EPA and LA Water Board Set Strict New Pollution Reduction Plans for 175 Waterways in Los Angeles Area

For Immediate Release: March 27, 2012Media Contacts:
Nahal Mogharabi, EPA, mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov
Deborah Smith, LA Water Quality Board, 213-576-6609, Dsmith@waterboards.ca.gov  

EPA and LA Water Board Set Strict New Pollution Reduction Plans for 175 Waterways in Los Angeles Area
Action Culminates 13 Year Effort, Eliminating Beach Closures, Reducing Trash and Toxic Chemicals in Waters

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board today announced the latest in a series of pollution reduction plans designed to restore 175 water bodies in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The pollution targets set by these plans will improve water quality, restore ecosystems, and protect the public by eliminating beach closures due to bacteria and improving the health of fish used for consumption.

“EPA and our partners have achieved a breakthrough on the path toward restoring the health of Los Angeles’ creeks, streams, and beaches,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “These precious natural resources lay at the heart of what makes the Golden State shine.”

The Los Angeles region is home to a vast network of streams, lakes, rivers, and beaches used for fishing and recreation. The pollution plans call for reductions in the amount of bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, mercury, pesticides and other toxic chemicals that affect these waterways.  More than 95% of the impaired waters will meet applicable water quality standards once the pollution reduction plans are fully implemented.

“I am proud to acknowledge achievements that are leading to healthier watersheds for the benefit of the people and wildlife who call the Los Angeles area home.” said Maria Mehranian, Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.  “This wave of water quality improvement is the result of tremendous efforts by this Board, past Boards, and EPA in collaboration with local municipalities and environmental organizations.”

Under the federal Clean Water Act, states are required to develop pollution reduction plans for waters that are impaired by pollutants.  These plans are called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), and must be approved by the EPA. 

 “Los Angeles’ relationship to water is a historic one. We are known for our beaches and were founded because of the LA River,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “The U.S. EPA and the Regional Water Board have been strong partners as we work to protect our rivers, streams, and waterways. We applaud the U.S. EPA and the Regional Water Board for continuing to prioritize water quality and safety in Los Angeles.”

Today’s announcement is a  part of a 1999 legal settlement between EPA and local environmental groups  in which EPA committed to approve LA Water Board-developed TMDLs or independently establish TMDLs for a list of water bodies in the Los Angeles Region.  As a result of the consent decree, 47 TMDLs have been established for 175 water bodies that address numerous pollutant impairments including elevated bacteria, metals, pesticides, PCBs and trash.  Additional TMDLs will be approved or established within the next year.

 “The consent decree put Los Angeles and Ventura counties on track for having oceans and rivers that are safe for swimming and fishing year round,” said Kirsten James, Heal the Bay’s Water Quality Director.  “The implementation of these requirements has already led to less trash in local rivers and bays and cleaner beaches.”

EPA established four TMDLs to address pollutants and impairments for the following water bodies:

• Long Beach City beaches and Los Angeles River estuary for bacteria: will help protect the health of the tens of thousands of people visiting the beaches during summer months. Once implemented, the average number of days during the swimming season exceeding bacteria standards will be reduced from 34 days to 0.
  
• Santa Monica Bay waters for DDTs and PCBs: will increase the health of the fish and other aquatic life and protect the public who use the Bay for recreational fishing and boating. Once implemented, DDT and PCB levels in the Bay will be reduced up to 50% and 75%, respectively.
  
• Ballona Creek wetlands for sediment and exotic vegetation: will help restore the last remaining critical coastal wetlands in Southern California.  Once implemented, 600 acres of habitats adjacent to Marina del Rey will support the hundreds of migratory birds species and the dozens of native birds that use these wetlands.
  
• Nine Los Angeles area urban lakes for toxics, trash, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution: will support recreation and wildlife for nine lakes in the Los Angeles area, including Echo Park Lake, Lake Calabasas, Puddingstone Reservoir and El Dorado Park Lakes.
  

In addition, the EPA has approved four LA Water Board-adopted TMDLs to address pollutants and impairments for the following water bodies:

• Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors for toxic pollutants: will reduce toxic levels of metals and organic pollutants to protect sensitive habitat, fishing, recreation, and navigation in the harbors.
  
• Machado Lake for toxic pollutants: will remediate contaminated water and sediments in the lake so that fish are safe to eat.
  
• Los Angeles River for bacteria: will protect the health of swimmers, waders, and boaters in the river and at downstream beaches in the City of Long Beach.
  
• Santa Monica Bay for trash: will prohibit trash and plastic pellets (“nurdles”) from entering the bay to protect beachgoers and marine life.

Pollution reduction plans adopted over the years have led to innovative solutions by municipalities and pollution equipment industries to address some of the most deep-rooted pollution problems in the region.  These plans have led to the installation of trash capture devices by 42 cities resulting in a 65% reduction in total tons of trash entering the Los Angeles River. The landmark Santa Monica Bay Beaches Bacteria TMDL has, since its adoption, reduced exceedances of bacteria standards at local beaches by half for the benefit of the 55 million people who visit Santa Monica Bay Beaches annually.

