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http://www.ssflpanel.org
www.rocketdynewatch.org
H2Oh No!!!
Filmmaker William Bowling is a resident of  Topanga Canyon
who has been following the issue of the Boeing/ Rocketdyne Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) for the past several years.
  He has now launched ACMEla.org
 

StopRunkleDYNE.com

EnviroReporter.com

Tell people. 

Join our talking army 

cleanuprocketdyne.org

 

Dare to Educate Yourself about Boeing's, 
Santa Susana Field Laboratory
Community EIR
 
Calendar Reminders:
 
EPA letter 7/2/08 from Mr. Mike Montgomery, Chief
Federal Facilities and Site Cleanup Branch
Finally the RIGHT decision with House Resolution 2764 and thanks to a very strong effort from EPA to make this right, DOE has now agreed to let 
EPA lead the way.  NRDC/CBG letter (7/7/08)
cleanuprocketdyne.org and ACMELA.org's letter to Congress here (7/9/08)
 

 Headlines

Debris from Field Lab found in nearby Park NEW
Authorities are testing material found in a 40,000-square-foot debris field unearthed last week on public parkland next to the polluted Santa Susana Field Laboratory near Simi Valley, officials said Wednesday.  more
Ventura County Star - Teresa Rochester 8/21/08
 
Download DTSC Factsheet here: NEW
 
Lab debris discovered at rifle range
Workers cleaning up an old shooting range in Sage Ranch Park discovered buried debris from the adjacent Santa Susana Field Lab, state officials said Wednesday.
The material was found in a 6-foot-deep layer and included industrial glass, piping, metal fragments and garbage that will be tested for chemical and radiological contamination, said Norman Riley, project director with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
"We're very concerned about the discovery of this debris on what is now public land," Riley said.  This is the second time officials have found dumped lab debris in Sage Ranch.  more
By Kerry Cavanaugh, Staff Writer 8/20/08
 
 
USEPA Press Release 7/28/08
U.S. EPA to perform $1.5 million radiological 
study at Santa Susana Field Lab
EPA and Department of Energy finalize 
interagency agreement
 
Radiation contamination survey at field lab OK'd
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gained the authority Thursday to conduct a long-awaited survey of radiation contamination at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in the hills south of Simi Valley.
Ventura County Star - Teresa Rochester 7/25/08
 
EPA set to take charge of survey at Field Lab
Ventura County Star - Teresa Rochester 7/20/08
 
EPA threatens to pull out of Field Lab study
By Kerry Cavanaugh, Staff Writer 7/09/08
Frustrated with a lack of transparency in the cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Lab, the U.S. EPA has fired off a harsh letter to the Energy Department threatening to pull out of a long-awaited radiation study at the former nuclear research site.
 
White blight
Runkle Canyon's chromium conundrum
By Michael Collins 06/26/2008
The men had been up that hot dusty trail before, high in the hills above Simi Valley. Hawks flew overhead as vernal pools evaporated in the late March heat. Tracks of critters led to the stream that still had an oily sheen to it as it did in May 2007. That's when these two "Radiation Rangers," self-styled concerned more...
  Click here for the timeline developed by EnviroReporter.com
 
Daily News 5/9/08
Museum will call attention to aerospace pollution
CHATSWORTH - Christina Walsh gazed toward the Simi Hills from what might be the first museum ever devoted to aerospace industry pollution.  "People don't know there's this invisible thing up there, where they did 30,000 rocket tests, each one...  more
By Dana Bartholomew, Staff Writer
 
LA Times 5/4/08
Derek Fisher - Eye on the Prize, His family
Last spring, in a whirlwind of events that captured the attention of a nation, a cancerous tumor was discovered in the left eye of his infant daughter.
by Bill Plaschke
 
Retinoblastoma Fundraiser 6/29/08
Children's Hospital - LA
Comedy Event at the Canyon Club to "fight childhood blindness"
 
Daily News 4/12/08
Cancer cause near Santa Susana Field Lab disputed
Genetics vs. pollution debated in 11 children's cases of rare retinoblastoma  Researchers are at odds over whether 11 cases of a rare eye cancer found in West Valley children could be linked to pollution from the nearby Santa Susana Field Lab.
 
