The last word

It appears there was a lot of unnecessary muckraking about Newport

Beach’s supposedly heinous dumping of dried-out sewage in an Irvine

landfill.

When the story came to light, it was front-page fodder in the local

media, including the Pilot’s use of the word “fiasco” to describe what

had happened. We all saw the muck and ran with it.

But now a report -- notably commissioned by the city -- finds that no

state laws were violated during the dozen years the city sent waste to

the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill. The report appears thorough, and while a

more independent investigation probably would be more credible, it seems

this was a story that, for the most part, wasn’t. At least we let you

know that on Page 1, so we clearly saw when the muck was raked away.

Still, we can’t help but think that Newport Beach shouldn’t be

satisfied with merely following state law. Given the city’s leadership

and commitment on fighting pollution, Newport Beach should hold itself to

much higher standards. It ought to be squeaky clean.