In Re: Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether ("MTBE") Products Liability Litigation

Filing 4463

DECLARATION of Matthew T. Heartney in Opposition re: 4460 MOTION to Remand Phase 1 Claims Against Shell and BP Defendants.. Document filed by Atlantic Richfield Company, BP Products North America, Inc.(formerly known as Amoco Oil Company), BP West Coast LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8)(Heartney, Matthew)

Orange County
Water District

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL MANAGER

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL MANAGER

Summary Information
Existing Staff –6 FTEs
1 – General Manager
1 – Senior Administrative Coordinator
3 – Administrative Support Technicians
1 – Director of Special Projects

Mission
Implement the policies of the Board of Directors.

Key issues for FY 2017-18
 Continue work on the Prado Basin CA feasibility study to increase water
conservation at Prado Dam to elevation 505 year-round
 Continue to provide analysis for the proposed Huntington Beach
Desalination project
 Preparation of design documents for the GWRS Final Expansion
 Implementation of North & South Basin Contamination Clean-up Strategies
 Securing funding for capital projects through State or Federal programs

Orange County Water District

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FY 2017-18 Work Plan

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL M ANAGER

♦ Securing funding for capital projects through State or Federal programs

Account Information
Salaries and Benefits
Services and Supplies
Total
I

FY 2015-16
Actual
691,222
1,661,493
$2,352,715

FY 2016-17
Budget
959,535
1,431,450
$2,390,985

FY 2017-18
Proposed Budget
992,460
1,578,360
$2,570,820

FY 2017-18 Major New Initiatives/Programs
With Board approval, commence strategic planning workshops with Directors and
staff on major initiatives for the next five years.

II

Core Activities
The General Manager’s Office is charged with directing the activities of 220.5 full
time employees in their efforts to manage and protect the Orange County
groundwater basin, which supplies the majority of the water used by 2.4 million
people living in northern Orange County.
Core activities include:
♦ Implementing and communicating the policies of the Board of Directors
♦ Supporting and preparing for Board and Committee meetings
♦ Managing organizational issues
♦ Managing outside legal services
♦ Coordinating legislative activities
♦ Providing external communications
♦ Participation in WateReuse to help support District initiatives and policy
development for indirect and direct potable reuse
♦ Attending Santa Ana Water Project Authority (SAWPA) meetings and
engaging the member agencies general managers in upper Santa Ana
watershed activities
♦ Coordination with Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC),
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), and groundwater
producers
♦ Providing mailroom and copy production support services
♦ Managing organizational memberships and office supplies

III

Non-Core Activities
♦ Numerous requests for presentations and tours of District facilities

Orange County Water District

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FY 2017-18 Work Plan

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL M ANAGER

IV

Group Goals for FY 2017-18
Lawsuits – Actively manage and pursue legal actions including:
♦ MTBE litigation
♦ North Basin Groundwater Protection Project
♦ South Basin Groundwater Protection Project
Legislation - Advocate for the District’s legislative interests at the federal, state,
and local levels. Actively monitor and aggressively support/oppose legislation
impacting the District’s operations as necessary.
♦ Federal: Work with the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to pursue
additional water conservation and development of a sediment removal
project behind Prado Dam. Work with the Environmental Protection Agency
to secure additional State Revolving Funds for California. Continue working
with federal legislators to secure funding for District projects and visit
legislators and legislators’ staff in Washington D.C.
♦ State: Work with Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA),
SAWPA, California Special Districts Association (CSDA), WateReuse, and
others to: monitor potential legislation concerning water quality, prevent
shifting property tax revenue, and oppose legislating local issues; support
good governance measures; monitor and apply for infrastructure/resources
bond funding opportunities; monitor State Regional Board movement to
change recycled water policy; and monitor and take positions on legislation
of importance to the District; and visit legislators and legislators’ staff in
Sacramento.
♦ Local: Work with local agencies, organizations, (including the Orange
County Business Council [OCBC],Orange County Association of California
Cities [ACC-OC] and Orange County Council of Government [OCCOG]),
elected officials and their staff members to protect the District’s interests
and operations. Meet with county supervisors and local city
councilmembers.
GWRS Operation – Achieve production of 103,000 acre-feet
Organizational – Work to improve recruitment and retention of employees
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) – Actively participate in
development of new policies dealing with groundwater issues
Grant Funding – Actively pursue any source of grant funding for selected projects

