Runkle Canyon's Toxic Cocktail |
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'Simi, we have a problem' - Runkle
Canyon radiation report spells trouble
2/19/09 Ventura County Reporter
State Keeps Rocketdyne Cleanup
Control - Cal/EPA opposes U.S. EPA
Superfund Listing for lab citing "faster,
more protective cleanup" done by State
1/13/09 EnviroReporter.com
Simi Valley support Supplemental EIR
for Runkle Canyon - More environmental
tests ordered by State of builder KB Home
11/18/08 EnviroReporter.com
New Interactive Timelines
Critical Runkle Document Analysis
Analysis of 41 docs KB Home gave DTSC
Complete Runkle Canyon timeline
Canyon radiation report spells trouble
2/19/09 Ventura County Reporter
State Keeps Rocketdyne Cleanup
Control - Cal/EPA opposes U.S. EPA
Superfund Listing for lab citing "faster,
more protective cleanup" done by State
1/13/09 EnviroReporter.com
Simi Valley support Supplemental EIR
for Runkle Canyon - More environmental
tests ordered by State of builder KB Home
11/18/08 EnviroReporter.com
New Interactive Timelines
Critical Runkle Document Analysis
Analysis of 41 docs KB Home gave DTSC
Complete Runkle Canyon timeline
Documents confirm more
Runkle Canyon contamination
Runkle Canyon contamination
- EnviroReporter.com completes analysis of thousands of
pages of KB Home reports submitted to Department of Toxic
Substances Control as part of Voluntary Cleanup Agreement
signed in April. Other critical documents analyzed.
- Radiological and chemical contamination in Runkle Canyon
worse than previously known publicly.
- EnviroReporter.com submits extensive analyses to DTSC
and creates interactive Runkle Canyon Timelines to facilitate
understanding of this complex subject.
- In addition to the high levels of chromium, strontium-90,
arsenic, nickel, vanadium, perchlorate and trichlorethylene,
the Runkle Canyon cocktail of contaminants grows.
- Toxic NDMA found in Runkle Canyon groundwater.
- A reading of 330 parts per billion of perchlorate detected in
Runkle Canyon's groundwater, five times higher than any
detection there before. The Rangers request that wells MW-
1 and MW-2 be reactivated in order to further test the
groundwater.
- Benzene found in a tarry material in Runkle Canyon at nearly
55 times its EPA Preliminary Remediation Goal for
residential soil and at level exceeding chronic level for the
carcinogen.
- Developer lab, Geocon, finds toxic heavy metal vanadium at
level four time higher than previously known by
EnviroReporter.com. Surpasses "Notification Level" where
local water purveyor informs customers of water threat.
- Test results of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons include a
result of 24.3 mg/kg for benzo(a)antracene which is 39.19
times its PRG of 0.62 mg/kg.
| Confused by all the Runkle Canyon reports? New MUST SEE interactive timelines are designed to help increase government and citizen understanding of Runkle Canyon contamination problems. Critical Runkle Document Analysis Analysis of 41 docs KB Home provided DTSC Complete Runkle Canyon timeline |
Simi Valley
July 7, 2008
| Strontium 90 * Arsenic * Chromium Vanadium * Molybdenum Nickel * Cadmium Benzene Barium NDMA |
Simi Valley
November 18, 2008
- Simi Valley City Council indicates "support" for a new Runkle
Canyon Supplemental Environmental Impact Report after
Radiation Rangers presentation at milestone meeting.
- "I want to see a Supplemental EIR to see if that water in the
creek is safe," says Council Member Steve Sojka.
- Department of Toxic Substances Control's Norm Riley
instructs Runkle developer to explain dramatic drop in
strontium-90 readings in Oct. 17 DTSC letter to KB Home.
- DTSC tells KB Home to remove tarry-like substance from
Runkle Canyon Creek area that lies beneath 11-acre
drainage from Boeing's Santa Susana Field Laboratory.
- Dozens of residents watch Runkle Canyon environmental
presentations by DTSC and the Radiation Rangers assisted
by EnviroReporter.com
- Rangers contend that Runkle Canyon water supplies city's
groundwater and needs more testing of heavy metals.
- DTSC says creek water that flows intermittently into Arroyo
Simi is not a "drinking water source." Riley says actual tap is
"point of delivery" so contaminant notification rules don't
apply.
- Simi Valley water declared safe through blending.
- "We would support a supplemental EIR at some point once
we get to that time,” says Mayor Paul Miller to the delight of
residents and longtime Rocketdyne activists.
- Riley says white evaporate in Runkle Canyon is a naturally
occurring salt and not deadly chromium despite alarming
DTSC test in early 2008 showing high chromium levels.
- DTSC commits to review 2007 heavy metals tests of Runkle
creek by city of Simi Valley and Radiation Rangers.
Simi Valley supports Supplemental EIR for Runkle Canyon
More environmental tests also ordered by State EPA of developer KB Home
More environmental tests also ordered by State EPA of developer KB Home
Norm Riley of the Department of Toxic
Substances Control during presentation
Substances Control during presentation
(left to right): Denise Duffield, Mayor Paul
Miller and Michael Collins
Miller and Michael Collins
Runkle Canyon - A river runs through it,
sometimes, and ends up in the Arroyo Simi
sometimes, and ends up in the Arroyo Simi
Simi Valley
February 19, 2009
Runkle Canyon radiation report spells trouble
Historic meeting of the Department of Toxic Substances Control and citizens
of the Simi and San Fernando valleys takes place January 28, 2009 in Simi
Valley City Council Chambers. No elected city officials attend. Staffer left to
take notes but says city will file Response Plan comments anyway.
