TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute documents with Impact Assessment Inc., for education and outreach services to reduce the consumption of contaminated fish, in connection with the United States Environmental Protection Agency Palos Verdes Shelf Fish Contamination Project, for a term of July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006; and increase appropriations in the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE) by $50,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
From 1947 to 1983, Montrose Chemical Corporation manufactured Dichloro-Diphenyltrichloroethane
(DDT) at its plant near Torrance, California. The plant discharged
wastewater containing the now-banned pesticide into Los Angeles sewers that emptied into
the Pacific Ocean off White Point on the Palos Verdes Shelf (PVS). Several other
industries also discharged Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the Los Angeles sewer
system that ended up on the PVS by way of outfall pipes.
The PVS 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. In 1990, based on very high levels of contamination,
the California Department of Fish and Game created zones off the PVS 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 off the PVS 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 markets in Los
Angeles and Oranges Counties. In its 1994 report, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
characterized an area of 44 km2 (17 sq. miles) on the PVS with elevated levels of DDT and
PCBs in surface sediments. Subsequent data showed that the effluent-affected DDT- and
PCB- contaminated sediments covered a larger area, and USEPA expanded the Palos
Verdes Shelf study area to include sediments from Point Fermin in the southeast to the
southern edge of the Redondo canyon, northwest of the Palos Verdes peninsula. USEPA's
evaluation of potential cleanup actions is focusing on the areas of highest contamination.
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.
Impact Assessment Inc., 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 funds from a lawsuit 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, in coordination with the Pier Outreach Committee, to bait stores,
temporary food stand operators and vendors, LBCC and CSULB 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 community-based organizations.
This matter was reviewed by Senior Deputy City Attorney Donna F. Gwin and Budget
Management Officer David Wodynski on September 23,2005.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
[Fiscal Impact]
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
[Respectfully Submitted,]