CARLSBAD -- For the third time this year, a controversial desalination project goes before a government agency that could give final approval or delay it yet again.

San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the project. It would be built by Poseidon Resources Corp. next to the Encina Power Station in coastal Carlsbad.

Eight water districts, including the city of Carlsbad, have agreed to buy water from the plant, which is intended to supplement the region's water supply.

But environmental groups such as Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper say the plant will unnecessarily harm ocean life. And one regulatory agency has claimed that Stamford, Conn.-based Poseidon misrepresented important information about the project.

Poseidon says it can't raise money for the $300 million project until the water quality board gives its approval. After it raises the money, construction can begin.

The company's schedule for building the plant has slipped by nearly half a year since August, when vice president Scott Maloni said construction was projected to begin in the first half of this year.

Maloni said Monday that the project would still be on track if construction began by the end of this year.

The project came before the water quality board Feb. 12 and April 8. But this time, Maloni said, the board has indicated it intends to take final action.

Poseidon has received approvals from several agencies in a years-long process. One of those agencies, the California Coastal Commission, said in a May 6 letter that Poseidon had given inaccurate environmental impact information to the board.

Maloni said that commission staff members have repeatedly sent letters of objection, yet the commission's voting members have given all its needed approvals. This latest letter, he said, is "standard operating procedure" for commission staff.

The meeting is at 9 a.m. Wednesday at 9174 Sky Park Ct. in San Diego. The board can be reached at (858) 467-2952.

Contact staff writer Bradley J. Fikes at 760-739-6641.

Read his blogs at bizblogs.nctimes.com.

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