Protect Our Waters Responds to Nestle Plan Regarding McCloud Water Bottling Facility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2008
Contact: Severn Williams
510-336-9566

Statement from Protect Our Waters in Response to Nestlé Announcement Regarding Proposed Water Bottling Facility in McCloud, California:

Nestle announced yesterday its plans to scale back the planned water bottling plant in McCloud, CA, see http://www.redding.com/news/2008/may/13/nestle-plans-scaled-back/).
Following is a brief statement from the Protect our Waters Coalition in response to this announcement:

"We were interested to hear that Nestlé is considering a smaller project in McCloud. The way that Nestlé has conducted itself in the past in connection with the McCloud project, however, leads us to view this recent announcement with caution.

We acknowledge the statement by Dave Palais of Nestlé that Nestlé is no longer considering the project as initially conceived, and that a new contract with the McCloud Community Services District therefore will be required. Any new contract should include provisions for broad scientific studies to fully evaluate the health of the McCloud watershed and impacts on the residents of McCloud and Siskiyou County.

Any new contract also should be a fair deal for the residents of McCloud, should eliminate groundwater usage and diversions from the McCloud River, and should adequately address environmental and quality of life issues such as traffic, air quality, noise, toxics, climate change, economic impacts and historical preservation.

These issues remain regardless of the amount of water to be purchased by Nestlé or the size of the plant Nestlé proposes. We expect Nestlé to propose a new contract to reflect the new project Nestlé now proposes, and to address the Coalition's concerns.

The Protect Our Waters Coalition was formed to ensure the ecological and hydrological integrity of Mt. Shasta's unique headwater areas for future generations. Members include Trout Unlimited, California Trout and the McCloud Watershed Council.