For more information on the pollution plans approved today, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/tmdl/final.html 

For more information on all of the TMDLs in the Los Angeles Region, please visit: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/losangeles/water_issues/programs/tmdl/  
For more information about the Clean Water Act, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.html  

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News Release from EPA - Restore Forest Ecosystems

Contact: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

EPA Celebrates 20^th Year as Exhibitor in the Philadelphia Flower Show with Best of Show Award in the Non-Academic Education Category

EPA's 2012 Exhibit Demonstrates how to Restore Forest Ecosystems and Manage Pests Naturally

PHILADELPHIA (March 8, 2012) –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2012 exhibit entitled "Palekaiko Nalowale" (Paradise Lost) demonstrates the importance of wetlands and how water provides the basic building block of life as it flows from a cascading brook and emerges from the forest to form a bog wetland.

Bogs are wet, spongy areas and visitors to the exhibit will learn about their important ecological function in preventing downstream flooding. Visitors will also be inspired by splashes of color and textures of pitcher plants, blueberries, larch and a host of other species that grow naturally on bogs, while dogwood, rhododendron, azalea and other native woodland plants form a buffer for the aquatic system.

"We want to show people that it's possible to have a beautiful garden without a lot of fuss, and also have it do good for the environment. We hope people will come to our exhibit and find out how," said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.

This is the 20^th year that EPA has been bringing its message of beneficial landscaping to the Philadelphia Flower Show. That first show in 1992 was a simple table with employee volunteers handing out literature. Somewhere along the way, the agency decided to bring the literature to life, creating exhibits that feature wetlands, natural pest control and the importance of native plants. This year EPA was honored with its fourth Best of Show in the non-academic educational category.

For more information on EPA's Philadelphia Flower Show exhibit and green landscaping, go to: http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/garden/flower_show.htm.

For EPA's blog post, go to: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2012/02/29/rediscovering-paradise-lost-in-your-backyard/.

For EPA's podcast, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region03/multimedia/playercontents/audio/FlowerShow20122.html.

$10 Million Settlement with Mining Company

News release from EPA Region 9:

For Immediate Release: Feb 16, 2012Media Contacts: Mary Simms, 415-947-4270, simms.mary@epa.gov, Rusty Harris-Bishop, 415-972-3140, harris-bishop.rusty@epa.govDept. of Justice: (202) 514-2007                    

    U.S. EPA, Dept. of Justice reach $10 Million settlement with Department of the Interior, Northern California mining company for cleanup costs and transfer of land to Elem Indian Colony

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a multi-party agreement to settle cleanup costs for seven mining sites in three states. The parties to the agreement include the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bradley Mining Company, the Worthen Bradley Family Trust and the Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians.

Under the settlement, the Bradley Mining Company and Bradley Trust will transfer nearly all of their land holdings at the Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine to a new trust created to retain the lands pending EPA cleanup. The Elem Indian Colony will receive approximately 380 acres of uncontaminated land - adding to its current holdings of 50 acres - as compensation for natural resource damages from mining operations by the Bradley Mining Company.     


Nearly $7 million in federal funds will be used to reimburse EPA’s costs for cleaning up contamination at the Elem Indian Colony and the access road to the Colony.


“This significant settlement took three years to hammer out. The result is a win for Clear Lake and a win for the Elem Colony,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator for EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “This settlement will help the Clear Lake ecosystem recover, including reducing the risks due to mercury in fish. It also demonstrates EPA’s strong commitment to supporting the environmental cleanup of tribal lands.”


In addition to the land transfers relating to the Sulphur Bank Mine, the proceeds from insurance policies and any future income from the Bradley Mining Company will be divided among the seven mine sites for future cleanup, with the Bradley Mining retaining a share of the proceeds.


The Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine Superfund Site is located at the southeastern end of the Oaks Arm of Clear Lake. The site includes the Elem Indian Colony which is located directly adjacent to the mine property. The site initially was mined for sulfur from 1865 to 1871. Mercury ore was mined intermittently by underground methods from 1873 to 1905, and open-pit mined from 1915 to 1957. The mine, once one of the largest producers of mercury in California, has been inactive since 1957.


Approximately three million cubic yards of mine wastes and tailings remain on the mine site. Mercury is present in the bottom sediments in Clear Lake, and mercury has bio-concentrated in the food chain of Clear Lake. The levels of mercury in fish from the lake led the State to issue an advisory to limit consumption of fish. Clear Lake is the source of water that the Clear Lake Oaks Water District provides for municipal drinking water for 4,700 people.


This cleanup effort is one of several tribal land cleanups in the Pacific Southwest Region. EPA is currently overseeing the investigation and clean up of contamination on Hopi and Navajo lands throughout the southwest.


