HEAL THE OCEAN INC
PO BOX 90106, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93190 www.healtheocean.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: HEAL THE OCEAN FOCUSES ON WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE - WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS (WWTPS) AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS FOR WHICH WE HIRE CONSULTANTS TO ACCESS STATE GRANT FUNDS TO HELP WWTPS UPGRADE TO RECYCLED WATER PRODUCTION TO LIMIT OCEAN DUMPING, AS WELL AS HELP WHOLE COMMUNITIES ABANDON SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.

HEAL THE OCEAN HIRES ENGINEERS, EXPERTS, RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS, LAWYERS, GIS MAPPERS AND UNIVERSITY LABORATORIES TO PRODUCE REPORTS AND TO GIVE US TEST RESULTS AS WELL AS BLUEPRINTS FOR UPGRADE OF WWTPS, REMOVAL OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN UNSUITABLE PLACES, CLEANUP OF GROUNDWATER AND CONTAMINATED SOILS, AND MORE. WE HAVE FACILITATED STATE GRANTS FOR WASTEWATER FACILITIES TO UPGRADE TO RECYCLED WATER. WE PERFORM COST FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR A NUMBER OF INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE TO BENEFIT CLEAN WATER, AND THE OCEAN. WE HAVE CONDUCTED DNA TESTS IN WATERSHEDS AND ARE NOW WORKING WITH GIS MAPPERS TO DELINEATE AREAS OF THE CALIFORNIA COAST THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY SEA LEVEL RISE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE - AND WORK WITH REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE COASTAL REGIONS OF THE STATE TO PREPARE FOR CLEANUP WORK BEFORE THE OCEAN RISESOUR APPROACH TO SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE WORK WITH (NOT AGAINST) COUNTIES, CITIES, AGENCIES, WASTEWATER AND WATER DISTRICTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MORE SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY TO SOLVE WATER POLLUTION PROBLEMS. WE ACCESS GRANT FUNDS TO HELP PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE OCEAN WATER QUALITY AND TO PROTECT PRECIOUS GROUNDWATER RESOURCES. WE CONTINUE TO HELP HOMEOWNERS TO CONVERT FROM SEPTIC SYSTEMS TO PUBLIC WASTEWATER SYSTEMS. WE CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT (IRWM) STEERING COMMITTEE, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DOING SINCE 2010, AND IN THIS CAPACITY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR PROJECTS THAT LEAD TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADE AS WELL AS GROUNDWATER PROTECTION.I. SEPTIC SYSTEMS:1) SEPTIC SYSTEM POLLUTION OF GROUNDWATER. BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESS WITH THE RINCON (SOUTH COAST BEACH COMMUNITIES SEPTIC TO SEWER) PROJECT, HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUES TO WORK ON COASTAL AREAS STILL ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS - PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THE TIMES WE ARE NOW IN WITH SEA LEVEL RISE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. 2) AB885 UPDATE. UNDER AB885 (JACKSON) THE TMDL (TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD) LIST AMENDMENTS ARE TO BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS TO LIST AREAS THAT REQUIRE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE REGULATIONS UNDER AB 885. HEAL THE OCEAN IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD (SWRCB) TO UPDATE THIS LIST ("ATTACHMENT 2"), TO INCLUDE SEPTIC SYSTEM AREAS THAT NOW NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.3) BEACH CLUB ROAD SEPTIC-TO-SEWER. BEACH CLUB ROAD IS AN ENCLAVE OF 28 HOMES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SOUTH COAST BEACH COMMUNITIES SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT, LOCATED ON THE OCEAN AND IN A CREEK AREA WITH HIGH GROUNDWATER. THOSE HOMEOWNERS PULLED BACK FROM THE BIGGER PROJECT WITH LEGAL FIGHTS BROKE OUT, BUT WERE STILL INCLUDED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS, AND AS SUCH, ARE STILL COVERED BY CEQA IF THEY WERE TO HOOK UP TO THE PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM. IN 2020 HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUED COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY REGARDING CONVERSION FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER. HEAL THE OCEAN HAS DEVELOPED AN OUTREACH PLAN TO COMMUNICATE THE HOMEOWNERS AND WORKING TO SET UP INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS WITH THE CARPENTARIA SANITARY DISTRICT.4) SANTA YNEZ HORIZON/STADIUM SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT. IN 2017 HEAL THE OCEAN HIRED DUDEK ENVIRONMENTAL TO SUBMIT A PROJECT PROPOSAL TO THE STATE FOR A LOW-INTERESTING REVOLVING LOAN TO HELP PAY FOR A $6 MILLION SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROJECT FOR 450+ HOMES OVERLYING A GROUNDWATER BASIN USED FOR DRINKING WATER. IN 2020, MANY HOMEOWNERS IN HORIZON AREA ARE CONNECTING TO PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM.5) LOS OLIVOS. THIS AREA THAT OVERLIES THE SANTA YNEZ GROUNDWATER BASIN IS HEAVILY POPULATED WITH HOTELS, WINERIES, RESTAURANTS AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, AND IS ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS. IT HAS BEEN CITED AS A "PROBLEM AREA" BY THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. IN 2017, LOS OLIVOS