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Geothermal Worldwide, Inc., Email: nlakic@GeothermalWorldwide.com
78-365 Hwy 111, #402, La Quinta, CA 92201, Ph: 760-347-1609
Page 1 of 7
January 25, 2023
To: Salton Sea Long-Range Plan Review
California Natural Resources Agency
715 P Street, 20th Floor
Sacramento, CA 9581475
Email: SaltonSeaLRP@resources.ca.gov;
Cc: cnra-saltonsea@resources.ca.gov;
Karla Nemeth, Director of the California Department of Water Resources
lea.garrison@water.ca.gov (assistant for Karla Nemeth).
Joaquin Esquivel, Chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board
joaquin.esquivel@waterboards.ca.gov;
James Newcomb, SSMP Lead for Long-Range Planning and Asst. Dep. Dir.,
California Dept. of Water Resources. James.Newcomb@water.ca.gov;
Vivien Maisonneuve, SSMP Lead for the California Department of Water
Resources Vivien.Maisonneuve@water.ca.gov;
Tonya Marshall, Salton Sea Program Manager, California Department of Fish
and Wildlife. tonya.marshall@wildlife.ca.gov
Christopher Harris, Executive Director, Colorado River Board of California.
csharris@crb.ca.gov ;
Governor Gavin Newsom gavin@gavinnewsom.com;
Yana Garcia, Secretary for Environmental Protection
Yana.Garcia@calEPA.ca.gov; SectyGarcia@calEPA.ca.gov;
David Hochschild - chair of the California Energy Commission
David.Hochschild@Energy.ca.gov;
J. Andrew McAllister, California Energy Commission.
Andrew.McAllister@Energy.ca.gov;
Kourtney Vaccaro, California Energy Commission.
Ollie.Awolowo@Energy.ca.gov; - Administrative assistant.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta info@oag.ca.gov;
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Geothermal Worldwide, Inc., Email: nlakic@GeothermalWorldwide.com
78-365 Hwy 111, #402, La Quinta, CA 92201, Ph: 760-347-1609
Page 2 of 7
Eduardo Garcia, Assemblymember,
AssemblyMember.EduardoGarcia@assembly.ca.gov;
Raul Ruiz, M.D. Congressman (Shayra Hernandez, Director at Office of
Congressman Raul Ruiz, Shayra.Hernandez@mail.house.gov;
Christopher Calfee, Deputy Secretary and General Counsel,
Christopher.Calfee@resources.ca.gov;
Col. Julie Balten, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles
District.
sally.m.desimone@usace.army.mil; - administrative assistant
DeSimone, Sally M CIV USARMY CESPL (USA)
Brig. Gen. Antoinette Gant, Commander, South Pacific Division.
(nancy.e.allen@usace.army.mil; honey.e.nixon@usace.army.mil;
Public Affairs representatives)
Thomas Tortez Jr., Tribal Chairman, Torres Martinez (Desert Cahuilla Indians)
Thomas.Tortez@torresmartinez-nsn.gov;
Kelly Seyarto, California Senator (Stacy.Neese@sen.ca.gov;).
Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes, Majority Leader, 50th Assembly District,
Assemblymember.Reyes@assembly.ca.gov; (Marina Espinoza, Legislative
Director, Marina.Espinoza@asm.ca.gov ).
Miguel Hernández, Public Affairs Officer, California Natural Resources Agency,
Salton Sea Management Program, Miguel.Hernandez@resources.ca.gov;
Patty.Monahan@Energy.ca.gov; Michelle.Sinclair@calEPA.ca.gov ;
CRB-info@usbr.gov; (the Bureau of Land Management); kenos@iplawusa.com;
Subject:
Public Comment by Nikola Lakic - in response to the “Salton Sea Long
Range Plan Public Draft" prepared by the California Natural Resources
Agency - SSMP Long-Range Plan.
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Geothermal Worldwide, Inc., Email: nlakic@GeothermalWorldwide.com
78-365 Hwy 111, #402, La Quinta, CA 92201, Ph: 760-347-1609
Page 3 of 7
In response to the “Salton Sea Long Range Plan Public Draft" (SSLRP) prepared by the
California Natural Resources Agency - SSMP Long-Range Plan (LRP) published on
December 15, 2022, I respectfully urge everyone involved to read my response -
rebuttal (62 pages) - to the Report of the UCSC Panel of independent reviewers which I
submitted to the Secretary of CNRA on December 31, 2022. Document is attached.
Here is the link too: Response to the Report of Panel of independent reviewers.pdf.
As I commented during numerous meetings, I am writing this comment for the record.
The “current course of action” for the restoration of the Salton Sea is a “drive in the
wrong direction”. Also, it is a part of an obvious scam that is in process for some time.
Such illegal conduct (scamming), on which I elaborated in detail in my response to the
Report of the UCSC Panel, that lead to destruction of the Lake with serious
consequences, needs to be stopped if we are to follow the State’s policy toward saving
and restoring the Salton Sea, our environment, the health of the nearby population, and
the economy in general.
I respectfully urge everyone involved in the “current course of action” for so-called the
“restoration” of the Salton Sea which is the “Perimeter/Brine Lake” recently renamed to
“In-Basin Solution” or “In-Land Solution”, which is a part of the 10-Year Plan, that is
outlined in the “Salton Sea Long Range Plan Public Draft" - to stop pretending to do
something that is in the interest of the Salton Sea, the environment, the health of the
nearby population, and the economy of the State knowing very well that the truth is just
the opposite.
In my response to the report of the UCSC Panel, I respectfully urge the top State
officials to open an investigation into this case, for which I provided more than enough
verifiable evidence. Those involved in scam needs to be held accountable. If they are
not held accountable, will be very difficult to move forward in saving and restoring the
Salton Sea and we would end up losing the Lake with tremendous consequences and
liabilities (See page 6).
I am suggesting radical changes in logistical (operational) and administrative aspect of
moving forward toward the restoration of the Salton Sea and abolishment of some or all
those agencies that will not be necessary during the implementation of the well- designed plan for the restoration of the Salton Sea project.
I suggest, after a thorough investigation of this case, and subsequent consultation with
several potential contractors about their cost estimate for the implementation of my
proposal (See page 55, Segment 5.4 of my response to the Report of the UCSC Panel
of independent reviewers), to be established an office with appropriate staff (team) to
manage money (the budget of the project), oversee necessary permits and permissions,
and to communicate with all contractors and stakeholders involved in the project