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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
Fax: 305-361-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

Mr. Milian opened the meeting with the following agencies second year, second quarter (April 1, 2003– June 30, 2003) “Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report” progress reports:

• Michael Self, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) – The FDEP conducted several hazardous waste inspections during the quarter.  Most notably, on June 23, 2003 FDEP inspected Jackson Health Systems and reported, “numerous violations of hazardous waste noted during the inspection (seven repeat violations from a previous inspection) case remains open”.  Due to the proximity of Jackson Memorial Hospital to Wagner Creek and the Miami River, Self stated they will focus over the next few months on bringing Jackson Health Systems into compliance.
• Rod Lovett, Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) – During the quarter WASD replaced main sewage lines in the Miami River corridor at NW 10^th ST & NW 7 Ave, NW 8^th ST & NW 10 AV and SE 2^nd ST & SE 2^nd Ave.  WASD conducted 25 maintenance / repairs in the Miami River corridor.  In addition WASD met with DERM, and in July 2003 will commence dye flood testing in Wagner Creek, North of NW 20^th ST, using the remaining $30,000 in available dye flood testing funding.

The remaining agencies will present their quarterly progress reports at the next SSC meeting.

Mr. Wilbur Mayorga, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management, provided the subcommittee with copies of a power point presentation regarding the status of Wagner Creek.  Although extensive testing of the surface water, sediment, and surface soils adjacent to Wagner Creek and the Seybold Canal did not detect levels of contaminants above Department of Health risk standards, significant contaminants were detected to warrant full dredging. Stephen Blair, DERM, stated the no fishing signs posted in early May 2003 will remain because eating 8 ounces of the 2 species of affected fish, 3 times per week, for 7 years in a row, may create health problems.  Liz Abbott, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) reported their Governing Board was voting on a $1,000,000 allocation to the City for dredging Wagner Creek, which may be cited as the required 25% match for an additional $3,000,000 grant to the City from FEMA for dredging the Creek.  In addition, Abbott reported the SFWMD was voting on a $100,000 allocation to the MRC, consisting of $50,000 to fund research to determine cause of high levels of e-coli in Wagner Creek, $15,000 for the continued use of Miami River Clean-up services provided by the Scavenger 2000, and $35,000 for MRC operational funding.

Brett Bibeau, MRC, reported that in completing the “2002 Miami River Stormwater Progress Report”, Action Item 1H, “Collect, compile, analyze and report of solid waste data from catch basins”, he spoke with City of Miami Public Works and Capital Improvement Program staff to obtain data.  Bibeau stated the Public Works Department provided access to the records of contract B-5661, which was a City consultant contracted with FEMA grant funding to clean City catch basins.  The records indicated that the contract expired in March 2003, and no Miami River catch basins had been cleaned since November 2001.  In 2002 the City of Miami Public Works Department cleaned the River’s catch basins once.  Bibeau offered MRC grant writing assistance to fund more frequent cleaning of Miami River catch basins.

The SSC agreed not to meet in August.  The SSC will return to the regular 1^st Monday of the month, 10 am, SFWMD Service Center, 172-A West Flagler Street, meeting arrangement on Wednesday, September 3, 2003.  

The meeting adjourned.

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