Page 52 - CASA - ED - AMB 05 30 19

Terrie Mitchell
Thursday, May 23, 2019

11:00 AM

1. Why are you interested in the ED opportunity with CASA?

I'm interested in this position because I have been in the wastewater industry for awhile. This is an opportunity to take what I
have been doing for my organization and help them move forward into the next decade. I have been involved with CASA. This is
an opportunity to move it forward and try to address some of the needs with the agencies that they serve. There is a uniqueness
that sometimes we will have to tailor the services that CASA provides to other agencies. It is an opportunity to be on the fore-
front of the industry, it is an exciting time to try to be on that forefront and help the industry stay in front.

2. Please describe your most recent position and day-to-day responsibilities.

Currently I manage the legislative and regulatory affairs for the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation Agency. I am responsi-
ble for monitoring a variety of legislative and legal aspects that may impact our operations. I have five direct reports. Day to day
my responsibilities entail reviewing regulations, responding to letters, in a sense also trying to educate the regulatory personnel
and the how it is affecting us and the cost associated with it. My staff does similarly - I work with them. We work with the Water
Board or other regulatory agencies that affect our operations. I also oversee grant funding for our operations. Our plant is going
through a substantial plant upgrade - one of the largest in our State and County. We were able to secure a revolving loan fund -
which is saving over half a billion dollars in debt. In addition to that, I get engaged in advocating for various grant funds. We were
successful in securing $285m for a water recycling project. The application process was very extensive. My job has expanded to
now managing the implementation of that project. Working with all of our different partners and continuing to the grant admin-
istration on the project. Those are some of the activities I am engaged in. We have a very large board who I interface. 17-member
Board.

3. What is your assessment regarding current water, climate and other environmental issues California is facing and how do
you think CASA can best address these issues?

There is a lot out there in respect to water quality issues. Nutrients is something that is facing the industry as a whole. We are
looking to revise our treatment system. Constituents of emerging concern. Trying to understand 100s of different chemicals,
is there an environmental concern. Pesticides is also a concern, as well as nitrates, salts is another issue that is impacting the
Central Valley. Climate change is also a key issue for CASA - as we increase or have to move into different treatment type technol-
ogies. How do we work with regulators to balance the cost benefit - you may be improving one area but is that benefit offsetting
climate change? Treatment plants that are located in coastal areas have to understand what climate change means. You have
inland treatment plants that are facing a different problem in climate change - how is that affecting their assets. What we're see-
ing now is quicker corrosion of the piping. A lot of those issues are going to be on the forefront. There may be opportunities with
climate change - we are able to recycle - from those standpoints there may be opportunity to deal with climate change. A project
that we're working on that will help with climate resiliency so that ground water will no longer be pumped. There are other envi-
ronmental issues that come into play that may not be related to climate change such as water quality, pesticides. There are also
issues with other agencies.

How can CASA help? They can help to try to represent by bringing forward a cohesive message - what options may be available
to deal with some of those issues. Also, bring forward the aspect of getting agencies to look at having meaningful results, protect-
ing public health. The improvements is having measurable and meaningful results that are cost effective. That's something as a
society that is very hard to balance. CASA can bring those messages forward and also trying to build that collaboration - working
more in partnership. That takes time but I think it is important - that CASA builds partnership - want to do it in a responsible man-
ner for ratepayers and citizens. Also, it can also help to bring things to light without also shining the light on problem agencies.