Donna Frye in the News

By Terry Rodgers
STAFF WRITER

Think Blue - it's the green thing to do.

That's the message of a new public education effort aimed at detering people from dumping pollutants down storm drains.

Pollution from storm drains is suspected of causing a wide array of problems along the Southern California coast, from sickening of surfers and swimmers to depletion of populations of marine life.

The campaign -- dubbed "Think Blue" -- was hailed at a news conference yesterday at the San Diego Convention Center as "the most comprehensive environmental education" program ever launched in San Diego.

The conference, which at times took on the tone of a cbeerleading session among public officials, received a dose of reality when cleanwater crusader Donna Frye noted a possible violation right outside, at the convention center's expansion construction site.

Frye said that, as she arrived at the center, she noticed mounds of dirt piled in front of the storm drains along Harbor Drive.

Nearly all construction sites are required to place sandbags in front of storm drains to prevent dirt, silt and trash from being washed downstream and into the ocean or, in this case, San Diego Bay.

"As we think blue, I would also encourage everyone to act blue, too," Frye told the audience of more than 100 public officials and environmental activists.

One of the region's top clean-water officials, John Robertus, executive director of the state Regional Water Quality Control Board, was in the audience and applauded Frye for her vigilance. (City officials confirmed that the violation was brought to the attention of the contractor, who has already received three citations from city engineers for similar violations.)

Robertus was instrumental in persuading the public relations firm which designed the Think Blue campaign to emphasize that flushing pollutants down the storm drain -- even by accident -- is illegal.

Before Frye's whistle-blowing, the news conference featured encouraging words from Byron Wear, San Diego's deputy mayor, who is running for mayor.

"It's more effective to prevent pollution in the first place than to treat storm water down the road," said Wear. "After all, America's Finest City should have America's finest beaches."

In response to lobbying by cleanwater activists, the city agreed in 1996 to spend $5 million to divert the low flow within 33 storm drains into the sewage treatment system during dry weather. The first of those diversions have already been installed at Tourmaline Surf Park and Windansea Beach.

But pollution flowing down storm drains -- now considered the biggest environmental threat to the state's coastline -- is an immense problem that will require everyone's participation, said Karen Henry, head of the city's storm water pollution prevention program.

"The first message we want to get out there is that the water in the storm drain doesn't get treated," she said. "Don't put anything in the gutter than you wouldn't want to swim in."

The major partners financing the Think Blue campaign are the city of San Diego, the county, the Port of San Diego and Caltrans (the state Department of Transportation). Collectively, they are contributing $565,000 for the effort, Henry said.

In addition, the Reycling Group, an Encinitas public relations firm being paid to manage the campaign, has signed a contract with KGTV Channel 10 that allows the television station to be the primary disseminator of the message.

KGTV will produce public service messages and provide a half-hour news special on the storm drain pol lution problem and is to keep the issue alive with ongoing coverage. While the station is being paid $100,000, it will end up providing an estimated $1 million in air time and services, said Lois Humphreys, an executive with the Recycling Group.

KGTV's weatherman and environmental reporter, Loren Naricancarow, is the official Think Blue spokesman.

In his remarks yesterday, Nancarow called Think Blue "an essential campaign" for the region's economic and environmental health.

Storm drain pollution, which has been the focus of more modest public education efforts in the past, is getting more attention from local governments these days.


	Press Article *San Diego Union-Tribune* *September* *17, 1999* Keep pollutants from storm drain, public urged Campaign supporters get an object lesson By Terry Rodgers STAFF WRITER Think Blue - it's the green thing to do. That's the message of a new public education effort aimed at detering people from dumping pollutants down storm drains. Pollution from storm drains is suspected of causing a wide array of problems along the Southern California coast, from sickening of surfers and swimmers to depletion of populations of marine life. The campaign -- dubbed "Think Blue" -- was hailed at a news conference yesterday at the San Diego Convention Center as "the most comprehensive environmental education" program ever launched in San Diego. The conference, which at times took on the tone of a cbeerleading session among public officials, received a dose of reality when cleanwater crusader Donna Frye noted a possible violation right outside, at the convention center's expansion construction site. Frye said that, as she arrived at the center, she noticed mounds of dirt piled in front of the storm drains along Harbor Drive. Nearly all construction sites are required to place sandbags in front of storm drains to prevent dirt, silt and trash from being washed downstream and into the ocean or, in this case, San Diego Bay. "As we think blue, I would also encourage everyone to act blue, too," Frye told the audience of more than 100 public officials and environmental activists. One of the region's top clean-water officials, John Robertus, executive director of the state Regional Water Quality Control Board, was in the audience and applauded Frye for her vigilance. (City officials confirmed that the violation was brought to the attention of the contractor, who has already received three citations from city engineers for similar violations.) Robertus was instrumental in persuading the public relations firm which designed the Think Blue campaign to emphasize that flushing pollutants down the storm drain -- even by accident -- is illegal. Before Frye's whistle-blowing, the news conference featured encouraging words from Byron Wear, San Diego's deputy mayor, who is running for mayor. "It's more effective to prevent pollution in the first place than to treat storm water down the road," said Wear. "After all, America's Finest City should have America's finest beaches." In response to lobbying by cleanwater activists, the city agreed in 1996 to spend $5 million to divert the low flow within 33 storm drains into the sewage treatment system during dry weather. The first of those diversions have already been installed at Tourmaline Surf Park and Windansea Beach. But pollution flowing down storm drains -- now considered the biggest environmental threat to the state's coastline -- is an immense problem that will require everyone's participation, said Karen Henry, head of the city's storm water pollution prevention program. "The first message we want to get out there is that the water in the storm drain doesn't get treated," she said. "Don't put anything in the gutter than you wouldn't want to swim in." The major partners financing the Think Blue campaign are the city of San Diego, the county, the Port of San Diego and Caltrans (the state Department of Transportation). Collectively, they are contributing $565,000 for the effort, Henry said. In addition, the Reycling Group, an Encinitas public relations firm being paid to manage the campaign, has signed a contract with KGTV Channel 10 that allows the television station to be the primary disseminator of the message. KGTV will produce public service messages and provide a half-hour news special on the storm drain pol lution problem and is to keep the issue alive with ongoing coverage. While the station is being paid $100,000, it will end up providing an estimated $1 million in air time and services, said Lois Humphreys, an executive with the Recycling Group. KGTV's weatherman and environmental reporter, Loren Naricancarow, is the official Think Blue spokesman. In his remarks yesterday, Nancarow called Think Blue "an essential campaign" for the region's economic and environmental health. Storm drain pollution, which has been the focus of more modest public education efforts in the past, is getting more attention from local governments these days.

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