Ventura County Star 1/16/08 
Agreement reached on cleanup of Field Lab
by Teresa Rochester
 
NEW:Crucial Groundwater Interim Measures
Issued 5/16/08 by DTSC
 
DTSC - 4/23/08 
Agreement signed by DTSC and Runkle Canyon, LLC. 
 
Ventura County Reporter 11/21/07 Cleaning up Rocketdyne
Citizen-inspired remediation starts at lab-adjacent Sage Ranch
Imminent Substantial Endangerment Determination and Order and Remedial Action Order 11/1/07  Sage Ranch
 
Letter from Mr. Riley, DTSC to Boeing and NASA
Details here:
 
 
FieldLabDeer1118.jpg
Our favorite cartoonist at the Ventura County Star - Steve Greenberg
 
1/15/08 Historic Letter of Intent between the State and the People
1/15/08 Letter from Secretary Adams of CalEPA to Senator Kuehl
1/15/08 Letter to USEPA communicating State Decision
 
EPA has concluded that the Lab qualifies to be added to the National Priorities List (NPL known as Superfund)  
Click here to see Letter from Community to Secretary Adams
 
Now SB990 is law, and shall remain law!  Congratulations and sincere thanks to all community efforts making this historic day possible.
 
KUEHL'S SANTA SUSANA FIELD LAB CLEAN-UP BILL TO BECOME LAW for immediate release 10/12/07
 Senator Keuhl's letter to the Governor. (page two)
 Boeings' letter of intent (basic elements)
Actual Letter of Intent Memorandum  
 
Click here to see Letter from multiple organizations to the Governor, urging concurrence with USEPA recommendation for SuperFund.
 
Governor's press release and suggested language  in the amendment
Here is the actual Letter of Intent  
 
Download Linkin' Park's "Forgotten" 
 
Perchlorate MCL (6 ug/L) was approved
 by the Office of Administrative Law, 
was filed with the 
Secretary of State, 
and is effective October 18, 2007.
 
NEW: Google Earth Maps and Buildings on the SSFL download here:  Historical facility information on interactive GoogleEarth
________________________________
 
Cleaning up Rocketdyne
Citizen-inspired remediation starts at lab-adjacent Sage Ranch 
~ By MICHAEL COLLINS ~
 
Field Lab pollutants found at Sage Ranch
State officials order cleanup of contaminants at the site
By Teresa Rochester - Ventura County Star 11/8/07
 
Latest news a great start, but Rocketdyne saga far from over Simi Valley Acorn - Editorial 10/19/07
 
Portion of Santa Susana site could be park by '09
Ventura County Star - Teresa Rochester 10/19/07
State to take over former Rocketdyne site
Ventura County Star 10/12/07 Breaking News
 
Santa Susana Field Lab - Bait and Switch?
Daily News 10/21/07
 
Field Lab site may become parkland
Teresa Rochester - Ventura County Star 10/13/07
________________________________
 
"...they lost the nuclear reactor from Canoga?
Read more about now the L-47 Nuclear reactor wasn't where they thought it was and no one could remember what happened to it.  It's probably fine.  I'm sure they did the right thing, right.  We have questions about what they are digging up now, right there, next to the new Mall?
Photographed by Bill Bowling at the Center for Land Use Interpretation
 
  Aerial Radiological Surveys of Rocketwell Intl Facilities  
Aerial Radiological Surveys of Rocketwell Intl Facilities 1978
This report shows us that a radiation survey was done on the site and on the Santa Susana Field Lab and of the Rocketdyne Canoga Facility where they had several nuclear reactors.
 
 
Excerpts from 10/18 Workgroup Meeting by Michael Collins
"Riley vs. Hirsch" in how SB990 will work
 
  The lead contamination extends down the drainage to the Brandeis Bardin children's camp below.  The Brandeis people really need to work with DTSC to determine the extent of contamination at the camp. The workplan to remove the asbestos debris, where also high levels of PAHs (poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) were found.  Thank you DTSC for your commitments to making this clean-up after so many decades, a reality.  Now, what about the Waterboard?  Do they not understand that it is their responsibility to protect us, not defend them!  They removed the compliance points so there won't be anymore fines...and made a compliance schedule where they don't have to refrain from polluting down the drainage until 2009. more
EPA Superfund FAQ on SSFL
EPA Superfund Deferral FactSheet
 
 
CleanUpRocketdyne.org
is a program of International Humanities Center, 
a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.
 
