TCA Denies That Foothill Tollway Is Fouling Creeks

Builders of the Foothill toll road Thursday disputed accusations from environmentalists that polluted storm water from the highway is being allowed to flow unimpeded into Orange County watersheds.

The response comes a week after a South County activist charged that Caltrans and the Orange County Transportation Corridor Agencies are violating statewide storm-water rules that require the agencies to control runoff to the “maximum extent practicable.”

Officials from the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board are looking into the complaint, lodged by Michael Hazzard of Mission Viejo.

Hazzard contends that storm drains along several parts of the Foothill toll road allow runoff to flow directly into creeks without passing through marshes, filters or retention basins designed to filter the water.

“I’m not aware of any problems with the 241 toll road,” said James D. Brown, director of environmental planning, design and construction for the TCA. “In some cases, we have done more than is required.”

The Foothill toll road was designed, built and financed by the TCA, a joint-powers authority that is also responsible for the Eastern and San Joaquin Hills toll roads. Caltrans operates and maintains the highways.

Brown said portions of the Foothill tollway south of Antonio Parkway received environmental approvals in 1990, when runoff management plans were not required. Caltrans, he added, is responsible for sweeping, removing litter and preventing erosion.

Brown said there are runoff management plans in place for the rest of the toll road, approved in 1994. They include filter systems, hazardous materials basins, channels, and retarding and detention basins. Caltrans and the Regional Water Quality Control Board reviewed those plans, he said.

“The storm-water rules have changed over the years,” Brown said. “They are much more stringent today than they were in 1990.”

Water quality officials said the board will review the storm-water management plan for the tollway, visit sites, look at what systems are in place and try to determine how well they work. Board members say they will decide by month’s end whether any enforcement actions are necessary.