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Calif city declares emergency over Shell Oil contamination

Screen Shot 2013-03-22 at 15.49.49LOS ANGELES—The city of Carson declared a local emergency in a bid to spark faster cleanup of oil-tainted soil beneath hundreds of homes that residents say is a health danger. The council resolution said explosive methane and carcinogenic benzene are present under 285 homes that were built in the 1960s atop a former Shell tank farm. Waste petroleum was discovered beneath the housing tract five years ago. Residents and the city have filed several lawsuits against Shell, alleging the contamination has caused cancer and other illnesses as well as hurt property values.

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LOS ANGELES—The city of Carson declared a local emergency in a bid to spark faster cleanup of oil-tainted soil beneath hundreds of homes that residents say is a health danger. ).

The council resolution said explosive methane and carcinogenic benzene are present under 285 homes that were built in the 1960s atop a former Shell tank farm. Waste petroleum was discovered beneath the housing tract five years ago.

Residents and the city have filed several lawsuits against Shell, alleging the contamination has caused cancer and other illnesses as well as hurt property values.

The Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and county Fire Department have said there is no immediate health hazard to residents.

Shell, which was ordered to clean up the site two years ago, has been testing the soil and a cleanup plan is in the works, but residents believe they are in danger. They and city officials want Shell to immediately buy their homes so they can move.

Shell said it was disappointed with the emergency declaration.

“It will not solve the problem,” Shell spokesman Alan Caldwell said in a written statement after the council vote. “We have always been in favor of expediting the testing and cleanup process, as we take the protection of the Carousel residents and the environment seriously.”

Councilwoman Lula Davis-Holmes said environmental regulators had advised homeowners not to allow their children to play in their yards.

“When someone tells me they can’t allow their children to play in the soil, you don’t have to do anymore testing for me,” Davis-Holmes said. “You’re telling us to tell our residents that their children can’t go outside? That’s why we buy homes.”

Councilman Albert Robles said residents had waited too long already.

“One day is long enough but five years is a travesty,” Robles said.

Mayor Jim Dear said cleanup can proceed once the homes are purchased.

Information from: Daily Breeze, http://www.dailybreeze.com

Posted:   07/30/2013 07:30:35 AM PDT

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