But they might have to leave their contract some day, and it will be then maintained by the City as a water control Basin for Run Off, from the Freeway! That is what or where the cement River is goign to flow to, then when that fills if it ever fills up. The land fill when the expantion was ready was over a 100' deep I don't know how they kept the water table from leaking into the hole, but it was amazing looking down into the hole they had dug ready for fillign with our trash.
BSRanch
Kurt Berchtold, an official with the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, said Tuesday the agency now is reviewing the management practices of Hanson Aggregates West Inc. to see if it violated its permit to operate on the county-owned land.
Hanson leases land from the San Bernardino County Flood Control District north of Banyan Street and east of Milliken Avenue -- just outside Rancho Cucamonga's city limits.
Two local water agencies have accused the company of allowing silt from its site to flow into Day Creek Channel, clogging a basin farther south which is used to replenish water supplies for the Inland Empire.
Kenneth Ehrlich, Hanson's lawyer, said the company is prepared to coordinate with state agencies for information they need.
"We hope the process moves forward and we can get to the bottom of this," Ehrlich said.
The state's Department of Fish and Game began a parallel investigation last week.
Berchtold said the permit issued to Hanson for its operation is based on "best management practices," not a limit on how much sediment can flow off its site. The regional water quality staff investigation will center on how much is allowed under state industry standards, he said.
Physical evidence gathered by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and the Chino Basin Watermaster, which oversee water supplies in the Inland Empire, appear to show that Hanson is responsible for mud deposits in the basin. The caked mud has essentially sealed the basin's ability to allow water recharge, officials said.
"From our perspective, there are two issues," said Ken Manning, chief executive officer of the Chino Basin Watermaster. "We need to know who did this ... and we need to make sure it doesn't happen again."
Manning and other officials believe Hanson is the culprit and that the company should be financially responsible for the cleanup costs and lost water. They believe silt came from ponds created on the plant's site when unusable sediment is washed off rock and gravel. Manning estimates the damage at about $1.2 million.
Hanson officials have refuted the allegations saying that the amount of debris found in the basin and channel is much larger than what would be produced on their property.
Berchtold said the Santa Ana regional board review should be completed in a week.
The Fish and Game department's investigation will also depend on the board's results, though it will also take into account the local water agencies' evidence. A final report by Fish and Game may then be forwarded to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's specialized prosecution group for possible filing of charges.
Edward Barrera can be reached by e-mail at edward.barreraor by phone at (909) 483-9356
Photo Gallery: Dumping in Day Creek Channel, 07/05
May 17 2006 letter: From Hanson Aggregates West acknowledging complaints about the silt but blaming the majority of the problem on natural causes.
June 5 2006 letter: From Inland Empire Utilities Agency to Hanson Aggregates West accusing it of dumping debris into Day Creek channel
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