Stop Gregory Canyon: Save Sacred Sites and Clean Drinking Water
Dear Governor Brown:
I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to please sign SB
833, by Senator Juan Vargas. This bill would prohibit the
operation of a waste disposal facility within 1,000 feet of a
drinking water source and within 1,000 feet of a site that is listed
with the Native American Heritage Commission as sacred to a
federally recognized Indian tribe. This bill would put a stop to the
proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill project, which would be built on
the border of the Pala Indian Reservation and next to the San Luis
Rey River.
The Gregory Canyon Landfill presents numerous environmental
problems, not the least of which is the threat to water supplies.
The San Luis Rey River flows past the mouth of the landfill site;
two California Water Authority pipelines that supply drinking water
to San Diego County are located within the landfill footprint; and a
vital groundwater aquifer lies underneath the site. A landfill in
Gregory Canyon would unacceptably threaten the safety of these water
sources.
A landfill in Gregory Canyon would also desecrate Gregory Canyon and
Medicine Rock, two sites that hold tremendous religious significance
for Native Americans throughout southern California. SB 833 would
help insure that these irreplaceable sacred sites are protected for
future generations.
Protecting precious water and respecting the religion and culture of
Native American tribes is of utmost importance, which is why I
respectfully urge you to sign SB 833 and protect Gregory Canyon
forever.