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 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 in Morgan Hill is the cause of the contamination.
Yet, in that two years, and despite Olin’s recognition of its responsibility, the Regional Water Quality Control 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 farmers have been irrigating with poisoned water for two years now. Perchlorate has been found in our drinking water supply. We cannot understand and should not tolerate the regional water board’s appalling lack of a sense of urgency. What are they waiting 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 issue the long-delayed cleanup order.
First, although Olin has been semi-cooperative: it seems 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 enlist 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.
