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Runkle Canyon soil needs more study
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More from Local NewsThe Department of Toxic Substances Control says it needs more information before it can determine if the soil is safe near a former rocket engine and nuclear test site in southern Simi Valley.
In a letter sent to the city, a DTSC official said Runkle Canyon needs additional soil testing for strontium 90, a radioactive isotope that has been linked to certain cancers.
At the request of the city, KB and Lennar Homes have halted plans to build 461 residences at the southern end of Sequoia Avenue until all state and federal agencies agree that the area is free of health hazards, city officials said.
In a letter dated Oct. 17, DTSC says it also needs to study a white crystalline material that residents found on the site earlier this year, said Laura Behjan, assistant city manager.
Also, they say the developer should remove tar from the site.
Behjan said DTSC officials will give a presentation to the City Council on Nov. 17 to further explain the findings.
Runkle Canyon is near the former Santa Susana Field Laboratory. A 2007 independent study linked a 1959 nuclear reactor meltdown at the lab and subsequent contamination to hundreds of cancer cases in the area.
The letter and other Runkle information is also available on the city's Web site: http://www.simivalley.org.
Posted by SimiProud on October 24, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Simi does not need any more residential development regardless of the status of the property.
Shut it down to development and make it a park.
Posted by sparks240 on October 24, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A park? Would you let your kids play there?
Posted by danceswithdolphins on October 31, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No, we do NOT need any more homes built. Drive around and it's not hard to see how many are up for sale. That would be disastrous. Not only because it's toxic up there, but enough is enough. Unless, of course, the City Council is getting some kind of kickback, which I wouldn't doubt. The whole City Council needs to be revamped. Get them all out and start over. Bunch of crooks!!
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