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The Clean Estuary Partnership and the RMP. Comparing two stakeholder programs producing science in support of policy James M. Kelly, Chair Bay Area Clean Water Agencies Director of Operations Central Contra Costa Sanitary District. Today’s Presentation. Compare RMP to CEP Origin of CEP
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The Clean Estuary Partnership and the RMP Comparing two stakeholder programs producing science in support of policy James M. Kelly, Chair Bay Area Clean Water Agencies Director of Operations Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Today’s Presentation • Compare RMP to CEP • Origin of CEP • Mission of the CEP • Approach to the Task • Accomplishments to Date • Upcoming Events
RMP Are beneficial uses of the Bay protected CEP What needs to be done to protect beneficial uses of the Bay? Fundamental Questions
Why Clean Estuary Partnership • Bridge RMP and RWQCB via a Stakeholder Process
The Clean Estuary Partnership • Three core partners: • SFRWQCB, Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association, and BACWA • Additional support • Western States Petroleum Association • Participation in committees and workgroups • Port of Oakland, Bay Planning Coalition, and (recently) Clean South Bay, Clean Water Action, Environmental Coalition for Water, Baykeeper • Established through an MOU adopted in 2001
What the CEP is About • Science in support of water quality planning • TMDLs • Site Specific Objectives • Adaptive Implementation • Stakeholder control • Executive Management Board • Technical Committee • Pollutant-specific workgroups • Administrative Committee • Outreach committee
CEP Mission Statement Use sound science, adaptive management, and public collaboration to develop and implement technically valid and cost-effective strategies (including TMDLs) that result in identifiable, sustainable water quality improvements for San Francisco Bay
What the CEP’s Mission Means • The science supporting policy decisions comes from your program: • Instead of from a “black box” • Stakeholders have a forum for talking to the regulators • Outside the hearing room • In the long-term • Stakeholders are part of the solution • Bay Area rate payers are environmental stewards • The CEP is a way for them to take some credit for their stewardship
Characteristics of a Successful CEP • Results Oriented • Truth Seeking • Consent Based • Adaptable • Cost-effective
Initial Program Goals • Establish a process for collaboration • Implement high priority projects • Develop 5-year Work Plan
What the CEP does • Addresses pollutants of concern in Bay identified through 303-d listing process • Identifies information gaps that need to be filled to develop, adopt, and implement TMDLs and other policies and plans • Finds ways to fill those gaps, either through directly funding projects, or by seeking to match information needs with the appropriate external programs
Directly Funded Projects Lower Guadalupe River Loads Monitoring (first year) Mercury Source Assessment Mercury Implementation Planning Mercury Conceptual Model Investigation of PCBs in near-shore sediments and Bay-watershed interfaces Coordination with external programs Lower Guadalupe River Loads Monitoring (subsequent years) Comments submitted on CALFED Ecosystem restoration program Participation in development and review of CALFED Science mercury strategy Coordination with RMP workgroups and committees Some examples
Successful Collaboration • Facilitate dialogue and build consensus among CEP partners and other stakeholders • Use joint fact-finding to build technical consensus • Frame issues to build mutually acceptable agreements
Joint Fact-Finding • Avoid pitfalls of “adversary science” • Enable direct dialogue among neutral scientific experts, decision-makers and stakeholders • Jointly frame questions • Create opportunity for stakeholders to nominate scientific experts
Approach to TMDL Development • Keep it simple - A model is only as good as it is understandable • Sound science Joint fact-finding produces study designs Produce authoritative, reliable and publicly available data • Work collaboratively Everyone is an environmental steward
Accomplishments to Date • Functioning collaborative process and administrative structure (www.cleanestuary.org) • Products in support of the mercury TMDL • Mercury source assessment • Implementation approach for inactive mines, urban runoff, and other sources • Working on PCB TMDL projects • CU/NI • Diazinon • Consultations with Stakeholders
Upcoming Events • Five-Year Work Plan • Establishing peer review process • Mercury TMDL Final Project Report • PCB TMDL Preliminary Project Report • PCB TMDL Final Project Report • Legacy Pesticides, Dioxin, Se