Two public input sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, September 23 in Oroville to discuss the city’s request to remove fluoride from the city’s water supply.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Oroville’s plan to remove fluoride from water delayed; more public meetings scheduled
The Oroville City Council voted to remove fluoride over a year ago and held several public input sessions; however, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requested additional meetings be conducted under their jurisdiction before moving forward.
According to the Cal Water website, it states that the forum “is part of a formal proceeding that will be documented and placed into the formal record so the CPUC can make a decision about Cal Water’s request.“
KRCR spoke with Oroville Mayor David Pittman in June about the request, who mentioned that fluoride is now more accessible through items such as toothpaste than it was in the 1950s. At that time, fluoride was introduced to the city’s water supply due to its limited availability.
The public can submit comments to the CPUC Administrative Law Judge and provide written feedback on the CPUC website. The judge will consider the proposals and evidence presented during the formal hearing process to make a proposed decision regarding Cal Water’s application to discontinue fluoridation in Oroville’s domestic city water. This decision may either adopt, modify, or deny the application.
A CPUC Commissioner can also propose an alternative decision resulting in a different outcome. All proposed and alternative decisions will then be discussed and voted on by the Commissioners at a public CPUC Voting Meeting.
Cal Water does not expect any rate changes in its request. The Cal Water website further states that “cessation of fluoride does not require dismantling a facility or removing a capital asset so no capital cost will be impacted. Further, any revenue requirement impact from operations and maintenance expense is relatively minor.“
There will be two public forums on Tuesday, September 23, at the Oroville City Council Chambers on Montgomery Street. The first forum begins at 2 p.m., and the second at 6 p.m.
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Original article online at: https://krcrtv.com/news/local/cpuc-hosts-two-public-input-sessions-for-orovilles-fluoride-removal-proposal-on-tuesday