FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
title
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2022
end
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of April 2022.
body
BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District’s (OC San) legislative affairs program includes advocating OC San’s legislative interests; sponsoring legislation (where appropriate); and seeking Local, State, and Federal funding for projects and programs. Staff will provide an update on recent legislative and grant activities.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
• Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
• Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators, stakeholders, and neighboring communities
PROBLEM
Without a strong advocacy program, elected officials may not be aware of OC San’s mission, programs, and projects and how they could be impacted by proposed legislation.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Continue to work with Local, State, and Federal officials to advocate OC San’s legislative interests. Help to create/monitor legislation and grants that would benefit OC San, the wastewater industry, and the community as a whole. To assist in our relationship building activities, we will continue to reach out to our elected officials providing facility tours, one-on-one meetings, and trips to Washington D.C. and Sacramento.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not work with Local, State, and Federal elected officials, legislation could be passed that negatively affects OC San and the wastewater industry as a whole. Additionally, a lack of engagement may result in missed funding opportunities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FEDERAL:
• The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) continues to move forward with its rulemaking effort to designate Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) under Superfund. Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), PFAS is pending final review within the Administration. It is thought that during the month of April/May a proposal could be published in the Federal Register seeking to list PFAS as hazardous.
• The Administration has submitted its FY 2023 budget request to Congress. The USEPA request is at a record level of funding at $11.3 billion. Within the request is $4 billion for the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program and $200 million to support the agency’s ongoing PFAS regulatory roadmap.
STATE:
• The month of March saw amendments to hundreds of bills, the introduction of numerous legislative proposals with major budget impacts, and the Legislature returning to its full pace as it works to consider the 2,115 bills introduced during the 2022 legislative session.
• February marked the deadline for new bill vehicle introductions, it did not mark the deadline for new legislative language. Assembly and Senate leadership set hard mid-late March deadlines for major amendments and amendments to “spot” legislation to be submitted. The month of March featured hundreds of major amendments to existing legislation, many of which completely altered the scope and intent of the previous versions.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
• ENS Resources Legislative Update
• Federal Legislative Matrix - ENS Resources
• Presentation - ENS Legislative Update
• Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) Legislative Update
• State Legislative Matrix - TPA
• Presentation - TPA Legislative Update
• Grant Matrix 2022