Click Here to support cleanuprocketdyne.org and the Aerospace Museum of Education (ACME)
 
 
 
 
Boeing, DOE and NASA presentations on progress and future intent presented to elected officials:
Boeing
NASA
DOE
 
DOE Scoping Comments and
DOE Gap Analysis Comments  by cleanuprocketdyne.org
Comments by DTSC on DOE 
Gap Analysis and EIS:
Norman Riley
Laura Rainey
Tom Seckington
TR Hathaway
Brian Faulkner
Jerry Hensley - CDPH
Here is the text from the Health and Safety Code affected by SB990
 
 
Click here for Boeing presentation from June 5th 2008
Issues presented in white paper
rchristmann@waterboards.ca.gov
 
cleanuprocketdyne.org Presentation
 
Crucial Groundwater Interim Measures
Issued 5/16/08 by DTSC
 
Important Waterboard Action: 5/19/08
Order Persuant to Code 13383 Directive to Sample missed drainages near Outfall 6 and 7
 
 NEW Factual Perspective
Reference to a second Vandergraf Accelerator that is not mentioned in the historical site assessment.
This is a GAP and we need answers
 
Stormwater Expert Panel Presentation on Outfalls 8 and 9 ENTS by cleanuprocketdyne.org and ACMELA.org
 
Woolsey Canyon Project 
Grading without Permits
 
EIR Volume 1 - Sage Ranch
 
EIR Volume 1 - Faults and Drainages
 
 
EIR Volume 2 - GroupVI and the SRE
 
EIR Volume 2 - GroupVI addendum (historical SRE Maps)
 
 
EIR Volume3 - Waterboard CDO and Permit Comments 
(NEW 9/4/07) 
 
EIR Volume 4 - Group IV comments
February Community Representatives Presentation on Outfalls 8 and 9
________________
 
Special thanks to D'Lanie Blaze and Leisa Ciaverelli at 
JailHouse Graphics for their incredible creative graphics contribution including the incredible test-stand!
 
~ By MICHAEL COLLINS ~
Interview with Senator Kuehl  exclusive interview by Michael Collins
 
 
Click on the above document  thumbnail to finally see this crucial  information!
 
Click here for SSFL Aerial Map1
 
Stay tuned as we map these specific areas on GoogleEarth of you to see and make sense of so you can see how this impacts you
 
Read McLaren Hart here:
 
________________
 
 
bloggers@cleanuprocketdyne.org and share your thoughts on what this means to the community and regulators alike.  Based on the affects of the Topanga Fire for both the community, the workers, and especially our fire-fighters who fought so hard to protect the SSFL Facility.  What where they exposed to?  
 
How can we get a proper radiological survey done, of the site and the surrounding communities, not just area IV.  
bloggers@cleanuprocketdyne.org
 
________________
 
 
Download here:
Google
it's free!
 
Download cleanuprocketdyne.org's Maps and Buildings of the SSFL site here:
 
 
Google
Community here:
 
 
 cleanuprocketdyne.org's posting in the GoogleEarth community.
 
 Water Board Press Release on Boeing paying $471,180 in water quality violation fines here:
________________
 
Water board trims runoff monitors at Field Lab 
Ventura County Star 11/1/07
By Teresa Rochester
 
Group 4 of the RCRA RFI process is here and it's huge!  
 
Words like, "not observed during site investigation", and "based on review of photographs the tank was removed sometime between May of 2002 and Fall of 2005." 
This is deeply concerning!  Did they not get any cooperation from the polluter during the process of this report either?  This is very troubling.  We will keep reading and tell you more.
 
Santa Susana Mountain Area Committee of WHNC to meet at West Hills 911 Center 8/27/08 at 7pm
 
8/28/08 also at 911 Center is an important Neighborhood meeting about Corporate Pointe 7pm
 
DOE Scoping meetings to develop Workplan
Notice of Intent to Perform EIS
We attended all six meetings and the response by the public was very low.
There is still time to send in your comments about clean-up alternatives.
  
