Palomar Watchdog is a grass-roots, citizen-sponsored campaign to support the safety of people living near Palomar Energy Center in Escondido.
On Thursday, April 26, 2007, executives from SDG&E were taken to the woodshed by the Hearing Board of the San Diego Air Pollution Control District, over excess pollution at the plant and another request for a Variance to exceed environmental permits.
"This is an incredible victory for people who breathe around here," said Michael Johnson of San Marcos, one of three people to provide sworn testimony in opposition to Petition No. 4073. "I think the Hearing Board has real concerns about SDG&E breaking their pollution promises."
Specifically, the energy giant sought its second year of a Variance to release more of the pollutant "Nitrogen Oxide" (NOx) into the local environment during turbine start-up than was originally approved.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency website, NOx is harmful to children, the elderly, people with asthma and those who exercise outdoors. (Source: http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/nox/hlth.html) It's also difficult to control. An EPA booklet on NOx stated: "EPA tracks emissions of six principal air pollutants--carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. All have decreased significantly since the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970--except for nitrogen oxides." (Source: "NOx: How nitrogen oxides affect the way we live and breathe", EPA-456/F-98-005)
Even though the Hearing Board approved SDG&E's request, they threatened "mitigation fees" if the company doesn't clean up its act. They also asked for detailed numbers on the actual amount of pollution created from the Variance to provisions of Rule 69.3.1. As part of the deal, which expires next year, SDG&E will be required to make quarterly progress reports to the Hearing Board.
Johnson said, "I'm still worried about the power plant. The Hearing Board based some of their decisions on a draft of a proposed rule change only released six days earlier. It seems premature to rewrite rules affecting public health without a proper public comment period and formal approval by the Air Pollution Control Board."
For the record, the Palomar Watchdog campaign is not against the Power Plant. This is one of the most progressive, clean-burning power plants in America. SDG&E is using lots of innovative technologies to minimize negative impacts. And the Air Pollution Control District is showing strong regulatory oversight, too.
Why then this website? Because the Palomar Energy Center is starting to show a pattern of environmental abuse. They're not keeping their pollution promises! As a result, the health of the public is being compromised. And now they want to change the rules. A copy of the proposed rule change schedule is included below.
Time For Action
Concerned residents should express their opinions to the elected officials who make the decisions and the local newspapers who keep the public informed. If you do comment, please be polite and considerate. Respect must be show, if respect is to be received. Organized community action can make a real impact on the proposed rule revision schedule in later 2007, the next step in the battle for cleaner air.
Here are some possibilities:
North County Times accepts "unsolicited commentaries" up to 500 words on local topics; mail to 207 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Escondido, CA 92025; fax to 760-745-3769; e-mail to opinion@nctimes.com; hand-deliver to any local office in Escondido (207 E. Pennsylvania Ave.), San Marcos (933 W. San Marcos Blvd.), Fallbrook (232 S. Main St.), Vista (950 Escondido Ave.), Oceanside (1722 S. Coast Hwy.), Encinitas (374 N. Coast Highway 101, Suite A) and Temecula (28765 Single Oak Dr., Suite 100).
Today's Local News accepts letters to the editor e-mailed to tlnletters@tlnews.net ; this paper is delivered free Wednesday through Sunday to Escondido, San Marcos, Oceanside, Vista and Carlsbad.
North County Reader accepts letters pertaining to the contents of the Reader; phone them in at 619-235-3000 x460; mail them to Letters to the Editor, Box 85803, San Diego, CA 92186-5803; fax them to 619-231-0489, or e-mail them through the web site www.SanDiegoReader.com/letters. Include your name, address, and telephone number.
You can also write directly to the County Board of Supervisors, since they sit on the Air Pollution Control Board, and they appoint the representatives to the Air Pollution Control District Hearing Board, which approves Variances.
Supervisor Greg Cox, District 1; e-mail to gregcox@sdcounty.ca.gov ; mail to 1600 Pacific Hwy., Room 335, San Diego, CA 92101; phone to 619-531-5511; fax to 619-235-0644
Supervisor Dianne Jacob, District 2; e-mail to dianne.jacob@sdcounty.ca.gov ; mail to 1600 Pacific Hwy., San Diego, CA 92101; phone to 619-531-5522; fax to 619-696-7253
Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, District 3; e-mail to Pam.Slater@sdcounty.ca.gov ; mail to 1600 Pacific Hwy., Room 335, San Diego, CA 92101; phone to 619-531-5533; fax to 619-234-1559
Supervisor Ron Roberts, District 4; e-mail to ron-roberts@sdcounty.ca.gov ; mail to 1600 Pacific Hwy., Room 335, San Diego, CA 92101; phone to 619-531-5544; fax to 619-531-6262
Supervisor Bill Horn, District 5; e-mail to BillHorn@sdcounty.ca.gov ; mail to 1600 Pacific Hwy., Room 335, San Diego, CA 92101; phone to 800-852-7335 or 619-531-5555 or 760-806-2400
If you'd like to be added to the e-mail action list, contact mjohns341@cox.net. Thanks for reading this web site!
And thanks to the North County Times for printing an editorial "No Pollution Pass for Palomar Energy" on page E-2 of the Sunday, April 22, 2007 edition. It's easy to find if you Google "palomarwatchdog.com".
And thanks to the San Diego Air Pollution Control District Hearing Board, who went out of their way to receive public comments at the April 26 Hearing. They even made Board history by permitting ten-year-old Maxwell Johnson from Knob Hill Elementary School in San Marcos to provide sworn testimony.
Keep checking back to this website for updates and developments. Thanks for reading!
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