The amounts of chemical and radiological contamination left behind after the state-supervised superficial cleanup of one of the most toxic areas of Santa Susana Field Laboratory will continue to significantly increase premature mortality and decrease the reproductive success of any wildlife on site, according to newly released records reviewed by the Committee to Bridge the Gap (CBG) and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). At the same time, the Boeing Co., a principal owner of the Santa Susana site, is touting its contributions toward building a bridge across Highway 101 to enable more wildlife to reach the toxic hotspot.
Located in Ventura County, thirty miles from downtown L.A., the Santa Susana Field Lab is one of the most toxic places in the country, following decades of rocketry and weapons research. Under a widely criticized deal negotiated behind closed doors last year between Boeing and the Newson administration, the great majority of Santa Susana’s contaminated soil would not be cleaned up, posing a hazard to wildlife onsite and the health of the public offsite for years to come.