In spite of the fact that the Delta Tunnels Plan has no basis in science, economics or logic, the Brown administration continues to forge ahead with the widely-opposed government boondoggle.
On Tuesday, July 28, the first of two “open houses” will be held on the Delta Tunnels EIR/EIS (formerly known as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.)
"Four buses of Restore the Delta activists are coming to Sacramento from cities around the Bay-Delta," according to a news release from Restore the Delta. "They plan to 'Transform the Open House' with a spirited and respectful outpouring of opposition to Jerry Brown’s plan to build massive underground water tunnels that would drain the Delta and doom sustainable farms, salmon and other Pacific fisheries."
"The format for these 'open houses' will be very restricted," according to RTD. "There will be no formal presentation to the public by agencies promoting the project, and no time set aside for the public to express their concerns in a community setting. Instead, these faux public hearings are being called 'open houses' set up like a science fair. The public will move from one exhibit to the next, and perhaps have a chance to give a comment to the court reporter in attendance."
The two “open houses” are scheduled for:
- Sacramento – Tuesday July 28, 2015, 3:00 to 7:00pm, Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, Magnolia Room, 1230 J Street
- Walnut Grove – Wednesday, July 29, 2015, 3:00 to 7:00pm, Jean Harvie Senior and Community Center, 14273 River Road
In a overt violation of the First Amendment and the U.S. and California Constitutions, state officials at similar events last year prohibited the public from recording answers, wearing t-shirts promoting Delta organizations, or making public comments in a community setting. The message was clear - the fix (the California Water Fix) is in.
“Is this an attempt to get the public to ‘shut up’ about our opposition to this expensive and destructive project as Governor Brown has asked us to?” asks Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta.
On the street outside the Sacramento hearing, a video crew will interview people to share their actual public comments with the Secretary Jewell at the Department of the Interior and with President Obama.
The Revised BDCP EIR/EIS at 48,000 pages of appendices, footnotes, tables, and renumbered alternatives is now open for public comment. The original 45-day comment period was met with outrage by community groups and agencies. The comment period has now been extended until October 30, 2015.
Written comments are due by close of business Friday, Oct. 30. Comments should be mailed to BDCP/WaterFix Comments, P.O. Box 1919, Sacramento, CA 95812 or emailed to BDCPComments@icfi.com.
In other Delta Tunnels news, Restore the Delta has filed a protest and request for consideration with the State Water Resources Control Board over its prior “Temporary Urgent Change Petitions” regarding water exports, Delta outflows, and water quality standards for the SF Bay-Delta estuary during the drought.
In its protest, RTD bases its request in three key areas: the existing Temporary Urgency Change Petition does not serve the public interest, is contrary to law, and is resulting in an adverse environmental impact on the Bay-Delta estuary.
Among the claims in the letter:
• The SWRCB has failed to implement the reduced Delta reliance policy mandated by the Legislature in the 2009 Delta Reform Act which intended to increase water importers’ reliance on local and regional supplies, drought-resistant supplies like water recycling, etc.
• The CVP & SWP treated their supplies in 2013 and 2014 as though a long-term drought would not occur, exporting from the Delta for today, never mind future years’ supplies.
• The SWRCB has yet to analyze and balance the value of water exports with the value of water to fisheries to Delta communities.
For more information, go to: http://restorethedelta.org/...