The wastewater plant in Santa Paula, closed by an explosion in 2014, has sat dormant for the last seven years but that could soon change if the County of Ventura approves an application to reopen the facility.
Placed near schools, farms, the Santa Clara River, and on sacred Chumash land, the plant's reopening would put culturally and environmentally sensitive habit at substantial risk, yet the Planning Division has not required a full Environmental Impact Report of the proposed project.
If the facility is permitted to reopen, it would be expanded and operate nonstop, creating pollution from the tanker trucks hauling hazardous waste. The plant is at 815 Mission Rock Road and the company asking to reopen is Ri-Nu Services LLC.
The plant would accept trucked-in domestic waste from portable toilets, septic tanks, and industrial wastes, including those from oilfields. It would be permitted to operate around the clock with up to 500 truck deliveries a week. County officials found the operation's effect on farming could be minimized with a vegetative screen, dust control and proper communication.
However, a hearing held on Nov. 8 turned contentious. Some residents told the Ventura County Planning Director and the applicant “we won’t take what others don’t want.” Planning director Dave Ward, who sat at the same table with Ri-Nu CEO Tim Koziol, defended his staff’s claim that there really wasn’t much to worry about due to ‘mitigation’.
Former Santa Paula mayor Marianne Krause, Santa Paula Latino Town Forum, CFROG and other groups are organizing opposition, and the Ventura Sierra Club is keeping a close eye on it.
Representatives said the county planners ignored studying the worst-case scenario when in fact the worst case already happened when crimes were committed on the property that led to injuries to many and disabilities to firefighters in the explosion seven years ago. The 2014 explosion occurred when a chemical used in the processing of waste products was loaded into a human waste truck, causing a chemical reaction and explosion as well as spontaneous combustion. Ri-Nu testified it would modify its methods.
Public comment ended Nov. 30, but if the planners go ahead to approve the proposal without a full EIR, opponents are ready to appeal. Public hearings will likely start early 2022.
For up-to-date details, go to: https://tinyurl.com/WastewaterRi-Nu