V

Pending Activities
♦ Active participation in WateReuse and ACWA
♦ Actively pursue operational efficiencies and explore additional opportunities
for supply to the groundwater basin

Orange County Water District

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FY 2017-18 Work Plan

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL M ANAGER

♦ Continue to develop relationships with both SAWPA and non-SAWPA upper
Santa Ana River watershed agencies
VI

Staff Addition Needed for FY 2017-18
None

VII

Future Issues
None

Orange County Water District

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FY 2017-18 Work Plan

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Director
Public Affairs
E. Torres

Sr. Administrative Support
Specialist
Wilke

Principal
Communications Specialist
Ayala

Legislative Affairs Liaison
Dunkin

Senior
Communications Specialist
Pinnick

Communications
Specialist
Nettles

Community Outreach &
Education Coordinator
Mudd

Summary Information
Existing Staff –7 FTEs
1 – Director of Public Affairs
1 – Legislative Affairs Liaison
1 − Principal Communications Specialist
1 – Senior Communications Specialist
1 − Communications Specialist
1 – Community Outreach & Education Coordinator
1 − Senior Administrative Support Specialist

Mission
To demonstrate OCWD’s value to community stakeholders; to inform stakeholders
about District projects and highlight programs, projects and achievements that
demonstrate the District’s commitments to water quality, water supply and reliability,
sound financial management, industry leadership and innovation, sound planning,
transparency and environmental stewardship; provide communications support for
OCWD Board, General Manager and staff; and, forge and maintain relationships and
partnerships with Producers, elected officials, related professional membership
associations, key community organizations, media and other stakeholders.

Orange County Water District

FY 2017-18 Work Plan

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Key Issues for FY 2017-18
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Creating and implementing legislative strategy
Water bond funding for District projects
Prado Basin Feasibility Study
Marketing of Bottled GWRS Water
Commemorating 10th Anniversary of GWRS
Wide community engagement , with extensive face-to-face community and media
outreach
Implement middle school and high school tour program
Marketing of education programs and District learning center
Launch of new Water Hero Program
Crisis communications
National Contingency Plan and groundwater cleanup communications
Support for exploration of desalination and GWRS final expansion
Increase social media presence

Account Information
Salaries and Benefits
Services and Supplies
Total

I

FY 2015-16
Actual
917,373
643,454
$1,560,827

FY 2016-17
Budget
954,843
828,750
$1,783,593

FY 2017-18
Proposed Budget
1,047,578
871,124
$1,918,702

FY 2017-18 MAJOR NEW INITIATIVES/PROGRAMS
♦ Finalize and implement middle school and high school tour program with
Inside the Outdoors.
♦ Seek funding and start design for a wildlife and watershed exhibit featuring
the District’s collection of taxidermy.
♦ Design and implement marketing and outreach program for the new tour and
hallway programs and to maximize exposure for speaker bureau activities
and District accomplishments.
♦ Work with legislators, legal counsel and legislative consultants to secure
support for District groundwater contamination clean-up projects and other
District projects.
♦ Schedule and provide support for bi-yearly meetings with individual Producers
♦ Mange website, social media and district collateral editorial calendars.
♦ Marketing GWRS bottled water
♦ Commemorate 10th Anniversary of the GWRS
♦ Produce quarterly communications regarding District groundwater cleanup
efforts

Orange County Water District

FY 2017-18 Work Plan

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS

♦ Assist planning in submitting funding applications and securing support for
water bond funding.
♦ Organize District photo, video and graphics library with high definition images.
♦ Provide support as needed for ocean desalination exploration.
♦ Increase social media presence.
♦ Event, awards submittals and media for the Water Education Corridor Project
and bottling of GWRS.
II

