Edison’s Acidic Ponds Win Waiver

Southern California Edison has won permission to continue storing highly acidic boiler-cleaning waste in holding ponds at its El Segundo, Redondo Beach, Long Beach and Oxnard power plants.

The Regional Water Quality Control Board voted unanimously Monday to exempt the Edison ponds from California’s Toxic Pits Cleanup Act. The decision came despite a water board staff recommendation against the exemption on grounds that the ponds would probably crack and leak in an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 or higher.

But Edison officials pointed out that the ponds are only used for brief periods two to three times a year, and argued that there is little likelihood of a major quake occurring while they are filled.

“All along, this was a close call,” said Robert Ghirelli, who heads the water board staff. “We believe there was a risk. But in (board members’) minds, they see the risk as minimal.”

None of the Edison ponds contained boiler waste during Wednesday’s 5.5-magnitude earthquake, according to Frank Malone, a senior environmental specialist with the power company. Nor did any of the ponds show signs of cracking, he said.