Planners who fall down on the job




During the last part of July there was a big uproar in Carson about a tract of homes built on a site once owned by Shell Oil. The residents were complaining about harmful chemicals in the soil. They wanted to sue Shell Oil and make them buy back the property.

When the developer bought the land they had to know what had been there previously. Shell Oil no doubt had to meet certain EPA requirements. Therefore the EPA is responsible for compliance.

When a new tract of homes are built the Building and Safety Department must approve all kinds of issues including no toxic chemicals in the soil. Did they approve the tract? Yes.

The AQMD is so worried about the fire pits on the beach yet they let this get by. Shows what their priorities are.

Was an environmental impact study done? It is required. What were the results? It had to be done or the tract would not have been built. The Wilshire subway had an environmental study done also. The Kmart store had to catch on fire before they realized there was methane there and they were going through an old oil field and the La Brea Tar Pits. It just shows you they did not do an environmental impact study worth a hill of beans.

Do you remember the more than $200 million high school built in downtown L.A. that was on an old oil field loaded with methane? An environmental impact study was done on this project also. To me it does not sound like it was done at all.

The Real Estate Commissioner publishes a public report that outlines conditions and services that are available to a new tract such as fire, police, water, gas, electricity, telephone, flooding, heavy winds and any other adverse conditions. Each buyer must get a copy for this report and sign for it. Was there anything in this report about toxic wastes?

The Calabasas City Council had to approve the zoning for the project. If it is so bad why did they approve of this project?

My point is that all these agencies let this project go forward because they were apparently not doing their job. Therefore we do not need them. Get rid of them.

Charles Ammann

Calabasas



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