Hearing to Address Disposal of Waste Water Into Bay

Two proposals that could help determine the future of Newport Bay will be the topic of a public hearing today at the state Water Quality Control Board’s Santa Ana regional office in Riverside.

Silverado Constructors, the contractor building the Eastern tollway to link the Santa Ana Freeway with the Riverside Freeway, applied last week for a state permit to empty as much as 2.5 million gallons of waste water a day into a bay tributary.

The request startled environmentalists, who have already been campaigning to block a controversial wetlands demonstration project proposed by Irvine Ranch Water District.

That plan would allow 5 million gallons of treated waste water a day into San Diego Creek, which empties into the bay.

Nancy Skinner, a member of Newport Beach’s volunteer Harbor Quality Committee, urged residents to attend the meeting today and speak up.

“It’s going to be our goal to encourage the board members to give guidance to their staff to not pursue Silverado’s plan,” she said.

City scientists say the water district’s treated waste water has nutrients that would contribute to the growth of algae blooms. Skinner said Silverado’s plan also would contribute to overgrowth of harmful algae.

Joanne Schneider, the regional board’s environmental program manager, said: “Right now we are looking for documentation of Silverado’s impact to the water in the bay before we make a recommendation to the board.”

The regional staff also is seeking assurances from Silverado, an Irvine-based international consortium, that the owner of the roadway--the Orange County Transportation Corridor Agencies--would agree to the state’s conditions, Schneider said.

The Water Quality Control Board will be seeking public comment at today’s session, set for 9 a.m. in the California Tower, Highgrove Conference Room, 3737 Main St. in Riverside.

Information: (909) 782-4130.