8/14/08 DOE Scoping Comments by cleanuprocketdyne.org
 
 8/14/08 DOE Scoping Comments by Committee to Bridge the Gap, 
NRDC and City of Los Angeles
 
Comments to stephanie.jennings@emcbc.doe.gov by 8/14/08 for Scoping and 8/15/08 for Gap Analysis, don't miss out on 
USING YOUR VOICE!
 

Special thanks and appreciation to Daniel Hirsch of Committee to Bridge the Gap, for tirelessly helping us understand the significance of these profoundly important issues and standing up to what seemed a hopeless and endless battle of details on behalf of the impacted communities surrounding the site.   Your commitment which spans three decades, is a testament to all of us of what it means to stand up for our community and do what is right.

Don't let anyone ever say that using your voice doesn't help.  With focused commitment and collaborative effort, we can literally move mountains with it...or at least clean one up.   

Our sincerest thanks to US EPA for standing up tall for all the communities surrounding the site. 

Read more about Waxman's efforts here
Waxman Letter   Waxman to Sec. Bodman letter
DOE Response Letter  
 
NEW: Recent decision to downgrade LA River to a non TNW (Traditional Navigable Waters) removes important protections to water quality through the Clean Water Act.  Read our letter here:
Santa Monica Baykeeper 
Fact Sheet
 
Sunday Night at the Movies at ACME.  
"The China Syndrome"
Doors open at 6:30pm 

Gap Analysis Report  
Comment on this report!!! and send to Stephanie.jennings@emcbc.doe.gov
 

cleanuprocketdyne.org on MySpace

check out  Brigham Maher's 
Corrupted Nature on MySpace
 
cleanuprocketdyne.org on YouTube
 
check out Brigham Maher's 
"Corrupted Nature" here:
 
Check out The Aero Space
for worker claims
Learn more at rocketdynearchives.com
Video from Senator Keuhl
Video from Co-Author Assembly Member Julia Brownley part 1
Video from Co-Author Assembly Member Julia Brownley part 2
Video from NBC News 4
Video from KCAL News 9

 

Click here to see public comments at Simi Valley City Council meeting 
Recent Document Finds:
Nuclear Operations at SSFL 
SRE Fuel Element Damage
D&D Reports for SRE 
Hot Waste Storage
Hot Waste Storage II
Liquid Rad Waste Storage
just north of building 143
 
9/11/07:Click here to read the Notice of Conclusion which we are told, included a check in the amount of $471,180 and waived it's right to hearing on this issue.
What happened at the waterboard Meeting? 11/02/07
 
Boeing is cut slack over dirty rainwater
Gregory Griggs - LA TImes 11/2/07
 
A revised permit by the regional water board lessens the responsibility for contaminated storm runoff at the Santa Susana lab...
 
How is it possible that in the face of the Imminent Substantial Endangerment Determination and Order, the Waterboard relaxes the rules to 2009?  Does the waterboard really understand what is at risk?
RT Cease and Desist Order
RTCErrataCDO
RTCErrataWDR
RT FactSheet 2007
RTMRP 2007
RTWDR 2007
Response to Comments
 
 
Boeing pays $471,000 pollution fine
Penalties imposed for content of Field Lab runoff 
9/13/07 Ventura County Star

Elected officials worry over Rocketdyne waste disposal
By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer 8/22/2002    read more

Area 1 Burnpit - Radiological Characterization Procedure 3/10/08
Area 1 Burnpit - Recommended sampling memorandum on ambient air monitoring3/10/08
Area 1 Burnpit - Summary of Biological, Cultural,and Paleontological assessment.3/10/08 
Newly discovered information about radioactive Strontium 90 being used in Area 1 here: 
Plain question and plain answer make the shortest road out of most perplexities. 

                            - Mark Twain

 
 
 
Click here for DTSC's new website dedicated to the SSFL project.
 

