The draft cleanup order that was issued earlier this month by
the state
’s Central Coast Regional Water Board to formalize the process
of planning how to rid South Valley’s ground water of perchlorate
is years overdue.
The draft cleanup order that was issued earlier this month by the state’s Central Coast Regional Water Board to formalize the process of planning how to rid South Valley’s ground water of perchlorate is years overdue.
Olin Corp. has long acknowledged that the perchlorate plume snaking south and east from its now-closed road flare factory in south Morgan Hill is its responsibility.
It’s long past time that the water board took the formal step of ordering Olin to clean up its mess. After all, perchlorate was discovered in South Valley water in April 2002, nearly three years ago.
The order means that Olin now has one year to map and measure the plume, measure perchlorate levels at various depths in the aquifer, and propose a definite plan for removing it.
The draft order met with mostly positive reviews. Santa Clara Valley Water District CEO Stan Williams said that the cleanup order met the water district’s expectations.
“From the district point of view, after a rough review, the basic format is what we were hoping would be in it,” Williams said.
Sylvia Hamilton, a San Martin resident and chairwoman of the Perchlorate Community Advisory Group, echoed Williams sentiments.
“We’ve said from the get-go that want we want is to contain the plume, clean it up and set timelines, so I’m very pleased with those aspects,” she said after the draft cleanup order was released.
However, Morgan Hill officials are disappointed with the order, because it does not address the so-called “northeast” perchlorate plume, which has contaminated several Morgan Hill municipal and private wells. Olin has denied responsibility for that northeast plume and is appealing an order that it conduct forensic testing that might help determine who is responsible for the perchlorate.
We’re sympathetic to Morgan Hill’s concerns. The northeast plume is someone’s fault, and given the inexact nature of the science of underground water flows, Olin is certainly a reasonable suspect.
We urge Morgan Hill officials to continue to press the water board and Olin to determine responsibility for the northeast perchlorate plume so that Morgan Hill taxpayers won’t be on the hook for a costly cleanup that ought to be the responsibility of whoever polluted the aquifer.
In the meantime, we’re thrilled to see forward progress on the cleanup plan for the southeast plume that’s working its way through San Martin and toward Gilroy, even if it that progress was much too slow in coming.
