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Environmental Policy and the California Department of Public Health

Environmental Policy and the California Department of Public Health. Leah Godsey Walker, P.E., Chief Drinking Water Technical Programs Branch. Overview. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) – Purpose and Programs CDPH Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management

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Environmental Policy and the California Department of Public Health

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  1. Environmental Policy and the California Department of Public Health Leah Godsey Walker, P.E., ChiefDrinking Water Technical Programs Branch

  2. Overview • The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) – Purpose and Programs • CDPH Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management • CDPH Drinking Water Programs • Specific Examples of Environmental Policy and Planning that impact CDPH • Funding programs and environmental review • Source Water Protection • Data • Groundwater Recharge and Recycled Water • Conclusions

  3. CDPH • Vision • Healthy individuals and families in healthful communities • Mission • Dedicated to optimizing the health and well-being of the people in California

  4. CDPH Core Activities • Promoting healthy lifestyles for individuals and families in their communities and workplaces. • Preventing disease, disability, and premature death and reducing or eliminating health disparities. • Protecting the public from unhealthy and unsafe environments. • Providing or ensuring access to quality, population-based health services. • Preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. • Producing and disseminating data to inform and evaluate public health status, strategies and programs.

  5. DDWEM Organization (1) • Environmental Management Branch • Emergency, Restoration, and Waste Management Section • Medical Waste Management Program • Department of Defense Program • Nuclear Emergency Response Program • Environmental Health Services Section • Environmental Health Specialist Registration Program • Institutions Program • Radon • Preharvest Shellfish Protection and Biotoxin Monitoring Program • Recreational Health • Beaches and Recreational Waters • Sanitation and Radiation Laboratory Branch • SRL - Northern California Section • SRL - Southern California Section • Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program • ELAP – Los Angeles • ELAP – Richmond • ELAP – Sacramento

  6. DDWEM Organization (2) • Drinking Water Program • Northern Field Operations Branch • Regional and District Offices • Southern Field Operations Branch • Regional and District Offices • DWP Technical Programs Branch • State Revolving Fund and Small Systems Section • State Revolving Fund • Proposition 50 • Proposition 84 • Environmental Review Unit • Local Primacy Agency (LPA) Unit • Technical Assistance & Capacity Development Unit • Technical Operations Section • Regulation Development Unit • Operator Certification Unit • Device Certification Unit • Recycled Water Unit • Treatment Technology Unit • Monitoring and Evaluation Unit - Electronic Data Transfer

  7. Drinking Water Field Operations Branches • Responsible for the enforcement of the federal and California Safe Drinking Water Acts and the regulatory oversight of ~7,500 public water systems to assure the delivery of safe drinking water to all Californians. FOB staff: • Perform field inspections • Issue operating permits • Review plans and specifications for new facilities • Take enforcement actions for non-compliance with laws and regulations • Review water quality monitoring results • Support and promote water system security • Review funding projects for infrastructure improvements • Conduct source water assessments • Evaluate projects utilizing recycled treated wastewater

  8. Example 1Environmental Reviews for Projects

  9. Environmental Review Conditions for Funding ORIGINAL: 1. On or before August 6, 2008, TV Water Company shall prepare and submit to Environmental Review Unit (ERU) the equivalent of an Initial Study (15 copies). • TV Water Company shall submit to ERU a resolution from its decision-making body making appropriate CEQA findings and stating that the environmental document (and any applicable mitigation monitoring plan) has been certified or adopted.

  10. Environmental Review Conditions for Funding REVISED: Upon request(s) from ERU, TV Water Company shall timely submit, to ERU, documents and information CDPH deems necessary to make appropriate CEQA findings and to prepare and adopt appropriate environmental documents (including any applicable mitigation monitoring plan).

  11. Example 2Source Water Protection

  12. Example 2Source Water Protection GROUNDWATER

  13. Example 3Data – It’s only as good as the user

  14. Example 4Groundwater Recharge and Recycled Water Anaheim Lake, one of OCWD's recharge basins

  15. Conclusions • Consider the Big Picture. Don’t look at a project in isolation. • Think about the residual impacts beyond the obvious. Look further, dig a little deeper. • Identify and work with stakeholders early in the process. • Seek guidance and input. We produce better results from our collective thinking than we do from our individual efforts. • Ask yourself – Does this seem reasonable? • Consider the quality of the data you use in your decisions. Where did it come from? How good is it?

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