Frederic A. Fudacz, chair of Nossaman, Guthner, Knox & Elliott LLP's statewide water law practice and general counsel to the Association of Groundwater Management Agencies is available to comment on a landmark settlement with eight of the companies responsible for contaminants in the groundwater in the San Gabriel Valley.
Fudacz represented the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster who spearheaded this critical effort including the cleanup plan. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will pay $250 million -- the entire cost to build and operate six plants to clean up contaminated drinking water under Azusa, Baldwin Park and Irwindale. After two decades of argument, the water purveyors and these companies are now cooperating in implementing the Watermaster's cleanup solution. Eleven more companies also have been named by the Environmental Protection Agency as contributing to the contamination, but they were not party to the settlement.
A major player in California's close-knit water industry, Fudacz has more than 30 years' experience representing many water companies and water districts throughout the state, some of which are facing the same pollution challenges as those in the San Gabriel Valley. In fact, Fudacz currently represents the Castaic Lake Water Agency, Newhall Company Water District, Santa Clarita Water Company and Valencia Water Company in spearheading a concerted effort to achieve a similar cleanup resolution to the perchlorate contamination in the Santa Clarita Valley.
You can reach Fudacz at 213-612-7823.
Source: Casey Sayre & Williams, Inc.
