Environment: Views Sought on Bay Cleanup
The public may comment at two public hearings today on a five-year plan to clean up Santa Monica Bay.
The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project, which is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, affects an area from the Ventura County line to Point Fermin.
The draft plan, released in April, identifies 73 priority actions that will cost an estimated $67 million. A foundation has been set up to secure funding from government and private sources.
Many organizations, including Heal the Bay, the American Oceans Campaign, Chevron Corp., Southern California Edison, Heal the Bay and the Sierra Club, support the plan, EPA spokeswoman Karen Caesar said.
A final draft will be submitted to Gov. Pete Wilson in September.
“It’s important that people realize the plan affects not just the bay but also the watershed--the whole area that drains into the bay. That’s 414 square miles,” Caesar said. “A big part of our work is pollution protection.”
The first hearing will be at 10 a.m. at the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, 101 Center Plaza Drive, Monterey Park. Those who cannot attend may send written comments to Caesar at that address. The comments must be received by June 15.
A second meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the IRI Room of the Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City.
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