EPA PROPOSES CLEANUP PLAN FOR SULPHUR BANK MERCURY MINE SUPERFUND SITE

www.WikiWand.com

An EPA cleanup plan for the 160-acre Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine Superfund site was released to the public for review and comments. The plan focuses on cleanup in Clearlake Oaks, specifically the mine area, the sovereign territory of the Elem Indian Colony Tribe and contaminated soils in the residential area to the southwest of the site.

Since the site was placed on the Superfund cleanup program in August 1990, the EPA has completed eight early cleanups in an attempt to protect human health and the environment and reduce contamination in soil, lake water and sediments, fish and wildlife, and tribal and residential properties near the mine.

The cleanup plan is open for public comments until April 10, 2023. The EPA will host virtual Q&A sessions, in-person open houses, and in-person final meetings in the coming months.

AGRICULTURE POLLUTES UNDERGROUND DRINKING WATER IN MINNESOTA

DailyYonder.com

Residents in Wabasha County, Minnesota are seeing elevated levels of nitrate in their groundwater. With each periodic test, the nitrate concentration increased until it surpassed the EPA’s safety standard of 10 parts per million in 1990 and eventually climbed to 22 ppm.

Drinking water with high levels of nitrate can cause methemoglobinemia or “blue baby syndrome,” a potentially life-threatening condition affecting the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Nitrates also have been linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

BAY AREA STORMS CAUSE MORE THAN $55M IN DAMAGE, SANTA CRUZ OFFICIALS SAY

www.SFChronicle.com

Costs for repairs to storm damage in Santa Cruz are piling up due to the mudslides, downed trees, and power outages, as well as flooded businesses, roadways and residences. The number tied to storm damages is expected to grow as first responders are still finding and experiencing damages.

Santa Cruz County emergency official David Reid told the Business Journal that the storms have caused more than $55 million in damage including more than $21 million for roads. Plus, lost revenues for area businesses are estimated to be between $5 million and $10 million.

HEAVY RAIN, WIND CAUSES DAMAGE THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY

www.USAToday.com

The storm on January 16 caused downed power lines and trees throughout San Diego County.

In Golden Hill, a 60-70-foot tree fell from the golf course onto the street around 2:30 a.m. Monday morning at Golf Course Drive and 28th Street. In Pacific Beach, a large tree crashed into powerlines in front of a residence, knocking out power to 2,100 units on Ingraham Street and Fortuna Avenue around 3:20 a.m. In Serra Mesa, several people were evacuated from their homes around 5:18 a.m. after a large pine tree fell onto the roof of a two-story apartment complex. No injuries were reported.

CALIFORNIA APPROVES $1.7 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH RESTAURANTS FOR COVID-19 CLOSURES FEES

www.NYTimes.com

COVID-19 forced restaurants to close or limit their service during the pandemic. Two class-action lawsuits allege restaurants still had to pay their health permit fees and license fees despite government-mandated closures.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1.7 million settlement to resolve the two lawsuits brought by restaurant owners looking to recoup fees paid to the county during the pandemic.

Restaurants will receive credit against future fees if they paid their annual permit fee between the settlement period of March 17, 2020 to June 15, 2021 and are still in business. If they are no longer in business, but paid fees during the settlement period, they will receive reimbursement.

Similar lawsuits were also filed in Los Angeles, San Bernadino, Riverside, San Diego counties as well as Northern California counties. In San Diego, a settlement of $4.5 million over permit fees was finalized.

CITY OF SARTELL RECEIVES $50,000 CONTAMINATION CLEANUP AND INVESTIGATION GRANT

WJON.com

The city of Sartell, Minnesota has been awarded $50,000 for riverfront redevelopment at the old Verso Paper mill site. The city will use the money to fund a study for the 45.8-acre site to be redeveloped into a mix of residential and commercial use. The redevelopment project is anticipated to create close to 100 jobs and increase the local tax base by $647,000. Matching funds will be provided by the City of Sartell.

The funding was awarded by DEED’s Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grant Program, which will leverage more than $411 million in private investment.

There was a deadly explosion at the paper mill in May of 2012. The mill was permanently closed in August of that year. AIM Development bought the site from Verso in 2013 and demolished the buildings. It has been vacant ever since.

A PALM OIL SPILL ON MELBOURNE BEACHES

www.TheGuardian.com

An oil spill of mostly palm oil in Melbourne, Australia has spread across oceans and beaches. Some beaches have been temporarily closed by the city, despite the city’s hot summer temperatures. City officials are still trying to figure out exactly how this happened.

The Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA Victoria) reported that its officers were investigating the source of oil contaminating St. Kilda Beach and Elwood Beach in Melbourne, Australia. Various tests are being conducted by EPA Victoria and forced the agency to issue a water quality alert to a number of neighboring Melbourne beaches. Beach visitors were recommended to stay away from the water.

STORM-DAMAGED OCEAN BEACH PIER WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL REPAIRS COMPLETED

www.PointLoma-OBMonthly.com

The Ocean Beach pier, damaged in places in last week’s stormy weather, will stay closed to the public until further notice.

According to San Diego lifeguard Lt. Rick Romero, it could take weeks for crews to assess the damage and make repairs. “That’s going to be out of commission for a couple of weeks, if not more,” Romero said. On Jan. 6, heavy surf and high tides caused damage which will cause the pier to remain closed until it can be repaired.

One of the largest swells to hit San Diego County in years produced 10- to 12-foot waves in many spots, according to the National Weather Service and San Diego lifeguards. Romero said San Diego hasn’t seen this kind of surf “in probably over 10 years.”

In October, the San Diego City Council approved the $8 million contract with Long Beach-based engineering consultant Moffatt & Nichols for a study to begin the planning process for replacing the pier. Plans call for construction of a new pier to begin by 2006.