 

Coldplay's Speed of Sound:
the vote... Additional Important Headlines and Editorials:
Cleanup bill 
 
Bill on Santa Susana field lab cleanup advances 
 
Wavering Arnold
 
Agency reaches cleanup pact for Field Lab

Field Lab cleanup measure approved

Editorial: Signature will end suspicion
 
________________________
 
 
Click here for cleanuprocketdyne on YouTube!
All Rights Reserved © cleanuprocketdyne.org 2007
Download ColdPlay's Speed of Sound
________________ Please support environmental activism through music:
________________________________
 
Check out Wikipedia on the Santa Susana Field Lab here:Look here for future links to all the studies and other factual data available in the public domain.
________________________________
 
Click here for the new panel report everyone is talking about: This is the SSFL Panel study that took five years, published in October, 2006.Click here for the individual studies:
________________________________

Radioactive contamination of Water at SSFL, April 2006 by Dan HIrsch, Committee to Bridge the Gap

________________________________
 
How did they vote in the assembly? 
Click here to learn more:
________________________________
 
Click here to read Dan's comments at the DOE meeting regarding the RMHF and 4024 buildings in Area IV.
________________________________
 
It is difficult for a man to understand something, if his salary depends on him not understanding."
 -Upton Sinclair
 

   

History Channel's "Modern Marvels" about the Santa Susana Nuclear Meltdown in 1959:   What needs to be done?
 
Read Committee to Bridge the Gap's official Comments on the Group 6 submittal by Boeing for the RCRA Facility Investigation by Dan Hirsch.
 
 

________________

 

 
 
 

________________

 
 
 
 
"If you back up optimism with action, amazing things will start to happen."    -unknown
 
________________
 
 
Read the RCRA RFI Report.   Group 6 is the first of the 10 reports to be completed (Area IV)  
It was rejected, so we should look for new submittals and look at the EIS when it is completed.
 
________________
 
 
Click here for DTSC Document Site because the most important thing you can do is read this stuff and tell others to do the same.
 
Download and start reading Group4 here.  
Boeing has agreed to unlock the reports so the community can analyze them properly - 9/21/07.  Thank you DTSC!
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here for Dan Hirsch's Comments..  After seeing the number of giant steps backward, that the regional board appears to be taking in removing compliance points in the face of all these violations...he started with, "OK, we give up." 

But by the end, he made so many spot-on points that it is made clear, that the polluter should have compliance points added, not removed, based on decades of bad past behavior.  Dan says maybe he won't be giving up.  We won't either.  In fact, I feel like we're just getting started.
 
________________________
 
 
Click here to see H2OhNo.com's Video:

Click here to read the letter sent to Boeing by DTSC rejecting GroupVI as submitted by Boeing and its' partners until all information is available in the EIS.  Thank you DTSC!  Now let's see if the Waterboard can stand as strong, in defense of the communities below.  

 

Special thanks to all who communicated with Sacramento in support of SB990.  The only way anything gets done, is by using your voice.    

 

 

 

Click here to see America's Strength Video as seen on RocketdyneWatch.org:
Runkle Canyon Development update!

 

Santa Susana cleanup halted - BY KERRY CAVANAUGH, Staff Writer

The U.S. Department of Energy said Thursday that it will stop its controversial cleanup at the Santa Susana Field Lab and conduct a long-awaited comprehensive environmental review of the former nuclear research site.
RELATED: Lawmakers push bill to pay off all victims View Full Story

________________________________

Lawmakers push bill to pay off all victims - BY KERRY CAVANAUGH, Staff Writer

Frustrated that hundreds of sick former Santa Susana Field Lab employees have been denied benefits under a program to aid former nuclear workers, three legislators have proposed a new law to help workers and their families get compensation. View Full Story

 

Boeing must be held responsible
December 16, 2006
Re "Boeing says runoff rules too strict," Dec. 12
Could Boeing possibly come up with any better way to flaunt its irresponsibility than by requesting a relaxation of runoff limits? And if the State Water Resources Control Board grants an amendment to Boeing's permit, then we can add the board to the list of environmental slackers that have no doubt seen the warning signs of industrial waste — waters too polluted to swim in, cancers,...
Click here for the keys to the information vault!

