Truxlers, LTVA to resume fireworks talks
Mediation in the South Shore fireworks case will resume Monday.
Joan and Joe Truxler of Marla Bay, who brought the lawsuit against the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and Pyro Spectacular, and their attorney will be meeting with representatives of the LTVA and their attorney.
Lew Feldman, attorney representing the LTVA, told Lake Tahoe News it would be a confidential meeting per federal rules.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Sacramento. The March 31 meeting is in Sacramento.
“Joe and I are determined that this thing can get settled,” Joan Truxler told Lake Tahoe News. “It will be settled once LTVA understands how they have gravely deceived the community they are charged with promoting.”
The Truxlers believe an agency other than a fire department should be permitting the fireworks shows that are put on Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend so any pollutants put into the lake are monitored. A problem with that is no state or federal agency says a permit is needed.
In the lawsuit it says each mortar that has been launched in the last five years should count as a penalty under the Clean Water Act, which would to a fine of more than $70 million for the LTVA.
The Truxlers say the debris from the two 2013 events continues to wash up on Pinewild Beach. The LTVA has cleanup protocols and is willing to improve trash pick up.
The deadline for a resolution is April 4.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Seems to me that this suit should be brought against the NPDES permitting agency for not requiring a permit of the LTVA, as opposed to the LTVA itself. If the LTVA isn’t required to get an NDPES by that agency what exactly has the LTVA done wrong?
THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS ,DONT FRET.
So they’re saying there ought to be a law, when there isn’t?? We don’t have ENOUGH laws, regulations, agencies, restrictions?? There need to be MORE?
Yeah, more licensing, more fees. That’ll fix all our problems.
Biggerpicture—you are using too much logical thinking. I agree though that if there are no permits required why is the lawsuit valid against the LTVA who is following the law?
If this couple doesn’t like it, talk to State for Federal lawmakers. Don’t injure the thousands of employees and local businesses by threatening to sue the group that puts on the fireworks legally but the possibility of the lawsuit will force them to cancel even though it’s legal.
NIMBY’S or it’s all about ME.
I’m not sure WITCH one apply’s .
what is ” gravely deceived the community”
that’s an interesting statement I would like to know the answer?
but in our little Town the secretes are hidden.
and most folks don’t really care they only want to stay medicated.
It looks like this summer/fall the lake level will drop below the legal low water mark. I will be the first person to start enjoying the new public beach at Pinewild.
I will report back on how much fireworks trash I find.
Can’t we improve our 4th of July celebration AND be responsible stewards of the lake at the same time?
What about a laser light show in combination with ‘lake friendly’ fireworks (“IF” they exist)?
Does nobody remember how 2 stroke engines were first banned in Lake Tahoe? While many claimed that it was going to kill our economy, we ended up being leaders and setting a precedent.
We have an opportunity to bring about positive change. Let’s dream big and give the world another reason to know why Lake Tahoe is one of the most spectacular places on Earth.
legal low water mark? You mean natural rim hahahaha.
Too late for tahoe to be leaders on protecting water qualiry from fireworks. The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board already regulates fireworks as a pollution source subject to the federal Clean Water Act. At best our lahontan water quality board needs to catch up on current practices.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/13/local/la-me-0513-coast-fireworks-20110513
Ryan. Good point about the two strokes motors. However, you may recall most of our local “leaders” exclaiming (and even doing photo ops riding two stroke jet skis) how NON polluting they were. So, don’t count on a epiphany moment from that crowd.
“legal low water mark? You mean natural rim hahahaha.”
Unlike Cali in Nevada the lakefront owners can (not always) own to low later mark.
They scream like stuck pigs when common folk dare to set foot on “THEIR” beach. Pinewild being a great example of this mind set.
Thanks for the link, Total recall!
I still think we have the opportunity to be leaders in this area even if we aren’t the first…
AND it is a great marketing point to set us apart from other fireworks displays across the country!
Rock- History has proven how ridiculous those ‘photo ops’ were.
We’ll all see what happens in this case…
What will history have to say about those abusing the bully pulpit and distributing the Truxler’s personal info?
