TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to receive and expend grant funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, for education and outreach services to reduce the consumption of contaminated fish in connection with the Palos Verdes Shelf Fish Contamination Project, in the amount of $189,500, for the period of March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2019, with the option of extending the grant to February 29, 2020. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has awarded the City of Long Beach Health and Human Services Department (Health Department) a grant in the amount of $189,500 for the period of March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2019, to conduct inspections of markets and restaurants selling white croaker fish and to provide support to USEPA’s overall program for the Palos Verdes Shelf, including public outreach and education, monitoring, and enforcement.
The Palos Verdes Shelf USEPA Superfund site off the coast of the 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‐diphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 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 the Heal the Bay organization showed white croaker fish with elevated levels of DDT and PCBs being sold to the public at 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 by the contaminated sediments to those at the greatest risk.
Throughout the course of the grant-funded program, the Health Department will, on a quarterly basis, inspect and conduct surveys at 15 markets and restaurants within the City. The 15 markets and restaurants were chosen on their probability of selling white croakers. In addition, Health Department staff will conduct health education and outreach on health issues related to consuming contaminated fish from the Palos Verdes Shelf contamination area.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on March 30, 2017 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on April 6, 2017.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 2, 2017, to comply with USEPA requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City is eligible to receive reimbursement up to $189,500 for the grant period of March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2019, with an option to extend the grant period to February 29, 2020. Sufficient appropriation is available in the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Health and Human Services Department (HE). The grant has no match or in-kind service requirement. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY, DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER