“The handling of this [sewage] release and the necessary public notification were failures,” said the seven-day after-action report prepared by a private contractor for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Sanitation officials lauded plant workers for their “valiant” effort to prevent a much larger environmental disaster from occurring. The county report acknowledges the work of the Hyperion crews and notes that plant officials notified the state, as required, but it also faulted plant officials for not informing key local agencies. The sewage overflowed through a grate or maintenance hole near the Dockweiler parking lot and began spilling into the lot. “The Lifeguards started inquiring to all their partners but for hours could not obtain effective spill or response information,” the report said.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 27, 2021 18:56 UTC