amount of Grant/Loan Amount
Applying for Applying Y/N Project/Program Reason Match Deadline Category Rcvd Grant/
Financing Y/N
OCSD's Grant and Loan Funding Tracker 2018-2019
The Department of Energy (DOE),
USBR and USEPA
The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency is likely to
continue to be funded by Congress to support such
efforts as biogas, biosolids and green energy.
A minimum of $20 million to as much as $100
million based upon prior years’ budgets.
USBR could receive as much as $130 million
in support of the WaterSmart (due to
increased funding under WIIN) during the
next several years. USBR will issue
solicitations for innovative approaches to
managing water and water treatment through
technology and processes.
TBD TBD. We will monitor for possible
funding opportunities
Project Funding Opportunity:
Energy production to reduce
costs of recycled water through
innovative technologies like
Aquacritox, Innovative water
monitoring technology that can
produce efficient real time
monitoring and data analysis,
Biogas Management and Use
Improvements.
We will review the possible funding
opportunity to determine if it is a fit for
the Sanitation District.
N/A TBD Energy TBD
Community Partnering Program Grant Metropolitan Water District
The primary focus of the Community Partnering
Program (CPP) is sponsorship of water
conservation and water-use efficiency
programs and activities. Applications must be
submitted 30 days prior to the start date of the
event or program.
Requests for a maximum $2,000 award will be
reviewed year-round and funds are awarded
throughout the year. Funds are limited,
however, and may be depleted prior to the
ending of this fiscal year (June 30).
$2,000 Yes For Plant No. 1 Signage Applied Match ongoing Education Yes
Mass Timber Competition CalGovOps
The California Government Operations Agency
(GovOps) will award $500,000 in grants as part
of the statewide California Mass Timber
Building Competition. Grants will be awarded to
selected proponent teams presenting viable
and repeatable mass timber solutions for
commercial and multi-family projects in
California. The competition is being hosted by
GovOps and administered by WoodWorks –
Wood Products Council.
$40,000 Yes Headquarters Building Applied No 03/18/19 Environment Yes
Other
Updated 10/14/2019
November 21, 2019
The Honorable Alan Lowenthal
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Tom Udall
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Udall and Representative Lowenthal:
On behalf of the undersigned coalition of public agencies providing wastewater, water recycling and biosolids
management services in California, we write to convey our support for your landmark legislation relating to
plastic pollution.
Our coalition is especially supportive of the inclusion of provisions in the legislative discussion draft related to
the proper labeling of wet wipes products sold in the United States. Wet wipes products made with plastics or
other synthetic materials pose a great risk to our communities’ clean water infrastructure, public health, and
the environment. There are currently no statutory requirements for wet wipes products to be labeled with
information about their intended disposal, and many wet wipes that are supposed to go into the trash end up
being flushed and contribute to system problems and microplastic pollution. Compounding the problem is the
increasing popularity of “flushable” wipes, which look and feel the same as other wipes and create consumer
confusion about how to properly dispose of the products intended to be disposed of in the trash.
When wet wipes enter the municipal sewer systems, they commonly rope together and congeal with fats, oils,
and grease and other obstructions in the sewer, leading to costly maintenance issues and causing sanitary
sewer overflows in private residences, businesses, and our communities. Since over 90% of wet wipes contain
plastic fibers, when they are flushed, those fibers shed and can be discharged to waterways in wastewater
effluent.
Information gathered by the State of California indicates that in the last decade, the number of sewer spills
have decreased by over 55%; however, the percentage of sewer spills related to wet wipes have increased
35% in the same time. In fact, the improper disposal of wet wipes in sewers over this same time period has
resulted in over 1.2 sewer spills per week for which public agencies could have been liable for $350 million in
fines for such violations. As such, this addition in your legislation is important to our coalition, and we support
its inclusion.
CC: Jessica Gauger, Director of Legislative Advocacy, California Association of Sanitation Agencies
Eric Sapirstein, Federal Advocate, California Association of Sanitation Agencies
Kristina Surfus, Director of Legislative Affairs, National Association of Clean Water Agencies
With regard to input on the bill language, we have two comments: (1) we support modifying § 12304(d) such
that this bill would expressly utilize the performance standards for flushability developed by the International
Water Services Flushability Group, which include a prohibition of plastics, amongst other vital criteria, and (2)
we affirm your recognition and prohibition of synthetic materials and fibers such as regenerated cellulose, as
these materials are not natural, significantly reduce a wet wipe’s ability to disintegrate, and do not biodegrade
in the environment in a short period of time thus making them functionally equivalent to microplastics.
For these reasons, our coalition appreciates your initiative to introduce federal legislation on this important
topic and look forward to working with you as the legislation progresses.
Sincerely,
Paul D. Jones II, P.E.
General Manager
Eastern Municipal Water District
Dave Pedersen,
General Manager/Administering Agent
Las Virgenes – Triunfo Joint Powers Authority
Daniel McIntyre
General Manager
Dublin San Ramon Services District
Roger Bailey
General Manager
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
James D. Herberg
General Manager
Orange County Sanitation District
Vince DeLange
General Manager
Delta Diablo Sanitary District
Dave Williams
Executive Director
Bay Area Clean Water Agencies
Rick Shintaku, P.E.
General Manager
South Coast Water District
Steve Wagner
General Manager
Goleta Sanitary District
Tyson Zimmerman
Assistant General Manager
Ironhouse Sanitary District
Paul Bushee
General Manager
Leucadia Wastewater District
Harlan L. Kelly, Jr.
General Manager
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Kevin Kildee
Mayor
City of Camarillo
Paul R. Eldredge, P.E.
General Manager
Union Sanitary District
Shivaji Deshmukh, P.E.
