D-Environmental

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1 Services Linda Turkatte, Director of Environmental Increasel General Fund Actual Approved Requested Recommended (Decrease) Expenditures Salaries & Benefits $6,927,093 $7,693,703 $7,716,444 $7,716,444 $22,741 Services & Supplies 934,543 1,237,768 1,341,499 1,341, ,731 Fixed Assets 72,626 20,000 46,500 46,500 26,500 Total Expenditures $7,934,263 $8,951,471 $9,104,443 $9,104,443 $152,972 Expenditure Reimbursements (83,956) (103,514) (105,584) (105,584) (2,070) Total Appropriations $7,850,306 $8,847,957 $8,998,859 $8,998,859 $150,902 Earned Revenues By Source Aidfrom Other Governments $1,249,801 $1,096,827 $1,096,827 $1,096,827 $0 Charges for Services 5,493,753 5,034,589 5,023,505 5,023,505 (11,084) Miscellaneous Revenues 374, ,007 1,006,937 1,006, ,930 Total Revenues $7,118,095 $6,978,423 $7,127,269 $7,127,269 $148,846 Net County Cost $732,211 $1,869,534 $1,871,590 $1,871,590 $2,056 Allocated Positions Temporary (Full-Time Equivalent) Total Staffing Purpose The Environmental Department provides environmental services, which protect and enhance public health, well-being, and safety through prevention, education, inspection, and enforcement of State and local environmental laws and regulations. Fixed Assets > $31,000 > $10,000 > $5,500 Revenues SAN capacity upgrade. Server. Fibre channel switch. Major Budget Changes Salaries & Employee Benefits > $22,741 Negotiated salary and benefits adjustments. Services & Supplies > $60,750 > $43,340 > $12,000 > $14,000 Increase in infonnation technology programming and engineering services. Increase in mobile inspection tools. Increase in clothing and personal supplies. Increase in employee training costs. > $152,614 > ($11,084) > $7,316 Increase in reimbursement from the Environmental Trust Fund. Decrease Program Discussion in service fees collected. Increase in Housing Abatement collections. The proposed Environmental Department (EHD) budget totals $9,104,443, which is an increase of $152,972 from This change reflects negotiated salary and benefits adjustments, and increases in tech-. nology and automation equipment costs. The EHD budget focuses on department services and resource capabilities in the areas of hazardous materials and emergency response, as well as the continued development and F-31

2 Services expansion of department operations automation. In , EHD will implement various organizational and technological changes to better utilize current resources and to increase efficiencies. During evaluation of these changes, no fee adjustments are proposed. Recommendations for future fee adjustments will be brought to the Board of Supervisors. ' Activities Retail Food Program Under the California Retail Food Code, EHD conducts routine, complaint, and plan review inspections at over 3,700 food facilities in the County. In January 2013, the Workload Data Actual Est./Act. Projected Consumer Protection Retail Active Facilities/Vehicles 3,489 3,482 3,533 3,761 3,761 Small Public Water Systems Public Pools/Spas/Natural Bathing Areas Dairy Facilities-Milk/or Market I Hazardous Substances Management Hazardous Materials Business Plan/CaiARP ,034 1,316 1,300 Hazardous Waste Generators/Tiered Permitting 1, Above Ground Tank Facilities Underground Storage-Facilities Emergency Response Incidents Housing Programs Hotel/Motels & Institutions Substandard Housing Abatement Cases Land-Use & Liquid Waste Land-Use Applications & Technical Reports Wastewater Facilities/Trucks/Chemical Toilets 2,272 2,071 2,117 1,805 1,800 Onsite Sewage System Permits/Percolation Test; Solid Waste Solid Waste Facilities-Active and Closed Medical Waste Facilities Waste Tire Facilities/Handlers Groundwater Protection Monitor Well/Boring Permits Contaminated Petroleum Storage Tanks Well & Pump Permits Total Permits/Facility Inventory 13,476 12,265 13,019 13,332 13,310 Staff Hours 65,232 68,175 69,549 71,000 70,000 F-32

