Environmental Press # 115

Subj: San Diego sewage waiver: 5 more years of fantasy
Date: 9/13/2002 5:10:25 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: doug@seal-beach.org
To: voiceforveterans@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)

San Diego Surfrider Paddle For Clean Water Sunday, September 15th, 8:00 A.M., over 500 paddlboarders on the beach next to Ocean Beach Pier
http://www.surfridersd.org/pierpaddle2002.html (858)792-9940
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The so-called Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today "blessed" the San Diego SEWAGE waiver. SD, which is running so short of water supplies that a law (AB858) had to be passed to stop them from absconding with what's left of Northern California river flow, gets at least 5 more years of pretending that their SEWAGE is "good for the critters".

But the kind of creatures that thrive in human pathogens are not those that belong there, and there is a degradation of plankton and probably other life.

But there is evidently much fervent panic in San Diego about the economic effects of proper

 

  

treatment of the sewage. It becomes obvious that no matter what "the science" or common sense shows, the politicians are determined to defer THIS problem onto their successors to deal with.

Will it be any easier in 5 years, or 50?

What a legacy for the following, who wrote letters to pressure the Coastal Commission to <butt-out>. Not to mention all the backdoor dealings that went on, but will never be proven, to get this evil SEWAGE WAIVER past the do-nothing, ever-compliant, sewage-lovin' EPA. How's that for the punch line to a song?

SEWAGE LETTERS TO PRESSURE COASTAL COMMISSION WRITTEN BY:
U.S. Rep. Susan A. Davis, FAX 202-225-2948, TEL 202-225-2040
"...burden of at least $4 billion..."
U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, FAX 202-225-9073, TEL 202-225-8045
"Scripps...stated that secondary...is not needed"
U.S. Rep. Duck Cunningham, FAX 202-225-2558, TEL 202-225-5452
"...affects...two million people...[SD]...has always been required to meet the same environmental effects standards required of all other cities in California...[$6.5 billion] would unnecessarily penalize San Diego's...population...increase from $40 per month to as much as...$160..." State Senator Dede Alpert, FAX 916-327-2188, TEL 916-445-3952
"...study [EPA] decision...no significant environmental benefit..."
State Senator Bill Morrow, FAX 916-446-7382, TEL 916-445-3731
"...[SD] has always been required to meet the same environmental effects standards required of all other cities in California..."
State Senator Jim Battin, FAX 916-327-2187, TEL 916-445-5581
"...[SD] has always been required to meet the same environmental effects standards required of all other cities in California..."
State Senator Raymond Hayes, FAX 916-447-9008, TEL 916-445-9781
"...[SD] has always been required to meet the same environmental..."
Assym. Howard Wayne, FAX 916-319-2178 TEL 916-319-2078, 619-234-7878
"...sufficient to protect...environment...higher level of treatment ...would impose an unnecessary economic burden on the city..."
<What about the fecal bacteria and virus, a burden on the fish?>
Assym. and former CCC Kehoe, FAX 916-319-2176, TEL 916-319-2076
"...[SD] has always been required to meet the same environmental..."
Assym. Juan Vargas, FAX 916-319-2179 TEL 916-319-2079
"...unique and extraordinary factors to protect the environment, including a 4.5 mile outfall..."
<the OUTFALL is NOT a benefit, its an admission of failure>
Assym. Zettel, FAX 916-319-2175 TEL 916-319-2075
"...demand for higher treatment...could cost $2 billion..."
Assym. La Suer, FAX 916-319-2177 TEL 916-319-2077
"...[SD] has always been required to meet the same environmental..."
City of Poway, FAX 858-748-1455, TEL 858-748-6600
"...[SD] has *always* been required..." <Signed Bob Emery, Mayor>
Metro Wastewater Joint Powers Agency, TEL 619-2584720
"...[SD] has always been required..." <signed, Jay Goldby, Chairman>
ISP Alginates, Kelp harvesters, FAX 619-557-3128, TEL 619-557-3100
"...feel...permit...protective of the environment..."
<Once kelp "harvested" off L.A.--will SD kelp be a memory, too?>
Padre Dam Municipal Water District, http://padredam.org
"...[SD] has always been required..."

So, with all these heavyweight pols and $dols pushing for continued dumping, don't blame the Coastal Commission too much. It's going to take a concerted campaign of education, or else the harsh reality of water shortage, to bring SD into modern times.

--------------------------------------------RECEIVED VIA DECODER RING----------------------------------------------
Environmental Polluters Anonymous (EPA) Issues SEWAGE PERMIT For Immediate Release: Friday the 13th, 2002

An EPA Administrator presided over the punchbowl at a brief ceremony awarding a new SEWAGE WAIVER. EPA's analysis of San Diego's SCIENTIFIC data confirms NO SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE EFFECTS to PRIMARY SEWAGE. SEWAGE has been proven of such benefit to the marine enviroment that the EPA will be importing billions of gallons of it from other California counties. EPA dismissed skeptics as doomed by their "...perception problem..." and inability to think "...inside the box...".

For the feeding and delectation of the Academic community, there will be lots of money for "monitoring".

These programs will be designed to demonstrate compliance with all applicable minimum water-quality standards.

EPA worked closely with the Industrial Water Quality Board, the sewage agencies, and the city. 99.8% of the public happily is unaware of the behind-the-scenes effort.

EPA complemented the Sewage City/Agency Team for:
--addressing many of the challenges
--investing in an expensive monitoring program
--many good deeds.

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