General Manager
Inland Empire Utilities Agency
Daniel L. Walters
President
Oro Loma Sanitary District
Orange County Sanitation District
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2019-782 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:4.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
2020 LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY PLAN
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Orange County Sanitation District 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Plan.
BACKGROUND
Each year,the Board of Directors adopts a legislative and regulatory plan which is a summary of the
Orange County Sanitation District’s (Sanitation District)legislative goals,key issues,and policy
positions.The legislative and regulatory policies in this document were developed taking into
consideration the Sanitation District’s priorities,the wastewater industry,and the Sanitation District’s
member agencies and policy needs.
These Board-approved policies serve as the Sanitation District’s official positions of support or
opposition on issues of importance to the agency.The legislative and regulatory plan is a dynamic
document,adopted annually,and is modified to meet the needs of the Sanitation District as Federal,
State, and local policymaking agendas change throughout the year.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
·Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
·Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators,stakeholders,and
neighboring communities
·Listen to and seriously consider community input on environmental concerns
·Use all practical and effective means for resource recovery
PROBLEM
Local and Federal legislation and regulations can have significant impacts on the Sanitation District’s
ability to accomplish our mission.Impacts from legislative action can affect the Sanitation District
and our customers either positively or negatively.Also,the Sanitation District and other public
agencies are sometimes precluded from pursuing innovations and solutions to problems without new
legislation or changes to existing laws and regulations.
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File #:2019-782 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:4.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
The 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Plan,which will be brought to the Board for approval in
December,includes our platform and approach to engaging with Federal,State,and local
governments to inform and advocate for the Sanitation District’s legislative interests.This program
includes sponsoring and monitoring legislation and grants that would benefit the Sanitation District’s
customers and the wastewater industry,in addition to advancing our mission.The program also
includes relationship building activities and outreach to our elected officials by providing facility tours,
one-on-one meetings, and trips to D.C. and Sacramento.
TIMING CONCERNS
The 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Plan is scheduled to go to the Board in December for approval
and adoption.It is important that the plan be reviewed and approved by the Legislative and Public
Affairs Committee in December, prior to the final version that will be submitted to the Board.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not effectively work with the local,State,and Federal elected officials,legislation could be
passed that negatively affects the Sanitation District and the wastewater industry as a whole.
Additionally, the Sanitation District could miss out on grant funding opportunities.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)are included in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website
(www.ocsd.com) with the complete agenda package:
·Orange County Sanitation District 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Plan
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ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
2020 Legislative and
Regulatory Plan
Orange County Sanitation District
2020 Legislative & Regulatory Plan
2
January 2020
Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Team
OCSD Staff
Rebecca Long
Senior Public Affairs Specialist
(714) 593-7444 rlong@ocsd.com
Jennifer Cabral
Administration Manager
(714) 593-7581 jcabral@ocsd.com
Jim Herberg
General Manager
(714) 593-7110 jherberg@ocsd.com
Federal Lobbying Team
Eric Sapirstein
ENS Resources
(202) 466-3755 esap@ensresources.com
Sarah Sapirstein
ENS Resources
(202) 466-3755 ssap@ensresources.com
David French
ENS Resources
(202) 466-3755 dfrench@ensresources.com
State Lobbying Team
Cori Takkinen
Townsend Public Affairs
(949) 399-9050 ctakkinen@TownsendPA.com
Eric O’Donnell
Townsend Public Affairs
(949) 399-9050 eodonnell@TownsendPA.com
Christopher Townsend
Townsend Public Affairs
(949) 399-9050 ctownsend@TownsendPA.com
Regulatory Advocacy Team
Tom Meregillano, Senior Regulatory Specialist (714) 593-7457 tmeregillano@ocsd.com
Lan Wiborg, Director of Environmental
Services
(714) 593-7450 lwiborg@ocsd.com
Legislative Public Affairs Committee
Peter Kim, Chair Chair
Allan Bernstein Vice-Chair
Lucille Kring Member-At-Large
Erik Peterson Member-At-Large
Christina Shea Member-At-Large
David Shawver Board Chair
John Withers Board Vice-Chair
Orange County Sanitation District
2020 Legislative & Regulatory Plan
3
January 2020
Introduction
The Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) recognizes the need for an active local, state and federal legislative
and regulatory advocacy program to ensure that the interests of the ratepayers and the Board of Directors
(Board) are protected and supported. Towards that end, the legislative and regulatory team actively engages,
pursues, and monitors activities in California and Washington, D.C. and takes appropriate action in support of or
opposition to legislative and regulatory initiatives.
Each year, the Board of Directors adopts a legislative and regulatory plan, which is a summary of OCSD’s goals, key
issues, and policy positions. The legislative and regulatory policies in this document were developed taking into
consideration OCSD’s priorities, the wastewater industry, and OCSD’s member agencies and policy needs. These
Board-approved policies serve as OCSD’s official positions of support or opposition on issues of importance to the
agency. The legislative and regulatory plan is a dynamic document, adopted annually and is modified to meet the
needs of OCSD as federal, state, and local policymaking agendas change throughout the year.
The legislative and regulatory team, in conjunction with the Board, may take appropriate action consistent with the
legislative and regulatory plan, including, but not limited to, drafting letters, lobbying legislators, regulators, and
staff, and crafting bills and proposing legislation and regulations.
Procedure for Taking Positions
1. Staff will track bills and proposed regulations of greatest interest to OCSD, particularly those that fall within
the goals and objectives identified by the Board and included in this plan. Staff will monitor bills and
proposed regulations being watched by similar agencies in Orange County (Irvine Ranch Water District,
South Orange County Water Authority, Orange County Water District, Municipal Water District of Orange
County, etc.) as well as state, federal and national associations such as California Association of Sanitation
Agencies (CASA), Southern California Alliance of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (SCAP), California Special
Districts Association (CSDA), Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), Association of California
Cities Orange County (ACC-OC), League of California Cities (LOCC), and National Association of Clean Water
Agencies (NACWA).
