DATE:
January 8, 2025
03
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
RETURN BACK ON OPTIONS AND ANALYSIS RELATED TO SUPERFUND TO UNLOCK STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS FOR TOXIC REMEDIATION AND CLEANUP, AND CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On October 8, 2024 (13), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board), directed the Chief Administration Officer (CAO) to return with recommendations for legal options and funding opportunities available at the State and federal levels to help address the Tijuana River Valley pollution crisis, and an assessment of how these options, including potential Superfund designation, would impact the communities most affected by the crisis. The term "Superfund" refers to a fund managed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) designed to clean up some of the nation's most contaminated land and respond to environmental emergencies, oil spills and natural disasters pursuant to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
Today's item provides an update on research from County Counsel (Counsel) regarding potentially applicable hazardous materials laws and actions for remediation, as well as regulations governing water and air quality. This analysis includes a high-level overview of these laws without offering a legal opinion on whether facts support the County of San Diego (County) or any other party using these regulatory programs.
Today's actions request the Board find that the proposed actions are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as the recommended actions are administrative in nature and not a project as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and to receive this update (refer to background) related to Superfund designations and other laws and regulations that can unlock State and federal funds for toxic remediation and cleanup.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find that the proposed actions are n...
Click here for full text