One of the first and most important things to consider about providing comments about The Clearwater Program is to join with me and educate ourselves with specific and basic terms is somewhat of a glossary form.
You can access quite a bit of information and resources by simply visiting the Program's Web site at: www.ClearwaterProgram.org . I have it bookmarked.
What the heck is "JWPCP"?
The answer is important for identification purposes and when you begin using it regularly, you will sound more intelligent than others, whether you are or not, and you will be able to communicate with Program representatives better, I think.
The answer is...Joint Water Pollution Control Plant! You may know or think of the facility as the Carson Treatment Plant, or some in some other form.
It is a really big deal as far as the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County goes. In illustrations you will learn that all of the County's sewage treatment and water reclamation plants have the ability to send material to the JWPCP and that the JWPCP is the 'hub' if you will for joining all the other plants to the 'Joint Outfall Systems' (JOS), with one end being at the JWPCP and the other end being below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
The Clearwater Program seeks to provide a new Joint Outfall System to provide more capacity and relieve the other Joint Outfall Systems, built in 1937 and 1958.
So, this whole thing is about providing a much larger capacity to what is currently used and to allow the other Outfall System tunnels to be inspected and repaired, if necessary. The two older system tunnels run from JWPCP mostly under Western Avenue and out through two somewhat different outflow pipes offshore from Royal Palms beach and spread out into the channel.
It has been my opinion that a new JOS be constructed and the thought of major damage to the two older systems is something I do not want to think about contending with. Remember the three failures of the close-to-the=surface storm drains along Western Avenue? Those were nothing compared to the thought of having to go under Western Avenue to expose and repair damage much further below the storm drains.
JOS equals tunnel. When 'they' talk about a JOS or Joint Outfall System, they are referring to two existing tunnels and the proposed 'tunnel' from the Plant to Royal Palms. When you consider "JOS" please envision a tunnel.
'Program versus Project'. There is a huge difference between 'Program' and 'Project' throughout all analysis of The Clearwater Program.
The Program is county wide involving water reclaimation plants, waste treatment facilitis and just about everything else thoughout the entire entity.
The Project can be considered what ever happens or does not happen between the JWPCP facility and the offshore pipes and diffusers. It is important to know the difference between 'project' and program' for a clearer understanding of issues, I feel.
The 'recommended project' is also known as "Alternative 4 or Project Alternative Number 4" or something similar in identification. It has the outflow from the JWPCP (Carson treatment plant), though a JOS (tunnel) to a diffuser (pipe with lots of holes) under the surface of the ocean, just off shore from Royal Palms.
There are technically six 'Alternative Projects' that had to be studied and documents prepared four. Most of those interested only consider Alternatives 1-4. Alternative 5 is a required alternative and that is true with just about every other EIR studied and documented. Alternative 5 is more commonly known as "No Project" Studies were done and documented considering what the outcomes might be if nothing were done and The Clearwater Program completely cancelled, somewhere along the line.
Alternative 6 is also known as No Federal Action Project. It is a more than highly unlikely project in that the Sanitation Districts would go ahead with a new JOS 'on their own' and without acquiring permits from the Army Corp of Engineers.
There is much more to learn.
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