Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority Technical Advisory Committee Members Dolan & Riley ‘Deficiency’ Memos regarding Cal-Am’s Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project

ABSTRACT:  Two members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority, a Joint Power Authority (JPA) that consists of six cities, the Cities of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Sand City and Seaside whose “purpose is to study, plan, develop, finance acquire, construct, maintain, repair, manage, operate, control and govern Water Projects either alone or in cooperation with other public or private non-member entities,” Roger Dolan and George Riley, issued memos regarding “deficiencies” in Cal-Am’s Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (MPWSP).  The memos are embedded (pgs. 4 & 5).   In his Memo, Roger Dolan cited “several deficiencies” involving CalAm’s proposals to use slant wells in the Salinas Valley (SV), the MRWPCA outfall pipe for the disposal of concentrate and a “supplemental” EIR which only addresses four features of the project that they consider the only changes from the RP EIR: change in location of the plant and wells, and the changes in the sizes of both.  George Riley, in his Memo, cited Cal-Am decision-making deficiencies, including, as follows:

1. Developed without open public input and related transparency. 

2. Does not contain a governance structure, nor local representation in any way.

3. Seeks to bypass county ordinance 1072 requiring public ownership of desal.

4. County ordinance 1072 will continue to apply to other desal proposals.

5. Seeks to change the ground rules for Cal Am's two competitors that have desal proposals.

6. Does not contain a public partner nor plans for a public partner.

7. Does not contain public agency financing, which can lower amortization costs.

8. Ignores local court ruling that the EIR for RDP was faulty.

9. Has made no provision for a full EIR of cumulative impacts.

10. Ignores the requirement for an EIR evaluation of existing alternative desal proposals.

11. Claims to have a CPUC letter overruling county ordinance 1072, with no public discussion.

12. Cal Am assumes it has sole discretion to decide if ASR and GWR projects are on schedule.

13. Peninsula ratepayers again will pay for asset, but have no ownership stake.

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dolan and Riley Memos

Technical Advisory Committee Dolan & Riley Memos

ADDENDUM:

Cal Am supply plan draws fire

Panelists say public input lacking, laws being ignored

By JIM JOHNSON Herald Staff Writer, 05/05/2012