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Poseidon hopes to clear last regulatory hurdle today, but error in impact report could delay approval

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 8, 2009 at 8:09 am

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

The developer of a proposed ocean-water desalination plant on Carlsbad’s coast expected to clear its last hurdle today at a meeting of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Poseidon Resources has moved through a series of regulatory agencies and expected the regional board to approve its environmental plan so it could begin construction this year.

But in poring over Poseidon’s study on the number of fish its plant would kill, the board’s staff discovered a math error last year that significantly underestimated the number. The number of fish killed could be four to seven times higher than Poseidon’s study originally estimated, staff members believed. The error could mean that Poseidon won’t receive its final approval today, and it might have to return to the state Coastal Commission, which already has granted a permit.

When challenged, Poseidon admitted the mistake but said it shouldn’t affect its proposal to create 55.4 acres of new wetlands to compensate for the fish killed. “We believe the . . . impacts for the desalination project are de minimis (insignificant), and the impacts can be offset by the 55.4 acres,” said Scott Maloni, Poseidon’s spokesman.

Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.

Poseidon’s hearing in front of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Board begins this morning at 9 am. I’ll be watching and posting any updates on the hearing as soon as I find them.

April 8, 2009 · Filed Under Poseidon's Carlsbad Plant

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