CREATED ITS OWN COMMUNITY SERVICE DISTRICT (CSD) TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, THEREBY SKIRTING THE OFFER OF SANTA YNEZ COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT TO HOOK THEM UP TO A POCKET RECYCLED WATER WWTP, STATING THEY WOULD DO THIS THEMSELVES. HEAL THE OCEAN IS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING ENFORCEMENT, SINCE PROGRESS REQUIRED BY LAFCO FOR A PROP 218 VOTE FOR SEWER SERVICE HAS LAPSED BY 2 YEARS.II. UPGRADING WASTEWATER TO RECYCLED WATER:IN 2020 HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUED EDUCATING, RESEARCHING, ADVOCATING AND FACILITATING THE ADVANCEMENT OF TURNING WASTE(D) WATER INTO RECYCLED WATER. WHEN PROPOSITION 1 FUNDING BECAME AVAILABLE FOR FACILITIES PLANNING GRANTS TO CONVERT WWTPS TO RECYCLED WATER PLANTS, WE APPROACHED NUMBER OF WATER/WASTEWATER DISTRICTS TO PARTICIPATE, AND SUCCEEDED IN GETTING $150,000 PLANNING GRANTS. WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THOSE DISTRICTS TODAY.III. GROUNDWATER.A) GROUNDWATER CHARACTERIZATION PROJECT: IN 2017 HEAL THE OCEAN FORMED A TEAM PROJECT WITH THE REGIONAL BOARD ON A GROUNDWATER CHARACTERIZATION PROJECT THAT IDENTIFIED GROUNDWATER QUALITY DATA IN THE SANTA YNEZ GROUNDWATER BASIN. THIS REPORT WAS RELEASED BY THE REGIONAL BOARD IN 2019, AND HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUES OUR CAMPAIGN TO GET LOS OLIVOS OFF SEPTIC SYSTEMS WITH THIS REPORT AS AN IMPORTANT EVIDENTIARY TOOL. B) CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER CLEANUP - CITY OF SANTA BARBARA. AS A RESULT OF OUR WORK TO ORGANIZE CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER DATA INTO THE STATE WATER BOARD GEOTRACKER SITE (A 3-YEAR PROJECT), THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SITE MITIGATION UNIT (SMU) AND REGIONAL BOARD CONTINUES TO REGULATE THE CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER AREAS BENEATH THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA, AND REPORTS TO HTO. WE ARE NOTIFIED BY THE SANTA BARBARA CITY AND COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSIONS WHEN A DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED FOR SOME OF THESE AREAS, SO THAT WE CAN PRESS FOR CLEANUP BEFORE ANY BUILDING IS PLANNED. IN 2020 THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 9 CLEANUP ORDERS ISSUED IN THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA FOR VARIOUS GROUNDWATER AND SOIL POLLUTION VIOLATIONS. C) SEA LEVEL RISE. IN 2020 HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUED ITS ADVOCACY FOR ADAPTATION PLANS IN SEA LEVEL RISE (CLIMATE CHANGE) PLANNING DOCUMENTS, ILLUSTRATING WITH PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY HTO ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER HARRY RABIN DURING KING TIDES HOW CLOSE THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SHORELINE IS TO FLOODING. AT CITY AND COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSIONS, WE ADVISE CAUTION IN ALLOWING BUILDING IN COASTAL ZONES THAT WILL BE FLOODED.IV. ONSHORE POLLUTIONA) OIL POLLUTION (OCEAN DUMPING)I) TREADWELL AND NORTHSTAR OIL WELLS. THE NEXT TWO POLLUTING WELLS OFF SUMMERLAND BEACH WERE CAPPED IN 2020, WITH HEAL THE OCEAN'S ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER HARRY RABIN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION ENGINEERS WHO OUTLINED THE PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE WORK. WORK BEGAN THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9, 2020 TO CAP THE TREADWELL AND NORTHSTAR OIL WELLS FUNDING FOR THE $3 MILLION OPERATION CAME FROM SB 44, AUTHORED BY SENATOR HANNAH-BETH JACKSON, TO PROVIDE $2 MILLION PER YEAR FOR THE CLEANUP OF HAZARDS AND ABANDONED WELLS ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST. (HTO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING SB 44 PASSED, BY HIRING CONSULTANTS TO PRODUCE INFRARED MAPS THAT SUCCINCTLY OUTLINED WHERE THE LEAKING WELLS EXISTED.) FOLLOWING THE WELL CAPPING, HARRY RABIN CONDUCTED THE REQUIRED POST-PROJECT MONITORING, FLYING A DRONE OVER THE AREA OF WORK TO IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM OF OIL ESCAPE. HIS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE NORTHSTAR AREA SHOW A VISIBLY CLEAR OCEAN. HARRY RABIN CONTINUES HIS WORK WITH INTERACT TO OUTLINE THE NEXT TWO OIL CAPPING PROJECTS FOR SUMMERLAND IN 2021. B) STYROFOAM AND SINGLE USE PLASTIC POLLUTION. HEAL THE OCEAN CONTINUES OUR SUCCESSFUL STYROFOAM RECYCLING PROGRAM WITH MARBORG INDUSTRIES, WHICH HAS ESTABLISHED TWO DROP-OFF FACILITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO BRING IN RECYCLABLE STYROFOAM - ONE IN THE LOWER MILPAS STREET AREA, THE OTHER IN GOLETA, AT DAVID LOVE PLACE. MARBORG COMPRESSES THE STYROFOAM INTO SOLID BLOCKS THAT THEN ARE TRANSPORTED TO A FACILITY THAT LIQUIFIES THE MATERIAL TO BE MADE INTO PRODUCTS SUCH AS MIRROR AND PICTURE FRAMES, CROWN MOLDING AND OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS THAT TAKE THE PLACE OF WOOD. TO ADD TO THIS PROGRAM, HEAL THE OCEAN NOW OFFERS A PICKUP SERVICE FOR STYROFOAM FROM BUSINESSES THAT DON'T HAVE THE MEANS OF TRANSPORTING STYROFOAM TO THE DROP-OFF SITES. THESE BUSINESSES INCLUDE PACKAGE STORES, RADIO SHOPS, ETC. STYROFOAM RECYCLING FACILITY IN SANTA BARBARA.

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