California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

February 2009 Board Meeting Summary

Date: March 11, 2009

To: All Local Enforcement Agencies

Board Meeting: February 24, 2009
Permitting and Compliance (P&C) Committee Meeting: February 17, 2009
Strategic Policy Committee Meeting: February 18, 2009

February Meeting Action Summary

Agenda items are listed by agenda number below:

Actions Taken by the California Integrated Waste Management Board in February 2009 of Interest to Local Enforcement Agencies
Agenda Item Number Agenda Item Board Action Notes
1 Consideration of the Amended Countywide Siting Element for Kern County Approved (Consent) The Board approved Kern County’s amended Countywide Siting Element (CSE). H.M. Holloway Landfill was not included in the original CSE because it was considered a gypsum mine reclamation project, not a permitted solid waste facility. Due to changes in materials accepted and proposed expansion, the local enforcement agency (LEA) determined that the landfill now needs a full solid waste facilities permit and thus needed to be identified as such in the CSE.
2 Consideration of the 2005/2006 Biennial Review Findings for the Source Reduction and Recycling Element; and Consideration of Issuance of A Compliance Order for the City of Clearlake, Lake County Order Issued (Consent) The Board issued the City of Clearlake a compliance order that will require the City to work directly with Board staff to develop a local implementation plan (LIP). The LIP will identify a strategy for program enhancements and local actions necessary to enable the City to achieve the necessary diversion requirements. The CIWMB Biennial Review of the City of Clearlake’s (City’s) source reduction and recycling element (SRRE) program implementation found that the City has failed to adequately implement its diversion programs. The City’s residential and commercial recycling programs have significant weaknesses, and the City’s programs are not providing sufficient reductions in disposal to enable the City to achieve the 50 percent diversion requirement of Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 41780.
3 Consideration of the 2005/2006 Biennial Review Findings for the Source Reduction and Recycling Element; and Consideration of Issuance of A Compliance Order for the City of Greenfield, Monterey County Order Issued (Consent) The Board issued the City of Greenfield a compliance order that will requires the City to work directly with Board staff to develop a local implementation plan (LIP). The LIP will identify a strategy for program enhancements and local actions necessary to enable the City to achieve the necessary diversion requirements. The CIWMB Biennial Review of the City of Greenfield’s source reduction and recycling element (SRRE) program implementation found that the City has failed to adequately implement its diversion programs. The City’s residential and commercial recycling programs have significant weaknesses, and the City’s programs are not providing sufficient reductions in disposal to enable the City to achieve the 50 percent diversion requirement of Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 41780. The City’s 2005 and 2006 diversion rates are both 23 percent.
5 Consideration of Allocation and Grant Awards for the Solid Waste Disposal and Codisposal Site Cleanup Program (Solid Waste Disposal Trust Fund, FY 2008/09) Approved
(Committee Consensus Support)		 The Board approved new grant proposals totaling $2,349,216 pursuant to two grant programs under the Solid Waste Disposal and Codisposal Site Cleanup Program.

The following grants were awarded:

