HomeMy WebLinkAboutEQCB Min 2001-01-24
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH
Environmental Quality Control Board
Minutes
January 24, 2001
The Environmental Quality Control Board (EQCB) meeting of January 24, 2001 was
called to order by Chairperson Porter at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was held in City Council
Chambers.
Pledge of Allegiance
II Roll Call
Present:
Absent:
Also
Present:
Chairperson Porter, Members Hurley, Jones, Unrath, and Voce
None
Department of Development Services
Mac Cummins, Assistant Planner
Chairperson Porter introduced the new member for the 4th District for the EQCB, Mr.
John Unrath.
III Approval of Agenda
MOTION by Hurley; SECOND by Voce to approve the Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
5-0
Hurley, Jones, Porter, Unrath, and Voce
None
None
IV Oral Communications
None.
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 24, 2001
V Consent Calendar
1. RECEIVE AND FILE - "Receipt of Draft Quarterly Groundwater Monitoring
Data Summary, June 2000, IR Sites 40 & 70, Naval Weapons Station, Seal
Beach. Report Dated December 27,2000.
2. RECEIVE AND FILE - Letter to Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Letter dated December 6, 2000.
3. RECEIVE AND FILE - Memorandum: Seal Beach Weapons Support Facility
- Installation Restoration Program - Status Report Re: RAB Project update.
Memo dated December 18, 2000.
4. RECEIVE AND FILE - 2000 Environmental Restoration Program, Naval
Weapons Station Seal Beach.
5. RECEIVE AND FILE - City Response Letter Re: Naval Weapons Station Site
7 - Non-Time Critical Removal Action: Request for Identification of Applicable
and Appropriate Requirements (ARAR's).
MOTION by Hurley; SECOND by Voce to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
5-0
Hurley, Jones, Porter, Unrath, and Voce
None
None
VI Public Hearings
None.
VII Scheduled Matters
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - November 29,2000
Recommendation: Approve Minutes subject to any corrections determined
appropriate.
Member Hurley noted changes to Page 4, Line 22 (remove the word "and" after MND),
and to Page 10, Line 23 (remove the word "comment.").
MOTION by Hurley; SECOND by Voce to approve the Minutes of November 29, 2000
as amended.
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 24, 2001
Members Jones and Unrath abstained from voting on this item as they were not present
at the meeting of November 29, 2000.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
3-0-2
Hurley, Porter, and Voce
None
None
Jones and Unrath
7. BOARD REVIEW - EQCB STAFF REPORT re: Approval of Comment Letter
re: "Focused Site Inspection Phase II Report", Report Dated December 18,
2000.
Recommendation: Authorize the Chairperson to sign the draft response
letter, with any additional comments determined appropriate. Instruct Staff to
forward to the City Council and Planning Commission for information
purposes. Receive and File Staff Report.
Mr. Cummins provided some background information on this item and noted that both
the EQCB and City Council had reviewed this document in late 1999. He said that the
document presents the results of additional fieldwork conducted at the Naval Weapons
Station in an attempt to fill some gaps in the data from the previous site inspection. He
read the overall purposes of the report as noted on Page 2, and stated that in reviewing
this document Staff has attempted to look at the different sites that are recommended
for no further action and the sites recommended for removal action. He described the
contents of Attachment 1 (comment letter addressed to the Department of the Navy)
and provided clarification on the comments made on Page 8 under Site 37 - Bolsa
Avenue StoraGe Yard, City Concern related to possible warranted EPA action at this
site. Member Hurley asked for an explanation of the difference between a Hazard
Quotient and a Hazard Index. Mr. Cummins stated that he was not sure what the
definition of a Hazard Quotient was. Member Voce noted that Pei-Fen Tamashiro,
Installation Restoration Coordinator at the Naval Weapons Station, could provide a
definition for Member Hurley. Mr. Cummins then referred to the section on Page 9,
under the heading Appendix L. ScreeninG Ecological Risk Assessment Technical
Memoranda, and noted that the comments reflect the City is essentially in agreement
with the recommended removal action for Sites 42,44/45,24,73, and 74.
