HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-081 - Supporting Federal PFAS LegislationRESOLUTION NO. 2021-081
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA ANA SUPPORTING FEDERAL PFAS
LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS RATEPAYERS AND
WASTEIWASTEWATER AGENCIES
WHEREAS, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances ("PFAS") are a group of man-
made chemicals created by chemical manufacturers and despite playing no role in
releasing PFAS into the environment, cities and water agencies must find ways to
remove them from local water supplies; and
WHEREAS, PFAS have been detected in the Orange County Groundwater
Basin, managed by Orange County Water District, and are estimated to cost Orange
County more than $1 billion, over 30 years —a cost that will likely increase; and
WHEREAS, ratepayers are at risk from pending PFAS legislation and associated
PFAS costs, and water agencies and stakeholders must take action to inform members
of Congress of these devastating impacts; and
WHEREAS, all PFAS related legislation must therefore exempt water and
wastewater agencies from any liability for PFAS cleanup costs; and
WHEREAS, a water utility that complies with applicable and appropriate federal
management and treatment standards must not be responsible for current and future
costs associated with a PFAS cleanup; and
WHEREAS, given the potential for federal legislation, such as the PFAS Action
Act of 2021 (H.R. 2467), to expose water agencies that simply receive and treat water
supplies, with across-the-board liability for PFAS-related cleanups when they have no
responsibility for the presence of PFAS, an explicit exemption from Superfund clean-up
liability must be made for water and wastewater agencies; and
WHEREAS, under existing law, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ensures that public health benefits of new drinking water standards are reasonably
balanced with the compliance costs that water system ratepayers will ultimately incur,
and eliminating this analysis would burden ratepayers of all income levels with
astronomical costs to comply with drinking water standards; and
WHEREAS, amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act should not delete the
longstanding cost -benefit analysis; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Water District supports providing direct grant
funding for PFAS remediation to water and wastewater agencies as provided in the
Senate -passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684).
Resolution No. 2021-081
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa
Ana as follows:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby supports these
federal PFAS policy principles to protect water/wastewater agencies and their
ratepayers.
Section 2. The Orange County Congressional Delegation and California
Senatorial Delegation are called upon to cast votes implementing these public policy
positions.
Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote
adopting this Resolution.
ADOPTED this 215t day of December, 2021.
Vicente Sarmiento
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By: QZ4 N-�
Jo M. Funk
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers Hernandez, Lopez Mendoza, Penaloza,
Phan Bacerra Sarmiento (7)
NOES: Councilmembers None (0)
ABSTAIN:
Councilmembers
None
(0)
NOT PRESENT:
Councilmembers
None
(0)
Resolution No. 2021-081
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CERTIFICATION OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, DAISY GOMEZ, Clerk of the Council,
Resolution No. 2021-081 to be the origina
City of Santa Ana on December 21, 2021.
Date: / a-; 6
do hereby attest to and certify the attached
I resolution adopted by the City Council of the
liau &'
Daisy Gomez
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
Resolution No. 2021-081
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