2. For those bills and proposed regulations that are being tracked and where there is clear policy direction
stated in the Board-adopted legislative and regulatory plan or adopted goals, Public Affairs and Regulatory
staff can send letters to legislators and regulators and give direction to the lobbyists to advocate that
position.
3. Where an issue is not urgent, all legislative letters will be hand-signed by the Board Chair or Vice Chair. If a
matter is urgent, staff may use the electronic signature, so long as a clear policy direction exists and the
General Manager or Designee approves the letter.
4. When a bill does not fall within the scope of the legislative and regulatory plan or is a controversial issue,
staff will seek direction from the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee.
5. If a bill does not fall within the scope of the legislative plan, but the Association of California Cities Orange
County (ACCOC), California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), the California Special Districts
Association (CSDA) or the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has an adopted position,
staff may follow this position but must inform the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee of such action
at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Orange County Sanitation District
2020 Legislative & Regulatory Plan
4
January 2020
Guiding Priorities
• Seek funds for OCSD projects through grants, appropriations, or other means;
• Maintain local control over governance of special districts and other local entities;
• Oppose redundant regulatory and legislative requirements that cause undue constraints on efficient
operations;
• Support legislative regulatory streamlining that promotes public health and the environment.
Federal Priorities
• Advocate for robust federal water infrastructure funding including State Revolving Fund and the Water
Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act including water infrastructure provisions.
Additionally, federal support in the form of assistance for disadvantaged communities should be provided.
• Identify and work to secure general and direct federal grants assistance, Water Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation (WIFIA) Act assistance, green infrastructure, renewable energy, and water and organic
management recycling project assistance.
• Work with Congress and United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to advance implementation
of the WaterSense Program to increase the use of energy and water use efficient technologies at OCSD
while protecting against treatment cost increases related to program rulemaking.
• Monitor federal agency grants for funding of traditional wastewater treatment needs, alternative
renewable energy, bioenergy, water recycling, biosolids beneficial use, and beach protection.
• Work with Administration and Congress to advance commonsense permitting processes including ten-year
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and programmatic permits issued by
United States EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to promote reduced costs to ratepayers. Any
authority to issue efficient permitting solutions should not impose new requirements or burdens on
permittees.
• Work with Congress to address concerns stemming from Mobile Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic
substances (MPBTs) for example: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFAS). Support federal assistance, including
grants to local agencies to support clean-up costs.
• Provide that any funding regime be derived from the manufacturers of PFAS/PFOA chemicals to provide
federal grants and low-interest loans to agencies impacted.
• Oppose designation of PFAS as a hazardous waste under Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
• Clarify that if PFAS is defined as a hazardous waste under CERCLA that water and wastewater agencies are not
subject to any liability clean-up costs, if such agencies are not actively involved in the production of the
chemicals and are simply receivers of such chemicals due to the discharge of wastewaters from industry and
domestic sewage.
• Work with OCSD’s congressional delegation and administration officials to advance resiliency including
seismic and infrastructure policies that promote the funding of OCSD’s water recycling and other
conservation projects. Seek to secure adequate funding of programs authorized in drought relief legislation
to facilitate funding of OCSD’s project priorities.
• Support legislation, policies and regulations that offer to provide below market bonding rate assistance to
construct treatment facilities, including credit assistance and infrastructure banks. Focus should be on
energy recovery technologies, core infrastructure assistance related wastewater treatment, funding of final
stage of water recycling needs, and related demonstration of evolving technologies to address brine line
needs.
• Support legislation to label wipes as non-flushable/non-dispersible.
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• During the fiscal year 2021 appropriations, identify opportunities to secure federal support of OCSD’s capital
project needs as part of any budget decision making process for the coming fiscal year.
• Promote restoration of federal deductibility of state and local tax payments and oppose elimination or
restriction on the use or availability of tax-exempt financing for public infrastructure.
• Support at least $3 billion in annual federal appropriations for the Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund
(CWSRF). Work with Congress and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to streamline the
Clean Water Act permitting processes. Provide assurances that CWSRF appropriations are not transferred
to State Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) needs.
• Support legislation to revise the SRF allocation formula to allow for appropriate and fair share of funding to
California consistent with United States EPA study (20% increase in share).
• Support removal of private activity Bond State Volume Cap on water and wastewater facilities to allow for
innovative financing options such as public private partnerships.
• Work with the EPA on emerging regulatory issues of concern including integrated plans, method
development, monitoring effluent limitations and guidelines, and compounds of emerging concern
including but not limited to PFAS and microplastics.
• OCSD will continue to advocate for federal policies that minimize regulatory burdens imposed upon
communities and public agencies that seek to adopt programs for the giveback of pharmaceuticals that will
result in the reduction of disposal of pharmaceuticals through wastewater treatment facilities. Additionally,
OCSD will advocate for federal funding of programs currently authorized that support the development of
pharmaceutical management programs including education.
• Support development of infrastructure policies and legislation that will close funding gaps and encourage
direct grants assistance in support of projects and programs addressing resiliency needs that protect OCSD
investments from natural disasters.
• Work with U.S. Department of Energy and EPA to identify and support efforts to secure funding assistance
for OCSD energy-water nexus project demonstrations.
• Oppose EPA’s reform to change the cellulosic biofuel value of the co-digestion of organics, which will lower
Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credit.
State Priorities
• Secure funding through grants and legislation for infrastructure, collection improvements and alternative
renewable energy at the Fountain Valley, Plant No. 1 and Huntington Beach, Plant No. 2.
