The Planning Department of the City of Carlsbad today released its Notice of Preparation (NOP), initiating the public environmental review process for the construction of a 50 million-gallon-per-day seawater desalination plant and associated delivery system to be developed by Poseidon Resources Corporation.

The NOP marks the beginning of a 30-day period in which the City is seeking comments from the public to help determine the issues the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will analyze. This comment period, or scoping process, helps determine the coverage, focus and content of an EIR.

The public scoping meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, April 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and again from 6 to 8 p.m. at the City of Carlsbad Faraday Center, Room 173-B, 1635 Faraday Avenue in Carlsbad.

In January, the Carlsbad City Council voted unanimously to move forward with an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a desalination project at the Encina power plant after Poseidon's project application was deemed to be complete. Subsequently, the Board of the San Diego County Water Authority voted to suspend its negotiations with Poseidon to allow Carlsbad and its other member agencies to directly pursue an agreement with Poseidon for the construction of the desalination plant.

"The public scoping meetings and initiation of the environmental review marks an important next step in this public process," said Peter MacLaggan, Senior Vice President of Poseidon. "The process will result in construction of a saltwater desalination plant guaranteeing Carlsbad and the region a locally-controlled supply of water at a guaranteed price while protecting the City of Carlsbad and taxpayers from financial risk," he added.

Poseidon Resources Corporation specializes in developing and financing water projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are completed through innovative partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. Poseidon is ranked among the top 10 water infrastructure developers in the world and is headquartered in Stamford, CT. For more information on Poseidon Resources visit our website at http://www.poseidonresources.com.