Pepsi bottling plant ordered to correct polluted runoff

[951]

VIOLATIONS: The beverage bottler says it is working with federal officials to fix problems.

By JENNIFER BOWLES / The Press-Enterprise

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday a Pepsi bottling facility in Riverside allowed fuel and product waste to pollute a nearby creek that drains into the Santa Ana River, a major drinking-water source.

The EPA ordered the Pepsi Bottling Group to correct the violations of the federal Clean Water Act, which can bring penalties of up to $32,500 per day.

"We are working with the authorities on this matter and we are very eager to correct any inadequacies that may exist," said Kelly McAndrew, a spokeswoman for the company, which bottles Pepsi-Cola products such as Pepsi, Aquafina and Mountain Dew.




The allegations involve the company's bottling facilities in Buena Park and in eastern Riverside on Sycamore Canyon Boulevard.

"These facilities have let polluted runoff enter Southern California waterways and corrosive industrial wastewater into local sewers," Alexis Strauss, the EPA's regional water director, said in a statement.

Amy Miller, an EPA inspector who went to the Riverside plant in June, said in a telephone interview that she found various waste, including fuel from the truck fleet, on the ground. Such waste can be swept by rain into a storm drain that empties into Sycamore Canyon Creek.

In addition, she said, the plant sent excessively acidic industrial wastewater to sewage-treatment plants operated by the city of Riverside...

http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_pepsi15.db20.html

[acmavm]

1. Hell, why don't they just dump a boatload of arsenic in the water and

get it over with.

Corporate America has been poisoning the drinking water forever. But now they have the help and blessing of the bush* administration. I'm just surprised that Pepsi was even told to clean up the mess.

All I can say is fundy Catholics are sure damn lucky that we don't have to eat fish every Friday anymore.

[Pithy Cherub]

2. The leadership of that facility

should be ordered to drink that water until it is cleaned up. Teach a little corporate responsibility.