All-American Canal Lining Project Settlement
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$1,800,000 in Fines Paid by AACLP
The Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (District) settled a case on October 20, 2008 against the All-American Canal Lining Project principal partners for violations of the District’s New Source Review rule, the Visible Emissions rule, and the state Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) regulation. The All-American Canal Lining Project is a 23-mile man-made concrete-lined canal constructed parallel to a section of the original canal (earthen bottom and sides) in the Algodunes section of southeastern Imperial County. The original canal has seeped approximately 67,000 acre feet/year of water underground since it was completed in 1940. This water flows underground across the border into Mexico. The newly captured seepage will be sold to San Diego County water users by the Imperial Irrigation District for about one million dollars a year. The project proponents - a consortium of Kiewit Pacific/R & L Brosamer, Inc., Ames Construction, Inc. and Coffman Specialties, Inc. had initially applied for District permits, but at the last minute substituted PERP equipment for all the equipment with permit applications. The District filed a complaint in Imperial County Superior Court and then requested ARB assistance in inspecting and characterizing emissions from the construction project. A complete joint inspection was conducted with the District on December 18 and 19, 2007, and weekly progress emission updates were done by ARB staff to assist the District in reaching resolution. A settlement of $1,800,000 was obtained by the District, with the District retaining all settlement monies.