[CPEO-BIF] Cal-EPA Seeks Comments on Coordination MOA

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Cal-EPA Seeks Comments

California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA), Department of 
Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the State Water Resources Control Board 
(SWRCB), and Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) have recently 
been involved in an intensive effort to develop a Memorandum of 
Agreement (MOA) regarding the regulatory oversight of brownfield 
cleanups in California. This effort has been in response to the 
Secretary's July 20, 2004 Brownfields Initiative memo 
http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/MOA/Memo.pdf.

The purpose of the MOA is to improve coordination between DTSC, SWRCB, 
and RWQCB regarding the oversight of cleanup activities at brownfield 
sites. This MOA has been developed to ensure effective and expeditious 
cleanup of brownfield sites in a manner that is protective of both 
public health and safety and the environment.

We are at a point where we would like to get the thoughts and 
perspectives on our efforts from anyone interested in our regulatory 
oversight activities at brownfields. We invite you to review and comment 
on the draft Memorandum of Agreement 
http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/MOA/BFMOA.pdf. Copies of the MOA 
can also be obtained from any DTSC Regional Office or Regional Board 
Office, or by contacting any of their Brownfields contacts: see 
http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/Contacts/.

Comment Period
We will be taking public comments and feedback from October 25, 2004 
through November 25, 2004.
Written comments must be postmarked or emailed by November 25, 2004, and 
sent to:

Rick Brausch, Assistant Secretary for External Affairs
California Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento, CA 95812
Email: rbrausch@calepa.ca.gov

Public Workshops
We are also planning two public workshops as an opportunity for you to 
learn more about the draft agreement, discuss the agreement's provisions 
with Cal/EPA, DTSC and the State and Regional Boards, and provide 
written or oral comments.  The workshops are scheduled for Wednesday, 
November 3, at DTSC's Regional Office in Cypress, and for Friday, 
November 5, at the Cal/EPA Headquarters Building in Sacramento.  See the 
flyer at http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/MOA/Flyer.pdf for more 
information.

Thank you all in advance for your interest and involvement. We are very 
excited about this agreement and what it represents. We believe this 
agreement is a significant step forward toward removing impediments to 
brownfields cleanups and redevelopment and towards accomplishing the 
Governor's goals for brownfields.

If you have any questions or need more information, go to Cal/EPA's 
Brownfields MOA web page at http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/MOA/, 
or you can contact Rick Brausch at (916) 445-3131, or 
rbrausch@calepa.ca.gov.

-------------------
 Cal/EPA's regulatory boards and departments play an essential role in 
cleaning up contaminated sites to protect public health and the 
environment. For more information go to Brownfields program at 
http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Brownfields/

--
Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org


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