The attorney brought in to advise the Imperial Irrigation District on a Plan B for the Salton Sea may soon have his role expanded.
IID General Manager Kevin Kelley announced Tuesday that he plans to amend environmental attorney Charles T. DuMars’ service to advise the Board of Directors on matters related to a backup plan should the Quantification Settlement Agreement fall through.
The QSA is a set of agreements signed in 2003 that transferred IID-entitlement water to coastal areas in San Diego.
DuMars may soon serve as special adviser to the general manager’s office on matters related to IID’s petition to the State Water Resources Control Board.
The petition would eliminate the district’s water transfer requirement of sending mitigation water to the Salton Sea between 2014 and 2017, instead focusing on mitigation projects.
“I believe that the petition is important enough to include Mr. DuMars as part of the IID team,” Kelley said. “… I think the petition process can benefit from Mr. DuMars’ perspective, particularly in the context of environmental stewardship.”
The change to the service agreement would include a change in cost that will go before the board for ratification in February, Kelley said. The agreement itself will be amended in the next couple weeks.
DuMars isn’t a member of the State Bar of California, which means he can’t practice law in the state, according to the bar Web site.
The attorney of record for the district dealing with the state petition is Mark Hattam, a partner in the San Diego office of Allen Matkins.
DuMars is going to be working to help with environmental work and air quality mitigation, said board Vice President John Pierre Menvielle, who had originally asked for DuMars’ hiring last year. DuMars is knowledgeable on those issues.
Menvielle said DuMars also will be good working with other parties dealing with the Salton Sea, like local farmers, the county and other interested parties. He’s “fresh blood, new face,” he said.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
IID General Manager Kevin Kelley announced Tuesday that he plans to amend environmental attorney Charles T. DuMars’ service to advise the Board of Directors on matters related to a backup plan should the Quantification Settlement Agreement fall through.
The QSA is a set of agreements signed in 2003 that transferred IID-entitlement water to coastal areas in San Diego.
DuMars may soon serve as special adviser to the general manager’s office on matters related to IID’s petition to the State Water Resources Control Board.
The petition would eliminate the district’s water transfer requirement of sending mitigation water to the Salton Sea between 2014 and 2017, instead focusing on mitigation projects.
“I believe that the petition is important enough to include Mr. DuMars as part of the IID team,” Kelley said. “… I think the petition process can benefit from Mr. DuMars’ perspective, particularly in the context of environmental stewardship.”
The change to the service agreement would include a change in cost that will go before the board for ratification in February, Kelley said. The agreement itself will be amended in the next couple weeks.
DuMars isn’t a member of the State Bar of California, which means he can’t practice law in the state, according to the bar Web site.
The attorney of record for the district dealing with the state petition is Mark Hattam, a partner in the San Diego office of Allen Matkins.
DuMars is going to be working to help with environmental work and air quality mitigation, said board Vice President John Pierre Menvielle, who had originally asked for DuMars’ hiring last year. DuMars is knowledgeable on those issues.
Menvielle said DuMars also will be good working with other parties dealing with the Salton Sea, like local farmers, the county and other interested parties. He’s “fresh blood, new face,” he said.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