Would-be developer KB Home/Lennar, along with their controversial lab
Dade Moeller & Associates, also no-shows despite subject of meeting, the
Runkle Canyon Response Plan, is their creation.
Committee to Bridge the Gap president, Dan Hirsch, rips Response Plan as
"propoganda" and says 2004 Environmental Impact Report for Runkle
Canyon, approved by City Council, was "fraudulent."
Hirsch criticizes Dade Moeller strontium 90 resampling plan as "inadequate"
citing numerous scientific flaws including only one soil sample per 19 acres
to be tested. Hirsch Sr-90 study cited.
Dade Moeller objectivity as developer-hired company has vested interest to
please employer, Hirsch and citizens say.
DTSC's Norm Riley maintains that lab is qualified to do work.
The Radiation Rangers, CleanUpRocketdyne.org, TheAerospace.org, and
the Aerospace Cancer Museum of Education - Los Angeles, post their
comments on the Response Plan on StopRunkledyne.com.
New Runkle Canyon article in the Ventura County Reporter examines issue.
of the Simi and San Fernando valleys takes place January 28, 2009 in Simi
Valley City Council Chambers. No elected city officials attend. Staffer left to
take notes but says city will file Response Plan comments anyway.
Would-be developer KB Home/Lennar, along with their controversial lab
Dade Moeller & Associates, also no-shows despite subject of meeting, the
Runkle Canyon Response Plan, is their creation.
Committee to Bridge the Gap president, Dan Hirsch, rips Response Plan as
"propoganda" and says 2004 Environmental Impact Report for Runkle
Canyon, approved by City Council, was "fraudulent."
Hirsch criticizes Dade Moeller strontium 90 resampling plan as "inadequate"
citing numerous scientific flaws including only one soil sample per 19 acres
to be tested. Hirsch Sr-90 study cited.
Dade Moeller objectivity as developer-hired company has vested interest to
please employer, Hirsch and citizens say.
DTSC's Norm Riley maintains that lab is qualified to do work.
The Radiation Rangers, CleanUpRocketdyne.org, TheAerospace.org, and
the Aerospace Cancer Museum of Education - Los Angeles, post their
comments on the Response Plan on StopRunkledyne.com.
New Runkle Canyon article in the Ventura County Reporter examines issue.
Over 30,000 rocket engine tests at the old
Rocketdyne test site has polluted property
Rocketdyne test site has polluted property
| The Runkle Canyon Timeline (click here to read) |
Simi Valley
April 16, 2009
Mountains of Goo
KB Home promises mass grading of Runkle Canyon
KB Home promises mass grading of Runkle Canyon
Simi Valley’s Radiation Rangers uncover more than just contamination in
Runkle Canyon - they've discovered that Runkle's would-be developer KB
Home promises to remove two giant mountains of slag material that are
leaking pools of toxic sludge.
Massive grading would take place in land previously dedicated as open
space as part of the 465-home development adjacent Rocketdyne. Huge
undertaking not mentioned in Environmental Impact Report.
"Tar material encountered at the site poses a potential threat to human
health because benzo(a)anthracene concentrations exceed the
[Preliminary Remediation Goal],” says state EPA’s Department of Toxic
Substances Control. “The tar material should be removed from the site
and either properly recycled or disposed.”
Rangers show in 58-page cleanup plan response on their website
StopRunkledyne.com that KB Home subcontractor says huge hills will
come down in developer's Response Plan.
The Rangers plan to hold KB Home to this pledge. "That's going to be
something watching KB tear down those mountains if they ever do," says
"Toxic Terry" Matheney. "But DTSC just can’t let them do this without a
legal cleanup plan and city oversight because Runkle Canyon is in Simi
Valley city limits. We've got rules in this city the state can't walk over.”
Rangers show Runkle Canyon to be in Simi Valley city limits since 2006.
Assert DTSC Notice of Exemption to permit Runkle grading in violation of
municipal law to protect oaks. Group demands plans before grading.
Runkle Canyon - they've discovered that Runkle's would-be developer KB
Home promises to remove two giant mountains of slag material that are
leaking pools of toxic sludge.
Massive grading would take place in land previously dedicated as open
space as part of the 465-home development adjacent Rocketdyne. Huge
undertaking not mentioned in Environmental Impact Report.
"Tar material encountered at the site poses a potential threat to human
health because benzo(a)anthracene concentrations exceed the
[Preliminary Remediation Goal],” says state EPA’s Department of Toxic
Substances Control. “The tar material should be removed from the site
and either properly recycled or disposed.”
Rangers show in 58-page cleanup plan response on their website
StopRunkledyne.com that KB Home subcontractor says huge hills will
come down in developer's Response Plan.
The Rangers plan to hold KB Home to this pledge. "That's going to be
something watching KB tear down those mountains if they ever do," says
"Toxic Terry" Matheney. "But DTSC just can’t let them do this without a
legal cleanup plan and city oversight because Runkle Canyon is in Simi
Valley city limits. We've got rules in this city the state can't walk over.”
Rangers show Runkle Canyon to be in Simi Valley city limits since 2006.
Assert DTSC Notice of Exemption to permit Runkle grading in violation of
municipal law to protect oaks. Group demands plans before grading.
Black goo. Man with benzo(a)anthracene in
Runkle Canyon July 2, 2007 with Simi officials.
Runkle Canyon July 2, 2007 with Simi officials.
Is KB Home really going to mass grade away
this slag mountain with toxic tar seeps?
this slag mountain with toxic tar seeps?