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Misplaced Waste
updated: Sep 13, 2012, 2:00 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

We live in an unincorporated area of Santa Barbara. Our neighbors are building a large accessory structure behind their 8000sq ft house. This structure does not appear to be what was permitted. I dont care about the permit issue or the structure itself. There are no adverse effects on my property from addition.

But the workers are disposing of construction materials in the main street drain. This drain empties directly into a bioswale in my neighbors orchard. We are not connected to the sewer (still not ok to dump toxic materials in) the grate covering the drain is splattered with paint and underneath is starting to fill up with concrete etc.

Does anyone know what county agency I should contact? Spoke with the neighbor about it and they claimed to know nothing about it. I was told they would talk to the workers. That was a week ago and they are continuing to do it and the neighbor is well aware of it.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 319407	2012-09-13 02:09 PM
Take pictures and post a them here. Then I'd suggest calling the NOAA or the Santa Barbara Land Trust who handles these types of issues.
COMMENT 319408	2012-09-13 02:10 PM
403, they've already done that and it is time to take other steps. You need to find the water quality people at the County, maybe they are in the NPDES group and report this violation so an inspector can come out and follow up on it.
COMMENT 319414	2012-09-13 02:17 PM
Talk to your neighbors and let them know that if they do not rectify the situation you will be contacting the NOAA or SB Land Trust.
COMMENT 319425P	2012-09-13 02:27 PM
Contact county water agency asap-Illicit discharge number 568-3373 or email jhufsch@cosbpw.net
COMMENT 319426P	2012-09-13 02:27 PM
@403 you should learn reading and comprehension skils. It says they already spoke with the Neighbors. I believe you can contact P&D since they are building an addition. I believe permits have waste disposal conditions built in. Plus if they really are not conforming to the permit maybe a visit from a planner will resolve all of these issues...
COMMENT 319427	2012-09-13 02:28 PM
Cement products are safe to put down the drain 24 hours later, after all chemical (adhesive) action has ceased, and all solids have settled out. It is easy to let it sit in 5 gallon buckets overnight and pour off in the morning. Active cement products in the drains cause clogs.
COMMENT 319428	2012-09-13 02:29 PM
I contacted the Police Department for hazardous waste being dumped next to my property, who handed me off to the fire company. Long story short, the fire company hazmat team was there within the hour and will cite immediately for this type of illegal dumping into a storm drain. Contact the fire department ASAP be a narc, nanny, etc. This drains to the creeks and oceans and should not be tolerated. Don't waste time with a non-profit go to someone with authority. hopefully this post will get posted in less than 8 hours, unlike my last helpful post. Someday maybe i will be taken out of the penalty box... how about it Ed?
COMMENT 319429	2012-09-13 02:32 PM
Call the County Building And Safety Office 568-3030 and ask them who they would refer you to to report what you think is illegal waste disposal on a construction site. I'm no expert in the matter but I got that information using the phonebook.... does anyone remember how to use a phonebook any more? They are usually updated and handed out every year for free.
COMMENT 319432	2012-09-13 02:36 PM
You could try the Central Coast regional water quality control board, there is an online complaint area under the resources section. You can also try calling the County Enviromental 681-4342 or 681-4900. Also try Public Works illegal dumping hotline, 681-5632 or 877-687-6232. good luck
COMMENT 319437	2012-09-13 02:43 PM
NOAA? Seriously folks, what is happening here? OP, go tell the workers or your neighbor not to do what they're doing. If they continue, call Public Works for either the City or County the violation is located. If the work is under permit, there are contact numbers on the permit, which should be posted on the site. What have you witnessed, specifically? What is being disposed of in a drain?
COMMENT 319490	2012-09-13 03:30 PM
Start with Building and Safety since the work is under their permitting. They'll either direct the issue or you to the right people. And yes, dumping waste materials into a storm water discharge is illegal.
COMMENT 319519	2012-09-13 04:11 PM
OP: please keep us posted. I'm curious how this will turn out.
YIN YANG	2012-09-13 04:44 PM
Thanks for acting on this, OP.
COMMENT 319575	2012-09-13 06:04 PM
Go right up and and point out that what is happening is not cool.
COMMENT 319593	2012-09-13 06:51 PM
I watched a moron pour gallons of diesel fuel down the storm drain by the Main Post Office. He was the concete guy putting in the handicap ramp there. I asked him what he was doing, he replied "don't worry about it". I called the PD, they said call 911. I called 911, and was routed to the City Fire dispatch. They said stand by, they're on their way. No one showed for an hour and ten minutes, even after I called back two more times. My point you ask? Don't expect anyone to jump when you complain. You might want to see if they pulled appropriate permits though.
COMMENT 319613P	2012-09-13 07:36 PM
Another important question is, Do the construction workers pee in the shower?
COMMENT 319618	2012-09-13 07:43 PM
Yah 613p They pee in the shower and do a number 2 in the sink!
FLICKA	2012-09-14 07:21 AM
Obviously, talking to the neighbors did no good; why keep suggesting it? Definately a bad situation that needs to stop.
COMMENT 319740P	2012-09-14 08:36 AM
It would be nice to have a quick-response phone number. People who are dumping can get dangerously angry, and they and the evidence disappear quickly. My experience with the "phone book" is that almost 100% goes into voicemail and it's over.
COMMENT 319742P	2012-09-14 08:40 AM
QUICK PHONE NUMBER: county water agency -Illicit discharge number 568-3373 or email jhufsch@cosbpw.net
MTNDRIVER	2012-09-14 08:55 AM
Another possibility: here's a link to the County Water Resources page on water quality, with a phone number at the bottom to call to report dumping into storm drains. Even though this drain doesn't connect to the storm drain system, seems like this is where you can get some enforcement help. http://sbprojectcleanwater.org/ At the bottom it says call 1877-OUR-OCEAN to report water pollution.
COMMENT 319757P	2012-09-14 08:57 AM
@593 - The handicap ramp at the Main Post Office was installed many years ago before we all became more aware of the hazards of dangerous chemicals in drains. I think you would get a quicker response in today's world.
COMMENT 319934	2012-09-14 12:28 PM
@757p: Many years ago??? Like 5. Get real. Are you implying it was pk a) for him to do it and b) for sbgd to not respond??
SEEDLADY	2012-09-14 08:49 PM
as far as concrete cleanup water flowing onto the neighbor's orchard, definitely NOT HARMLESS. The lime contained in the concrete wash water or concrete slurry is very injurious to tree roots--it burns them badly and can kill foliage depending on the tree. The lime persists for YEARS in heavy clay soils. If you do get this sort of thing dumped in your yard, let it harden/dry up, shovel it up and then place it in your solid waste container or take it to a landfill area where they often have a specific area for concrete waste.

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