Mono Lake Committee
Member Update
L.A. DEPT. OF WATER & POWER EXTENDS
OLIVE
BRANCH ON AIR QUALITY CONTROVERSY
In July, the Mono Lake Committee reported to members that the L.A. Dept. of Water & Power (DWP) requested that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declare the Mono Basin a "Clean Air Attainment Area."
The Committee expressed three concerns to members:
1) DWP's interpretation of the data was distorted;
2) DWP should not have gone to EPA without informing the Committee;
3) If DWP convinced the EPA to declare the Mono Basin a "Clean Air Attainment Area" now, before Mono Lake is restored to the agreed-upon management level of 6392 feet, Mono Lake's future might be threatened.
The Committee received more than 1,000 letters of concern from members to the attention of DWP general manager David Freeman. We are pleased to report that Mr. Freeman responded swiftly and unequivocally. While characterizing the incident as a request for "clarification," Mr. Freeman said it was "regrettable that the Mono Lake Committee was not made aware of the request" and that "care will be taken in the future to avoid such misunderstandings."
In addition, Mr. Freeman stated that DWP is "fully committed to our water conservation and recycling activities in concert with the Mono Lake Committee." He cited the two organizations' recent cooperative effort to "achieve passage of a new ordinance that will require the retrofitting of toilets upon the sale of properties in L.A., and action that will save hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of precious water in the future."
Finally, Mr. Freeman proposed a series of meetings with the Committee and other stakeholders, as well as an annual meeting with the Mono Lake Committee exclusively, for the purpose of maintaining good communications. The Committee enthusiastically supports this idea.
What started as an alarming development has evolved into a constructive process. It's a shining example of the power of Committee members to influence the course of events.
Return to Spring 1999 Newsletter
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