CORE ACTIVITIES

♦ Continue to build awareness and support for OCWD’s programs and projects
by communicating to key elected officials, community leaders, stakeholders,
businesses, environmental groups, etc.
♦ Manage editorial calendars for websites, social media and publications to
keep information timely.
♦ Work with legislature regarding groundwater contamination remediation and
other priorities.
♦ Continue to advocate for Prado Basin Feasibility Study
♦ Market and maintain new Water Hero Program.
♦ Increase social media presence through GWRS bottled water campaign and
tour onsite Water Drop Mosaic campaign.
♦ Distribute weekly Water Lines media feed and produce monthly
Hydrospectives newsletter.
♦ Continue to survey 25-35 % of tour guests; Surveys are part of water reuse
global research projects.
♦ Continue construction Outreach – provide support to all departments doing
new and/or regular maintenance projects
♦ Apply for grants for Children's Water Education Festival, H2O Learning
Center, Water Hero, and Tour Program.
♦ Continue to assist other departments in applying for grants involving
construction, studies, water capture, water quality, etc.
♦ Video production and graphics for corporate fact sheets, website and
company brochure.
♦ Work with WateReuse Research Foundation and Association to advance
Direct Potable Reuse
♦ 9th Annual Water Summit.
♦ Continue to produce monthly press releases.
♦ Award submittals
♦ Media relations - Pitch media for coverage on newly completed projects
(GWRS bottled water, GWRS 10th Anniversary and middle school and high
school tour programs
Orange County Water District

FY 2017-18 Work Plan

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS

♦ Monthly committee write-ups.
♦ Monthly WACO meetings.
♦ Continue to participate in and lead various water associations’ working
groups/committees (ACWA, WRA, CSDA, ISDOC, SAWPA, etc.).
♦ Maintain and update hallway interactive displays and videos.
♦ Conduct annual Groundwater Adventure Tour of OCWD facilities for
groundwater producers, general managers, and staffs.
♦ Work with city councils, city managers and water boards to be more informed
and supportive of OCWD’s commitments, goals and objectives.
♦ Assist OCWD Board members in their communication efforts with their
stakeholders.
♦ Improve communications for and between OCWD Public Affairs Department
and groundwater producers’ public information representatives in order to
generate a positive, mutually beneficial relationship and increase clarity of
wholesaler/retailer messages.
♦ Be responsive to needs of community neighbors impacted by OCWD
construction, operations or projects, so that they understand the need for the
work and so that impacts are mitigated as much as possible.
♦ Ensure OCWD’s innovations are noted in trade publications by developing
relationships with key trade press.
♦ Keep elected officials and their staff members up-to-date and supportive of
OCWD issues and needs.
♦ Build recognition, trust and awareness of OCWD in leading community
organizations.
♦ Maintain support of OCWD’s environmental efforts by communicating with
local environmental organizations.
♦ Continue to support communication efforts of other OCWD departments
including water quality and emerging contaminants outreach, legislative
support, and water rights.
♦ Continue proactive media relations program, including distributing press
releases, contacting and meeting with new local reporters, coordinating media
tours and monitoring news media.
♦ Inform stakeholders about District projects and highlight programs, projects
and achievements that demonstrate the District's commitments to water
quality, water supply and reliability, sound financial management, industry
leadership and innovation, and environmental stewardship.
♦ Provide communications support to OCWD Board, General Manager, and
staff.
♦ Communicate effectively, both internally and externally, about OCWD and its
mission.

Orange County Water District

FY 2017-18 Work Plan

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS

♦ Forge and maintain relationships and partnerships with Producers, elected
officials, related professional membership associations, businesses, key
community organizations, environmental groups, media and other
stakeholders.
♦ Additional functions and key tasks include crisis management, marketing,
media relations, community relations, reputation management, outreach and
education.
♦ Other related activities.
III

NON-CORE ACTIVITIES
♦ Support of outside water industry agencies (American Water Works
Association Research Foundation [AWWARF], WateReuse, the Clean Water
Alliance, Water Environment Research Foundation, ACWA, National Water
Research Institute [NWRI], etc.) for research support, conference support,
etc.
♦ Other related activities.

IV

GROUP GOALS FOR FY 2017-18
•
•
•
•
•

V

Reach new audiences and strengthen and build upon existing
relationships.
Demonstrate value/importance of OCWD groundwater management to
cities, producers, policy makers, media, residents, and businesses.
Secure legislative, business and community trust and support for District
projects.
Set OCWD apart from other special districts.
Execute a marketing plan for GWRS bottled water that generates positive
media attention and increases presence on social media platforms

PENDING ACTIVITIES
None

VI

STAFF ADDITION NEEDED FOR FY 2017-18
None

VII

FUTURE ISSUES
None

Orange County Water District

FY 2017-18 Work Plan

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