THIRTY-SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT 25 



The study on copper drainage from tunnels in the Shasta Dam area 

 was completed and a construction project to seal a number of those con- 

 tributing to the condition is in progress. Two other tunnels which 

 contribute dangerous quantities of dissolved copper may have to be 

 sealed by the division as the owners are insolvent and the United States 

 Bureau of Reclamation failed to approve our request to conduct the 

 work. One copper mine that closed down in Plumas County caused 

 severe damage to fish life through drainage of untreated tunnel water, 

 but was successfull}^ prosecuted and remedial action taken. 



RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATIONS 



The employment of a sanitary engineer as recommended in the 

 previous report enabled the completion of a number of detailed investi- 

 gations on polluted water areas and the character of plant wastes. Such 

 data is essential in making practical recommendations for correction 

 and to provide suitable prosecuting evidence where necessary. The man 

 employed for this work is now on military leave, and a laboratory trailer 

 completed for his use is temporarily idle. While this is regrettable, it 

 is usually true that problems requiring laboratory and engineering data 

 to solve are also the ones that would require restricted mechanical equip- 

 ment to correct so that the situation automatically adjusts itself to 

 present war conditions. 



One study demonstrating the damage to salmon spawning from 

 mining silt should be of particular value in. future control work, and 

 an article covering this data is being prepared. 



WASTE DISPOSAL INSTALLATIONS 



Among the major installations provided for pollution control may 

 be mentioned the $120,000 treatment plant for Santa Fe Springs oil 

 well wastes which was completed; the $400,000 project for improving 

 an oil refinery waste disposal system in the bay area which w^as 70 per 

 cent completed; a $30,000 "Vacuator" installation for solids removal 

 at a fruit and vegetable cannery; the treatment plant for San Diego 

 domestic and industrial sewage which was nearly completed, and sev- 

 eral modern oil separator installations at railroad yards. 



ENFORCEMENT 



In addition to types of violations that have previously been prose- 

 cuted, the present period included the initial and successful prosecution 

 of violations originating from wineries, fish boats and plants, fruit and 

 vegetable canning, dairy refuse, and mine tunnel drainage. 



The officers of the Pollution Detail were empowered during the 

 biennium to enforce certain sections of the Public Health and Safety 

 Code relating to pollution of waters from garbage, and secured cor- 

 rections on many conditions that had been a source of complaint. As 

 yet no violation of this type has required prosecution. 



Mr. C. L. Towers continued to supervise court actions until his 

 departure on military leave at the end of the biennium. A total of 174 

 cases were prosecuted wdth fines of $29,500 of which amount only $900 

 was suspended. 



