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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - Legislative & Public Outreach Committee - 05/03/2010East Valley Water District LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING Date: May 3, 2010 Time: 12:00 p.m. Place: 3654 E. Highland Ave, Suite 12 Highland, CA 92346 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. Public Comments 2. Discussion regarding the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 3. Discussion regarding Inland Action's lobbying efforts. ADJOURN ----------------------------------------------------------------- Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2(a), any request for a disability- related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, that is sought in order to participate in the above - agendized public meeting should be directed to the District's Administrative Manager at (909) 885 -4900 at least 72 hours prior to said meeting. ------------------------------------- --------- -- --- ------- - - - - -- East Valley Water District 3654 East Highland Avenue, Suite 18, Highland, CA 92346 P.O Box 3427, San Bernardino. CA 92413 November 30, 2009 The Honorable Jerry Lewis 2112 Rayburn House Office Building Washington DC 20515 Attention: Justin Landon Dear Congressman Lewis. Serving Our Community for Over 50 Years BOARD OF DIRECTORS George E "Skip' Wilson President Mail Le Vescue v,ce President Kip E Sturgeon Director James Morales, Jr Duector Larry Malmoerg Director Roben E Mann General Manager Bnan W Tompkins Chef Financial Officer Ronald E Buchwald District Engineer I am writing to request your support for the inclusion of statutory language in the upcoming Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization bill regarding the Seven Oaks Dam. Thank you again for securing language in the most recent WRDA -2007, Section 3036, which instructed the Corps of Engineers "to conduct a study of water conservation and water quality at the Seven Oaks Dam." Because of this language and the funding which you secured in FY07, 08, 09, the water quality portion of the study has been moving forward and will soon be completed. And thanks to FY10 funding, which you secured. the water conservation study is expected to begin in the near future. Both of these studies should be completed while WRDA 2010 is in force, so it is essential that the Corps be given clear instructions to implement the conclusions that are reached by the Corps, working in coordination with local %� ater agencies. We respectfully request that you consider submitting the following language to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for inclusion into WRDA 2010. "The Coins is directed to implement the conclusions of the water quality and the water conservation studies at the Seven Oaks Dam as authorized by Section 3036 (2).- The completion of Seven Oaks Dam earlier in this decade represented a tremendous step forward in protecting our region from the kinds of severe flooding that have plagued the region over the years. But as you know, the Dam was also found to have compromised the water quality of the Santa Ana River which in turn affected the surface water supply of the East Valley Water District and also the ability to recharge water into the Bunker Hill Basin. These water quality problems have therefore impacted a number of cities and agencies including our District, the Cities of Redlands and Riverside, and many others. The Dam also created water conservation issues, which must be resolved as a part of our regional water supply future. The local stakeholders agreed that the best way to address how the Corps could resolve and address the water quality and water conservation issues associated with the Dam was to cooperatively study them and to identify solutions and a consensus for moving forward Section Administration (909) 885 -4900. Fax (909) 889 -5732 • Engineering (909) 888 -8986, Fax (909) 383 -1481 Customer Service (909) 889 -9501, Fax (909) 888 -6741 • Finance (909) 381 -6463, Fax (909) 888 -6741 East Val ley Water District The Honorable Jem, Lewis November 30, 2009 Page Two 3036 of WRDA -07 provided the authorization for these studies and the Appropriations that you have secured in Energy and Water Appropriations bills from F)­?- 'irough FYI have provided the necessary funding. We believe that the next essential step , for the Corps to receive the authority and the clear direction- 'rom Congress that these solutions are to be fully implemented. Once these studies are completed by the Corps we anttcipa.e being able to supply a dollar figure for what will be required plus additional legislative lar.g age. Pending completion we request that you submit the above provision as a placeholder fe acdressing these issues which have arisen with regard to Seven Oaks Dam. Thank you for all of your support over the years in he.pu g your local water agencies to address the water quality and water conservation issues that have arisen with regard to Seven Oaks Dam. We ask that this support continue by your submitting 'he language we have provided you to be included in the upcoming reauthorization of WRDA Pease do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or require additional information. Z Smc elv, /,� C%orge . U %ilson Board President GW: etb Page 1 of 2 Cecilia Contreras From: Bob Martin Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 4:05 PM To: Justine Hendricksen Subject: FW: WRDA 2010 - Submission of California Projects to Senator Boxer - - - -- Original Message---- - From: fbhicks @aol.com [mailto:fbhicks @aol.comj Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 10:46 AM To: Bob Martin Subject: Fw: WRDA 2010 - Submission of California Projects to Senator Boxer C0 I just got