A local Marina resident made sending a notice to the commissioners regarding the unfair CalAm desalination plant that threatens our ground water so much easier!
You can click on the link below and visit the site to let the commissioners know what you think about this project. The Public Utilities Commission is planning to approve by September 13 so don't delay. Sign the petition PLEASE NOTE THIS PETITION IS NOW CLOSED AS THE CPUC HAS APPROVED THE PROJECT Many thanks for the residents who responded to the community sponsored petition August 14, Public Water Now held a very important forum at MIIS with Monterey One Water, Paul Scuito, and Jonas Minton, Planning and Conservation League who talked about an expansion of a regional recycled water project that can serve as a more affordable, equitable, and viable “Plan B” to the Cal-Am Slant Well Desalination Project. Remember that the Peninsula ratepayers, under CalAm, are paying the highest rate of water in the COUNTRY, even without the $300M plus for the proposed Desalination Project!
The issue of environmental injustice to Marina of Cal-Am’s Project was discussed as litigation will likely occur should the project be approved. Although, the CPUC's “proposed decision” has been to advance the Project for a vote at a CPUC regular meeting in S.F. (possibly Sept. 13), the Project has NOT been issued a building “permit” (CPCN) yet. On Aug. 22, all official "parties to the proceeding", including the City of Marina, Marina Coast Water District, Citizens for Just Water, and Public Water Now and several others, will get their first opportunity to be heard before the CPUC in S.F. This is very late in a process that will be possibly approved in mid September. At the August 14 Forum, individuals were urged to exercise their right to contact the CPUC Commissioners regarding the Cal-Am Slant Well Project. The CPUC has many barriers to public participation and comment, so this is perhaps the last opportunity to speak up before the final decision is made. If ever there was a more urgent time for Marina and Ord communities to write a comment, it is NOW. Here are the email addresses: CPUC President Michael Picker mp6@cpuc.ca.gov Commissioner Carla Peterman cap@cpuc.ca.gov Commissioner Liane Randolph liane.randolph@cpuc.ca.gov Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves mga@cpuc.ca.gov Commissioner Cliff Rechtschaffen cr6@cpuc.ca.gov Recently, the Coastal Commission held its July 11 through 13th meeting in Scotts Valley.
Several car pools of persons from Marina, Seaside, Monterey and Carmel Valley presented on each day of the public comment portion to educate the Commissioners about environmental issues associated with the CalAm Slant Well Desalination Project in Marina, CA. Talking points included:
Now is the time to speak out against this project! The Coastal Commission will be responsible for issuing permits to build the slant wells on the CEMEX property that will take up our groundwater reserves. See letter writing campaign for addresses and sample letters. CItizens for Just Water attended last weeks hearing as one of the 27 parties to the proceeding. We were able to voice our concerns about the narrow review of feasibility about this ill-conceived project for 3 minutes to the 5 commissioners. Although this is a miserly amount of time to address all of the complexity of the project, we focused on the omission of a fair evaluation of our community values and needs, and the inherent environmental injustice of siting this project in our water supply. We asked that they deny the Certificate of Convenience and Public Necessity (CPCN) because the CPUC has failed to protect the water supply of a diverse, low-income community. We added our support to expansion of the Pure Water Monterey recycled water project by Monterey One Water.
Here are some agreements that were stated by several of the parties that oppose approval of this project: 1. Postpone approving the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for Cal Am’s proposed desal plant. 2. Expand Pure Water Monterey to provide water sooner and at a lower cost than the Desal plant to peninsula users. Further, MCWD wants the CPUC to: 3. Order a complete review of groundwater rights by the California State Water Resources Control Board regarding the take of water from the Salinas Valley by CalAm's project where it has no water rights. 4. Include the geophysical information developed by Stanford University in the current EIR. 5. Order the proposed Cal Am desalination project to find a different source of feedwater. |
Citizens for Just Water
Information posted here reflects current issues found in the public domain and serve to inform about the complex issues of water on the Monterey Peninsula Archives
September 2018
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