Source- News8 (KFMB - San Diego, CA): State water inspectors have cited a housing contractor hired by Camp Pendleton for polluting Oceanside Harbor. It's the second time this year that runoff from a Camp Pendleton project has caused health concerns.  A few months ago, city workers started noticing brown silt flowing into the harbor. State inspectors say it's coming from a Camp Pendleton housing project upstream.  "We have here one of the outfalls that is pretty much hidden behind the support column here," said State Water Quality Inspector Tony Felix.  For several months, that storm drain has been hiding a big secret, one that Felix discovered because of the images snapped during last winter's heavy rains.  "I was able to work my way upstream from the point of discharge," continued Felix.

The photos show silty runoff draining into Oceanside Harbor.  Felix says the mess was coming from a nearby housing construction project on Camp Pendleton property.  Felix took photos showing a water collection basin that he says Overflowed into the storm water drain.  Felix then issued a water pollution violation notice on April 14 against Hunt Building Company, which is a housing contractor hired by the military.  "Their basin was sized for half inch. According to recent rain reports we've had 2.3 inches, which is way over the capacity of the basin. That's why we had discharges of sediment laden water from the site," noted Felix.

The state ordered Hunt Building Company to submit an action plan by May 16, detailing why the runoff happened and how it will be prevented in the future. If they don't comply, they could face thousands of dollars in fines.  "We have to take preserving water quality very seriously especially in cities like San Diego not only for the military, but to everybody," explained Felix.  News 8 spoke with boaters who say they want to make sure Oceanside Harbor stays clean.  "I didn't know it was coming from Camp Pendleton up the hill. I thought it was just the red tide," said John Heizer.  "The water has been brown. We were wondering why. We really don't know," Rob Stewart commented.  "If that is where it is coming from, they should be held to higher standards I think," continued Erin Stewart.

Hunt Building Company is the same firm that caused concerns for parents earlier this year at North Terrace Elementary School in Oceanside.  A hunt subcontractor was operating a concrete crushing yard next to the school, when toxic runoff water flooded a playground.  After News 8 exposed the problem, Hunt moved the concrete crushing yard to another location on Camp Pendleton.  They also planted fresh, green grass at the site to keep runoff away from the school.  And as far as the Oceanside Harbor runoff problem, Hunt Building Company says they're working with state inspectors.  In a written statement, a spokesperson said:  "We strongly believe that the methods we use to control stormwater and sediment from our activities are effective and designed to fully comply with legal requirements that protect the environment."

Late this afternoon, Camp Pendleton issued a statement saying Hunt Building Company is responsible for complying with all environmental laws associated with the project.