SAN DIEGO, CA, Dec. 10, 2009 -- Poseidon Resources today announced that a super majority (9-3) of the California Coastal Commissioners voted to dismiss the request filed by opponents of seawater desalination to revoke the Carlsbad Desalination Project's Coastal Development Permit (CDP). Today's vote tally is identical to the Commission's original vote to approve the permit in November 2007. Construction of the Project started this past November.
Opponents, led by San Diego Coastkeeper litigator Marco Gonzalez, have an extensive and unsuccessful history of filing legal challenges and appealing Project permit approvals. The permit revocation request was the tenth and latest failed effort to delay the Project.
"We appreciate the Coastal Commission's decisive action today," said Poseidon Resources' Vice President Scott Maloni. "It is clear from the public record that the opponents' claims are frivolous, and by rejecting the revocation request the Commission has once again exposed the opponents' obstructionist tactics. We urge Project opponents to put an end to their senseless and meritless attack on a desperately needed new water supply project that has repeatedly passed every environmental and regulatory test," said Maloni.
Poseidon has worked in partnership with the City of Carlsbad since 1998 to build the desalination plant, which will have the capacity to produce 50-million-gallons-per-day of high quality drinking water and serve 300,000 residents annually. Once operational, the Carlsbad Desalination Project will provide enough drinking water to serve 300,000 residents annually. The facility is scheduled to begin construction in 2010 and be operational in 2012.
Poseidon Resources specializes in developing and financing water infrastructure projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon Resources and the Carlsbad desalination plant visit our website at www.carlsbad-desal.com.
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