CHARLES PARKIN
City Attorney
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
Long Beach, California
February 1, 2022
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
City of Long Beach
California
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt Resolution calling on the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protect'1on Agency to take all measures necessary to prevent further harm to natural resources, wildlife, and citizens from the DDT waste dumped in the waters between Long Beach and Santa Catalina Island; and recognizing and supporting Assembly Joint Resolution 2, filed with the Secretary of State on September 17, 2021. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Per the City Council's request on May 18, 2021, please see attached Resolution calling on the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to1ake all measures necessary to prevent further harm to natural resources, wildlife, and citizens from the DDT waste dumped in the waters between Long Beach and Santa Catalina Island, and recognizing and supporting Assembly Joint Resolution 2, filed with the Secretary of State on September 17, 2021, for the Council's review and approval.
01351404.docx ::,·· 411 West Ocean Boulevard, 9th Floor, Long Beach, California 90802 (562) 570-2200 Fax (562) 436-1579 ·' · ··· ·"' ·, c, : :,,. (562) 570-2245 Fax (562} 570-2220 February 1, 2022
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Approve recommendation.
MJK:
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES PARKIN, City Attorney
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Monica J. Kilaita
Deputy City Attorney
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
CHARLES PARKIN, City Attorney
411 W. Ocean Boulevard, 9th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LONG BEACH CALLING ON THE U.S.
CONGRESS AND THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY TO TAKE ALL MEASURES
NECESSARY TO PREVENT FURTHER HARM TO
NATURAL RESOURCES, WILDLIFE, AND CITIZENS FROM
THE DDT WASTE DUMPED IN THE WATERS BETWEEN
LONG BEACH AND SANTA CATALINA ISLAND; AND
RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY JOINT
RESOLUTION 2, FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE
ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
WHEREAS, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) is a toxic pesticide that was banned in 1972 due to it causing a number of environmental problems, including harming wildlife, such as sea lions, brown pelicans, California condors, dolphins, and other birds and fish; and
WHEREAS, the nation’s largest manufacturer of DDT was based in Los Angeles; and
WHEREAS, a Superfund site was declared off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula when it was discovered that the company disposed toxic waste through the sewage pipes that poured into the ocean; and
WHEREAS, little was known about the company’s barging of additional barrels of toxic waste out to sea to dispose of the waste, and a more recent Los Angeles Times investigation, based on the work of local scientists, estimates that as many as half a million barrels of toxic waste from DDT could be underwater in the waterway between Long Beach and Santa Catalina Island; and
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
CHARLES PARKIN, City Attorney
411 W. Ocean Boulevard, 9th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
WHEREAS, this recently discovered barrel dumpsite far exceeds, by as much as forty (40) times greater, the amount of DDT in the previously identified Superfund site off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula; and WHEREAS, Assembly Joint Resolution 2, authored by Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell and filed with the Secretary of State on September 17, 2021, requests that the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) take all measures necessary to prevent further damage to California’s citizens, wildlife, and natural resources by the DDT waste dumped in the waters near Santa Catalina Island; and
WHEREAS, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has also called the dumped DDT a public health hazard, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn urging the EPA to assess the DDT damage and expedite clean-up; and
WHEREAS, as Long Beach has a thriving coastal economy, and as it is important that we support efforts to protect our region’s natural resources and wildlife, Long Beach must add its voice to call on Congress and the EPA to give the highest attention to addressing this marine contamination, the magnitude of which previously was not fully realized;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Long Beach resolves as follows:
Section 1. The City of Long Beach he reby calls on the United States Congress and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to take all measures necessary to prevent further harm to natural resources, wildlife, and citizens from the DDT waste dumped in the waters between Long Beach and Santa Catalina Island, and further recognizes and supports Assembly Joint Resolution 2, filed with the Secretary of State on September 17, 2021.
Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting this resolution.
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
CHARLES PARKIN, City Attorney
411 W. Ocean Boulevard, 9th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Long Beach at its meeting of , 2022, by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers:
Noes: Councilmembers:
Absent: Councilmembers:
Recusal(s): Councilmembers:
City Clerk