WHEREAS, businesses that store hazardous materials either above ground or in underground storage tanks, or generate or treat hazardous waste, are regulated by the Hazardous Materials Unified Program Agency; and,

WHEREAS, the City and County of San Francisco is certified by the California Environmental Protection Agency as a Unified Program Agency; and,

WHEREAS, responsibilities of a certified Unified Program Agency include administrative tracking and regular, on-site inspections of all businesses or facilities regulated under any of seven separate Unified Program Agency elements; and,

WHEREAS, information received from businesses is provided to the Fire Department for use during fires and other incidents involving hazardous materials; and,

WHEREAS, these activities performed by a Unified Program Agency staff enhance the level of safety for citizens, employees and visitors to San Francisco, and are protective of the environment; and,

WHEREAS, the certified Unified Program Agency is allowed by the State to set fees at a level so as to cover reasonable and necessary costs associated with program implementation; and,

WHEREAS, the certified Unified Program Agency has been audited by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and was determined to be providing a minimally acceptable and adequate level of service to regulated businesses; and,

WHEREAS, the proposed fee increase is necessary to recover costs associated with program implementation so as to maintain the current service level; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Health Commission hereby approves the proposed ordinance amendments to Articles 21, 21A and 22 of the Health Code that include fee increases for the Unified Program Agency.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Health Commission at its meeting of Tuesday, April 6, 1999.

Sandy Ouye Mori, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission