Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Lieu Bill To Improve Reporting Of Sewage Spills

Sacramento, CA – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed Assembly Bill (AB) 800, a bill by Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) to improve emergency reporting of sewage spills.

The bill clarifies that the entity responsible for a sewage spill has the duty to report it to the public health officer and the Office of Emergency Services.  It is important that the public health officer be notified because he or she is the only person who can close a beach and protect the public health.

A report released by the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller earlier this year showed that hundreds of sewage spills in Los Angeles County since 2002 have never been reported.  These unreported spills represent over 8 million gallons of raw sewage that have affected many coastal areas of Los Angeles County.

“This is a big win for the coastline throughout California,” Lieu said. “Our beaches are one of our greatest natural wonders, and we need to make sure they’re protected. If beaches are closed right away, then the cleanup can begin immediately.”

AB 800 is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and has the support of Environment California, and Santa Monica Baykeeper.  It is joint-authored by Assemblymembers Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) and Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank).

Assemblymember Lieu represents the 53rd Assembly District, which includes a long stretch of coastline from Torrance Beach in the South to Venice Beach in the North.