Re: DSMOA DETAILS

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@igc.org>]

From: Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@igc.org>

I just received the following letter, via fax, that DTSC has sent out to 
all RAB Community Co-Chairs and BECs. To reiterate Lenny Siegel's 
earlier posting, the armed services has yet to update their 
estimates of money to be spent on cleanup in the states. Without this 
information DSMOA funding levels for the states cannot accurately be 
determined. 

In the absence of figures from the services, DoD has set a temporary 
level of funding for the rest of the year which appears to be 40% below 
what California requested for that time period. That reduction may or 
may not hold.

**************************

September 13, 1996

Dear RAB Community Co-Chair/BEC:

 It is with regret that I send this letter informing you that 
the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has had to severely 
curtial our participation in California's Restoration Advisory Boards 
(RABs) at military bases.

 This difficult decision follows notification late last week 
from Department of Defense (DoD) that it intends to significantly reduce 
current year funding to the State for oversight of clean-up and reuse 
activities at military bases. This reduction amounts to 40 percent.

 DTSC remains committed to public involvement in the clean-up of 
military bases. Our Public Participation Specialists will continue to 
oversee those activities that are mandated by state and federal laws 
and regulations, including community assessments, community relations 
plan development, fact sheets, public notices, etc. However, 
attendance and participation at RAB meetings will be minimal, if at 
all. This cutback will also impact RAB meeting attendance of Reuse 
Specialists, Water Board staff and DTSC Project Managers.

 I will be working closely with DTSC's Office of Military 
Facilities to re-examine existing programs and services to communities 
and military bases. My focus and priority will be to ensure the 
highest possible level and quality of public particiaption oversight 
and facilitation under the current funding available from DoD. 
Obviously, DTSC's executive management is working very hard to obtain 
meetings with top military officials in order to ascertain the reasons 
for this cut. They are also exploring all possible options to reduce 
the magnitude of the cut. As soon as DTSC knows its final funding 
level, you will be immediately informed.

 Thank you in advance for your patience with this process. I 
welcome your input. You may aslo wish to contact Cary Jones, Chief, 
Environmental Restoration Division, Army Corps of Engineers regarding 
this issue.

 Sincerely,

 Marcia Murphy
 Chief, Public Participation Branch
 400 P Street, 4th Floor
 P.O. Box 806
 Sacramento, CA 95812-0806
 tel: 916/324-8295