CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO DENY CAMBRIA GEOTECH DRILLING PROJECT #2! WATCH THE VIDEO AND HEAR THEIR REASONS FOR YOURSELF:
Regarding the Cambria Community Services District and Army Corps of Engineers "geotech 2" testing at the mouth of Santa Rosa Creek, Cambria, California Coastal Commissioner Dayna Bochco makes a motion for a no vote. When asked to speak to her motion, she says, among other things, that, "...there's just no way around that this site, this beach, this creek mouth, is an environmentally sensitive area by any standard...in my mind, there isn't a section of Chapter three this doesn't go against..." and, "...to add to that in my...distress about this, is that...most of the conditions you tried to incorporate to protect this place...they've taken it out."
Part 2 of Coastal Commission debate. Jana Zimmer, who seconded the motion to deny a consistency determination for the project, says, among other things, "...there was a permit application for a CPD [Coastal Development Permit] from the Cambria Community Services District in 2006...this commission denied the CDP...subsequent to that a contract was entered into with the Army Corps...I don't know whether there's been a full assessment, a legal assessment, as to what are the elements of the federal involvement and the federal activity that now tip this into a federal project where we lose jurisdiction." She also agrees that, "...there's a limited amount of data expected to be derived from this, and that that data will not be sufficient to determine whether the site is suitable for the intended purpose." She also says, "The risks of the testing alone are substantial."
Esther Sanchez, the lone no vote on "Geotech 1" in 2010, says of that vote, "...there was no project description and no EIR [Environmental Impact report]. We simply were given so little information that I voted against it based on unacceptable impacts and lack of information. What we have before us today is a more aggressive project, still lacking the description of a project...lacking analysis as to why this site would even be appropriate...." She goes on to say that, "This project represents an avoidance of proper procedures..." by having the A.C.E come forward, rather than the CCSD.
Steve Blank questions CCC staff, who seem to grow more nervous and uncomfortable (in the last video) with each question, as to whose project this really is, the ACE or the CCSD. He points out a case where the CCSD "in public testimony" were the ones sponsoring this project. He asks counsel if they can take into account future projects, that, "we're not just drilling wells just because we like to put holes in the ground." He also says, "I just think the commission's acquiescence to the Corps request for the deletion of those protections just make this an inadequate document."
This is the rest of the commissioners' debate of "Geotech 2," concluding with a unanimous no vote, denying the project. Mary Shallenberger says, "...what I heard mostly from the Corps was not why there would be no significant impacts here, but why they wanted the data, and that is not a reason for me to vote for it." She goes on to say, "...and I just have to say, stating the obvious, following up on commissioner Blank, if in fact, when it was before Cambria, at that point it was a joint project, and now it's come to us as a Corps only project, it really smells of going around the system--so that---a way to allow us to only do a consistency determination as opposed to a CDP, and I take offense at that, if it's true."
Martha McClure says she supports the no vote because of "page after page of conditions that are almost standard conditions in any action that we take...we want to make sure that the public is safe and the noise is diminished, and all of those were gone."
Steve Blank asks, "Is this an end run around our process?" and "Isn't this just a way to take it out of our jurisdiction?" He suggests, "...raising red flags with our legal staff and thinking about what the issues are here, because I think they're bigger than--much bigger than--Cambria."
You can also watch the meeting in its entirety on the Cal-Span Website under California Coastal Commission. Click on the date December 9, 2011. It's the second to last agenda item, and will be covered in the latter part of the video.
This site is organized by a citizens group of Cambrians and other residents of the Central Coast concerned about fiscal responsibility, water, development and environmental issues in Cambria, topics that are not be being adequately addressed by current media, San Luis Obispo County nor the Cambria Community Services District.
Cambria enjoys a spectacular natural coastal environment that attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world to our region, a bounty that adds important tourist dollars to the economy. In addition to the eco-wonders of Moonstone Beach (named one of the top 10 beaches in the West by Sunset Magazine) and the Santa Rosa Creek Natural Preserve, Cambria also acts as a gateway to Big Sur and Hearst Castle and offers visitors and residents alike many locally-owned restaurants, art galleries and high-quality retail stores that specialize in unique items.
Safeguarding our “natural capital” is good not only for the environment, but also good for ratepayers and businesses. Yet regard for the environment has become a bone of contention in the discussion around a possible desalination plant in Cambria. Although various water supply alternatives remain viable as described in Cambria’s Water Plan, no other water alternatives have been deemed as acceptable by the Community Services District in the past decade.
Environmental protections must be firmly in place before further development occurs on our coast. Being careful does not make one a naysayer, it makes one a steward of the land. By promoting protection of the natural environment, understanding our watersheds and being water-wise in the urban areas, we can all be on our way to a sustainable water future. A future that is good not only for Cambria (described by Forbe's as one of America's Prettiest Towns), but for the entire Central Coast.
Please use this site to inform yourself of the details. It's not glamorous and not even a little fun, but it is very important to anyone who cares about the Central Coast.
Our intention is to make it easier for everyone who loves Cambria and the Central Coast to work together to solve our problems in thoughtful and creative new ways by employing smarttechnologies and solutions that will ensure we live in harmony with nature and our precious natural resources, while preserving the quality of life and village environment of Cambria.
Thank you for your interest and for all you do to make Cambria great,
The concerned citizens of Cambria Water Watch.org