Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
May 2, 2007
4. Water Quality
WASTEWATER ISSUES:
Wastewater plan may signal resort, hotel at River Rock - Santa Rosa Press Democrat
GROUNDWATER:
Editorial: Get groundwater cleanup going -
WASTEWATER ISSUES:
Wastewater plan may signal resort, hotel at River Rock
Santa Rosa Press Democrat – 5/2/07
By Clark Mason, staff writer
The Indian tribe that operates River Rock casino has obtained federal permission to expand its wastewater treatment system, a key step for building a long-planned hotel-resort to complement its gambling facility.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced late Monday that it approved a controversial permit that will allow the casino to discharge its highly treated wastewater into a tributary of the
The Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians expects to nearly triple the amount of wastewater processed at its casino site in
But details on the timing remain elusive.
On Tuesday, tribal spokesman Dave Hyams said the intention always has been for River Rock to grow.
"The current facility has always been interim. There's no secret they want to have a bigger and better facility," he said.
Architectural and design consultants for the tribe produced drawings that leaked out last year showing a multistory luxury hotel, pools and a permanent casino replacing the current tentlike structure.
But tribal officials insist no decision has been made to move forward on an expansion. They declined to offer a timetable on when it could happen.
"We're trying to move forward, a step at a time," said Tribal Chairman Harvey Hopkins, who said any new projects would need to be approved by tribe members.
"Nothing would surprise me," said Pete Dayton, president of the Alexander Valley Association, a 220-member organization of grape growers and residents. "If I woke up tomorrow morning and a couple of big holes were being dug up there, it wouldn't amaze me."
Hyams, however, said any expansion plans will be subject to environmental review and public comment.
Meanwhile,
Candy Cadd, who lives next to the casino and has fought it since its inception, is not convinced the wastewater is safe, particularly from holding ponds the tribe plans uphill from her property.
"We don't know the future impacts to groundwater and wells," she said. "The EPA says it's great water and it will be fine. Where is the long-term proof? There isn't any."
But the tribe said their discharge plan will meet and in many areas exceed state and federal requirements to ensure environmental protection.
A number of other communities and cities in
The Dry Creek Rancheria said it will be required to conduct monitoring and reporting and is subject to enforcement from the EPA, including penalties for failure to comply with the permit terms.
Before discharge, the water will be treated, filtered and disinfected in a three-step process, including exposure to ultraviolet light, what the tribe describes as a "state-of-the-art tertiary water treatment system."
"The amount of treated water to be discharged under the permit is very minimal in comparison to other local dischargers," said Tom Keegan, director of environmental protection for the tribe.
"Because of the rancheria's high standard of water treatment and because the rancheria has no industrial waste, the quality of the rancheria's wastewater is higher than the quality of treated water from many towns and businesses that currently discharge into the Russian River," he said in a statement.
According to the tribe's application, its wastewater treatment plant generated a flow of 40,000 gallons a day in 2005.
The wastewater currently is spray-irrigated on-site or recycled through toilet flushing, something the tribe said it intends to continue to do as much as possible.
But the tribe said it anticipates an average flow of 112,000 gallons a day, almost three times the amount it now produces. And it could increase to as much as 141,000 gallons a day on weekends, according to the tribe, all of which triggered the need for stream discharges. #
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070502/NEWS/705020368/1033/NEWS01
GROUNDWATER:
Editorial: Get groundwater cleanup going
WHEN it comes to cleaning up polluted groundwater, the
Case in point: the contamination of groundwater and soil near the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's
That's the good news. The bad news is that the EPA doesn't know the source of the contamination in what's called Area 3. Without knowing the source, they can't begin the cleanup.
So, they've decided to launch a new study that they say will be out in June.
Talk about spinning our wheels. It has been nearly 30 years since the Valley's first drinking water wells were ordered shut down by the EPA after toxins were found. Today, the EPA is still scratching its head over where chemical toxins used in manufacturing, even dry cleaning, are coming from and how to clean it up.
Ironically, the County Administrative Officer's budget included $14.4 million for cleanup at
It's ironic because, at the other San Gabriel Valley Superfund sites (in Baldwin Park-Irwindale-Azusa;
So here's what should happen. First, since the county had wisely put aside money to clean the groundwater and rid the soil of vapors from two toxic culprits: trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE), which is also known as perchloroethene, they should use it to do just that.
Second, the EPA and the local San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority should take Area 3 off the back burner and commence cleanup, using the county money as seed money. Once the source is determined, the polluter should pay the rest.
This will bring peace of mind to the local Sheriff's Department employees and to those who live in the west
The agencies could then say they've made progress in cleaning soil and groundwater in Area 3 Superfund site - contamination the EPA has known about for nearly 30 years. #
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_5795604
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