this from Boxer's office. Note that with her we have until May 13th to submit. Feinstein is now May 4th. So we have at least a little time to give this some thought and come up with something. FYI Fred Sent from my Verizon Wireless B1ackBerry From: WRDA <wrda @boxer. senate.gov> Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:12:28 -0400 To: WRDA <wrda @boxer.senate.gov> Subject: WRDA 2010 - Submission of California Projects to Senator Boxer Hello, This week, Chairman Boxer, with the support of the ranking Republican of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, announced plans to move forward with a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in 2010. Harbor maintenance, flood protection, and ecosystem restoration projects carried out by the US Army Corps of Engineers are typically included in WRDA. These projects normally meet one of the following conditions — 1) have a completed feasibility study by the Corps of Engineers, 2) are modifications to existing Corps of Engineers' projects, 3) are studies of new projects, or 4) do not meet one of these criteria but are consistent with the Corps' mission and demonstrate a Federal interest. Projects authorized under WRDA are subject to cost - sharing defined in statute, which ranges from 20 percent to 100 percent non - Federal share depending on the project's purposes. In preparation for Sen. Boxer's efforts on a 2010 WRDA bill, we would appreciate receiving your requests for water resources projects. We will be using an internet submission process to receive requests. Below are the instructions for the submission process and information on how to contact staff if you need assistance. To begin, please proceed to our online application and create an account. Thank you. Instructions for filling out the internet form: Please follow these instructions carefully so that your request can be given full consideration. 4/29/2010 Page 2 of 2 Deadline: May 13th 2010, 9:00 PM EST /6:00 PM PST. Web Address: https:// oar. senate .govlindex.cfm�go =showLoRin &ap�l icationUUID= 699CFC5C _25EB_45CF- B937F8A7F1594FA5 Application Form: • Once creating an account and logging in, please complete the appropriate sections of the web form • For project requests (e.g., authorizations of a specific navigation, flood control, Dr e- osystem restoration project), please complete Section a. 1 • For general programmatic or policy requests that do not relate to a specific project, please complete Section a. 2 • You should complete either section a. 1 or section a. 2 but not both • All requests should complete section a. 3 Support letters (optional): If you are submitting any letters of support, create a single electron': file with copies of all letters. Name the file in the following format: "Requesting Entity Name_supoort.pdf'. E -mail the file to WRDA @boxer_.senate.gov. Mailing physical copies of support letters is not necessary. Revisions: If you receive any additional support letters or need to make any changes after sUbmitting the forms, please email WRDA boxer.senate.aov with a brief explanation in the email and the form will be unlocked fcr revision. Staff Contacts: If you have any questions, need further clarification, or need to schedule a meeting, please email WRDA@boxer.senate.eov or call (202) 224 -3553. Water Resources Development Act Requests Office of Senator Barbara Boxer 112 Hart Building Washington D.C. 20510 202.224.3553 4/29/2010 Page 1 of 3 Cecilia Contreras From: Bob Martin Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 4:05 PM To: Justine Hendricksen Subject: FW: WRDA 2010 forms for Senator Feinstein's office - due May 4, 2010 - - - -- Original Message---- - From: fbhicks @aol.com [mailto:fbhicks @aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 10:26 AM To: Bob Martin Subject: Fw: WRDA 2010 forms for Senator Feinstein's office - due May 4, 2010 0• I just got this from Leah. Feinstein is now giving everybody until Tuesday, May 4 to submit requests. Maybe that will help a little. FYI Fred Sent from my Verizon Wireless B1ackBerry From: "wrda, feinstein (Feinstein)" <feinstein_wrda @feinstein. senate.gov> Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:51:07 -0400 To: wrda@feinstein. senate. gov<wrda@feinstein. senate.gov> Cc: Russin, Leah ( Feinstein) <Ieah_russin @feinstein.senate.gov> Subject: WRDA 2010 forms for Senator Feinstein's office - due May 4, 2010 April 27, 2010 Dear Fellow Californian: We would like to inform you about the 2010 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorization process for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. You have received this email because of your prior work on water infrastructure. This is a service for our California constituents who are interested in participating in the WRDA authorization process. Please read through the following instructions before clicking the hyperlink. As in past years, it is important that the projects submitted for consideration have a federal nexus and regional significance. Projects should have a broad range of endorsement from local elected officials, such as city council members and county supervisors. For example, flood control projects benefiting a city should be requested by the city, not just the local flood control district. Each project submission must be accompanied by an official letter of request. Detailed information about the project is necessary to assist Senator Feinstein in making her decisions as well as making well- supported recommendations to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Each request is carefully reviewed by staff. In order to increase the transparency of this process, the Senate has implemented a number of rules and requirements for requests. Senators are required to publicly post information about their WRDA requests on their websites. After all projects submitted using these forms are thoroughly evaluated, any items forwarded to the Senate Environment and 4/29/2010 Page 2 of 3 Public Works Committee for consideration will be submitted in full compliance with these requirements. Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions or need further guidance, please contact Leah Russin or Diana Bowen in the Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224 -3841. Basic Instructions Submission Deadline: May 4, 2010,9:00M Eastern Time 16:00 PM Pacific "lime. WRDA requests should consist of: 1. One Questionnaire for each request (submitted online) 2. One Letter of Request for each request (emailed to WRDA feinstem.senate.eov only) 3. One EPW form (attached) filled out for each request (entailed to WP.D= v�afeinstein.senate.gov only) Online Format We are using an online format for request submissions. Use the hyperlink at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions. Once registered, an individual is able to submit multiple requests for one or more entities. Each entity may have multiple individuals registered, but should submit only one set of forms. You are encouraged to start with a test document, which you can delete, to familiarize yourself with the application. You can access, stop and save, or print your documents at any time before suhmitting them. Once you click "Finished and Submit' you will be unable to make changes or delete the document. However, you will be able to continue to access and print it. Letter of Request and Supplemental Documents Instructions Each submitted Questionnaire must be accompanied by an individual letter of request on letterhead for that specific item. You may also wish to send maps, letters of support from local elected officials, or other supplementary documents. These documents must be sent to the WRDAQa feinstein.senate.gov_ address by the due date, preferably in one email per requesting entity. Due to the security screening of Senate mail, letters sent to the office via the USPS, UPS, or FedEx may not arrive in a timely fashion. Subject line of the email should be: [Requesting Entity Name] 2010 WRDA Requests. Use the following naming protocol for these documents. For these specific items, use the identifiers, "Request Letter," "Endorsement - [Endorsing Entity]," or "EPWform." WRDA.Requesting Entity Name.Project Name.identifier.pdf Example: WRDA.City of Cityville.Ring Levee.Request Letter.pdf Only use the WRDA k feinstein.senate gov address to submit additional documents. If you have questions or require assistance with these forms, it is best to call Leah Russin or Diana Bowen at ( 202) 224 -3841. Hyperlink to the Questionnaire: https: /'oar. senate. gov / index. cfm? go= slio\1, Login &applicationUUID= 6787C52E- 4/29/2010 ATTACHMENT A 2010 Water Resources Development .Act Environment and Public Works Committee REQUESTSHEET (Please fill out one sheet for each request MEMBER: Feinstein Member Staff Contact Name:Leah Russin Phone Number:202 224 3841 Email:wrda(a feinstein.senate.gov Priority: of Pro i ect/Stu dy/Activity Requests (Complete this section if your request relates to a specific project) Name of Project: Location (include city /county and state): Corps District(s): Non - Federal Sponsor Contact Information (Name, Phone. and Email Address): Corps Report: If the request is for a construction authorization, does the project have a completed Corps report? ❑ yes ❑ no Project Modification: Does this request modify an existing authorization? ❑ yes ❑ no If yes, please provide a reference for the existing authorization: Project Cost: Policy/Programmatic/Other Language Requests (Complete this section if your request is programmatic or policy - related) Provision Title: Geographic Areas Affected (if applicable): Description of Purpose and Need for Request (Complete this section for ALL requests. Attach additional pages if needed.) Page 1 of 2 Cecilia Contreras From: Bob Martin Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 4:01 PM To: Justine Hendricksen Subject: FW: WRDA - - - -- Original Message---- - From: fbhicks @aol.com [mailto:fbhicks @aol.comj Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 8:21 AM To: Bob Martin Subject: Fwd: WRDA -P Just a bit of background on what is happening with Senate WRDA, Last Wednesday, the consensus was that there was no way that the Congress was going to take up WRDA this year. Then, at 7:00 PM that evening, we starting getting the letter from Senate EPW telling Members, "give us your project requests by May 18th at 6:00 PM. This in turn caused people like Leah Russin to tell people like me "get me your project requests no later than Friday, April 30th if not before." Boxer has said that she's going to do a WRDA because it is the only thing that she and Senator Inhofe of Oklahoma and the Republicans can agree on. And that's probably a true statement. There is also the fact that she's in a tough race and a very good way to respond is with a WRDA bill which she pretty much controls. Bottom line is that the odds for a WRDA -10 went from pretty much zero to "very likely" in just a few hours. My question is whether the stakeholders for Seven Oaks Dam would like to request WRDA -10 language instructing the Corps to fix the problems associated with the dam and, if so, whether there is sufficient time between now and Friday. I think that Bob Neufield would like to put in a request for the Conservation District wetlands. That seems fine to me since he could perhaps get an authorization to study the issue and then move forward. I have to be on the Hill this afternoon because Tom and I have a Waco Title 16 bill that is up for a hearing in the Senate. But I'll be back