HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Resources April 23 1991WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Tuesday, April 23, 1991
The meeting was called to order at 12 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 1000
N. Forest, by Chairman Donald G. Hansey.
Also present
Bob Imhoff
Absent
Emily Jackson
1. REPORT FROM PUGET SOUND WATER QUALITY AUTHORITY
(AB91 -161)
John Doorman, Planning Director for the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, gave
a report on the structure and history of the Authority. He began his report by distributing
informational packets to each Committee Member.
The Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, as it is currently functioning, was
established in 1985. The current structure consists of a board of 11 members, ten of whom
are appointed by the Governor with the eleventh member being the Commissioner of State
Lands, a state wide elected official.
The fundamental mission of the Authority, as given in the legislation, is to develop,
adopt, and guide implementation of the Puget Sound Management Plan (copy of the Plan
was distributed). The concept of the Plan is to identify the actions necessary to protect
Puget Sound and its habitat into the future. The Plan also aims to distinguish actions that
can be carried out by existing Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
The Puget Sound Management Plan contains 15 programs, summarized by Doorman
as follows:
Estuary Management and Plan Implementation Program: The key activity
established under this program is to seek funding for the implementation of the Plan.
Fish and Wildlife Habitat Protection Program: The main issue here is to get the
Fish and Wildlife Service to provide some leadership for state agencies. This leadership
would furnish the knowledge required to get a handle on protection of habitats beyond the
shorelines and wetlands already focussed on by the Authority.
Water Resources Committee Minutes, April 23, 1991, page 1
Spill Prevention and Response Program: This program seeks to improve both
prevention of spills and response to spills.
Ambient Monitoring Program: The monitoring program aids in management
decisions and in assessing the success of pollution control efforts.
Research Program: The research program attempts to identify the research needs
of society and what our threat is to the environment.
Education and Public Involvement Program: This program includes public
involvement policy to be followed by all state and local agencies implementing the plan.
It contains a four year effort by the Authority to fund a series of demonstration projects that
educate people about water quality and involve them in activities to protect Puget Sound.
(Handout distributed)
Puget Sound Foundation: The role of the Foundation is to support and coordinate
research and education related to Puget Sound.
Household Hazardous Waste Program: This program has, for the most part, been
taken over by the Department of Ecology with the Authority having little involvement at this
time.
Nonpoint Source Pollution: This program revolves around a rule the Authority
adopted last year which governs the way that watershed plans are prepared and approved
by Ecology. This rule is in the process of being amended to include revisions that will make
it easier to work with.
In 1987, this program established a Boaters Task Force to develop an education
program on pollution from boats, and called for revisions to septic system regulations.
The 1991 plan adds surveys of pesticide usage and a pest management information program.
Shellfish Protection: The shellfish protection program coordinates closely with local
watershed planning efforts under the nonpoint program. Being added to this program is a
recreational shellfish program. This will include inventory and monitoring of recreational
shellfish beds, restoration projects and public education.
Wetlands Protection: The 1987 program called for protection of wetlands through
acquisition of important wetlands, enhanced state and local regulations, and protection for
wetlands on state -owned lands.
In addition, the 1989 plan called for wetlands education, and the 1991 plan adds a
wetlands restoration program. This plan also includes proposed minimum standards for
local government wetland protection programs.
Water Resources Committee Minutes, April 23, 1991, page 2
Hansey stated that in approximately one month the Authority will give interested
parties the opportunity to comment on any revisions they are imposing. Doorman agreed
with Hansey, but added that this would not take place until sometime in June.
Municipal and Industrial Discharges Program: This program focuses on the permit
system for regulating the discharges from major industries and sewage treatment plants.
The Plan has proposed a number of improvements in the way permits are prepared and
better training for permit writers.
Contaminated Sediments and Dredging: In the 1987 Plan, this program called for
the development of standards to evaluate sediment quality, for greater control of pollution
sources, and for investigation and cleanup of contaminated sediments. While funding
restrictions have delayed much of the program, sediment quality standards are progressing
as is the urban bay program; open water disposal sites have been selected. The 1991 plan
calls for continued progress.
Stormwater and Combined Sewer Overflows: This program, in the 1991 Plan calls
for a joint Authority / Department of Ecology rule requiring local government stormwater
programs. It also adds technical assistance for local governments in preparing stormwater
programs.
Laboratory Support: Many of the plan's programs depend on accurate and timely
laboratory analysis. The state has established a lab certification program for chemical labs
and is now working on data quality.
Hansey asked which major issues are coming up that County Government should be
watching for. Doorman said the three major issues to look for are, first, wetlands protection
as part of the Growth Management Act, in which the Authority anticipates local
government wetland protection programs as a key piece of the Plans approach to wetlands.
The second issue is stormwater management and the need to deal with stormwater quality
in addition to flooding problems. The third issue concerns local governments that are active
in the nonpoint planning process. The issue revolves around the revisions made to the
nonpoint planning rule and how the rule works. Doorman said that these are the three
primary issues coming out of the Plan, with two of them dealing with rule making, and the
other, the wetlands issue, being a recommendation from the Authority that will fit into the
Growth Management Process.
Discussion ensued.
Doorman said that in the near future the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority hopes
to provide key regional contact personnel from their staff to communicate with different
assigned regions on a quarterly basis. This contact person would answer questions, and get
an overview of what is happening in that region.
Water Resources Committee Minutes, April 23, 1991, page 3
Puget Sound Water Quality Authority report ended at 1:15.
2. RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION TO MOTION MADE AT 4/9
MEETING:
"...TO BRING FORWARD AN INTERIM REGULATION TO
IMPLEMENT SECTION 63 (AS APPLIES TO "ADEQUATE POTABLE
WATER SUPPLY ") OF HOUSE BILL 2929 TO THE HEALTH BOARD
FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLEMENTATIONS TO INCLUDE SOME
CLARITY ON THE APPEAL PROCESS, WITHIN TWO WEEKS."
(AB91 -127)
Hansey stated that because the Administration had not received a written request
before the Agenda deadline, the Health Department is unable to bring forward the Interim
Regulation at this time. They will not be ready until the May 14, 1991 meeting.
3. OTHER BUSINESS
Doug Dobyns, Nooksack Indian Tribe, stated that he was delegated to attend a Water
Resources meeting on April 15, 1991. At that meeting the Nooksack River was nominated
for a pilot basin study by the Department of Agriculture, The Recreation Caucus and the
Fisheries Caucus. Dobyns stated at this meeting that the Nooksack Tribe is not opposed
to the nomination, however, they can not support it at this time.
Dobyns also discussed the photos on display in the Council Chambers, prepared by
the Nooksack Tribe. The display shows some of the historical past of the Nooksack people
and a look at how the River is being worked on by the Tribe.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:15.
ATTEST:
Dana Brow - avis, Assistant Clerk
Water Resources Committee
Water Resources Committee Minutes, April 23, 1991, page 4