Owens Valley Dust Pact to Be Scrutinized
Alarmed by a tripling of costs to reduce dust in the Owens Valley, the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to take jurisdiction of one contract from the Department of Water and Power board.
The vote means the council can hold hearings on the $103.2-million, three-year contract with Barnard Construction Co. of Montana that was approved last week by the DWP board.
The agency agreed to the dust reduction program to satisfy a court order stemming from the agency’s decades-long diversion of water from the Owens Valley to quench Los Angeles’ thirst.
Councilman Tony Cardenas, who heads a council committee overseeing the DWP, said he is concerned that the agency originally estimated the dust reduction program’s cost at $120 million, but that the latest contract will bring the amount to $407 million and rising.
“We are spending three times the original amount and that is coming from the ratepayers,” Cardenas said.
“This is something that needs a closer look.”
The councilman said he has heard concerns from some DWP workers in the Owens Valley about wasteful spending.
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