Last Chance to Speak Up on South Coast Marine Protected Areas--Attend Commission Hearing on Dec 9 in LA

The 'end of the line' for South Coast Marine Protected Areas has arrived!  Dec 9th marks the final meeting in a 'yearlong process', and we need you to attend.  As you know, the Blue Ribbon Task Force unanimously voted to forward a final map to the Fish and Game Commission. The map, called the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA), is a hybrid map representing diverse Stakeholder views.

The MLPA, as a law, was designed and written to ensure diverse views were incorporated into the final map. Surfrider fully supports the IPA because we believe it contains a balance of conservation and fishing interests--and perspectives from all ocean users. The Commission will base its decision on public support--and that’s why they need to hear from you on Dec 9th! 

Please attend the hearing and express that you are concerned about preserving ocean resources and that you support a 'balanced' proposal that provides strong protection while incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives.

If you would like help with talking points for the Dec 9^th meeting, please contact Stefanie at:  Ssekich@surfrider.org   To stay updated about Surfrider MLPA efforts and to send an action alert to the Commission here: http://mlpasurfrider.blogspot.com/

Dec 9th  Meeting Information:

Radisson Hotel--LAX 
ABC Ballroom 


6225 W. Century Blvd. 


Los Angeles, CA

**PUBLIC SPEAKER CARDS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT 9:00 AM AND MUST BE TURNED IN TO COMMISSION STAFF BY 10:10 AM FOR CONSIDERATION.  PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL  BE HEARD FROM APPROXIMATELY 10:15 AM -12:30 PM TODAY.  THE TIME ALLOTTED  PER INDIVIDUAL WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKER CARDS RECEIVED, AND ANNOUNCED AT THE START OF THE MEETING.**

Please take the time to fill out this action alert that will be sent to the Commission. http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=428

Thanks and hope to see you at the Dec 9th hearing!

Final Marine Life Protection Act Map goes to Fish and Game Commission

This week, the Blue Ribbon Task Force unanimously voted to forward the Integrated Preferred Alternative (IPA)map to the Fish and Game Commission. The IPA is a hybrid map containing shapes from all the Regional Stakeholder Group maps.

Surfrider is pleased with the map because we believe some of our recommendations were considered and incorporated into the final map. The BRTF will present the IPA to the Fish and Game Commission on Dec 9 and the Commission will make a final decision early in 2010

See a write up on Surfrider's thoughts about the final map here.

Activists Needed as RWQCB Considers Gregory Canyon Bridge

Thought a Toll Road through a State Park was a bad idea? How about a landfill on top of an aquifer and near an aqueduct in a geologically unstable region containing Native American sacred sites? This is exactly what the proponents of the Gregory Canyon Landfill have been trying to do for the last twenty plus years, despite the fact that the landfill site has been rejected by the County of San Diego, by using the initiative system to try to invalidate years of local government studies. The landfill would be squarely ontop of the aquifer that provides Oceanside and other communities with much of their current drinking water as well as adjacent to aqueducts providing fresh water to the City of San Diego. Sacred sites of the Pala Band of Mission Indians would be destroyed by the building of and operations of a landfill in this area. Earlier this year this damaging project was to go before the San Diego Regional Water Quality Board however their application for a "discharge permit" was deemed to be incomplete after a local water authority decided to not provide the proposed landfill with the reclaimed water it needed for its operations. Now the proponents are trying to piecemeal their application by getting a bridge needed for landfill operations approved before the discharge permit. The Board will be considering approval of this bridge at its November 18, 2009 monthly meeting. Concerned citizens and environmental groups are speaking up in order to oppose both the piecemeal approach to this project and this devastating project itself.

Contact Johnny Pappas or Stefanie Sekich if you are in need of additional information and are able to attend the meeting. Thanks!

Background Information on this project:

County of San Diego

Pala Band of Mission Indians

NRDC

Metro Water District to Consider Subsidy of Poseidon Resources

Dear Board of Directors:
As an environmentalist and a rate-payer, I urge you NOT to approve the subsidy for the Carlsbad Desalination Project through the San Diego County Water Authority. The Metropolitan Water District should instead prioritize support for public projects that provide regional water independence, and are environmentally sustainable and fiscally responsible. Providing $350 million to subsidize water produced by a company with an unproven track record meets none of these goals.

