Peter Drekmeier, policy director of the Tuolumne River Trust, warned, 'This could be a very famous and much-cited case. The case that gutted the Clean Water Act.' The implications underscore a potential legal precedent that could undermine environmental protections.
One speaker at the meeting provided a personal account of the consequences, stating, 'I surfed at Ocean Beach not knowing a sewage overflow had just dropped hazardous material into the water. I came down with pneumonia and almost died.' Such testimonies emphasize the dangers of continued pollution.
Sup. Myrna Melgar, concerned about public health and environmental safety, pointed out alarming statistics from recent years: 'Between 2011 and 2014, 100 million gallons of combined sewage and stormwater were discharged from the Oceanside treatment system, raising significant concerns for our community.'
Melgar further explained the broader impact by stating, 'San Francisco's case threatens to substantially damage the Clean Water Act. Significant portions of the EPA's permitting regime depend on its ability to rely on limits that vary based on water quality.'
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