• Promote a regional distribution/statewide equity approach to the disbursement of State Revolving Fund
monies.
• Oppose legislation or any regulations that would mandate volumetric pricing of wastewater.
• Continue to monitor the state budget process and actively protect the allocation of local property taxes to
special districts.
• Monitor state legislation as well as State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) regulatory activity related
to PFAS.
• Work with legislators to address concerns stemming from Mobile Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic
substances (MPBTs) for example PFAS. Support funding opportunities for clean-up costs from the
manufacturers of PFAS and through state grants and low-interest loans.
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• Work with legislators who introduced legislation such as SB 163 (Hertzberg, 2015) and SB 332 (Hertzberg,
2019) to ensure that no unrealistic, one size fits all, regulations are placed on wastewater treatment facilities
requirements for discharging, including OCSD.
• Oppose state mandates, regulations, or legislation such as AB 1217 (Daly, 2015) that set, alter, or otherwise
modify the governance structure of special districts, joint powers authorities, or other local government
entities.
• Support efforts to competitively seek funding for projects that meet the State’s goals of expanded water
supply and energy reduction.
• Where appropriate, pursue State funding for critical aging infrastructure, through funding sources made
available through any agency including but not limited to the SWRCB and the Department of Water Resources.
• Support and participate in Integrated Regional Water Management planning efforts in the Santa Ana River
watershed.
• Oppose restrictive and redundant regulatory requirements for biosolids.
• Support the creation of a Statewide Organics Management Plan that includes the beneficial use of biosolids,
education, market expansion activities, and mandates to buy-back compost and other organics diverted from
landfills.
• Support funding through grants and legislation for a Food Waste/Organic Co-Digestion facility at OCSD.
• Monitor pension reform legislation for clean-up bills and relevant proposed regulations.
• Support the State’s efforts to increase the effectiveness and efficiencies of Local Agency Formation
Commissions.
• Support efforts to reform the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to streamline current procedures
and regulations for projects to refurbish or replace existing infrastructure facilities.
• Actively monitor the Little Hoover Commission hearings and reports related to climate change adaptation,
special districts and other topics as it relates to OCSD.
• Support the inclusion of recycled water credits during the development of long-term water conservation
legislation and regulations.
• Support legislation or regulations that restrict the use of microplastics and chemicals of emerging concern
in any product that is disposed of through the sewer system.
• Support legislation, such as AB 1672 (Bloom), or regulations that discourage the flushing of wipes through the
sewer system, unless they meet certain performance standards.
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Appendix
a. Federal Tactics
b. State Tactics
c. Legislative and Regulatory Policies
Federal Tactics
Initiative Action
1. Identify and advise on federal
funding opportunities for OCSD
infrastructure projects
• Schedule meetings with federal agency stakeholders and senior
officials in Washington D.C. and district offices to build support for
OCSD priority projects;
• Work with congressional delegation to update priority needs; and
• Develop white papers to justify requested assistance through direct
grants.
2. Seek funding assistance to
advance recovery of energy and
other resources from biosolids
and other organics such as food
waste
• Meet with federal agency officials to discuss funding opportunities
and options related to the energy water nexus; and
• Work with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other
agencies to advance energy and water efficient technologies
related to WaterSense grant program.
3. Seek Infrastructure assistance
A. Robust funding of State
Revolving Fund (SRF) and
revise SRF Allocation
Formula
B. Innovative Financing
C. Project Streamlining
• Meet with congressional delegation;
• Develop priorities and disseminate to OCSD congressional
delegation;
• Advocate before congressional infrastructure committees and
applicable Executive Branch officials to secure adoption of
alternative water infrastructure financing including credit, loans,
public-private-partnerships and grants in addition to direct
grants assistance;
• Work to secure legislation and policies that expedite the National
Environmental Policy Act and related reviews and approvals; and
Appendices
Appendix A
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• Work with Congress and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on proposals
to provide enhanced alternative water infrastructure financing
tools.
4. Support tax reform that
protects public agencies • Work with NACWA and CASA in support of unrestricted use of
tax- exempt financing and feasible innovative financing
approaches such as infrastructure banks to supplement
traditional funding approaches;
• Work with state and local government stakeholders to restore
state and local tax deductibility and advocate before
congressional delegation; and
• Submit testimony and transmit communications on tax-exempt
financing and where possible present testimony.
5. Support resiliency legislation,
regulations, and policies that
support protection of OCSD
investments and promote
water and biosolids recycling
assistance
• Work with delegation and regulators to ensure incorporation of
new programs for water and biosolids recycling assistance;
• Work with NACWA, CASA and ACWA to support resiliency water
and biosolids recycling legislation and regulations; and
• Work with congressional infrastructure committees to secure
assistance for resiliency projects.
6. Work with federal agencies on
permitting issues
• Work with U.S. Department of Energy on alternative energy
permitting issues;
• Work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on environmental site
assessment issues such as incidental take permits under ESA;
• Advocate to authorize U.S. EPA to provide National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits terms for a
period of up to 10- years.
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State Tactics
Initiative Action
1. Develop a proactive legislative
and regulatory advocacy
agenda
• Identify legislation that has the potential to benefit or impact
OCSD, as legislation is introduced and amended;
• Identify proposed state and local regulations that are
introduced that have the potential to benefit or impact OCSD;
• Recommend positions on identified legislation and proposed
regulation to align with OCSD’s legislative and regulatory plan;
• Create and continually update a legislative and regulatory matrix to
track identified pieces of priority legislation and proposed
regulations; and
• Schedule advocacy days in Sacramento with legislators and
committee staff and regulators;
• Continue an active letter writing campaign to support or oppose
priority legislation and proposed regulations;
• Schedule meetings with legislators, regulators, stakeholders, and
senior officials in Sacramento and district offices to build support for
OCSD priority projects; and
• Participate in CASA’s legislative committees and Regulatory
Workgroup and SCAP’s air quality, water issues, collection systems,
biosolids, and wastewater pretreatment committees.
