City Cited For Lack of Drilling Permit

The City of Hermosa Beach is among three entities cited by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department--Environmental Health Drinking Water Program for drilling on the public works yard site last Tuesday without the required permits.

Brycon, LLC, a consultant out of Newport Beach, and J & H Drilling Co. Inc. out of Santa Ana were also cited for their participation in the work, which was being done on behalf of E&B Natural Resources to test soil and groundwater for contamination.

In the "Notice of Violation & Order," the city, Brycon and J & H were directed to submit a Well Permit Application by today. J & H must also submit proof of a valid California C-57 Well Water Contractor's License.

All three will also be fined, according to Richard Lavin, chief environmental health specialist with the Drinking Water Program. The fine, due by June 10th, has yet to determined, he said late Tuesday.

Permits are required for any well drilling in the state, he said. His department oversees drilling in L.A. County, with the exceptions of Long Beach and Pasadena.

"We are very proactive and follow strict enforcement," Lavin said. "That's what the State of California wants us to do."

Lavin said his department first became aware of the drilling late Wednesday and then had to figure out what entities were involved.

"We acted as fast as we could," he said. His department faxed the city its violation notice last Friday.

Lavin said the drilling is still under investigation.

The city is expected to issue a statement sometime today, according to a spokesperson. When reached around 8 a.m. today, Mayor Patrick "Kit" Bobko said he had no comment. 

Alison Joob Gallagher of Fiona Hutton & Associates, the firm the city has contracted with to handle public relations, called around 9:20 a.m. on behalf of city personnel and City Council members to say the statement would be forthcoming. At the time of the phone call, Patch did not understand she was calling in response to Patch's earlier calls to the city manager and three Council members and has now amended this article to reflect that.