Member Hurley noted corrections and made recommendation for changes to the text on
Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Draft Comment Letter. The members of the Board also
provided comments, and Mr. Cummins recorded all recommendations for change. (A
copy of the revised Draft Comment Letter is on file for inspection in the Planning
Department.)
Member Hurley referred to Page 8 of the Staff report under the heading Site 37 - Bolsa
Avenue StoraGe Yard regarding the milligrams for concentrations of arsenic and the ELCR
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 24, 2001
number and noted that they differed from what Member Voce had disclosed at the last
Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting and from the numbers shown on Table 3b.
Mr. Cummins stated that if the Board approved of the general language within this
paragraph, Staff could go back and double check the numbers to ensure that the correct
figures are used. The Board agreed to this. Member Hurley then noted a correction to the
paragraph titled City Concern under this same section. He recommended that in the
second line the word "additional" be removed from before the word "clarification." He also
noted that the same change should be made to the City Concern paragraphs under the
sections titled Site 38 - X-ray Shop Leach Field and AOC 6 - External Paint Area. He
requested that wherever the words "No Further Action" appeared in the document that
they be typed in the exact same manner throughout the letter.
Member Hurley noted that the paragraphs titled City Agreement under the sections titled
Site 74 - Old Skeet RanQe on Pages 9 and 10 should be revised. He stated that he was
not certain of the meaning of the paragraphs. Member Voce explained that the lead must
be removed from the soil in this area. He said it was very concentrated in this area and
removal would be quite expensive. Member Hurley questioned the statement "develop the
appropriate criteria for lead that will balance the reduction of environmental risks with
potential damage to the sensitive wildlife habitat area." Member Voce stated that the RAB
was still researching the best method for removal of the lead and this area would not be
categorized as one for "No Further Action" as the restoration effort will continue for a
lengthy period of time. Chairperson Porter noted that the City Agreement paragraphs
regarding Site 74 on Page 9 and Page 10 were contradictory, as Page 9 speaks in favor of
removal action and on Page 10 the Board wants to revise the paragraph to express
disagreement with the removal action. He noted that the paragraph on Page 9 was not
necessary. The Board agreed to remove the words "and ecological" after the words
"human health" from the City Agreement paragraph under Site 74 on Page 9 and to
remove the words "a human and" before the words "ecological risk" from the City
Agreement paragraph under Site 74 on Page 10.
Member Hurley asked that the cc: items at the end of the letter be more appropriately and
clearly aligned.
MOTION by Voce; SECOND by Hurley to authorize Chairperson to sign proposed
Response Letter with board-approved amendments, and instruct Staff to forward to the
City Council and Planning Commission for information purposes. Receive and File Staff
Report.
MOTION CARRIED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
5-0
Hurley, Jones, Porter, Unrath, and Voce
None
None
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 24, 2001
VIII Staff Concerns
Mr. Cummins again welcomed Mr. Unrath to the Board and noted that if Mr. Unrath had
any questions or concerns related to environmental documentation or issues to feel free
to contact the Department of Development Services.
IX Board Concerns
Member Hurley inquired as to the status of the Boeing Project. Mr. Cummins reported
that Boeing has decided that they would like to construct the buildings. He said that the
original Mitigated Negative Declaration reflected only the subdivision of the land. As
such, the Boeing Company will be reapplying with a new plan that combines the
properties and will include the plans for the buildings to be constructed. Mr. Cummins
noted that the revised proposal should not take too long and the Board would probably
be reviewing the project in March.
Member Hurley asked about a flyer distributed to the Board on Crystal Cove State Park.
Mr. Cummins stated that the flyer provided information on a meeting regarding Crystal
Cove. He said that he was not knowledgeable regarding this project and recommended
that interested Board members contact the agency listed on the flyer.
Member Hurley asked Member Voce about Site 7 on the Naval Weapons Station. He
asked who decides which alternative for restoration will be used. Member Voce
reported that the Navy makes the determination after providing supporting data to the
RWQCB, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the State Department of Toxic
Substances Control for review.
