The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has
denied Olin Corp.
’s appeal of an order that it must provide free bottled water to
residents with perchlorate-contaminated wells. The next step is a
hearing before the state water board on Olin’s request for a stay
on providing water. The company has appealed an April 7, 2004,
order from the regional board.
The state Regional Water Quality Control Board has issued its brief on why Olin Corp.’s appeal of an order that it must provide free bottled water to residents with perchlorate-contaminated wells should be denied.
The next step is a hearing before the state water board on Olin’s request for a stay on providing water. The company has appealed an April 7, 2004, order from the regional board.
The process is expected to take a year before a final decision is made.
Meanwhile, those with wells testing at 4 parts per billion and above will continue to be eligible for the bottled water.
Olin had wanted to provide the water only to those testing at 6 ppb and higher, reflecting the state Public Health Goal of 6 ppb set in March. A PHG is the level the state considers not posing a significant health risk to humans.
The regional board’s reasoning for denying the appeal was based on the unreliability of perchlorate tests and fluctuating levels in well water and the continuing uncertainty among the scientific community over how much perchlorate is harmful and to whom.
Rick McClure, Olin’s project manager for the local cleanup, said he had not seen the report, issued late Monday afternoon, and would have no comment.
Olin has accepted responsibility for perchlorate found south of Tennant Avenue.
PCAG, the Perchlorate Community Advisory Group, meets Thursday, Sept. 23, 7-9pm., at the San Martin Lions Club, 12415 Murphy Ave. Olin representatives will be on hand to present their quarterly report on the cleanup effort from the Olin site on Tennant Avenue. They will discuss point of entry treatment systems that could be used to remove perchlorate from private wells and will present Olin’s groundwater flow assessment report on perchlorate in Morgan Hill’s northeast wells.
Olin claims no responsibility for any perchlorate found north of its site though three city wells have been closed because of the chemical.