In Florida, Poseidon's Tampa Bay desalination plant was $40 million over budget, five years late, and has yet to produce the 25 million gallons per day it promised on a regular basis. Now Poseidon plans to bet the health of our marine environment on its latest attempt to build a plant twice that size.

Poseidon Resources is seeking a $250 per acre foot subsidy from Metropolitan Water District for its Carlsbad Desalination Project. Poseidon's plant is a bad deal for the environment and for customers. The company's previous attempt at a major desalination in Tampa Bay was an utter failure. This project is not the solution, merely exacerbating global warming at rate-payers' and the ocean environment's expense. While you may have seen recent news stories that final approval has been granted, there are still a few hurdles to clear such as funding. Tell the Metropolitan Water District not to subsidize this project and the irresponsible use of our precious ocean resources.

Take action now by emailing the Board of Directors, suggested text is below: OfficeoftheGeneralManager2@mwdh2o.com

This project cannot be reconciled with MWD's promise to address climate change through responsible water supply options in the Integrated Resources Plan. We all share the responsibility of ensuring a reliable water supply. To meet that responsibility, we all play a role in water planning as well. But we cannot trade water security for energy insecurity. This project will only exacerbate some of the very threats to our current water supplies.

Moreover, the Carlsbad Desalination Project is extremely destructive to the marine ecosystem. By using an open-ocean intake system to draw in 304 million gallons per day of ocean water to create merely 50 million gallons of drinking water, the project will kill vast amounts of fish and other aquatic life in the process. EPA estimates that power plants in California using such intakes destroy 312.9 million pounds of fish each year, a $13.6 million loss to California fishermen.

I urge you to reject the proposed $350 million in subsidies. Instead more money should be allocated to environmentally beneficial water programs such as conservation, reclamation, and low impact development.

Sincerely,
(your name here)

Marine Life Protection Act Regional Stakeholder Group Meeting in Carlsbad, CA

One of the Last Chances to Provide Input on Maps for Marine Protected Areas

The MLPA Regional Stakeholder Group (the people tasked with making the maps for protected areas) is entering into “Round 3 of map making”. After Round 3, the proposed maps will be given to the Blue Ribbon Taskforce and ultimately forwarded to the Fish & Game Commission for adoption into law. The time to provide input on where you want Marine Protected Areas is now! The Surfrider Foundation has been obtaining information from our supporters through our survey. Please complete the survey by Aug 1st, if you haven't already. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=jweijd4I8d5vtscSSwjSHw_3d_3d

We plan on sharing the information we have gathered with the Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG) in order to help them create maps that reflect what local communities want. On August 3rd and 4th, the RSG will be coming to San Diego (Carlsbad area). If you are interested in testifying about marine protected areas, we encourage your attendance. If you can attend and/or would like to help, contact Stefanie at: Ssekich@surfrider.org. Please visit Surfrider’s MLPA blog to see the work we are doing, to stay informed about meeting locations, and to view links to proposed RSG maps. http://mlpasurfrider.blogspot.com/

Action Alert: Oppose Gregory Canyon Landfill

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION SAN DIEGO CHAPTER
POLICY ACTION ALERT

Oppose Gregory Canyon Landfill

Background

This project is located east of I-15 near SR 76, adjacent to Pala Band of Mission Indians land, in the North County. This project will go before the Regional Water Quality Control Board for waste discharge permit following completion of CEQA documentation. The pertinent issue before the Water Board and what is is of concern to Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter is water quality. The geologic and potential fire conditions at the site increase the risk of leaks that contaminate groundwater basins in the watershed of the San Luis Rey River as well as compromise the San Diego Aqueduct. Recently the City of Carlsbad and the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs joined other governmental bodies in opposing this project. In this age of a society striving for zero waste and in an era of diminishing water supplies, anything that puts water resources counted upon by a large number of San Diego county citizens at risk is unacceptable

What Can You Do?

Write the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board by July 12, 2009, and include your name and address. You can click on the below e-mail address, cut and paste and personalize the below sample letter.

State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board

San Diego Region

9174 Sky Park Court Suite 100

San Diego, CA 92123

Attention: Ms Carole Tamaki

CTamaki@waterboards.ca.gov

Subject: Tentative Order No. R9-2009-004
Waste Discharge Requirements for the
Gregory Canyon Ltd.
Gregory Canyon Landfill, San Diego County

Dear Members of the Board:

I am very concerned that the proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill is adjacent to the San Diego Aqueduct and the San Luis Rey River and located over a valuable and irreplaceable aquifer. The aqueduct supplies the City of San Diego, the aquifer supplies irrigation and domestic water wells and the River provides water for the City of Oceanside’s water recycling plant.

