FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2019
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of November 2019.
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BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District’s (Sanitation District) legislative affairs program includes advocating the Sanitation District’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 that the Sanitation District is more than a wastewater treatment plant - treating and sending water to the ocean.
The Sanitation District is an environmentally engaged organization which recycles more than 50 percent of its wastewater. Additionally, to help meet the goal of 100 percent recycling, the Sanitation District uses the byproducts from the wastewater treatment process to produce biosolids to fertilize crops and energy used to help power the two plants in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Continue to work with Local, State, and Federal officials to advocate the Sanitation District’s legislative interests. Help to create/monitor legislation and grants that would benefit the Sanitation District, 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 D.C. and Sacramento.
TIMING CONCERNS
N/A
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not work with Local, State, and Federal elected officials, legislation could be passed that negatively affects the Sanitation District and the wastewater industry as a whole. Additionally, this could affect our chances of receiving grant funding.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Sanitation District is applying for a grant through CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program for the Food-Waste Co-Digestion facility at Plant No. 2 in Huntington Beach. The amount the Sanitation District would be eligible to receive is up to $3 million. The grant application is due December 5.
On Thursday, November 21, the Sanitation District signed onto the California Association of Sanitation Agencies’ (CASA) coalition letter supporting Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) and Senator Tom Udall’s (D-N.M.) legislation to address the plastic waste crisis. As supported in the Sanitation District’s Legislative Platform, the proposal sets requirements for labeling non-flushable wet wipe products and sets parameters for which wipes can be labeled as “flushable” or “sewer and septic safe.”
Additionally, the draft language includes provisions that would require wipes manufacturers to include statements about wet wipes containing plastic content.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
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ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) are included in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website (www.ocsd.com) with the complete agenda package:
• Federal Update - ENS Resources
• Federal Legislative Matrix - ENS Resources
• State Update - Townsend Public Affairs
• State Legislative Matrix - Townsend Public Affairs
• Grant Matrix
• CASA Coalition Wipes Support Letter