Boeing faces costly penalty
Boeing Co. faces a nearly half-million-dollar fine for allowing excessive levels of lead, mercury and other toxins to flow from its Santa Susana Field Lab into the exclusive West Valley community of Bell Canyon and the Los Angeles River, regulators said Wednesday. 

"Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
       -Margaret Mead
 
 
 
The Rocketdyne Information Society was created by William Preston Bowling to help all interested in learning more about this very important issue (to all of us).  This is a place to blog, to have discussion or to simply gather more information shared by others.  Check out:H2Oh No!!!  to see more about films by William Preston Bowling about Rocketdyne.
 
________________________

Read the original press release about the SRE partial meltdown here:

Cappello-Noel court declarations about what went on up there for decades.

________________________
 
 
More News:  
cleanuprocketdyne.org
talkingarmy BLOG:
 
Judge assails Rocketdyne cleanup
Environmentalists hail a federal jurist's ruling that a Department of Energy effort to rid the Santa Susana field lab of pollutants is inadequate.
By Gregory W. Griggs, Times Staff Writer
May 3, 2007
 
Environmental activists won a major victory Wednesday when a judge declared that the U.S. Department of Energy continues to violate federal law in its cleanup of nuclear and chemical contamination at Boeing's Rocketdyne field laboratory near Simi Valley.

U.S. District Judge Samuel Conti also barred the DOE from transferring ownership of its Santa Susana property until it conducts a more thorough environmental review of its cleanup operations at the former nuclear and rocket engine testing facility....more
 
________________________________
 

Judge orders study of field lab

Activists celebrate win in legal war with DOE

________________

 
Judge orders better cleanup of Field Laboratory property
By Teresa Rochester (Contact)
Ventura County Star
Thursday, May 3, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy was barred Wednesday from turning over for residential development a portion of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory contaminated with radiation until it conducts a stringent environmental survey of the site and cleans it appropriately....more

________________

All countries with high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel plan to eventually dispose of the materials deep underground in a geologic disposal facility.

________________

Read the document discussed in the opening animation at the top of the page here:  This is the technical enforcement document for the RCRA RFI Report issued by DTSC

________________

 
1/10/07:  Just like Justice Street, the regulators are working overtime to keep the truth away from the public.  EPA, where are you?
Send us your thoughts at:
bloggers@cleanuprocketdyne.org
 
 
RCRA RFI Group 4 - In looking at the security settings of the report, it states that content copying and page extraction are set to "not allowed".  Because of the enormous size of these reports, Boeings' decision to lock down the data to be used only superficially, is a decision to deliberately mislead, conceal, and thereby mis-represent the facts that are necessary for this process to actually be beneficial and effective.  I see this as a material failure to comply with the  consent order signed by Boeing.  Does the $15k per day apply to all aspects of the report then?  Would that be $15,000 per day per page?  Click here:  
 
 
Click here for Warren Olney's 4 Part Series on the SSFL SRE Meltdown that originally aired in 1979.
 
Click here for Warren Olney's interview of Dan Hirsch on KCRW.  Dan Hirsch, of Committee to Bridge the Gap who's students at UCLA in 1979 first discovered data uncovering the previously secret nuclear accident.  This includes an interview of Mike Lopez who was afraid to be in the same building with Dan.  An extra special gem in this interview, where Mike Lopez tells listeners that he hasn't bothered to read the studies that he's supposed to be talking about on this show - October 2006
 
 
Sacramento Hearing on SB990 on Monday 4/16/07  was an amazing show.  After Boeing was caught lying to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, Boeing was asked what their intentions were about future land use of the site and the only thing they promised was that they wouldn't build a farm on it!  
 
What?  People are you listening?  They are trying to use a less protective land use scenario to keep from having to clean it up.  There is already an ORGANIC Fruit farm just down the drainage.
 
 

Check out Wikipedia on the Santa Susana Field Lab here:Look here for future links to all the studies and other factual data available in the public domain.

________________

Click here for the new panel report everyone is talking about: This is the SSFL Panel study that took five years, published in October, 2006.Click here for the individual studies:

________________

NEWSWEEK Magazine: California Time Bomb
A new study says a 1959 meltdown at a rocket-testing
 facility may have caused as many as 1,800 cancer cases