Attorneys pitch desal to state AGs

http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/222319-desalination-could-help-quench-arid-states-attorney-tells-ags

San Diego Union-Tribune

Judge upholds approval of desalination plant
August 7, 2009
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Superior Court has upheld a state commission's approval of plans for the largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere in Carlsbad.
In a tentative decision yesterday, a judge threw out a lawsuit filed by the Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper.
The environmental groups filed suit challenging the State Lands Commission's approval of Poseidon Resources' plans to mitigate for the uptake of sea water and harm to marine life.
Coastkeeper attorney Marco Gonzalez says the decision limits Poseidon's options. His organization plans to appeal or object to the tentative decision.
The $320 million project could produce 50 million gallons of drinking water a day, or 10 percent of the supply for San Diego County.

For a good example of the regulatory process, please take a moment to watch this California Coastal Commission hearing with Steve Blank and Poseidon Resources.



To learn more about the Tampa Bay Water Desal project in Tampa Bay that was previously the largest in the US, also contracted to Poseidon, yet came online late, overbudget, and operated under capacity, please read this article.