Commentary: Keep your waste to yourself

The treated sewage discharge plan of River Rock Casino will
permanently change the future of our land, streams and the Russian
River. There has been woefully inadequate study of the impacts that
this plan will have in regards to the possible contamination of
prime vineyard land as well as on the many thousands of people who
depend on the Russian River for their drinking water and their
livelihood.
At issue is the Environmental Protection Agency issuing a permit
for disposal of the casino¹s treated sewage. Such a permit is
nowhere near ready to be considered for adoption. There are
essential data and documentation that need to be made public for
review, discussion and comment, all in the open, in public view.
There must be a full Environmental Impact Statement done before
this permit is issued.
Nearby property owners were never notified by the EPA or the
casino that the casino¹s treated sewage would be discharged on
their vineyards. This was brought up repeatedly at the Sept. 7
hearing. The EPA sent us a notice of the hearing one week after the
hearing had been held. Why was that?
In the Sept. 13 Tribune, the state water board executive stated
that, ³in this region, no one can discharge into an isolated water
drainage.² The EPA claimed that they were unaware of this and also
claimed the stream flows through tribal land. Wrong. This creek
does NOT flow through tribal land but begins 200 feet outside that
land. In fact no one is sure how this water will get from the
tribal land to the private property that is proposed to be used as
a leach field for the undetermined amount of treated sewage the
casino wants to get rid of.
The primary creek into which the casino wants to dump its
treated sewage flows through my family farm and less than 50 feet
from our domestic water well and several agricultural wells. This
tiny perennial stream is a habitat for endangered steelhead
trout.
The plan as now written does not state effluent limits for
toxicity or toxic pollutants. It would monitor the treated sewage
for these contaminating elements only once every 24 months. Nor are
there any requirements for cooling the treated sewage before it is
put into the creek. Santa Rosa has to build 5-story cooling towers
before it can release its effluent into the Russian River. Why not
the casino?
In the summer and many times well into December there is no flow
in this creek, only ponds where the fish live. If issued, the
casino plan would allow the casino to take an amount of treated
sewage equal to 1 percent of the Russian River¹s water and
discharge it, quality or temperature unknown, into this stream.
When asked at the hearing why they didn¹t pipe the effluent
directly to the Russian River, we were told that they couldn¹t do
that because it would be too concentrated and would be harmful to
the fish in the river. Is it OK to pollute the fish in the creek?
And what about the people downstream in Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa
Rosa, etc.?
There must be more intensive and more frequent monitoring to
properly test if the casino is meeting standards set to protect
both people and fish. The EPA¹s permit must be sure of compliance
by the casino in treating its sewage.
The EPA does not have enough staff to adequately inspect and
monitor the sewage treatment and disposal operation. We were told
by the EPA that there are strict penalties with fines and they
could close the casino if necessary. What will happen if there is a
sewage spill that contaminates the private lands? The EPA collects
the money and we are left with the problem. We do not even have the
jurisdiction to sue the casino.
Perhaps the EPA should require that the casino¹s owners sign a
waiver of sovereign immunity which would allow private property
owners legal recourse in the event of property damage.
Is it possible that the Federal Government has essentially
condemned our land solely for the economic benefit of the
casino?
At the EPA hearing Liz DeRouen and Reg Elgin stood before us
once again and told us that they are good neighbors and they love
and respect their land. They said they have carefully planned the
best project that would best complement their land.
The casino¹s recent newsletter tells of how the acorn is
meaningful to the tribe and played a central part at tribal
celebrations. Have you looked at the Rancheria in the last couple
of weeks? Despite their self-stated commitment to preserving the
environment, thousands of oak trees have been chain sawed down and
ground into dust on the Rancheria. It looks like the acorn will
only be a symbol, because they will all be gone.
Good neighbors don¹t impact their neighbors¹ property. Yes, the
Rancheria is your land; do with it what you want, but keep the
project on your land, develop the best plan that your land will
support. Don¹t use your neighbors¹ land to flush your toilets!
Follow the laws and regulations that all the citizens of this land
have to follow.
Candy Cadd is a resident and property owner in Alexander
Valley.