TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a first amendment to the agreement with Impact Assessment Inc. (IAI), in the amount of $50,000 for education and outreach services to reduce the consumption of contaminated fish in connection with the USEPA Palos Verdes Shelf Fish Contamination Project for the term of
January 14, 2006 through December 31, 2006. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Palos Verdes Shelf United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Superfund site off the Los Angeles County Palos Verdes Peninsula is among the largest contaminated ocean sediment sites in the United States. Past disposal practices of carcinogenic and toxigenic chemicals, including Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), have resulted in the accumulation of harmful levels of these substances in certain species of fish. In 1990, based on very high levels of contamination, the California Department of Fish and Game created zones off the Palos Verdes Shelf where the commercial catch of white croaker is banned.
Subsequently, the USEPA's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment issued fish consumption advisories for certain fish, including white croaker, caught within the Palos Verdes Shelf and other Southern California sites because of elevated DDT and PCB levels. In 1996, a study conducted by Heal the Bay showed white croaker with elevated levels of DDT and PCB being sold at Asian markets in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
The USEPA Institutional Controls draft report, issued in December 2001, determined that the immediate human health risk was of paramount importance and the most feasible action was to institute measures to convey the health risks associated with the contaminated sediments to those at greatest risk.
IAI, a La Jolla, California-based corporation, administers the distribution of USEPA funds. The corporation is a contractual intermediary of the USEPA, the recipient of several million dollars in settlement of a suit concerning the original contamination.
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services Environmental Health Bureau will participate in the USEPA Palos Verdes Shelf Fish Contamination Project by conducting outreach to markets, restaurants, temporary food stand operators and vendors; Long Beach City College and California State University Long Beach students, and the general public. This will include tracking of outreach, training, and education. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to reduce the consumption of contaminated fish and to raise awareness of the potential health effects to communitybased organizations.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Lori A. Conway on September 25, 2006, and by Budget Management Officer David Wodynski on September 22, 2006.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
The DHHS received preliminary notification of the award on January 13, 2006 and has been providing services since then. DHHS recently received the first amendment to the agreement from the IAI and cannot recover costs until the amendment is approved.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total amount of the first amendment to the agreement is $50,000 from January 14, 2006 through December 31, 2006. Sufficient funds to support this project are included in the FY 2007 adopted budget of the Health Fund (SR130) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE).
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
RONALD R. ARIAS
DIRECTOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
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APPROVED: |
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GERALD R. MILLER |
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CITY MANAGER |