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.
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