2. Compile a comprehensive list
of Capital Improvement
projects
• Meet with OCSD’s Executive Management Team to discuss future
capital projects and priorities, and
• Match capital improvements with funding opportunities based on
project eligibility.
3. Monitor and advise on possible
funding opportunities, including
but not limited to funding
through Statewide bonds
• Proactively engage in the drafting of grant funding guidelines and
provide input to drafting agency or committee to ensure eligibility
and competitiveness of OCSD projects and priorities;
• Proactively engage on proposed legislation and regulations that
would have an impact on the implementation of funding
programs; and
• Identify funding opportunities and provide recommendations for
eligible projects. Create an advocacy and outreach schedule on the
planning and execution of efforts to seek funds.
Appendix B
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4. Monitor and advise on funding
available through Cap and
Trade
• Monitor the rollout of the Cap and Trade Expenditure Plan for
waste diversion projects. Continue to advocate for additional
funding in future Cap and Trade Expenditure Plans that OCSD is
eligible for;
• Identify eligible and competitive projects and programs; and
• Create a schedule on planning and execution of efforts to seek funds,
including outreach and advocacy strategy.
5. Monitor and advise on energy
or other resource recovery
related funding opportunities
• Track energy related grant opportunities;
• Identify potential projects for funding, including, but not limited to
alternative renewable energy, biosolids to energy conversion,
organic waste (high strength food waste and fats, oils, and grease)
to energy conversion, and greenhouse gas reduction projects;
• Ensure wastewater interests are protected as significant decisions
are made related to renewable energy production financing,
mandates, climate change goals, programs and continued efforts to
extend the state’s emissions reduction target;
• Schedule meetings with local delegation as well as key members to
discuss project benefits and funding opportunity;
• Support initiatives that help OCSD strive for energy independence
by minimizing energy utilization and maximizing useful energy
recovery from the sewage it receives;
• Support fair and reasonable regulations for the pipeline injection
of biomethane produced from anaerobic digestion; and
• Support renewable energy initiatives that are reasonable and fair.
6. Schedule and attend advocacy
and outreach meetings to
provide OCSD project updates
• Educate current administration, key staff and agencies on priority
projects and advocate for funding allocations that align with OCSD
priorities;
• Schedule stakeholder meetings to build support for projects;
• Hold advocacy meetings in coordination with funding opportunities
and project timelines;
• Work with relevant budget committees, budget sub-committees,
policy committees and their staff to advocate for funding allocations
that align with OCSD priorities; and
• Provide full briefings and updates to Orange County legislative
delegation and relevant members on OCSD priority projects.
7. Regulatory relief to allow for
water recycling and expansion
of GWRS
• Outreach with the California Environmental Protection Agency,
Department of Toxic Substances, State Water Resources Control
Board, Regional Water Quality Control Board, the governor's office,
legislative leadership and other appropriate stakeholders.
8. Development and advocacy for
design-build legislation targeted
at OCSD projects
• Support and advocate for legislation that will expand the approved
uses of design-build for OCSD specific projects; and
• Schedule briefings and updates with Orange County legislative
delegation to discuss potential design build legislation.
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9. Development and
implementation of a statewide
biosolids land application
management policy
• Work in conjunction with CASA and SCAP to outreach and educate
legislators and regulators to develop an advocacy strategy for
regulatory framework that will support statewide objectives to
manage biosolids land application.
10. Development and
implementation of a strategy to
relieve OCSD of cumbersome
and outdated bid advertising
costs
• Work with relevant legislators and committees to draft legislation
that will lessen the cost burden on OCSD of complying with
outdated bid advertising requirements; and
• Conduct outreach with various other Sanitation Districts across the
State to form a coalition to support any efforts.
11. Development and advocacy for
legislation to raise the
contracting and bid threshold
for Sanitation Districts
• Meet with local labor groups to initially present the issue;
• Brainstorm proposed solutions that will give OCSD and other
Sanitation District’s more flexibility to complete small scale public
works projects in house;
• Work in conjunction with CASA to outreach, educate, and develop
an advocacy strategy that will target all Sanitation Districts affected
by the current threshold limitations; and
• Develop and advocate for legislation that will raise the threshold for
work that can be performed in house as well as work that is
required to be bid.
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Legislative and Regulatory Policies
1. Air Quality: OCSD is committed to complying with federal, state, and local air quality laws, rules,
regulations, and policies.
a. Support air quality legislations, regulations, rules, and policies that emphasize the use
of advanced technologies and promote greater flexibility and financial incentives to
reduce air emission.
b. Support measures that maintain and enhance local decision-making authority, where
appropriate, in the development and implementation of air quality attainment
strategies.
c. Support legislation and regulations to ensure greater consistency between the
California and Federal Clean Air Acts.
d. Support strategies that clearly demonstrate and provide for the most cost-effective
means for meeting air quality goals.
e. Continue to commit to adhere to OCSD’s odor policy to assure that OCSD is a good
neighbor to the surrounding communities.
f. Monitor legislation and regulations that would mandate OCSD to act as an air quality
regulator and enforcer.
g. Support legislation that would facilitate emission reduction credits for wastewater
treatment plants.
h. Monitor State’s proposed Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation especially CARB’s
plans to accelerate zero- emissions heavy duty vehicle fleets and oppose regulation
that would mandate fuel type restrictions.
i. Monitor SCAQMD’s development of regulations and guidelines associated with AB 617
in the following areas: (1) implementation of best available retrofit control technology
(BARCT) requirements for existing stationary sources; (2) deployment of air monitoring
systems in selected communities; and (3) implementation of emissions reduction plans
in selected communities.
j. Participate in CASA ACE and SCAP’s effort to work with California Air Resources Board
in development of new default emission factors for air toxics.
k. Monitor regulatory development in response to State’s goal of achieving Carbon
Neutrality.
