At the start of the Dec. 2 meeting, Jeff Ellsworth (former mayor of St. Helena and member of Cal LULAC) presented evidence and photographs documenting multiple Latino waste‑worker fatalities at Bay Area and Central Valley facilities, alleging systemic problems in Cal/OSHA inspections, worker intimidation, and water‑quality consequences from fires and toxic releases. He named specific incidents and companies (ALCO, Recology Brisbane, Upper Valley Disposal/Clover Flat) and urged the State Water Board to examine the nexus between workplace exposures, fires and contamination events and impacts to public water quality.

Ellsworth said the California LULAC Waste Workers Advocacy Committee formed in 2025 to advance these concerns and requested that the water board pursue comprehensive, transparent public hearings and consider creating a portal to receive worker complaints, because he alleged the OSHA system fails to surface worker evidence that could be relevant to water‑quality oversight.

Board chair Joaquin Esquivel thanked the commenter and said staff would follow up with the regional water quality control board and that he appreciated the information. The board did not take action on the request during the meeting but indicated staff engagement with regional boards would continue.

The presentation included claims about multiple fatalities and referenced Cal/OSHA audits showing low on‑site inspection rates; the board’s public response committed to regional coordination and follow‑up, but did not adjudicate the underlying factual claims in the presentation.