Ballona Wetlands: Gas Company Tells Activists to Pound Sand

Before the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) can restore wetlands in the weedy expanse south of Fiji Way, the Gas Company must plug and abandon several gas storage facility wells they operate on that land. The land is state-owned and slated to be excavated so the ocean tides can wash over it, as was the case prior to Marina Del Rey’s construction. The well pipes must be removed and plugged deep enough to not interfere with the eventual excavation. A drill rig presently located there for that purpose drew the attention of anti-restoration activists.

Above: This weedy, dry area of fill dirt south of Fiji Way will be restored as tidal wetlands, which existed there prior to Marina Del Rey construction in the 1950s.

The same activists who sued CDFW to stop the restoration recently sent the Gas Company a letter demanding they stop well-plugging work. The letter baselessly claimed all kinds of law violations and environmental catastrophe, and threatened the Gas Company with litigation.

In a firmly worded reply letter viewable at this link, the Gas Company responded in no uncertain terms.

Among other rebuttals in their letter, the utility company stated that the activists erred, both about the company’s involvement in CDFW’s restoration project (which is none) and the legality of the company’s well-plugging work. The Gas Company cited chapter and verse of the lawful permitting and environmental compliance underpinning their well-plugging work, as well as the state regulatory structure which governs gas utilities. Clearly, the activists had not done their homework before spouting off.

Read the Gas Company letter here. In so many words, the company advised the activists to “go pound sand.”

Enjoy your Ballona Wetlands!

Above: The Gas Company has already plugged and abandoned wells in the southern Ballona Wetlands near Culver Blvd.

Related news: Feds give California $35 million to plug abandoned wells.

References

Marina Del Rey Patch Neighbor News https://patch.com/california/marinadelrey/ballona-wetlands-cease-desist-demand-letter-injunction-violations-nodx

Marina Del Rey Patch. Ballona Wetlands: When the Winners are Really the Losers

Southern California Gas Company. Letter to activists April 3, 2024.

Wiktionary. Pound sand

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Author’s disclosure of affiliations:

Dr. David W. Kay served on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Friends of Ballona Wetlands from 2007 until 2015, and served as Board President in 2012-13. He presently serves on the Board of Ballona Discovery Park in Playa Vista. Dr. Kay is a staunch advocate for the state of California's plans to restore the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.

From 1984 until 2022, Dr. Kay was employed by Southern California Edison Company, exclusively in the company's environmental services organizations. His many responsibilities included restoration of the 440-acre San Dieguito Wetlands near Del Mar. He retired in 2022 as Senior Manager for Major Project Environmental Management at the company, after 38 years of service.

Dr. Kay earned bachelor and masters degrees in biology and a doctorate in environmental science.

See Dr. Kay’s Patch Community Contributor profile here.