Dealing With Sewer Spill Fines

John H. Minan, faculty of the University of San Diego Schoolof Law and member of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board,discusses the future of a $3.47 million sewage spill fine against thecity of San Diego in this opinion editorial. As encouraged by San Diegocitizens, the regional board created a mechanism that would keep thefunds local, called the "supplemental environmental project," or SEP,Minan explains. The SEP would allow the violator to fund an approvedenvironmental project to avoid paying a portion of the fine. However,Minan asserts, the proceedings before the board are being decided undera state act that specifically states that all funds shall be depositedin a state account to go toward environmental projects across the state.Minan contends the act should be amended to allow the use of SEPs andultimately questions the rationale of disbursing pollution fines tounrelated environmental projects.

Thanks to California 2000 Project