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‘No Furniture Is as Expensive as a Government Bureau’, says commentary about desalination; writer alleges collusion between agencies to draw out the process

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 20, 2008 at 6:58 am

From the San Diego Business Journal, this commentary:

This is update No. 2,000 on the Carlsbad desalination plant approval process, which began in 1999. The process is about as long lasting as a daily television soap opera.

We could call it, “As the Tide Turns, So Does the Government Process.”

The latest episode took place on the stage of the State Regional Water Resources Control Board on April 9 in Kearny Mesa. The plot is intricate, deceptive and mostly self-serving to the public actors who star in these sagas.

All of the government agencies that have a part in approving the proposed desalination plant have publicly stated that the only answer to California’s statewide water crisis is desalination.

Say what? ALL of the government agencies think desalination is the ONLY answer to California’s water crisis? No, I do not believe that. Lester Snow, in his recent commentary in the LA Times, said that desalination should be one of many things in the state’s water portfolio. The Coastal Commission didn’t seem so enthused about it, either. Plus consider this: The Carlsbad plant, largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere, will supply water for 300,000 people. Last count, year 2000 population count in San Diego County was 2.8 million people; Los Angeles County had nearly 10 million people, and I haven’t even included Riverside County, Orange County, or Ventura County. Do the math, and realize it would take a tremendous number of desalination plants to provide enough water for Southern California.

Here’s an interesting allegation:

But the big three approval process players — the State Lands Commission, Commission and the Water Resources Control Board — are playing pingpong with Poseidon Resources and the city of Carlsbad by approving the permit, then adding conditions to it. Then, as they plan to hear the permit conditions update at a later date, staff members of the big three get together to find ways to drag out the process.

The writer concludes by saying, "It seems to me that this process is too long and too costly. Sometimes I guess this old adage is appropriate, “No furniture is as expensive as a government bureau.” Read the rest of this commentary from the San Diego Business Journal by clicking here .

April 20, 2008 · Filed Under Desalination, Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant