HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - LACO SANDIST (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS City Manager Approval: / /*
Item to be presented by: Curtis L. Nay
DATE: August 24, 1999
SUBJECT: LOS ANGELES COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS PRESENTATION
DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Engineering Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council receive a report by Mr. Jim Stahl, Assistant Chief Engineer/Assistant General
Manager, on Los Angeles County Sanitation District Nos. 26 and 32.
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that certain reaches of
the Santa Clara River are being impaired by high chloride levels. This action has enabled
the Regional Water Quality Control Board to establish chloride discharge limits.
Sanitation District Nos. 26 and 32, whose facilities discharge into these reaches of the river,
along with water purveyors and agricultural representative, dispute the EPA's
determination.
These groups have maintained that there is no impairment of any beneficial uses within
the watershed and that the overall chloride concentrations in the groundwater and surface
water are low. They also maintain that the lack of current data affects this determination.
If the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts do not defeat the EPA's determinations, it
could potentially require a significant capital expenditure by District Nos. 26 and 32 in
excess of $80 million for desalinization facilities and increase operation and maintenance
costs by as much as $7 million per year.
At the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts' meeting on July 14, 1999, City Chairperson
Mayor Jo Anne Darcy and Delegate Councilmember Jan Heidt voted to support the
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts' (26 and 32) authorization of District Counsel to
provide notice of intent and to institute litigation against the EPA to challenge the
determination that the Santa Clara River is impaired by chloride.
Mr. Stahl will explain the impacts of chlorides in the Santa Clara River (Sanitation District
Nos. 26 and 32).
Agenda Item;sf
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS PRESENTATION
August 24, 1999 — Page 2
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other direction as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
None to the City.
None.
TLC:lkl
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