The Dioxin Question
“[The Balloon Track] wasn’t expected to be a dioxin source based on the history of the site and prior investigation,” Woodhouse said. But according to Casey Ashley, a senior engineering geologist with the NCRWQCB, businesses surrounding the Balloon Track could be producing the chemicals through their use of large diesel trucks. And dioxins are indeed present. Select areas — those where dioxins are suspected — will be tested, Ashley said. But she added that the prohibitive expense of such studies makes large-scale testing unfeasible.
“My board would shoot me, and they wouldn’t even pay for the funeral,” she said of ordering that magnitude of tests. “You can spend all your cleanup money on testing alone.”
The water board must still approve a final plan after the site has been tested during the initial cleanup process. First, the Eureka Council must decide whether to grant a coastal development permit to Security National on Oct. 20. If the city approves the permit, Gans said they can get to work removing debris piles but would have to wait until May before excavation begins due to laws about such activity during the rainy season. If the city chooses not to grant a permit — well, it’s back to square one.
“Honestly, what can I propose that would be better?” Gans said, adding that the company spent years studying and analyzing the site. “I can’t even put my mind in that frame.”
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Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
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STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
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Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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FOUR Comments
Comment / By margaret francis krefting / Oct. 8, 2009, 7:22 a.m.
cleanup? whoever wants to cleanup?? its no fun …do we have a classic corruption clean up problem here???
Comment / By Thirdeye / Oct. 8, 2009, 12:18 p.m.
Just make it a park and there will be no dioxins.
Comment / By Thirdeye / Oct. 8, 2009, 12:21 p.m.
Just make it a park and there will be no dioxins.
Comment / By Remember When / July 7, 8:40 a.m.
Remember when the Eureka Reporter ran a front page story on the reasons for dioxin pollution in the bay, and placed most of the blame on people’s backyard garbage burns? I do. Wasn’t the Eureka Reporter financed by the same money pool as Security National? Yes it was.