3 o-Environmental Services California Homemade Food Act went into effect allowing for the first time preparation and selling of limited, nonhazardous foods from residential kitchens. These operations are designated as Cottage Food Operations (CFOs) and are prohibited from making or selling potentially hazardous foods (food that must be kept hot or cold). Despite being illegal, there is a growing movement of home-based, potentially hazardous food sales that are operating outside the scope allowed for CFOs. Recently, EHD identified hundreds of illegal homemade, potentially hazardous food sales on Internet sites, such as Facebook. This type of illegal activity is creating a hazard to public health and is presenting an enforcement challenge as many vendors operate under alias names and can only be reached via a website address. EHD is working with law enforcement partners to identify, notice, and enforce the Food Code. This process has proved more time consuming than conventional enforcement efforts and its effectiveness has yet to be determined. Housing Abatement Program EHD attended 23 Neighborpood Community Center and Neighborhood Watch meetings, and continues to work closely with the Community Development Department and the Sheriffs Office to address multi-agency issues at problem sites. EHD responded to 437 complaints, including 324 substandard properties, 71 illegally occupied recreational vehicles, 40 unsecured properties, and 2 methamphetamine labs. Of these complaints, 101 were issue~ Notices to Abate for minor violations that were corrected within the initiill compliance period, and 19 were referred to other agencies. The substandard property complaints resulted in a total of 75 structures being posted as substandard and 44 posted as unsafe to occupy.' The unsecured property complaints resulted in 23 structures being posted with Notices to Secure. Of the unsecured properties, EHD took action to board and secure 19 vacant homes at an average cost of $779 each. In addition, EHD demolished 6 substandard, dilapidated homes at an average cost of$9,431 each. During ,68 new substandard housing cases were initiated and 94 housing cases were closed. On average, program workloads totaled 158 ongoing, active housing abatement and securement cases, with 141 completed cases awaiting cost recovery through direct billing, property tax payment, or tax sale, In January 2014, the billing frequency for substandard housing cases changed from a one-time final bill to a quarterly billing schedule. Resulting in costs recovered at the time expenses are incurred, providing more current and accurate revenue data. The increased cost recovery awareness has improved overall case compliance with more cases showing appropriate resolutions. Well Systems The rate of issuance for private domestic water well permits is tied to the level of development projects in the County. These permits peaked in the early 2000s and then declined in with the onset of the recession. Data for 2013 and 2014 show these permits increasing again,' corresponding to a moderate increase in development projects. In contrast, agricultural well permits have historically shown a steady rate of issuance with an average of 36 well permits issued per year from , increasing in 2013, and in 2014 had a total of 151 issued. This recent trend appears to be related to the current drought conditions and the unreliability of surface water resources to the agriculture community. EHD is monitoring this situation and is working with other drought response agencies as part of tqe current drought emergency declaration to evaluate compliance. EHD is also working with groundwater management partners to evaluate compliance with the recently passed Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The Act requires water management agencies to work together to establish objectives and create projects to maintain sustainable groundwater basins. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems In June 2012, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a Statewide Water Quality Control Policy for the Siting, Design, Operation, and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (Policy). This Policy became effective May 2013, and requires local agencies to compile and submit a comprehensive Local Agency Management Plan (LAMP) to the State Regional Water Quality Control Board (SR WQCB) for approval in order to continue to implement local sewage standards that differ from those adopted in the Policy. Many of the standards adopted in the Policy are more restrictive than those currently in place. In addition, the implementation of the Policy standards locally will burden residents and businesses with added requirements and costs, and will limit development activities. EHD has formed a work group focused on preparing a LAMP for the County and is on task to submit the Plan by the deadline of May Programs CUPA Programs EHD is responsible for implementing the six Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) programs related to hazardous materials and hazardous waste management. EHD is also responsible for establishing an Area Plan for emergency response to a release or threatened release of a hazardous materia!. As part of this Plan, EHD staff is F-33