by mid - afternoon your time and can always be reached via cell /Blackberry. Please give this some thought and let me know what you'd like to do. Fred - - - -- Original Message---- - From: Russin, Leah (Feinstein) <leah— russin @feinstein. senate.gov> To: Russin, Leah (Feinstein) <leah _russin @feinste in. senate.gov> Sent: Thu, Apr 22, 2010 2:15 pm Subject: WRDA Hi— To submit requests to Senator Feinstein for WRDA authorizations, please get complete the forms circulated by the Committee, along with any additional material you think we should have, to our offices as soon as possible, and certainly by the end of next week (April 30). Please coordinate with the staff in our state offices as they will be helping assess the projects in their regions — they may ask for it sooner than April 30. Let me know if you need contact info for them. Thanks. I attached the materials again for your review. 4/29/2010 Page 2 of 2 Leah Leah Russin Environmental Counsel U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein 202 224 5416 Leah Russin @Feinstein.Senate.Gov 4/29/2010 Dear Colleague: United Matcs 5msitc COMMIT EC ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS c,nsumcurn oc �.n :,m „ns April 20, 2010 The Committee on Environment and Public Works intends to begin its Work oil the next Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). WRDA is the authorizing legislation for the programs and projects of the civil t+orks program of the Army Corps of Engineers. As We begin this process. we would like to know your priority Water resources requests. Water resources projects IN included in \\'RDA include Ihosc Will) completed Chief of Engineers reports, modifications to existing Corps of Engineers' projects. study authorizations for nett projects, and miscellaneous projccis consistent W ith the Corps program and demonstrating a Federal interest. Projects authorized under WRDA arc subject to cost- sharing defined in statute and range from 20 percent to 100 percent non - federal share depending on the project's purposes. To provide the Committee With specific project and programmatic requests you Would like considered fol. inclusion in this bill, we ask that you submit it signed letter listing your requests, it request form (Attachment A) for each request, and a completed request spreadsheet (Attachment B). You may also include such additional information as you consider appropriate to aid the Committee in the consideration of your request. Only requests accompanied by a signed request letter w ill be considered by the Connnittee. !'lease note that the requirements of Senate Rule XLIV, Congressionally Directed Spending and Related hems, may apply to y our requests. That Rule requires, among other things, that specific information be provided to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee, including it certification that neither the Senator nor Ibc Senator's immediate family has a pecuniary interest in the item. If Rulc XLIV applies to your requests, the certification required under that Rule must accompany the request in Writing and should he included in your request letter to the Committee. We also ask that a summary of all requests submitted to the Committee be posted nn your of7icial wcbsite. Suggested certification language is attached (Attachment C). You may provide one certification if your request letter notes the specific requests to which the certification applies. )'our signed request letter, request forms, request spreadsheet, and any required certifications should be submittal clecironicaliy in one email to \VRDA2010;ii,ep )_.s ate;gov and on paper to the Committee majority and minority offices in Dirk sell 410 and 456, respectively, by 6:00 Phi oil *1 ucsday, May 18, 2010. Thank you for your time and attention to this request. Ifyou have any questions, please contact its or our staff - Jason Albritton of( lie majority Committee staff at 22-1-8832 and Angie Giancarlo o f t he minor it Conunitice staff at 224 -6176. We look forward to working With you to meet our nation's critical Water resources needs. > Sincerely, Barbara Boxer - Jtt TI Inhafc L Chairman anking Member ATTACHMENT A 2010 Water Resources Development Act Environment and Public Works Committee REQUESTSHEET (Please fill out one sheet for each request i MEMBER: Member Staff Contact Name: Phone Number: Email: Priority: of Project /Study /Activity Requests (Complete this section if your request relates to a specific project) Name of Project: Location (include city /county and state): Corps District(s): Non - Federal Sponsor Contact Information (Name, Phone, and Email Address): Corps Report: If the request is for a construction authorization, does the project have a completed Corps report? ❑ yes ❑ no Project Modification: Does this request modify an existing authorization? ❑ yes ❑ no If yes, please provide a reference for the existing authorization: Project Cost: Policy/Programmatic/Other Language Requests (Complete this section if your request is programmatic or policy - related) Provision Title: Geographic Areas Affected (if applicable): Description of Purpose and Need for Request (Complete this section for ALI. requests. Attach additional pages if needed.) ATTACHMENT C Suggested Certification Language Following is suggested wording for certification language for member request letters, to meet Senate Rule XLIV: "I certify that neither I nor my immediate family has a pecuniary interest in any of the congressionally directed spending item(s) that I have requested, consistent with the requirements of paragraph 9 of Rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. I further certify that I have posted a description of the items requested on my official website, along with the accompanying justification."