Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
August 31, 2007
4. Water Quality
PERCHLORATE:
Rialto may see more of the EPA - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
WASTEWATER ISSUES:
Wastewater pipeline critics seek concessions - Ventura County Star
PERCHLORATE:
Rialto may see more of the EPA
Jason Pesick, staff writer
That's the word after a meeting on Thursday in
"We haven't made up our mind," Superfund project manager Wayne Praskins said of how the EPA plans to move forward.
"Proposing to add the site to (the Superfund program) is on the table here, and an increased EPA role in working with the (potentially responsible parties) is on the table."
The Superfund is a federal program to clean up the nation's uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
Councilman Ed Scott, who attended the meeting, said his preference is not to go the Superfund route. But he is looking for a way for all sides to work together.
"No matter who takes the lead, there has to be a leader," Scott said.
The EPA's plans should be clearer by the end of September, Praskins said.
Perchlorate is used in the production of explosives and can harm humans by interfering with the thyroid gland.
High concentrations of perchlorate are flowing through the city from industrial sites on the city's north end.
It was first discovered in 1997, but state regulatory agencies have been unable to get it cleaned up.
In recent weeks, three of the suspected polluters - Goodrich, Black & Decker and Pyro Spectaculars - were able to get a court to call a temporary halt to state water board hearings after raising concerns about the board's bias against them.
At a separate meeting Wednesday between state officials - including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's deputy chief of staff, Dan Dunmoyer, and City Council members - Dunmoyer broached the idea of declaring a state of emergency in the city.
In two weeks, the state will complete an analysis of the pros and cons of declaring a state of emergency. The city will also examine the idea.
"Actually, right at the moment it doesn't sound like there's a whole lot of cons," said Councilwoman Winnie Hanson, who attended the
If
There's a downside to this strategy, however.
It could be more difficult to approve future developments as the city must guarantee a 20-year water supply for new projects, said Scott Sommer, one of
Regardless of the decision on the state of emergency issue,
On Wednesday, state Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, held up Senate Rules Committee confirmation hearings on two of Schwarzenegger's water board nominees.
"But what has become absolutely clear is the state is woefully inept at enforcing its clean water laws," Perata wrote in a letter to Schwarzenegger on Wednesday that mentioned the
The state board is working to address some of Perata's concerns and hopes the courts will allow the perchlorate hearing to quickly move forward, said its spokesman, Bill Rukeyser.
Bill Maile, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger, said the governor wants to see the nominees confirmed.
"The governor shares Sen. Perata's priorities for
Scott said
"I really think that water should be the No.1 priority of this state right now," he said. #
WASTEWATER ISSUES:
Wastewater pipeline critics seek concessions
By Charles Levin, staff writer
Some critics of a proposed pipeline to carry treated wastewater under
The Calleguas Municipal Water District wants to build the underground pipeline down
The proposal comes as
On Thursday, however, Albert said she will not try to stop the project, despite misgivings about its impact, a sentiment echoed by other critics at the hearing.
Albert and others said they instead will lobby the district for concessions for residents having to put up with more than a year of construction work.
"We need to get more out of it for the trouble," Albert said. In an e-mail to Councilman Norm Griffaw earlier this month, Albert suggested the district finance a skateboard park or police substation.
Griffaw, who supports the pipeline, said after the hearing that he will seek the district's help with financing city water projects.
More than a dozen people criticized the project at a two-hour public hearing at the Oceanview Pavilion on Wednesday. The hearing was designed to solicit comments about a recently released draft environmental impact report. All comments must be submitted to the water district's office by Sept. 10.
The project would be the final link in a 32-mile pipeline the district has been building from
The 48-inch-wide pipeline would carry treated waste water from sewage plants in
The wastewater contains elevated levels of salt. It can't be discharged in creeks but could irrigate golf courses and other landscaping.
At the hearing, critics raised questions about water quality, effects on marine life, and noise and traffic. Several asked why the district chose
"Things get dumped on us," resident Clarissa Job said.
Several asked why the district didn't evaluate other coastal locations for the discharge point, and said the construction will disrupt
Other locations were evaluated, but they all had protected wetlands or development, such as
Calleguas sells water to 23 agencies in
Susan Mulligan, Calleguas' manager of engineering, said the treated wastewater would meet the highest water-quality standards.
High copper levels, however, require that it be released far out in the ocean, Mulligan said.
No construction would take place at the beach or on
Construction would last about a year, but it's unclear when it would start, Bergh said.
Permits must first be granted by the city, California Coastal Commission and state Regional Water Quality Control Board. #
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/aug/31/wastewater-pipeline-critics-seek-concessions/
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