FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
February 12, 2008                                  

CONTACT:
Curtis Knight, California Trout
530-926-3755, c 530-859-1872

Debra Anderson, McCloud Watershed Council
530-964-2488 c 530-514-5603

Brian Johnson, Trout Unlimited
510-528-4772

McCloud, CA. – We are encouraged that Nestlé has shown it is willing to establish real scientific benchmarks for how the plant would affect our water flows and our quality of life. Nestlé has acknowledged that its draft environmental review for a water bottling facility in McCloud must include additional studies before its long-term environmental impacts can be fully understood.  We extend our thanks to Nestlé for being willing to reopen the environmental impact report (EIR) process as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Nestlé and the McCloud Community Services District now must issue a notice of preparation for the new EIR, which will outline the scope of the proposed environmental review.  We believe an adequate EIR must:

• Conduct scientific studies to address potential negative impacts on the stream system;
• Provide permanent protection against any future use of groundwater once the facility is established; and
• Conduct comprehensive studies of how quality of life and the recreational economy in McCloud would be affected by the facility, including rigorous traffic and air quality studies.

The Protect Our Waters Coalition would also like to see Nestlé initiate a meaningful open public process to reconsider the terms of the contract that would include, but not be limited to, addressing the size of the proposed plant, the compensation structure for the use of McCloud’s water, the length of the contract, and protection against the possibility of future groundwater use as mentioned above.

“The McCloud Watershed Council has been working on behalf of our community to ensure a fair deal from Nestlé,” said Debra Anderson, McCloud Watershed Council board Chair.  “There’s still a lot that needs to happen to make sure that the interests of McCloud residents are well represented in this deal, but this is a step in the right direction.”