Member Hurley then referred to a previous conversation he had with Mr. Cummins
regarding changing the title for the EQCB. He asked the Board members for their input
on the possibility of changing the name of the Board stating that he had a problem with
the word "Control." He said it was misleading, as EQCB does not control anything.
Member Voce suggested using the word "Review" instead. Chairperson Porter noted
that perhaps the word "Control" was used because in the 1970s when the EQCB was
established the words "quality control" were being used within the industrial
manufacturing area. He proposed using the title "Environmental Quality Advisory
Board." Member Unrath stated that the EQCB did have responsibility for providing
controls on the quality of the environment. Chairperson Porter noted that to approach
City Council about changing the name might give the impression that the EQCB does
not feel that they, as a body, are effective in any way towards ensuring the quality of the
environment. Member Voce noted that currently only one member of City Council is
knowledgeable about environmental issues, and Council does rely on EQCB for their
expertise in reviewing environmental documents. Mr. Cummins commented that from
Staffs perspective the role EQCB plays is very valuable to City Council in terms of
environmental documentation. He noted that Staff does invest a substantial amount of
time explaining what the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process is and
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City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 24, 2001
which actions will take place with regard to the process. He said that because EQCB
possesses a background in CEQA issues, their input to City Council is highly valued.
Member Hurley stated that by changing the name to Environmental Quality Advisory
Board, the value of the Board's input should remain the same. After much discussion,
the Board agreed that the name should remain the same with Vice-Chairperson Hurley
dissenting.
The issue of flooding along the San Gabriel River and runoff to the beaches was
discussed. Member Hurley noted that at a past meeting the Board had proposed
determining what the City of Seal Beach could do to help remedy this situation.
Member Unrath asked if the revised Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) on the
Boeing Project would come before the Board for review. Mr. Cummins stated that the
EQCB would have the opportunity to review the MND. Member Unrath asked if the
Board would be able to review the proposed uses for the tenants moving into the
Boeing Project building once it is complete. Mr. Cummins responded that there are
specific uses permissible by right within an M-1 Manufacturing Zone. He said that as
part of the MND other land uses might be proposed. Member Unrath asked if other
proposed land uses for this property would go before the Planning Commission. Mr.
Cummins stated that a different land use would require a Zone Change. Member Voce
stated that EQCB could request to review the MND if they believe there are valid
environmental concerns regarding the use of the property.
Member Unrath commented regarding the levels of arsenic in the soil noting that
apparently this is a natural occurring contaminant in the Seal Beach area. Member
Voce stated that initially the RAB wanted the Naval Weapons Station to do some
sampling outside the base in order to do comparisons. He reported that this was never
done. He said that arsenic levels in the soil are high. He stated that even when clean
up efforts are completed, residues could still remain in the soil. Member Unrath asked if
seismic retrofitting of the water tower on the Naval Weapons Station is still to be
completed. Member Voce stated that he was not sure and would have to check on this.
Chairperson Porter inquired about the County of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel River
Conservancy of Cities efforts to clean up the runoff from the San Gabriel River. He
asked if anyone in the City of Seal Beach is currently involved in this effort. Member
Voce stated that although Propositions 12 and 13 passed, not all of the federal funds
granted are to be used for beach cleanup. Mr. Cummins recommended that
Chairperson Porter contact Mr. Dan Dorsey, Assistant to the City Manager, who
represents the City of Seal Beach at some of the San Gabriel River consortiums. He
also noted that he would attempt to acquire some literature on the consortium for
distribution to the Board members.
X Adjournment
Chairperson Porter adjourned to the scheduled February 2001 meeting date. Meeting
adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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Respectfully Submitted,
~~
Carmen Alvarez, Executive Secretary
Department of Development Services
City of Seal Beach Environmental Quality Control Board
Meeting Minutes of January 24, 2001
The Board on February 28, 2001 approved the Minutes of the Environmental Quality
Control Board of Wednesday, January 24,2001. ~.
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