  • City of Oceanside will receive $729,900 to remediate Vista burn dump and to reopen the site for use as little league baseball fields.
  • Imperial Irrigation District will receive $750,000 to begin the cleanup of an estimated 80 years of illegal dumping at fifteen sites along the New River in rural Imperial County. Grant funds will be used to cleanup the five highest priority sites. The illegal dumping poses a serious and ongoing health problem for county citizens and is contaminating area rivers and streams.
  • Truckee Sanitary District will receive $645,000 to bring the Truckee Regional Disposal Park Site into compliance. The proposed remedy consists of consolidation and capping of approximately two-acres of burn ash.
  • City of Huron will receive $145,816 to eliminate illegal dumping at a City owned property that was previously used as a transfer station. Grant funds will be used to cleanup the site and to install a video surveillance camera, lights, and signs at the site. Surveillance cameras will be monitored at police headquarters to catch illegal dumpers and will assist in identifying and prosecuting violators.
  • San Diego County will receive $78,500 to remove debris (e.g. concrete, asphalt, etc.) that has been illegally dumped at Rios Canyon Little League Fields Park.
6 Consideration of a New Project for the Waste Tire Stabilization and Abatement Program (Tire Recycling Management Fund, FY 2008/09) Approved
(Committee Consensus Support)		 The Board approved $75,000 to remove approximately 2,500 waste tires located at three remote locations around Lake Oroville. During the 1980’s, the Dept of Parks & Recreation, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Game and other stakeholders, placed the tires at these locations around Lake Oroville to increase fish habitat. Over the years some of the cables have broken and many of the tires are no longer anchored. In addition, some tires have also become partially filled with silt, are unable to drain, and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes as the tires become exposed. The tires now pose a nuisance.
7 Consideration of Scope of Work for a Statewide Program Environmental Impact Report for Anaerobic Digestion Facilities (Integrated Waste Management Account FY 2008/09) Approved (Consent) The Board approved the scope of work for a Statewide Program Environmental Impact Report For Anaerobic Digestion Facilities to assist with reducing the amounts of “organics” going for disposal. The program environmental impact report (EIR) will address stand-alone anaerobic digesters receiving solid wastes and anaerobic digesters associated with solid waste facilities for siting new facilities and expanding existing facilities in California. A program EIR is an EIR which may be prepared on a series of actions that can be characterized as one large project. A program EIR will reduce the need for duplicative review of policy considerations related to anaerobic digestion facilities and expedite site-specific environmental documentation that may be required for CEQA compliance by lead agencies with discretion to site facilities.
9 Discussion of Draft Biennial Update of the Five-Year Plan for the Waste Tire Recycling Management Program (5th Edition Covering FYs 2009/10-2013/14) (Tire Recycling Management Fund) Discussion Item The Board heard a discussion of the draft fifth edition of the Five-Year Plan which continues to focus on the two interrelated fronts of enforcement and market development. The activities identified in this Five-Year Plan are designed to help enhance and solidify the infrastructure that manages waste tires from generation to end-product by partnering with local jurisdictions, the private sector, and other state agencies. The Plan focuses on tire facility permitting, an expanded robust statewide enforcement infrastructure, an improved ability to track the flow of tires, attention to cleaning up both the smaller tire piles as well as the remaining large tire piles, and on building a sustainable statewide market infrastructure for tire derived products including rubberized asphalt concrete and civil engineering projects using tire-derived aggregate.
10 Consideration of Revised Model Program and Procedures for the Collection and Proper Disposal of Home-Generated Pharmaceutical Waste as Required by Public Resources Code Sections 47120-47126 Approved
(Consent)		 The Board approved the Criteria and Procedures for Model Home-Generated Pharmaceutical Waste Collection and Disposal Programs. The Board requested that staff return in 6 months with an update on any implementation issues. The guidance takes into consideration the statutory requirements (SB 966) and comments received from the working group, stakeholders, and organizations that have implemented collection programs.
11 Consideration of Allocation Proposals to be Funded From the Used Oil Recycling Fund for Fiscal Year 2008/09 and Request for Board Direction on Potential Future Activities Approved
(Committee Consensus Support)		 CIWMB has had to make some difficult decisions to address the reduction in revenues. In the proposed Governor’s Budget for FY 2009/10, CIWMB reduces its Used Oil block grants from $10 million to $6 million in FY 2009/10. The reduction in revenue impacts current year funding as well. In FY 2007/08, the Fund had $816,000 available to allocate to statewide education and outreach support programs. Declining oil revenues have sharply reduced the funds available for these programs in FY 2008/09 to $109,000.
Declining revenues in the Fund diminish the discretionary portion of the Fund and impact the ability to support infrastructure, competitive grants and statewide education and outreach. Without an increase in revenues, a reduction in fixed expenditures, or changes in the statutorily driven formula, the Fund will continue at a level where innovation and continuous improvement may suffer as resources for competitive grants and statewide education and outreach dwindle.

February Meeting Quick Notes

Grant Reductions: The Executive Director announced that due to declines in revenue, there will be reductions in the Used Oil and Household Hazardous Waste Grants this next grant cycle. The HHW Grants are reduced from $5M annually to $1.5M and the Used Oil from $10M to $6M annually. LEA and Tire Enforcement grant amounts will remain the same.

Retirement: The wonderful and dedicated Bobbie Garcia will retire the end of March after over 33 years of state service. Among other assignments, Bobbie was working on reviewing the 3 part test requirements for determining when a material should be regulated as a solid waste. We wish her the best and she will be missed. 

Upcoming Events

See the LEA Training Calendar and Board Events Calendar

This all LEA email summarizing Board actions at this month's Board Meeting was sent on behalf of the LEA Outreach Training Support Branch of the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), and Ted Rauh, Director, Waste Compliance and Mitigation Program.

Date Released: March 11, 2009
LEA Correspondence, http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/LEA/Mail/
Melissa Hoover-Hartwick: Melissa.Hoover-Hartwick@calrecycle.ca.gov (916) 341-6813