Group Releases Water Report Card

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency received an “incomplete,” the state Water Quality Board got a “D,” Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner earned an “A minus,” and the city of Rosemead flunked out with a big fat “F.”

So went the grading on the first clean water report card issued Sunday by the East Valleys Organization, a broad-based citizens’ group that for the last year has been fighting to clean up the extensive ground water contamination in the San Gabriel Valley.

The report card, which took a look at politicians and government agencies, was released during the organization’s second annual assembly. About 1,000 people turned out at the El Monte High School auditorium for the assembly, which at times seemed more like a pep rally than a community meeting.

Supporters cheered wildly as EVO officials disclosed the grades, and again when they announced that they have raised $100,000 for a new toxic cleanup reward fund. The fund promises financial rewards to citizens who report people and companies who have caused ground water pollution.

Beginning Thursday, pollution busters may call the fund toll-free, at (800) 244-6808.

As for the grades, some were based on voting records and policy issues: EPA is making “solid progress” but has a long way to go; the Water Quality Board “sold out” by allowing expansion of the Azusa landfill.

Other marks reflected contributions to the reward fund.

Reiner, for instance, received his “A minus” for a donation of $25,000, as well as what EVO leaders say is his commitment to prosecuting polluters.

The cities of Azusa, Duarte, El Monte, South El Monte and West Covina received the same score as Reiner; each contributed between $5,000 and $15,000 to the fund.

But Rosemead, which apparently has shallower pockets, wound up with the only failing grade. Explained EVO official John Korey:

“Rosemead decided not to contribute and, we think, took an extremely narrow, parochial approach that they were doing what they could within Rosemead to clean up the water.”