Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
April 13, 2007
4. Water Quality
LOS OSOS:
Sewer mess snares politicos; First person: Seeing our legislators slog through sludge Lawmakers get a slimy reminder that politics is indeed a dirty business—especially in Los Osos - San Luis Obispo Tribune
REGULATION:
Feds say Santa Maria oil firm pleading guilty to polluting - Associated Press
LOS OSOS:
Sewer mess snares politicos; First person: Seeing our legislators slog through sludge Lawmakers get a slimy reminder that politics is indeed a dirty business—especially in Los Osos
San Luis Obispo
By Sona Patel, staff writer
Our local lawmakers took part in some mudslinging of a different sort Thursday when I joined them on a walk in the gooey
The wind whipped, and the mud hugged our rubber boots as Rep. Pete Visclosky, Rep. Lois Capps, Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, a dozen others and I trudged out for a water sample to see how Los Osos’ septic tanks are polluting the bay.
My boots were a couple of sizes too big, and I wasn’t the only one who had to fight to keep from getting footwear stuck in the muck.
The walk out was a breeze compared to the trip back. The wind was merciless, and we began to lose our balance. Arms flailed, but for some it was no use.
Capps hit a sinkhole, and her left foot came up sans boot. She tried to stand on one foot. But the fight was futile, and her stockinged foot sunk in to her pant cuff.
One of the group members reached out to keep the congresswoman from pitching forward. Still, Capps planted a hand into the glop — then absently swiped a muddy finger across her brow.
Seconds later, Blakesee’s balance failed, and he too pitched forward, saving himself from a full-on fall by placing both hands in the mud.
Righting himself, Blakeslee asked me forcefully for a few pages from my notebook to clean his soiled hands. They didn’t do much good.
My socks stayed dry, though I ended up with a few spots on my pants.
And Visclosky … well, he said he’ll never forget his visit to Los Osos. #
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/177/story/15716.html
REGULATION:
Feds say
Associated Press – 4/13/07
SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Greka Energy subsidiary Santa Maria Refining Co. will plead guilty to illegal disposal of wastewater, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Thursday.
The company was charged with knowingly injecting oil refining wastewater back into the ground and lying about it to federal monitors. Employees Roger Thompson and Edward Stotler, as well as former employee Brent Stromberg, were charged with making false statements.
Santa Maria Refining will pay a $1 million fine plus restitution to the Environmental Protection Agency and establish an independently audited environmental compliance program.
Federal officials said the illegal wastewater disposal risked contaminating groundwater and violated the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
The defendants are scheduled to enter pleas April 23 in
http://www.sacbee.com/114/story/154538.html
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