Dumping site a boon to Newport

STEVE BROMBERG

Thanks to the Daily Pilot for making the public aware of the

important action the Environmental Protection Agency may take to

designate a location 4 1/2 miles off the Newport Pier as a permanent

(instead of its current but 35-year-old “temporary” designation)

place for sediment from the Upper and Lower Newport Bay to be

deposited.

Dredging projects -- small and large -- benefit by this

designation.

It’s not just the city’s taxpayers who save money by not having to

haul sediment up to San Pedro. Local residents and businesses with

piers and docks benefit, too, since they would be forced to make that

long haul (and pay for it) if the so-called LA-3 site is not

established as a permanent location for us to deposit bay sediment.

Indeed, if we could no longer use the LA-3 for Upper Bay sediment,

we will be hard pressed to ever do another large Upper Bay dredging

project.

We’re already struggling to get $38 million for the current

project, and imagine if that cost doubled or tripled because we had

to haul the material all the way up to San Pedro.

Please know that the LA-3 site cannot and will not take

contaminated sediments.

The testing process for sediments placed at LA-3 is rigorous. The

initial environmental documents show that there will be minimal

impacts to water quality by making this site permanent.

Indeed, the recent rains have shown how much sediment Mother

Nature moves through the Bay during a large storm -- this is the same

sediment that the EPA is proposing to allow us to place 4 1/2 miles

out. To me, it’s sensible both environmentally and fiscally.

I urge all Newport Beach residents to support this important

effort by EPA.

* STEVE BROMBERG is the mayor of Newport Beach.