Ryan I was at the meeting, the LTVA did not distribute the phone number, it was done by others who had nothing to do with the LTVA. I dont know if you know this but in this day of google and something called te internet, it is extremely easy to get this information as well as things like social security number. There are probably hundred of people in te basin that had that numbr for years and all it took was one who was pissed to release it. That number was on a facebook page 48 hrs before the meeting. Their lawyer should have told them there would be harrasment as soon as they filed, he knew there would be. Just as they have a constitutional right to sue, others have the same right to let them know how they feel about it. I would even bet that there will be restraunts as well as other businesses that will refuse them service. Edgewood is pissed, dont be surpised if they cancel their membership. But with their 5 homes and airplane(i bet their carbon footprint is low) they can leave town for a little while until this all blows over.
I strongly urge locals along with our negotiators at the upcoming meeting to adopt a constructive and positive attitude. Drop the personal attacks and attitudes of persecution as these will only stand in the way of us reaching a reasonable resolution. Let’s try to see this as an opportunity to reduce pollution and perhaps to find a cutting edge solution that will make our 4th of July celebration better than ever. The situation we find ourselves in is not going to go away so let’s buck up and rise to the occasion. Tahoe has pulled together many times in the past and it is important to do that now. Let’s go for the best foot forward at the meeting in Sacramento as this will make a difference in the outcome.
I hope our negotiators comb through these several posts on the fireworks situation as there are many constructive ideas that could be taken to the meetings.
reloman- Only time will tell…
I can only assume that fear (of exposure and/or retaliation?) is why many who post here use aliases.
Communicate with respect and integrity and there is no need to hide in anonymity. If you can’t take responsibility for your own actions, then maybe there is a reason behind that?
Ryan. A host of our local “leaders” have very poor environmental records. (And, yes Rico “Oiler” looked ridiculous on that jet ski.)
Ex. Here is Ted Gaines’ anti-environmental voting record…
http://www.ecovote.org/legislator/state-senator-ted-gaines
Problem with this story is we don’t have all the salient facts. What we do have is misinformation, political maneuvering, denial, among other things, but I am hopeful this is settled and that the Truxlers will have an opportunity to share the timeline of their story, who knew what and when, and how it was handled or better stated, not handled properly by others.
To the general character assassinations, and assumptions about Truxlers,here are some facts. They are not elitist, not NIMBY’s, not litigation hounds, and certainly not looking to wreck South Shore’s good time on the 4th. So much more I’d like to share but now isn’t the time.
As for the stalking and death threats, I think we know where civilized folks stand.
Anyone who promotes such behavior is criminal in their intent.
Ryan, I appreciate your comment, “no need to hide in anonymity”.
I wish we all would consider this before we slur and/or slander another person.
Microcosms showed comparatively rapid intrinsic perchlorate
degradation in the absence of nitrate consistent with the
observed disappearance of perchlorate from the study site.
This suggests that at sites with appropriate biogeochemical
conditions, natural attenuation may be an important
factor affecting the fate of perchlorate following fireworks
displays.
Dan, we know all of the relevant facts and as far as the Truxlers go: They have proven they are everything you claim they are not by their actions.
ol·i·go·troph·ic [ol-i-goh-trof-ik, -troh-fik] Show IPA
adjective Ecology .
(of a lake) characterized by a low accumulation of dissolved nutrient salts, supporting but a sparse growth of algae and other organisms, and having a high oxygen content owing to the low organic content.
Ryan Payne asked about having “a laser light show in combination with ‘lake friendly’ fireworks” ~ I’m wondering about that, too. The shows at Disneyland are wonderful ~ would something like that be possible here? If the real fireworks continue to be challenged a laser light show could be our backup.
If the truxlers dont drop their suit this week there will be no show of any type (Laser or otherwise)because funds set aside for shows will be used in legal fees. Also one of their damands at this point is to pay for their legal fees that are at about 100k to date. So even if there is a settlement and the LTVA pays legal fees for their attorney then there still may not be a show as the money set aside for it will go to their attorney. NO SHOW THIS YEAR
I Blame no fireworks on lahontan’s incompetence in not requiring a permit for the past 35 years. It’s about time
Maybe the LTVA can get their lawyer fees waived. I hear that the head of the LTVA has a connection with the lawyer representing them. And since its on the internet it must be true. Lol