The settlement, lodged in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. A copy of the settlement document will be available on the Department of Justice website at: www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html


For more information please visit: www.epa.gov/region9/sulphurbankmercury

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Corps Discusses Environmental, Economic Benefits of Restoration

News Release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

Corps discusses environmental, economic benefits of restoration at Everglades Coalition Conference Posted 1/20/2012 By Jenn Domashevich Jacksonville District STUART, Fla. -- Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District spoke at the 27th Annual Everglades Coalition Conference, Jan. 5-8, 2012, in Stuart, Fla., the largest annual forum for discourse on Everglades restoration and conservation. This year's theme was "Everglades Restoration: Worth Every Penny," and much discussion was driven around the environmental and economic benefits of restoration. Stu Appelbaum, chief of Jacksonville District's Planning and Policy Division, spoke as a panelist on the "Expediting Return on Restoration Investments through the Central Everglades Planning Process" plenary session Jan. 6. The panel's discussion was primarily focused on the Central Everglades Planning Project, which has set a goal to deliver within two years a finalized plan, known as a Project Implementation Report, for a suite of restoration projects in the central Everglades in preparation for congressional authorization as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The Corps is leading this planning effort in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). "I have heard concerns about the fast pace of this project and if you can keep up with us," said Appelbaum in regards to the Central Everglades Planning Project. "Yes, you can. We want you to keep up with us and we want you to stay involved. We invite you to be a part of the process with us." The panel included Terrence "Rock" Salt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; Herschel Vinyard, Secretary of the Florida Department Environmental Protection; Shannon Estenoz, Director of Everglades Restoration Initiatives for the Department of the Interior; and Melissa Meeker, Executive Director of the SFWMD. "One thing I learned from my boss is if you get the planning right, the money will follow," said Salt. "If it's the right thing to do and we're moving forward, the money will be there." Similar thoughts were expressed by Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, as she spoke during a lunch session Jan. 6. "Together, with our partner, the South Florida Water Management District, we're going to have more action and less paper pushing," Darcy said as she referenced the Central Everglades Planning Project. "I am proud to say that the study's scoping process is on track and will be completed by the end of the month. I hope to be invited here again next year so I can come back with the draft PIR (Project Implementation Report) in hand for the central Everglades." During the conference, Darcy was presented with the James D. Webb Award for ushering in a new realm of consistent progress in Everglades restoration. "She has provided guidance, inspiration and leadership for so many people in this room, and for that we thank you," said Julie Hill-Gabriel, State Everglades Coalition Co-Chair, who presented the award along with Dawn Shirreffs, National Everglades Coalition Co-Chair. Also recognized during the conference was Jacksonville District Commander Col. Alfred Pantano, Jr., who received the Bill Sadowski Award on behalf of 1000 Friends of Florida in recognition of outstanding and distinguished service to the state of Florida, the Everglades and its restoration. Nathaniel Reed, Vice Chairman of the Everglades Foundation, presented Pantano with the award on behalf of 1000 Friends, where he serves as chairman emeritus and founder. Reed had also expressed his gratitude to Pantano during an earlier conference session. "What can we say to a friend, a dynamic man, who attracted a superb staff to work with him," Reed said. "We say thank you for your time, energy, perception and leadership." Pantano served as a panelist during the "Managing Lake Okeechobee for Shared Prosperity: Who Gets What, When, and How Much" panel Jan. 7, which discussed what can be done to share Lake Okeechobee's prosperity. "I do believe as Americans, we need to get real about fresh water," said Pantano. "Water is our most precious resource. You all have a responsibility to tighten up your views and your culture of the lake. Don't get consumed by small battles and lose sight of the bigger goal." The panel included Dr. Paul Gray, Lake Okeechobee Watershed Program Science Coordinator of the Audubon of Florida; Irene Kennedy Quincy, partner at Pavese Law Firm; Rae Ann Wessel, Natural Resource Policy Director of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation; and Mary Ann Martin, owner of Roland and Mary Ann Martin's Marina and Resort. "Conservation is critical. If the lake's not healthy, the rest of the system is not going to be healthy. It's that simple," said Wessel. "It's not that we don't have enough water, it's that we're not sharing it nicely." Additional discussions focused on how to maximize project benefits and continue much-needed momentum to keep restoration benefits moving forward by operating projects at their full potential in the "Operating Projects to Benefit Southern Estuaries" breakout session Jan. 7. In this session, Howard Gonazales, chief of the Ecosystem Branch, served as a panelist. "We're really out ahead in regards to adaptive management," said Gonzales. "We are already putting these items into effect, which allows us to have project monitoring in place. We are monitoring everything from water quality to ecology to confirm that projects are performing the way they need to perform." Also serving as a panelist at this year's conference was Tori White, deputy chief of the Regulatory Division, who spoke during the "Restoration in Lean Times: Doing More with Less" breakout session Jan. 7, which discussed how to get ecosystem restoration projects built in light of state and federal cutbacks. "When determining appropriate compensatory mitigation, pursuant to our regulations, the Corps can consider whether a proposed mitigation project for ecosystem restoration, such as a CERP component, is environmentally preferable and would have a higher likelihood of ecological success and sustainability than mitigation at a federally-permitted mitigation bank or in lieu of fee," said White. "If CERP identified land is determined to be the most appropriate compensation, the permit's special conditions will provide for appropriate monitoring and maintenance in the interim if and until incorporated into a federal project. The permit condition must also clearly state that such land or mitigation cannot be used as local sponsor credit or in-kind contribution toward the federal project since that would constitute supplanting of ecological credits required for another purpose."