Passed 2/3/2014
WHEREAS, a partial nuclear meltdown in 1959, chemicals utilized in rocket testing, and numerous other accidents, spills, and releases resulted in widespread radioactive and hazardous chemical contamination at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), a former nuclear and rocket testing facility in Ventura County just outside the cities of Los Angeles and Simi Valley; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have entered into agreements with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to restore the site to its natural state by cleaning up all detectable contamination on their parts of the property to background levels defined by DTSC, but Boeing, which controls the rest of the property, has not entered into the agreement and successfully sued to overturn legislation requiring cleanup to “background levels,” and
WHEREAS, DSTC has begun a CEQA process to evaluate potential environmental impacts relative to the proposed cleanup of the SSFL site, and as part of this process will seek public input on remediation and mitigation;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley calls upon the DTSC, NASA, DOE, and Boeing to implement a prompt and full cleanup of the SSFL site; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley urges all organizations and other stakeholders in respecting and observing the above principles in evaluating and implementing cleanup operations, also do more to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare, giving due consideration to minimizing negative impacts of the cleanup on neighbors, including utilizing when possible on-site processing of contaminants, considering alternate routes and methods for removal of material that cannot be de-contaminated on site to reduce traffic, to prevent accidental dissemination of contaminants into the community, preserving and restoring archeological sites and artifacts, and protecting the water system.