This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Pollution 'Eliminator' Expected to Sail Through Novato Council

Council will vote to authorize staff to implement a plan to comply with federal law. Federally mandated pollution-remover will help bay waters and protect marine wildlife.

A proposal to implement a pollution protection plan is expected to sail through  Novato's city council tonight. 

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II permit will help keep pollutants out of Bay Area waterways and protect marine wildlife, Novato Mayor Pat Eklund said.  

"It's not going to be something that we're going to like because it's going to cost us a lot of money to comply with, but it is something that will help us insure that the waters that are on our hard surfaces will not impair the water quality of our rivers and creeks and in our bay,"  Eklund said.

The measure, which is required by law, is on the city's consent calendar. Also on the agenda is the proposed all-way stop on Machin and Grant Avenues (a consent item) and the establishment of Robinhood Drive as a through street - a move that includes stop sign installations at the Knolltop Way and Cross Creek Way and Robinhood intersections.

Tonight's pollution discharge elimination system vote culminates a project that's been in the works for years, Eklund said. It will take up to a year to start work on the project once the city applies for a permit.

"Then we'll have to implement the conditions, and we'll talk money," Eklund said.

It is money that Eklund believes is well spent. She qualifies as a respected source on the subject with a resume that includes over 40 years at the Environmental Protection Agency.

"The environmental benefits are significant because when it rains and it washes the contaminants from the parking lots and streets into creeks it takes all that oil and asbestos and stuff from peoples' brakes and takes it into the water," Eklund said. "It really does adversely affect water quality eventually in the bay and it affects fish and (marine wildlife)."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?