Tuesday, September 17, 2019

DTSC's Carefully Worded letter on Oak Creek and contamination issues

Recently, the Department of Toxic Substances Control released a carefully worded letter to the Oak Creek developers KB Homes Sept 11, 2019 . 

While ENU fully supports the permanent prohibition on future uses of groundwater at the site (for obvious reasons), DTSC makes a very interestingly worded statement in this Removal Completion Report letter.- bold added for emphasis.

"During investigation activities, it was determined that releases from the Chatham Yard do not appear to represent an environmental concern to the Site of future occupants, as contaminate concentrations appear to be naturally attenuating."

The way it is worded it seems to mean that in some time in the future when the natural attenuation is complete there won't be an environmental concern. Our concern is that DTSC's opinion is based on future conditions, not current conditions; ie, future occupants, attenuating.  
We have long-asked the agency when do they expect the attenuation to be complete (actions have been on-going for 20 years).  Here, they still don't say when the process of natural attenuation will be complete so that when the future occupants move in they will be protected.  
So, does this mean that prior to issuing occupancy permits the developer will need to do additional testing to demonstrate that the process of natural attenuation is complete?



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