ABSTRACT: An abbreviated version of the MONTEREY BAY REGIONAL DESALINATION PROJECT (RDP) TIMELINE from March 2010 to August 2011 is presented based on “A RIVER RE-RUNS THROUGH IT,” Kera Abraham, MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY, August 25, 2011. An ADDENDUM consisting of links to “A RIVER RE-RUNS THROUGH IT” and related articles and embedded Remcho Report and Markham Report is provided.
TIMELINE FOR REGIONAL DESALINATION PROJECT (RDP):
March 2010:
• California American Water (Cal-Am), Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) and Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) release the water purchase and settlement agreements, detailing their partnership in the Regional Desalination Project (RDP).
• State Division of Ratepayer Advocates and Monterey Peninsula Water Management District object about RDP’s cost and governance, which excludes Cal Am’s Peninsula-area ratepayers.
April 2010:
• The Courts put the State Water Resources Control Board’s Cease-and-Desist Order is effect; the Order sets a phased schedule for Cal Am to end illegal diversions of approximately 10,500 acre-feet of Carmel River water by the end of 2016.
• Ag Land Trust files a lawsuit against the Project partners, challenging their legal right to pump coastal water what could impact the Salinas Valley Basin; trial set for September 29.
June 2010:
• Public hearings held in Seaside and Monterey on the RDP.
September 2010:
• WaterPlus, a new ratepayer advocacy group, calls for a public buyout of Cal Am.
November 2010:
• Moss Landing Water, a private desalination venture, proposes to draw deep water from the Monterey Submarine Canyon and desalinate it for Cal-Am customers at a fraction of the RDP’s costs.
December 2010:
• California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approves the agreements governing the $400 million RDP, including approximately $300 million for the desalination facilities in Marina and approximately $100 million for Cal Am’s pipeline to the Peninsula.
January 2011:
• CPUC approves the moratorium after a judge allows Cal-Am to stop new water hookups on the Peninsula effectively stopping redevelopment projects in Seaside and Monterey until a new water source in developed.
• Investment bank Wedbush Securities states the RDP is a risky investment, in part because “the financial risk falls directly on Cal-Am ratepayers, with little recourse to the public project owner-operators.”
March 2011:
• MCWRA Board Director Steve Collins recused himself from voting on the $28 million contract with RMC Engineering to manage the RDP; Collin’s financial disclosure form reveals $160,000 in consulting fees from RMC while serving on the board and voting on issues related to the RDP.
April 2011:
• Steve Collins resigns from the MCWRA board after 16 years while denying allegations of conflict of interest. The County Board of Supervisors launches an independent investigation of Collins’ conduct.
• MPWMD officials begin discussions with the Naval Postgraduate School about the potential to build a smaller desalination plant in Monterey.
May 2011:
• The State’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) begins an investigation into Collin’s possible violation of Government Code 1090, which prohibits public officials from making contract deals in which they have financial interest. Later, the Monterey County District Attorney’s office is working with the FPPC to investigate Collins.
June 2011:
• The Board of Supervisors releases the “Remcho Report,” representing partial findings of an independent investigation into the Collins matter. A finding claims that RMC paid Collins for his official work as an MCWRA director; that finding puts the validity of the RDP agreements in doubt.
July 2011:
• Marina Coast releases the “Markman Report,” its investigation into the Collins’ matter. Collins claimed Supervisors Calcagno and Potter asked him to push for the RP and the Supervisors knew of his RMC consulting work. Supervisors Calcagno and Potter deny any prior knowledge that Collins was on RMC’s payroll.
• Cal Am President Robert MacLean writes to MCWRA General Manager Curtis Weeks notifying MCWRA of their failure to obtain project financing by the deadline.
• MCWRA considers the water purchase agreement void because of Collins’ alleged conflict of interest.
• Marina Coast maintained that the RDP agreement is valid and rejects MCWRA’s calls for dispute resolution.
August 2011:
• RDP partners ask the California Coastal Commission for permission to test a slant well as a potential source of brackish water for the desalination plant. The Commission unanimously agrees to delay any decision until the Collins matter and the pending Ag Land Trust lawsuit are resolved.
• Cal Am notifies MCWRA and Marina Coast that they’re in default because they haven’t secured the RDP’s financing on time and calls for dispute resolutions giving the project partners 90 days to remedy situation or proceed with mediation.
• The California Superior Court holds a case management conference on Cal Am and MPWMD’s appeal of the State Water Boards Cease-and-Desist Order.
Source: A River Re-Runs Through It
Get current with the Regional Desalination Project drama series.
By Kera Abraham
Thursday, August 25, 2011
ADDENDUM:
The Regional Desal Project for Dummies
If you don’t follow the Peninsula’s wonky water saga, think of it as our own ridiculous reality show.
By Kera Abraham
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Water, Logged: The Weekly's Desal Project Coverage
Archive, June 2004 – August 2011
Remcho Report 6-21-11
SUMMARY OF PRELIMINARY FINDINGS REGARDING DIRECTOR STEPHEN COLLINS’ BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH RMC WATER AND ENVIRONMENT AND MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICT (Remcho Report)
Markman Preliminary Report on Conflict of Interest and Impact on Validity of Contracts 07-01-2011
“PRELIMINARY REPORT ON CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN THE PROCESSING AND APPROVAL OF THE REGIONAL DESALINATION PROJECT CONTRACTS, AND THE INPACT OF ANY CONFLICT ON THE BALIDITY OF THE CONTRACTS” (Markham Report)
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