CLEARLAKE — Martin Scheel, owner of Konocti Marine Construction, was given until Feb. 4 to complete the removal of a sunken crane by action of the Lake County Board of Supervisors Tuesday. The crane sunk in the waters of Clear Lake in the Clearlake Park area in November.
Water Resources Director Scott De Leon said the department has been trying to work with Scheel and that he has been responsive. However, he said the department is getting pressure from the public and thinks the abatement process needs to move forward.
District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith disagreed with De Leon”s assessment. “As far as the owner being responsive, it”s been two months and the crane is still in the lake. That”s not responsive,” he said. “I want to hear the plan to get this out of the water, fuel and all.”
De Leon said the board could assign the abatement costs to the crane owner or the property owner; however, he does not support the latter option. He said another option would be to leave the crane in the lake and have divers remove any equipment that contains fuel.
“There should be environmental insurance on anything like this on the lake. The property owners who were having the dock built should not be liable for this” Smith said. “There were ways to take care of the problem that day we were out there. I saw it as a true lack of response. That day was glass water. It could have been pumped, righted and some of the problems taken care of on the spot.”
The incident has brought attention to the need for an ordinance to require pollution insurance for marine operations, which De Leon said he will begin to evaluate.
De Leon said the approximate cost for removal is about $40,000 to $50,000. If the crane is not removed by the owner by Feb. 4, the county will conduct the abatement process and associated costs will be levied against Scheel.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
