It
’s been nearly two years since the perchlorate plume poisoning
South Valley’s groundwater was discovered. Olin Corp. has
acknowledged that its now-closed road flare factory on Tennant
Avenue here in Morgan Hill is the cause of the contamination.
It’s been nearly two years since the perchlorate plume poisoning South Valley’s groundwater was discovered. Olin Corp. has acknowledged that its now-closed road flare factory on Tennant Avenue here in Morgan Hill is the cause of the contamination.
Yet, in that two years, and despite Olin’s recognition of its responsibility, the state Regional Water Quality Board has yet to issue a cleanup order. We don’t understand the delay.
It is long past time that water regulators issue a formal order to Olin to clean up its perchlorate pollution. That order must include a requirement that Olin reimburse private individuals, companies, municipalities, regional, state and federal agencies that spend any time, money or manpower on this issue.
South Valley residents have been drinking and irrigating with poisoned water for two years now. We cannot understand and should not tolerate the regional water board’s appalling lack of a sense of urgency.
We wonder what they’re waiting for – perhaps for the Bush Administration’s federal regulators to crumble to defense industry lobbyists and set a high perchlorate threshold?
We heartily disagree with David Athey, project manager for the Regional Water Quality Control Board, who told reporter Matt King that he anticipates ordering a cleanup in about a year, and thinks that because Olin has been “cooperative,” that it’s too early to formally issue the long-delayed cleanup order.
First, we disagree that Olin has been cooperative. Rather, they talk a good game, but their actions show that they’ve attempted to limit assistance to South Valley residents and agencies with disturbing frequency.
Second, we don’t believe a cleanup order and a cooperative relationship are mutually exclusive. Rather, a strong, proactive regional water quality board is likely to incent more cooperation from Olin than a pushover agency would.
It is more than reasonable for South Valley residents and officials to insist that a formal cleanup order be issued to Olin before the two-year anniversary of the poisonous perchlorate plume’s discovery. For the water quality board to wait any longer to take this step is a breach of its responsibility.
