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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 41-94RESO . ZO MO. 4 ! ' 9 4 A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD REQUESTING THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CO~'£KOL~OARDA~END SUBTITLE D POLICY FOR THE REGULATION OF DISC~RGES OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE WHEREAS, the State Water Resources Control Board has adopted the policy for regulation of discharges of municipal solid waste which sets minimum construction standards for California landfills as required by subtitle D of the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the need to insure groundwater quality, however, the uniform landfill liner design called for in the State Water Resources Control Board policy will result in large and needless added expenses, and will deliver minimal additional protection; and WHEREAS, the State Water Resources Control Board's landfill liner policy far exceeds the federal standard by requiring a single design of compacted clay and plastic liner for all landfills in California, thereby causing landfill owners in dry parts of the state, such as Kern County, to comply with rules designed to protect areas with heavy rainfall and high water tables; and WHEREAS, the additional high cost of landfill construction could be avoided through a site-specific design which satisfies federal subtitle D standards; and WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency published subtitle D regulations encouraging states to allow flexibility in the design of landfill liners where climate and hydrogeological conditions warrant; and WHEREAS, the governor of the State of California has requested the State Water Resources Control Board maintain the maximum flexibility allowed by Environmental Protection Agency regulations in administering federal subtitle D standards; and WHEREAS, the State Water Resources Control Board's subtitle D policy will force landfill operators to incur significant and burdensome added costs stemming from the over-design of landfill liners; and WHEREAS, these unnecessary added costs will require sharp and unnecessary increases in solid waste fees paid by residences and businesses located within the City of Bakersfield; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Bakersfield as follows: 1. The Council calls upon the State Water Resources Control Board to amend its policy for regulation of discharges of municipal solid waste to conform its policy and the resulting regulations to the standard established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2. The Council calls upon the elected representatives of this area to introduce legislation in the California Legislature to achieve the same purpose if the State Water Resources Control Board refuses to amend its subtitle D policy. 3. The Council Calls upon the League of California Cities, at its earliest opportunity, to support the amendment of the State Water Resources Control Board's subtitle D policy to conform with federal standards. .......... o0o .......... - 2 - OR,L'. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on APR 0 § ~0~ , by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS McDERMO_-F[, EDWARDS, DeMOND, SMITH, BRUNNI, ROWLES, SALVAGGIO NOES: COUNCiLMEMBERS ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS CITY CLERK and EX OFFICIO of the Council of the City of Bakersfield APPROVED APR 0 6 199~, MAYOR of the City of Bakersfield APPROVED AS TO FORM: JUDY K. SKOUSEN Acting City Attorney Assis~r~ht Ci~ttorney City of Bakersfield ADD:gp - 3 -