Despite project proponent assertions, it is very likely, due to geographic conditions in the area that the landfill will leak, resulting in contamination of valuable water resources. Stated mitigation measures are totally unacceptable.

The mission of your board is to preserve and enhance the quality of California's water resources for the benefit of present and future generations of Californians. Adoption of the Tentative Oder for the dangerous proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill project would run counter this mission and put valuable water resources at peril. Please deny this dangerous project.

Sincerely,

Carlsbad to Consider Opposing Gregory Canyon Landfill

The Carlsbad City Council is set to consider a resolution opposing the Gregory Canyon Landfill this

evening at 6:00 PM at the City Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive. This

dangerous project would be sited next to the San Luis Rey River watershed AND the San Diego aqueduct

and be within one mile of many domestic and irrigation wells. Contamination to these adjacent

bodies would cause water that is relied upon by thousands to be contaminated in this state of

drought and dwindling water deliveries. The project will also negatively impact

the Pala Band of Mission Indians who would be forced to see their sacred sites desecrated by

this project. Please show up at Calrlsbad City hall to ask the City Council to approve this resolution

opposing this project, our water supply in San Diego County is too precious to allow this project

to go forward.

Carlsbad City Hall

Resolution

If you can't make it to the meeting, please (especially if you are a Carlsbad resident)

e-mail the City Council using this link.

Hope to see you all there promptly at 6:00, tonight.

Johnny Pappas

Policy Group Leader

Surfrider Foundation

San Diego Chapter

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Coming Soon Our New Policy Website

Our new policy website is being planned and will be unveiled soon!

Call to Action

The Surfrider Foundation is very busy these days… and we need your help at two meetings next week!

On Monday June 1st, the California State Lands Commission is considering significant items related off shore oil-drilling in Santa Barbara and our Raise Above Plastics campaign.  

Come out and voice your support!

At the meeting, we need people to testify in support of the following agenda items:

Support: Agenda Item 69. This is a resolution that would support legislation to reduce litter and marine debris by imposing a fee on single-use carryout bags.   We all know about the damage plastics are causing in our oceans.  Go here: http://www.riseaboveplastics.blogspot.com/ to learn more information that will help you with your testimony.  

Support: Agenda Item 70. In January, the State Lands Commission denied an oil-drilling project in Santa Barbra and we need to make sure that decision is not overruled!  Item 70 is a resolution opposing the Governor’s Budget Revision to override the State Lands Commission denial of the PXP oil-drilling project.  Help ensure the decision to protect Santa Barbra coastline is upheld.    Go here: http://www.nottheanswer.org  to gather more information for talking points during your testimony.

MEETING DETAILS:  CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION

MEETING STARTS At 10:00 AM
City Of Santa Monica
City Hall Council Chambers
Room 213, Second Floor
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, Ca 90401

We also need voices at the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) meeting on Thursday, June 4—in LA.  The Blue Ribbon Taskforce is a panel of experts helping implement the MLPA by establishing a network of protected areas that will help restore our impaired ocean.

We need people to testify in support of marine protected areas! The State is on a timeline to implement the MLPA and it’s critical that they hear from the public about how important marine protected areas are to you and you local community.

Go here to learn more about why marine protected areas are so important and what you can say at the MLPA at the meeting on June 4^th. http://www.surfrider.org/policy_mpa.asp To learn more about MLPA go to: www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa

MEETING DETAILS--- MLPA, JUNE 4^TH.

Public comment starts at approximately 9:40am

Where:  Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
             6101 West Century Boulevard
             Los Angeles, CA  90045

Over the summer we will also be hosting MLPA trainings where you can learn more about Surfrider’s efforts and get trained on how you can be part of the MLPA process. There are upcoming MLPA meetings this summer and fall where we need your help!  To learn more about MLPA and how you can get involved, contact Stefanie at:  SSekich@Surfrider.org

 

Recent Surfrider Chapter Meeting Discusses Border Sewage Problem

Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter meeting recently addressed border sewage issues.  To get involved with the Border Sewage Campaign contact Dan Murphy, dan@surfridersd.org