Appendix C
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l. Support streamlined legislation, funding, regulations and policies that promote the
beneficial use of the digester gas.
m. Oppose redundant and unreasonable requirements, such as double reporting
requirements, with respect to criteria pollutants, air toxics, or greenhouse gas
emissions, including but not limited to reporting requirements associated with AB 617
(Garcia).
2. Biosolids and Biogas: OCSD strives to beneficially use biosolids through multiple management options
performed at reasonable costs that are protective of public health and the environment.
a. Support legislation, regulations and policies that support the beneficial use of biosolids on
agricultural lands, landscape, horticulture, California Healthy Soils Initiatives, mine reclamation,
fire ravaged lands, superfund sites, brownfields, overgrazed lands, carbon sequestration and
wetland restoration.
b. Support the promotion and funding of local pilot programs, studies, and research for the
beneficial use of biosolids.
c. Oppose legislation, regulations, and policies that imposes bans or restrictions on use of biosolids
for land application in any region, county, or state.
d. Support alternative energy legislation, regulation and policies that encourage use of biosolids as a
renewable energy resource.
e. Support streamlined legislation, regulations and policies that encourage the procurement of biogas,
biosolids, and compost.
f. Support CalRecycle, California Air Resources Board (CARB), California Public Utilities Commission,
(CPUC), California Energy Commission (CEC), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA),
and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) accepting quality standards that allow wastewater
treatment plants to inject biogas production into existing pipelines for renewable use.
g. Support composter associations and local cities and agencies in education, market expansion
activities, and meeting mandates to buy-back compost and other organics diverted from landfills.
h. Limit redundant reporting requirements on organics, recyclable material, and solid waste.
3. Source Control: OCSD supports legislative that reduces pollutants and harmful materials that could enter
the sewer system.
a. Support statewide or targeted public education programs and initiatives that teach appropriate
“What To Flush” practices and fats, oils, and grease management.
b. Support legislation and funding opportunities that aim to decrease the amount of microplastics
and compounds of emerging concern deposited through the sewer system.
c. Support legislation that regulates the disposal of flushable wipes.
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d. Support legislation and funding mechanisms that reduce the amount of trash, waste, chemicals,
and harmful organic material that enter the sewer system.
4. Grant Funding: OCSD is committed to advancing the state of knowledge in the treatment and
management of wastewater through the application of innovative and alternative technologies. To this
end, OCSD supports grants assistance to offset its research, special projects and capital improvement
projects.
a. Support legislation, bonds, programs and projects that provide funding for: infrastructure
construction and rehabilitation, special studies and research or projects relating to security,
environmental education, water quality, wastewater processing, urban runoff, wastewater
recycling, biosolids and organics management, water quality improvement, resource recovery, or
alternative energy.
b. Support projects that provide for public benefit over projects that are primarily intended for
private benefit or gain.
c. Oppose proposals placing further requirements on grant recipients that return low value for high
administrative costs.
d. Support regional collaboration and funding for public agencies for food waste co digestion and
recycling projects.
5. Innovative Funding: OCSD is committed to supporting programs that provide the highest quality services
to its ratepayers.
a. Support programs to leverage federal assistance such as credit assistance and highly subsidized
loan assistance.
b. Support Public-Private-Partnerships, Public to Public and other financing approaches that can
reduce costs only if such projects do not impose costs on OCSD ratepayers.
c. Support the full funding of the Clean Water Act- State Revolving Fund Program at $3 billion
annually.
d. Seek federal assistance to support water conservation projects such as water recycling, green
infrastructure through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and direct
grants to reduce project costs.
6. Labor Relations: OCSD is committed to employer-employee relations including, but not limited to
meeting and conferring in good faith with recognized employee organizations regarding the wages, hours
of work and other terms and conditions of employment. As Congress considers reforming the federal tax
code, many of the provisions subject to reform may impact labor relations.
a. Support measures to reform current workers compensation formulas that rely on a proportionate
exposure formula.
b. Support health insurance reform that does not create additional financial burdens on special
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districts.
c. Support measures to ease applicability of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) on public agencies.
d. Oppose any measure imposing compulsory and binding arbitration with respect to public
employees.
e. Oppose any measure that imposes upon local government mandated employee benefits that are
more properly decided at the local bargaining table.
f. Oppose efforts reducing local control over public employee disputes and imposing regulations on
an outside agency.
g. Oppose any measure granting public employees the right to strike.
h. Oppose a new mandatory Social Security tax for public employers and public employees.
7. Security: OCSD is committed to the safety of all personnel, facilities, and the entire sewer system.
a. Support legislation that would create efficiencies around the retention policy of surveillance video for
innocuous recordings.
b. Support funding for the hardening of essential regional facilities such as water recycling and sewer
collection and recycling sites.
c. Support legislation and funding for regional emergency management collaboration to protect critical
infrastructure.
8. Planning: OCSD ensures the long-range planning of capital improvement programs in order to deliver the
highest quality facilities.
a. Support reform of existing state, regional and local planning processes only if directly linked to
reforms in the current revenue and tax structure of state and local governments.
b. Support measures that provide new revenues for growth management and the public facilities
necessary to support expected growth.
c. Support proposals encouraging regional, sub-regional or countywide cooperation in planning
urban development strategies, especially those that provide funding for effective implementation
of agreed upon goals.
d. Oppose legislation consolidating special districts that fail to address the concerns of cities affected
by the proposed consolidation.
e. Oppose measures that prevent or restrict the ability of cities or special districts to participate in
the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) sub-regional process.
