Public Report on Spill Ordered
Astate board ordered the city of San Diego to submit a public report describing the causes of a rupture in a sewage pipe that spewed millions of gallons of partly treated sewage into the ocean for two months.
However, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board said Monday that the city does not have to submit a definitive $350,000 study that was commissioned by the city on the matter.
Some city officials had said they did not want to release the study because it could provide evidence for a number of lawsuits the city expects to face as a result of the Feb. 3 rupture.
San Diego can comply with the board’s order by submitting an in-house report written by city staff officials.
At a meeting in San Juan Capistrano, Board Chairman James Mocalis cautioned Chief Deputy City Atty. Ted Bromfield: “If the report is not considered adequate by the board, you are in hot water.”
The Environmental Health Coalition, a 2,000-member citizens group, joined the San Diego Council of Divers in petitioning the state Water Resources Control Board to force the regional board to make the city consultant’s report available to the public.
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