San Diego to pay emissions fines By MEGAN BAKKER, Staff Writer
Monday, October 20, 2008 10:30 PM PDT
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE IID
The All-American Canal undergoes cement lining in this undated photo.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE IID
The All-American Canal undergoes cement lining in this undated photo.
The Imperial Irrigation District reached a settlement with the county’s Air Pollution Control District over alleged permit and emission violations in the All-American Canal lining project.
As part of the agreement, reached Monday with the pollution district’s hearing board, the IID will compensate the county for dust and vehicle emissions from construction equipment. However, the funds to do so won’t come out of the IID’s pocket.
“The money paid to the county comes from the San Diego County Water Authority,” said Jeff Garber, IID’s legal counsel.
Since the canal-lining project is part of the water conservation efforts within the quantification settlement agreement, San Diego is required to pay for environmental mitigation measures.
The issue started when the pollution district alleged the IID, along with the construction companies, “are and continue to be in violation of (Imperial County Air Pollution Control) District rules, state laws and regulations, and federal Clean Air Act requirements by installing, constructing and operating the (All-American Canal lining project) engines/equipment units without first applying for and obtaining required permits,” according to an order of abatement filed against the IID.
Part of the canal-lining agreement in 2003 included an environmental commitment plan that asked the construction companies to get air quality permits either before or during construction.
The permits allow agencies to monitor sources of emissions, such as vehicles. The monitoring is important in determining if the construction is exceeding emissions thresholds, said air pollution control officer Brad Poiriez.
“There’s enforceability that goes with that,” Poiriez said.
In 2007, IID awarded contracts to Keiwit Pacific Co. and a joint contract to Ames Construction Inc. and Coffman Specialties Inc. Several projects in 2007 were then started without permits, according to documents related to the case, such as a rock-crushing plant and a batch plant.
While the IID sought state permits for the projects after they started, the pollution control district said the IID needed to get permits from its agency instead. When the IID has state permits, Poiriez said, the pollution control district loses its ability to monitor and control emissions on a local level.
The IID has already filed permit applications with the pollution control district, and the district is now in the process of approving them.
As far as impacts to construction on the canal itself, IID spokesman Kevin Kelley said getting a new set of permits won’t impact the lining.
“There’s no interruption of the project,” Kelley said.
While the IID and the construction companies need to work out who holds responsibility for permit applications going forward, Garber said this decision settles the matter with the county.
" I love humor as much as the next guy, but gallow humor is distasteful when real people die. Everyone has to answer to the man upstairs for their actions on this rock. Remember that. "
sterig wrote on Oct 21, 2008 10:53 AM:
" Do you think we could get some lights on these ladders so they can be used after dark. and also, how 'bout hanging some guest towels. "
gymjunkie wrote on Oct 21, 2008 10:13 AM:
" Jajaja! Locks my friend. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on Oct 21, 2008 10:10 AM:
" Gym- The barges would certainly have a tough time navigating through the hydro-electric plants, but the All-American does ship us illegal immigrants on a regular basis. I sure hope that ladder is on the south side of the canal... "
gymjunkie wrote on Oct 21, 2008 9:45 AM:
" Wonder why the All American hasn't been used for shipping. Looks deep and wide enough. Canals like this are used to barge goods all over Europe. "
ledman wrote on Oct 21, 2008 8:34 AM:
" No wonder so many people jump in. It looks so easy to get out of. The water looks clean and blue just like a swimming pool. How inviting. "
wordie wrote on Oct 21, 2008 7:43 AM:
" there goes the fish thay dont like cement canels where do we go fishing now ???? "
ARMLESSALICE wrote on Oct 21, 2008 4:24 AM:
" LOL, jsyi. Don't get caught in the undertow. "
jsyi wrote on Oct 21, 2008 2:07 AM:
" Wow that looks pretty cool. I cant wait to swim in it next time Im at the desert "
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frankm78 wrote on Oct 21, 2008 4:04 PM: