RESOLUTION NO. 2025-003
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO ENTER INTO AND EXECUTE
REMEDIAL ACTION AGREEMENTS WITH RESPONSIBLE PARTIES IN
ACCORDANCE WITH HEALTH & SAFETY CODE SECTION 101480
SECTION 1. Recitals.
A. The City of Vernon, through its Department of Health and Environmental Control, is committed to protecting the health and safety of its residents and businesses, mitigating environmental risks associated with contamination incidents, and providing oversight of cleanup activities to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
B. Assembly Bill (AB) 304, enacted in 2021, amended the California Health & Safety Code (HSC) to broaden local agency roles and responsibilities in managing the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites within their jurisdiction. The amended HSC enables a proactive approach to environmental cleanup when responsible parties are unwilling or unable to adequately address contamination, especially when an urgent response is necessary.
C. AB 304 empowers local authorities to enter into Remedial Action Agreements (RAAs) with responsible parties, ensuring safe and effective remediation efforts in accordance with current HSC Sections 101480-101490 and 25299.50.6 regulations.
D. Pursuant to HSC Section 101480, the City Council of the City of Vernon may authorize the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), acting in the capacity of “local officer” under HSC Section 101480, to enter into an RAA and oversee a remedial investigation or remedial action, or both, at a waste release site.
E. The City Council wishes to authorize the Director of the DHEC to enter into and execute RAAs, subject to all applicable HSC regulations including notification requirements under HSC Section 101480 and 101487.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Vernon finds and determines that the above recitals are true and correct.
SECTION 3. The City Council of the City of Vernon authorizes the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, to execute Remedial Action Agreements (RAAs) subject to all applicable Health & Safety Code requirements including notification requirements under HSC Section 101480 and 101487., and to take Resolution No. 2025-003
whatever actions are deemed necessary or desirable for the purpose of implementing and carrying out the purposes of this Resolution and the actions herein approved or authorized.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk or Deputy City Clerk shall certify the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED February 4, 2025.
________________________
JUDITH MERLO, Mayor
ATTEST:
YONNIE PARKER, Deputy City Clerk
(seal)
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ZAYNAH N. MOUSSA, City Attorney