Balboa Bay Club Fined $60,000 for Releasing Sulfide Into Sea
The Balboa Bay Club has been fined $60,000 by state water regulators for 20 violations of discharging sulfide into bay waters from February 2001 to January 2002. Sulfide--a naturally occurring, odiferous ground water compound--was released during construction work for a new resort at the club.
“It isn’t unsafe to humans, [but] it’s smelly and it’s an aesthetic concern,” said Jerry Thibeault, executive officer of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, who said there are safe methods for eliminating it.
He said the fines were mandatory under a relatively new state law.
Club president Henry Schielein said he had noticed the smell but had no idea that it meant something was wrong.
He said if any laws were violated, it was the responsibility of the general contractor overseeing construction, Snyder Langston.
The contractor did not return a call for comment.
If an appeal is filed, a hearing will be held May 31.
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