Discharge Violations Targeted

• Toughens Pollution Reporting Law

The Malibu City Council is being asked next week to go on record supporting Assembly Bill 800, a measure that would make it a crime for anyone with knowledge of the discharge of a hazardous substance or sewage into any waters in the state who fails to immediately report it to the local health officer and Office of Emergency Services. If convicted, the offending party could be required to pay a fine or go to jail.

AB 800 is co-sponsored by Malibu’s Assemblymember Julia Brownley.

Current law requires any individual who discharges hazardous material or sewage into any waters to notify local and state health offices. Los Angeles County reports that hundreds of spills have occurred since 2002, resulting in over 8,000,000 gallons of raw sewage being discharged that were never reported to the appropriate health authorities.

When informed about this data, Brownley and several colleagues co-authored the measure, which is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, that would amend the state water code to make it a misdemeanor for any person found guilty. The bill clarifies, but does not change, the current law regarding the duty to report and increases the penalty for failing to do so, according to the measure’s sponsors.

AB 800 passed the Assembly last month and was sent to the Senate for committee assignment and a hearing date.

Brownley told municipal officials she believes the legislation is a critical tool to encourage prompt reporting and requests that the city voice its support for passage of the bill.