4 Services trained to respond to and mitigate hazardous materials releases. EHD respon~s regularly to illegal chemical dumping and small hazardous materials incidents, and participates in the San Joaquin Joint Hazardous Materials Response Team, along with several local fire response agencies responding to larger, more complex incidents. In 2014, over 260 hazardous materials incidents were responded to throughout the County. EHD is currently filling vacant Hazardous Materials Specialist positions and providing specialized training to develop and maintain appropriate and sufficient response capabilities. Beginning January 2013, all CUPA regulated businesses are required to use the California Electronic Reporting System (CERS) to electronically submit annual program information. Approximately 4,600 facilities in the County have one or more of the CUP A regulated programs. EHD has provided over 4,800 hours of support and education to businesses, including one-on-one assistance. CERS has also created a new wo~k-flow to process submittal data into EHD's database management system. The additional workload has diverted staff time away from mandated inspection activities. However, internal staffing adjustments are being made and as businesses become more familiar with the system, these activities should normalize during Local Oversight Program In , funding forthe State Water Resources Control Board's Local Oversight Program (LOP) contract for the investigation and cleanup oversight of contamination at underground storage tank facilities was $742,935. This funding is not expected to change in From the inception of the LOP in July 1989, a total of613 contaminated sites have been investigated, remediated and closed. At this time, 94 sites remain active and consist of the most difficult cleanup cases that may require several years of investigation and cleanup before closure can be achieved. Of these remaining sites, 19 have been identified as eligible for closure in the near future. In September 2014, Assembly Bill (AB) 445 was passed, extending the sunset date of the consumer 0.6 cent per" gallon gas fee, the State's funding mechanism for cleanup programs from January 1,2016 to December 31,2025. This action provides for continued funding for the LOP and other oversight programs for contaminated sites. However, as these sites continue to close, it can be expected that the funding for the LOP contract may decrease and/or the remaining contaminated sites may be transferred to the SRWQCB for continued oversight. The status of the LOP contract during this transition is being monitored closely so preemptive actions can be considered and taken to limit potential staffing and budget issues. Medical Waste Program To protect public health and the environment from potentially infectious disease agents, the Medical Waste Program regulates the generation, handling, storage, treatment, and disposal of medical waste in accordance with the California Medical Waste Management Act (MWMA). EHD conducts inspections at 58 medical facilities, an increase of 33% from AB 333 amended MWMA, and effective January 1, 2015, the requirement for Limited Quantity Hauling Exemptions was removed resulting in a reduction in the Medical Waste Program revenues by approximately 25%, with a corresponding reduction in workload time and activity. This reduction will have minimal impact on current staffing and additional revenue opportunities to offset the loss of these funds are being reviewed by EHD staff. In 2015, new legislation is expected to be introduced to help address home gener,ated sharps and pharmaceutical waste disposal issues. Small Public Water System Program EHD is the Local Primacy Agency (LPA) for 289 Small Public Water Systems and 27 State Small Water Systems (SPWS) in San Joaquin County. Annual inspection and surveillance fees set by the State have not been sufficient to cover the cost of the enforcement program and ongoing regulatory requirements. As. a remedy, the California Department of Public offered eligible LPAs a onetime grant to assist with program costs under provisions of. the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. In September 2014, EHD received a grant amount of $760,000 to provide for program expenses not covered by existing revenue sources. To help aid the SPWS program expenses, $110,000 of grant funds will be utilized in Solid Waste Program The Solid Waste Diversion Act of 2011 set a State policy goal of 75% diversion of solid waste through source reduction, recycling, composting, or conversion technologies (convert organic materials into energy, fuels, solvents, and other products) by New technologies to help California reach this diversion goal may require additional permit processing and inspection related services. The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 set the 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal into State law, and is changing the way solid waste is handled, reused, converted, and disposed. Technologies such as anaerobic digestion and gasification are being used to divert greenhouse gas emissions and recover energy from materials found in solid wastes. EHD will be involved in the permitting and inspection of these green energy facilities as they are proposed and developed. F-34

5 Services As the focus continues to change from the landfilling of solid wastes to diversion practices, the' corresponding. funding mechanisms will also change. The fees for these processes are currently under review with any proposed fee amendments to be brought forward in Solid Waste Management Trust The Solid Waste Management Trust (#13423) maintains reserves required to fund the continued inspection, monitoring and oversight of inactive, closed disposal facilities. Fund balance as of March 31, 2015, was $2.7 million. Environmental Trust The Environmental Heal* Trust (#13424) is used to reimburse costs for compliance training for business and agricultural communities, for inspection, response and enforcement activities, and for equipment and resources relating to the hazardous materials and hazardous waste programs.. Trust revenue is derived from local and Statewide enforcement case fines and penalties. Fund balance as of March 31; 2015 was $2,422,493. The budget includes $963,145 in transfers from the Environmental Trust Fund. F-35