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9. Public Health: Protection of public health is OCSD’s core mission. OCSD will work cooperatively with
county and state health officers to assure local health protection.
a. Support hazard mitigation, emergency response, planning, and recovery through direct
legislation, policy directives, and funding toward floodplain security within the Santa Ana River
watershed.
b. Support (generally) measures that provide for improved public health through regulation.
c. Support the protection of public health and environment through the construction and
implementation of advanced wastewater treatment technology.
d. Support sharing critical information and data from state and county agencies in the interest of
protecting the public health and saving taxpayer dollars.
e. Monitor legislation that provides additional occupational safety and health standard requirements for
employees, contractors, or subcontractors.
10. Public Works: OCSD is committed to the achievement of effective and efficient projects that provide
wastewater treatment services that benefit its ratepayers.
a. Support measures that provide funding and support to publicly owned treatment works and
sewage collection systems.
b. Support legislation and regulation that allow public agencies to procure goods and services in
manners similar to private industry, thereby reducing overall costs of delivery.
c. Support legislation and regulation that improve the Utility Underground Service Alert Program in
order to improve coordination, identification, minimize damage, minimize environmental risks,
and minimize cost exposure to publicly owned facilities when contractors are performing sub-
surface work.
d. Support a comprehensive response to the state’s electricity and natural gas shortages that
provide a stable energy supply, respects the ability of municipalities to provide power, recognizes
that infrastructure (i.e. emergency and standby generators) exists that could be employed
temporarily during periods with minimal air quality impact and protects ratepayers (including
cities and special districts) against dramatic rate increases and statewide power outages.
e. Support legislation and regulation that allow OCSD to utilize the Best Value Design/Build option
for the construction of public works projects.
f. Oppose Buy American mandates legislation that would increase project costs or prevent the use
of the most innovative technologies.
g. Monitor legislation that would require the inspection and possible repair of sewer laterals at the
time of sale in residential, commercial, and industrial areas
h. Support legislation that allows OCSD to utilize Job Order Contracting to more efficiently contract
for routine projects
i. Monitor legislation connected with government claims against special districts regarding risk and
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wrap-up insurance
11. Tax Reform/Revenue and Taxation: Track pending legislation to ensure OCSD remains in compliance with
the government code as it pertains to wastewater system user fees and property tax revenues and the
investment of public funds.
a. Support measures leading to a greater financial independence from the state that would result in
greater stability and predictability in local government budgeting.
b. Oppose measures that impose mandated costs for which there is no guarantee of local
reimbursement or offsetting benefits.
c. Oppose legislation that shifts tax revenues away from local governments without the adequate
provision of a constitutionally guaranteed backfill to offset the lost revenues of those local
governments.
d. Oppose measures that shift existing local revenue sources back to the state, including the special
district share of property tax, sales tax, vehicle license fees, and rate payer fees.
e. Oppose the use of revenues traditionally used to fund the delivery of municipal services to fund
programs for which the state is responsible, particularly the courts, health, and welfare programs.
f. Oppose elimination or restriction of state and local tax deduction from federal tax liability of local
taxpayers.
g. Oppose elimination or restriction on the availability of municipal tax-exempt financing for public
infrastructure projects.
12. Special Districts: OCSD supports the maintenance of special districts to provide specific services, in
response to citizen’s demands, in a cost-effective manner.
a. Support outreach to local, regional, and state elected officials to foster a greater understanding
regarding the critical relationship between adequate reserves and the successful short-and-long-
term operation of water and wastewater agencies.
b. Support the work of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), California Association
of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), and California Special Districts Association (CSDA) in any future
discussions or negotiations pertaining to the legislative and budget issues relative to preserving
control of members’ reserves.
c. Oppose further state regulations that adversely impact special district financing, operations, and
administration.
d. Oppose measures that create or grant powers to sub-regional or regional bodies that would result
in an infringement on clearly local concerns.
e. Oppose any administrative or legislative efforts to access or transfer any reserve funds held by
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water and wastewater districts.
f. Oppose the imposition of unfunded, mandated programs on local governments.
g. Oppose efforts that diminish OCSD’s ability to govern efficiently and effectively, including
expanding the size of the Board of Directors.
h. Support alternate methods of public meetings notices that maintain transparency but are more cost
efficient and technologically advanced
13. Water Quality and Supply: OCSD is committed to participating collaboratively in the protection of
regional water resources for the benefit of the people we serve.
a. Support (generally) measures to increase water supply and improve water quality in the region,
including drought relief legislations and regulations.
b. Support measures that would increase funding for water reuse technologies, including support for
the Groundwater Replenishment System project by the Orange County Water District and OCSD
to create new water supplies through wastewater recycling.
c. Support measures that promote and provide for the use of reclaimed water.
d. Support policy development, funding, and research for addressing urban runoff, stormwater, and
beach closures, including funding for studies that identify the sources of bacterial, viral and other
microbial contaminants and human pathogens.
e. Support measures to evaluate water quality standards, as needed, to ensure the objectives are
appropriately protecting the designated use.
f. Support legislation and regulation that would direct U.S. EPA levied fines to remain in the region.
g. Support measures addressing non-point source pollution in order to protect our ocean water
quality and provide funding to mitigate its effects, including integrated permitting approaches
that can reduce costs and achieve water quality improvements while allowing permits to be
tailored to the needs of Orange County and its watershed.
h. Support national infrastructure policies that contain aspirational goal that promotes
improved water use efficiency in construction of water efficient buildings and
communities.
i. Support legislation and regulation that promote improved water use efficiency through state
assistance in evaluating and implementing new programs and technologies and increasing public
awareness of water use efficiency.
j. Support legislation and regulation that provide for the development of the watershed approach,
including watershed management plans and watershed-based permitting.
k. Support legislation and regulation that necessitate the responsible use of water in residential,
commercial, and industrial areas.
