[Occupymendocino] Fw: from AVA, SWEEPING THE DIOXINS UNDER FORT BRAGG’S RUG

[Ann Rennacker]

________________________________
From: Annemarie <aweibel at mcn.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 9:41 AM
To: Ann Rennacker; David Gurney; Ed Oberweiser; Sue Boecker; Leslie Kashiwada
Subject: from AVA, SWEEPING THE DIOXINS UNDER FORT BRAGG’S RUG

SWEEPING THE DIOXINS UNDER FORT BRAGG’S RUG

Editor,

I just spoke to Tom Lanphar of the State Department Toxic Substances
Control regarding the dioxin contaminated soil and sediment removal from
the mill site. This project will start in August and last at least 6
weeks with about 3000 cubic yards of soil dug up and removed by trucks
to Kettleman City toxic dump and soils with lesser levels of dioxin will
go to a toxic disposal site in Contra Costa County.

The mitigation measures DTSC will use to prevent dioxin and other
contaminants from leaving the site are flimsy and left to the contractor
Arkadis and their subcontractors to self-monitor whenever Tom (from
Berkeley office) is not present on the site. The contractors will SELF
MONITOR for wind speeds, wind gusts, cleaning (brushing and/or spraying)
of the trucks, covering of the trucks, dewatering of the wet sediment, etc.

The soils and sediments could have been left in place and capped off
which would have prevented any dioxin from leaving the area but DTSC and
Fort Bragg City wanted to remove the soils. This “cleanup” would allow
for increased use of the land such as constructing condos, etc. If the
soils were left in place with caps to prevent the dioxin from leaving
the ground, these containment measures would have to be monitored long
term and the caps might have to be repaired so that there is no erosion.

So then DTSC and Fort Bragg City would be able to say after the project
that the site has been “cleaned up” and leaving more “flexibility” for
commercial development which would take place on the site without having
to say the site still contains dioxin. Of course, some levels of dioxin
and other contaminants would remain.

There are 5 areas where there are high levels of dioxin: ponds 7, 2 and
3 and the riparian area with wet sediment and also dry soil with the
highest levels of dioxin in the burned mill wastes area. After this
contaminated soil removal there will remain 10 acres of contaminated
soil with, maybe, lower levels of dioxin and other toxics.

The project is hampered by time (trucks have to leave by noon to get to
their destinations and 6 week duration). Contractors will be in a rush.
Variable winds and gusts will blow soil particles on and off site,
trucks will drip contaminated water and soil particles on the streets,
soil will leave the “covered” trucks and be carried offsite. Soil
particles not removed from the outside and underside and tires of the
trucks will be carried and deposited offsite before the trucks get to
Kettleman City.

There is no recourse if dioxin escapes into the environment. The
contractors won't tell on themselves and there may be a lag time between
dioxin blowing and landing in the environment and adverse health effects
of the people in Fort Bragg, on the way to the toxic dump, and near the
site of Kettleman City where nearby residents complain about illnesses
caused by toxics carried and buried there.

The mitigation measures such as top wind speeds and cleaning of trucks
are left vague and there is no assurance or responsibility or
accountability to make sure there is no offsite contamination. If there
is offsite contamination, so what? Nothing will happen except adverse
health effects to the population which may take time to become known.
The Fort Bragg population has already been contaminated with dioxin from
the years of burning the mill wastes.

Sincerely, Susan Miller

Fort Bragg

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