Revised version maintains total cleanup is ‘infeasible’
Morgan Hill – Olin Corporation’s latest cleanup plan argues that removing every ton of perchlorate it’s dumped into the water basin would “adversely affect groundwater management” and would be “inconsistent with the maximum benefit to the people of the state.”
The 138-page report also states a total cleanup of the South Valley water table, from which more than 1,500 wells draw water, could “unreasonably affect present and anticipated beneficial uses of the water” and would result in “water quality less than that prescribed” in the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coast Region.
Olin is responsible for a nine-mile plume of perchlorate stretching south from the company’s old road-flare plant in Morgan Hill. Perchlorate is known to interfere with the natural function of the thyroid gland. The contamination, first reported in 2003, spreads from Olin’s old site on Tennant Avenue and travels southeast of U.S. 101 to Masten Avenue.
The cleanup plan was submitted Wednesday to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where officials say it will be under review until the end of January.
The report argues that a total cleanup of the basin would be too expensive and unnecessary because perchlorate levels are below the state’s public health goal of 6 parts per billion.
Olin also submitted a work plan for the area surrounding the factory, were the highest concentration of the chemical was found. The company plans to pump polluted water to the surface and clean it, but still needs to devise what to do with the treated water.
Morgan Hill City Manager Ed Tewes has not seen the report, but is growing frustrated with the lack of progress.
“We have acknowledged the complexity of this case, but we have also expressed our disappointment with the pace of this regulatory process,” Tewes said. “However, we are hopeful the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board will adopt a comprehensive cleanup abatement order at its next meeting in February for the entire basin, including the part of the basin from which Morgan Hill draws its domestic water supply.”
