FILED

BEFORE THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

11-15-16
04:59 PM

Application of California-American Water Company

(U210W) for Approval of the Monterey Peninsula Water
Supply Project and Authorization to Recover All Present

Application 12-04-019
(Filed April 23, 2012)

and Future Costs in Rates

MOTION FOR PARTY STATUS OF CITIZENS FOR JUST WATER (JUST

WATER)

November 15, 2016

Dr. Margaret-Anne Coppernoll
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water)
3012 Crescent Street
Marina, California 93933
(831) 578-7877
mcopperma@aol.com

BEFORE THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Application of California-American Water Company

(U210W) for Approval of the Monterey Peninsula Water
Supply Project and Authorization to Recover All Present

Application 12-04-019
(Filed April 23, 2012)

and Future Costs in Rates

MOTION FOR PARTY STATUS OF CITIZENS FOR JUST WATER (JUST

WATER)

I.

Introduction
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) respectfully moves for party status
in the proceeding for Application 12-04-019 in accordance with Section
I.4 of the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) Rules

of Practice and Procedure.

II.

Interest in this Proceeding

A.

Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) consists of citizens of the

Monterey Bay region who have a common interest to preserve and to
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protect an affordable and long-term water supply for the Marina and
the Fort Ord communities with equity among competing interests.
CalAms responses to the CEQA statutory sections of Chapter 9,
Sections 9.1 (Significant Unavoidable Environmental Effects) and 9.2
(Significant Irreversible Changes) failed to identify additional serious
unavoidable environmental effects that the project will have on coastal
subsurface ground water system aquifers by causing more seawater
intrusion into the freshwater aquifers, which in turn, will bring about
quality of water deterioration and risk future loss of precious
resources for potable water and water for agricultural irrigation.
We, as individual citizens, have participated widely in many meetings
locally, including public participation hearings held by the CPUC
about the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (MPWSP,
A1204019). We have individually delivered oral and written
comments to local agencies, to the CPUC, and during the EIR
comment period managed by the CPUC contractor, Environmental
Science Associates. We have recently organized into a new group
entitled Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) to help focus our
message for various agencies. We designed Citizens for Just Water
(Just Water) as a grass roots community organization to explore
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solutions for just and equitable use of regional water resources.

Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) has been working with Stanford
Universitys Dr. Rosemary Knight and her research team to bring
forth the scientific findings that assess the Monterey Bay subsurface
topography. The technique of Electrical Resistivity Tomography
(ERT) is an effective tool to assess both the sustainability and viability
of our ground water basins and aquifers; Electrical Resistivity
Tomography (ERT) produces MRI-like images that have been shown
to reveal specific and accurate details beyond the mere data obtained
from sporadic sentinel wells. This technology exists; has met
scientific scrutiny; is cost efficient; and is capable of reducing
uncertainty as to the impacts of the MPWSP project on the Salinas
Valley Groundwater Basin.
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) seeks to prevent the unintended
inequities implicit in the current plans for Cal-Ams proposed project
within the area of the Cemex property and the 180 foot aquifer of the
Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin.
The MCWD serves approximately 30,000 regional customers and is
dependent upon the 180, 400 and 900 foot aquifers with minimization
of salt water intrusion for the continued delivery of fresh water now
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and in the future. This water source is also the same water source that
the agricultural lands in the Salinas Valley are dependent upon.
Critical verification must be made that there will be no negative
impact of the MPWSP upon the communities of Fort Ord and
Marinas water source, or, at the very least, the clear defining of the
scientific levels of uncertainty associated with such water extraction.
The high stakes of potentially jeopardizing another districts water
source demands this. Best practices of the Electrical Resistivity
Tomography (ERT) mapping have not been considered in the EIR
modeling, or in evaluating the test slant well data, or in establishing an
accurate baseline of hydro-geologic subsurface features to predict
potential impacts of salt water intrusion, especially as it relates to any
fissures in the clay aquitards which function as an impermeable
geologic control against sea water intrusion. Current ERT data reveal
existing fissures in the clay aquitard, and dipping of the horizontal
continuous clay aquitard line, demonstrating that the integrity of the
clay aquitard has already been compromised in some places,
permitting seawater intrusion.
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) respects the legal water rights of
local jurisdictions, and supports their fair and appropriate use.
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Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) serves to provide information to

help educate the Marina and the Fort Ord communities regarding
evidenced based scientific management of the areas groundwater
supplies through scientific hydrogeological research and adequate,
statistically valid data.

B.

Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) promotes just, equitable use and
development of sustainable ground water without adverse consequences
to the needs and rights of others on the Monterey Bay. All citizens
residing and/or working on the Monterey Bay are entitled to potable
water now and in the long-term future; equitable water means one
groups interests and rights are not sacrificed for anothers, but rather
science should dictate the safety of any site for procuring water. Current
scientific findings irrefutably link the presence of fissures in aquitards
with accelerated saltwater intrusion along the Monterey Bay through the
use of a geo-physiologic method called the Electrical Resistivity
Tomography (ERT). The inference from this mapping suggests that
similar conditions exist along the proposed MPWSP site area due to the
presence of known detected faults along the Monterey Bay. Furthermore,
desalination project options must be expanded beyond the MPWSP, after

inclusion and analysis of additional subsurface Electrical Resistivity

Tomography (ERT) imaging. As a result of such studies, further
exploration of more equitable and just regional solutions may be
indicated beyond the MPWSP.
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) intends to provide: a) compelling
evidence for utilizing additional scientific state-of-the-art subsurface
mapping techniques, i.e. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT); and b)
documentation of relevant regional water rights; and c) comparative
analysis of alternative desalination projects that create less adverse
impacts upon another regions water sources, and do not compromise
jurisdictional water rights. Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) will
submit this information in a filing once party status is granted.

III.

Notice
Services of notices, orders, and other correspondence in this proceeding
should be directed to Citizens for Just Water (Just Water) at the address
set forth below:

Dr. Margaret-Anne Coppernoll

Citizens for Just Water (Just Water)
3012 Crescent Street
Marina, California 93933
(831) 578-7877
mcopperma@aol.com

IV.

Conclusion
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water)s participation in this proceeding
will not prejudice any party and will not delay the schedule or broaden
the scope of the issues in the proceeding. For the reasons stated above,
Citizens for Just Water (Just Water:) respectfully requests that the
CPUC grant this Motion for Party Status filing.

Dated: November 15, 2016

Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Margaret-Anne Coppernoll
Margaret-Anne Coppernoll, Ph.D.
Representative
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Citizens for Just Water (Just Water)

Tel: (831) 578-7877
mcopperma@aol.com