HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.a. Update on most recent meeting of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA)Page 1 of 2
Item 4.a.
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July 16, 2024
TO: REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
FROM: LORI SCHECTEL, ENVIRONMENTAL & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
DIVISION MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: GREG NORBY, DEPUTY GM - ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS
ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER
SUBJECT: RECEIVE UPDATE ON THE MOST RECENT MEETING OF THE BAYAREA
CLEAN WATER AGENCIES (BACWA)
• Last BACWA Board Meeting:
June 21, 2024
• Next BACWA Board Meeting:
July 19, 2024
Key Items from the June 21 meeting:
The BACWA Board voted to appoint the current Vice Chair of the Board, Jackie Zipkin of East Bay
Dischargers Authority (EBDA), as Chair and Amy Chastain of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
(SFPUC) as Vice Chair for the upcoming fiscal year (FY). Chair and Vice Chair roles typically rotate by
agency after two years but are re -appointed after the first year.
EPA Region 9 staff Luisa Valiela updated BACWA on the new EPA San Francisco Bay Program funding
opportunities as Congress recently designated a new regional program office for the San Francisco Bay
estuary under the Clean Water Act. This provides for annual funding from Congress and directs the EPA
to develop a priority list of areas to fund each fiscal year. It is primarily a competitive process for these
grants. Key priorities for the upcoming FY (October 1) include nutrients, shoreline adaptation, wetlands
restoration, and other large regional areas of study and planning. The EPA focuses on regional efforts
versus plant upgrades, which would be for the State Revolving Fund. If there are compelling, game -
changing projects, there could be opportunities to use the funding for feasibility studies, planning, and/or
permitting.
Air:
The BACWA/Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) collaborative group met on June 3.
There is a lot of momentum, and an update on the group's progress will be at an upcoming BAAQMD
Stationary Source Committee Meeting.
July 16, 2024 REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 13 of 24
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Nutrients:
The BACWA Board also held a Nutrient Strategy Team meeting following the Executive Board meeting
and discussed BACWA's role at the third Nutrient Watershed Permit adoption on July 10.
There will be a Dr. David Jenkins Technical Seminar on "Nutrient Removal in Bay Area Reclamation
Facilities" on August 29 at the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board in Oakland.
Additional Information/Monthly Bulletins: https:Hbacwa.org/bacwa-bulletins/
Strategic Plan re -In
GOAL TWO: Environmental Stewardship
Strategy 1 - Achieve compliance in all regulations, Strategy 3 - Be a partner in regional development of local water
supply
July 16, 2024 REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 14 of 24