Thursday, May 10, 2007

CM PRESS # 135


REPORT FROM THE TOXIC CLEANUP MEETING OF 5/9/07

"I've got my spine, I've got my orange crush..."R.E.M song lyrics

Here are the salient points of the meeting:

1. A portion of the 6.8 acre site at 1640 Monrovia is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene, and often abbreviated as PCE or PERC.

The most serious health effects of PCE exposure are liver damage and cancer. Reproductive and other problems are also implicated.

PCE is commonly called dry cleaning fluid and is used in the dry cleaning industry. It is also a strong industrial solvent and degreaser that is used in many other industries and is often used to clean metal.

PCE is a precursor to dioxins which are also known carcinogens and which were used in Agent Orange in Vietnam.

2. It is estimated that approximately 15 truckloads of dirt will have to be removed from the site and discarded at a special toxic dump (not in Costa Mesa).

3. The contamination apparently did not originate at this site, but travelled there via the groundwater from another location that the Department of Toxic Substances Control and the State Water Board are now trying to identify.

WHAT'S NEXT?

After the Public Comment Period closes on May 24, 2007, the cleanup of the site should begin. Presumably this will be in early June.

WHAT YOU MAY SEE AT THE SITE

At the site, you will observe heavy equipment excavating dirt from the contaminated area. You may see workers wearing Hazmat suits and breathing apparatus. You will see water trucks spraying the area to knock down contaminated dust. You will see piles of dirt covered with plastic sheets to keep dust from blowing from the site. You will see plastic "fences" around the excavation area. You will see the trucks cleaned before they leave the site.

WHAT YOU MAY SEE ON OUR STREETS

All the trucks will be required to follow a carefully planned hauling route: Leave site at Babcock Street; Proceed north on Placentia Ave.; Turn east on Victoria Street to the 55 freeway.

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM DTSC:

Maryam Tasnif-Abbasi, Project Manager at (714) 484-5489

WHY DIDN'T YOU READ ANY ARTICLES IN THE REGULAR PRESS ABOUT THIS?

Some Westside activists suspect that there are powerful interests with political connections who may be trying to keep the public in the dark about this and other contamination on the Bluffs.

In fact, the CM PRESS only learned about this because an alert Westside activist happened to spot a toss away notice placed in the Pilot by the DTSC and contacted us.

This is not small potatoes, folks. We have dangerous contamination in the ground water on the Westside Bluffs and its ultimate source has not yet been identified.

THE FUTURE

When this site is cleaned up and when the ultimate source of the contamination is discovered and also cleaned up, you will finally start seeing homes being built on the Westside Bluffs.

You can also expect to see more action to clean up the rest of the Bluffs (another 53 or so acres) and our environment. Cleaner soil, water and air on the Westside Bluffs is good for the whole city.
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