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l. Support environmental guidelines on government agencies that would safeguard the region while
providing increased protections.
m. Oppose the imposition of statewide fees for environmental cleanup that is caused through private
sector actions or are regional in nature (e.g., when the nexus between those responsible for
environmental abuse and those required to pay for cleanup or mitigation is absent).
n. Support approaches to reduce compliance costs associated with stormwater controls including
the use of integrated plans.
o. Monitor state and federal legislation and regulations related to PFAS substances.
Orange County Sanitation District
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2019-785 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:5.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
LEGISLATIVE CONCEPTS
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Legislative Concept 2: Amend Public Contracting Code for sanitation districts to allow
sanitation districts, whose service area includes a population of more than 1 million, the opportunity
to utilize Job Order Contracting as a bid procurement procedure. This change should be an addition
to Public Contract Code, Division 2, Part 3, Chapter 1, Article 50.
BACKGROUND
The Sanitation District is a leader in the wastewater industry and known for being innovative and
resourceful.At the direction of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee,staff has identified three
potential legislative bills that the Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District)could carry or
co-sponsor in the coming legislative cycles that would help further the mission of the Sanitation
District and help our agency deliver services more efficiently and effectively.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
·Ensure the public’s money is wisely spent
·Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
·Listen to and seriously consider community input on environmental concerns
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
At the November 4 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting,Townsend Public Affairs
provided an update on four possible legislative concepts.Staff was advised to review three of the
concepts and provide a recommendation at the December 9 Committee meeting.Following is an
overview on each concept and a recommendation.
Legislative Concept 1:Amend Public Contracting Code for Sanitation Districts to modify the
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 11/27/2019Page 1 of 3
powered by Legistar™
File #:2019-785 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:5.
Legislative Concept 1:Amend Public Contracting Code for Sanitation Districts to modify the
bid advertising requirement.
In 2018,Assemblyman Daly ran Assembly Bill 2003,sponsored by the Sanitation District.The bill
aimed to expand the allowable public notification methods for construction bids to include internet
websites,radio,television,or other media as bid advertising platforms.Unfortunately,due to the
opposition from the newspaper industry and committee staff from Northern California,the bill was
pulled and did not pass. Following is a list of the support and opposition we received in 2018:
Support
Orange County Sanitation District [Sponsor]
California Association of Sanitation Agencies
California Special Districts Association
Cities of: Fullerton, Huntington Beach, and Placentia
City of Irvine Councilmember Melissa Fox
Costa Mesa Sanitary District County
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Irvine Ranch Water District
Midway City Sanitary District
Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District
Opposition
Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Association (unless amended)
California Chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association (unless amended) California
Legislative Conference of the Plumbing, Heating and Piping Industry (unless amended)
California News Publishers Association
California State Building and Construction Trades Council (unless amended) Construction Industry
Force Account Council (unless amended)
Northern California Allied Trades (unless amended)
Southern California News Group United Contractors (unless amended)
Wall and Ceiling Alliance (unless amended)
Western Wall & Ceiling Contractors Association (unless amended)
Williams Pioneer Review
Colusa County News
Legislative Concept 2:Amend Public Contracting Code for sanitation districts to allow
sanitation districts,whose service area includes a population of more than 1 million,the
opportunity to utilize Job Order Contracting as a bid procurement procedure.
The Job Order Contracting (JOC)process is a flexible,cost-effective unit price contracting method
used to complete maintenance,repair,and refurbishment of County infrastructure and building
facilities.JOCs are publicly advertised for competitive bidding and awarded to the lowest responsive
and responsible bidders in accordance with the State Public Contracting Code.Instead of dealing
with the time and expense of bidding each project separately,with JOC,the contract has already
been competitively awarded for an indefinite number of projects,enabling contractors to respond
quickly and construction to begin faster.The use of JOCs is a straightforward contracting process
that provides accelerated project delivery,reduces administrative costs,and lowers direct
construction costs while meeting all local, State, and Federal procurement requirements.
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File #:2019-785 Agenda Date:12/9/2019 Agenda Item No:5.
Legislative Concept 3:Amend Public Contracting Code for Sanitation Districts to increase the
threshold for contracting in 2020.
Current law,public contract code section 20783,states that any force account work done by a
sanitation district themselves cannot exceed $5,000.Furthermore,the same code states that any
expenditure for work exceeding $35,000 shall be bid to the lowest responsible bidder after notice.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Legislative Concept 2:sponsor a bill to allow sanitation districts whose service area includes a
population of more than 1 million the ability to utilize Job Order Contracting as a bid procurement
procedure.This change would be an addition to Public Contract Code,Division 2,Part 3,Chapter 1,
Article 50.
At this time,staff is recommending that we do not sponsor bills for Legislative Concepts 1 and 3 that
would expand the allowable public notification methods for bid advertising and increase the public
works contract bid threshold as we do not see enough benefit to the Sanitation District considering
the effort required to see these bills through the legislative process.
TIMING CONCERNS
To be considered in the next legislative year,it is imperative that we receive guidance from the
Committee on which bills we should carry or co-sponsor.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not sponsor the bill for Legislative Concept 2,the Sanitation District could lose out on the
opportunity to improve project delivery efficiency.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OCSD website (www.ocsd.com)with the complete agenda
package:
N/A
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