EPA plan targets vast DDT deposit off Calif. coast

Dantheman62 · 06-24-2009, 03:38 AM

By NOAKI SCHWARTZ, Associated Press Writer Noaki Schwartz, Associated Press Writer – Tue Jun 23, 7:43 pm ET

LOS ANGELES – A plan to cap a vast, long-neglected deposit of the pesticide DDT on the ocean floor off Southern California got its first public airing Tuesday — nearly four decades after the poison was banned from use.

The estimated $36 million proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls for a cover of sand and silt to be placed over the most contaminated part of the estimated 17-square-mile area declared a Superfund site in 1996.

The cap won't clean the site, but it could reduce the health risks for people who eat fish caught off the Palos Verdes coast, said Mark Gold, executive director of the watchdog group Heal the Bay.

"I think it's a huge development," he said. "We have the worst DDT hotspot in the entire U.S."

About 30 people attended the first of several hearings planned this week, as the EPA decides whether to move ahead with its plan or modify it. It was held at a facility at Cabrillo Beach in the San Pedro district of Los Angeles.

Carmen White, remedial project manager for the EPA's Superfund division, said the agency is finally moving to deal with the contamination after taking time to collect critical data.

"We finally had enough data that we feel we are ready to make a decision," she said.

She also pointed out there had been some erosion in the middle of the contaminated site, thinning a critical layer of silt already covering the DDT and PCB located there.

White said the new cap would be 18 inches thick and about 300 acres wide.

Alfonso Montiel, who works at a local aquarium, has been helping the EPA reach out to inform fishermen of the contamination problem.

"People are completely unaware that this ever happened," he said.

From 1947 to 1971, the Montrose Chemical Corp. released more than 1,700 tons of the pesticide into Los Angeles sewers that emptied into the Pacific Ocean. Several other industries discharged PCBs into the sewer system.

DDT was banned in 1972, but more than 110 tons of DDT remain in the contaminated sediment on the Palos Verdes shelf.

In 2000, the now-defunct Montrose firm and three other chemical companies agreed to pay a total of $73 million to help restore the ocean environment off Palos Verdes, located southwest of the Port of Los Angeles.

Another $64.5 million came from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, which operated the sewers, about 150 municipalities that used the sewers and three other companies that passed DDT into the ocean.

High levels of DDT and PCBs can get into the food chain by accumulating in fish, birds, worms and microorganisms. Human consumption can harm the liver and central nervous system and increase cancer risks.

The state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has said fish in the waters off Palo Verdes and other Southern California beaches have shown high levels of DDT and warnings have been issued since the 1980s about eating the fish.

DDT is also blamed for thinning the eggshells of birds such as bald eagles, brown pelicans and peregrine falcons, preventing the eggs from hatching.

Federal agencies announced in 2000 that part of the cleanup settlement money would likely go toward capping the site. The EPA began a pilot program to evaluate capping methods, and in 2002 the agency concluded it would be effective.

Gold wants to see the cap made bigger and thicker.

"It's just dealing with the worst of the worst hot spots," he said. "It certainly isn't going to reduce the levels to a point that it is no concern."

Dantheman62 · 06-24-2009, 03:42 AM

Stuff like this makes me sick! It really shows the absolute stupidity of some!

iainl140285 · 06-24-2009, 08:29 AM

I'll bet they didn't take 40 years to create the pesticide!

But 40 years on all they have come up with is dump more sand on it

Crazy crazy world we live in

Lorien · 06-24-2009, 02:03 PM

I love how 9 out of 10 times we pollute our planet, we just cover it up instead of finding ways to clean it up.

Lorien · 06-24-2009, 02:03 PM

....... double post. Stupid database errors.

Seashore · 06-24-2009, 02:09 PM

Dantheman62 · 06-24-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorien

....... double post. Stupid database errors.

Ha you too huh! I hate that database error thing too, and it's happening alot lately!

Seashore · 06-24-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantheman62

...that database error thing too, and it's happening alot lately!

Yeah it is. It's annoying!

06-24-2009, 03:38 AM	#1
Dantheman62 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So. Cal. U.S. Posts: 4,205	EPA plan targets vast DDT deposit off Calif. coast By NOAKI SCHWARTZ, Associated Press Writer Noaki Schwartz, Associated Press Writer – Tue Jun 23, 7:43 pm ET LOS ANGELES – A plan to cap a vast, long-neglected deposit of the pesticide DDT on the ocean floor off Southern California got its first public airing Tuesday — nearly four decades after the poison was banned from use. The estimated $36 million proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls for a cover of sand and silt to be placed over the most contaminated part of the estimated 17-square-mile area declared a Superfund site in 1996. The cap won't clean the site, but it could reduce the health risks for people who eat fish caught off the Palos Verdes coast, said Mark Gold, executive director of the watchdog group Heal the Bay. "I think it's a huge development," he said. "We have the worst DDT hotspot in the entire U.S." About 30 people attended the first of several hearings planned this week, as the EPA decides whether to move ahead with its plan or modify it. It was held at a facility at Cabrillo Beach in the San Pedro district of Los Angeles. Carmen White, remedial project manager for the EPA's Superfund division, said the agency is finally moving to deal with the contamination after taking time to collect critical data. "We finally had enough data that we feel we are ready to make a decision," she said. She also pointed out there had been some erosion in the middle of the contaminated site, thinning a critical layer of silt already covering the DDT and PCB located there. White said the new cap would be 18 inches thick and about 300 acres wide. Alfonso Montiel, who works at a local aquarium, has been helping the EPA reach out to inform fishermen of the contamination problem. "People are completely unaware that this ever happened," he said. From 1947 to 1971, the Montrose Chemical Corp. released more than 1,700 tons of the pesticide into Los Angeles sewers that emptied into the Pacific Ocean. Several other industries discharged PCBs into the sewer system. DDT was banned in 1972, but more than 110 tons of DDT remain in the contaminated sediment on the Palos Verdes shelf. In 2000, the now-defunct Montrose firm and three other chemical companies agreed to pay a total of $73 million to help restore the ocean environment off Palos Verdes, located southwest of the Port of Los Angeles. Another $64.5 million came from the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, which operated the sewers, about 150 municipalities that used the sewers and three other companies that passed DDT into the ocean. High levels of DDT and PCBs can get into the food chain by accumulating in fish, birds, worms and microorganisms. Human consumption can harm the liver and central nervous system and increase cancer risks. The state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has said fish in the waters off Palo Verdes and other Southern California beaches have shown high levels of DDT and warnings have been issued since the 1980s about eating the fish. DDT is also blamed for thinning the eggshells of birds such as bald eagles, brown pelicans and peregrine falcons, preventing the eggs from hatching. Federal agencies announced in 2000 that part of the cleanup settlement money would likely go toward capping the site. The EPA began a pilot program to evaluate capping methods, and in 2002 the agency concluded it would be effective. Gold wants to see the cap made bigger and thicker. "It's just dealing with the worst of the worst hot spots," he said. "It certainly isn't going to reduce the levels to a point that it is no concern."

06-24-2009, 03:42 AM	#2
Dantheman62 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So. Cal. U.S. Posts: 4,205	Re: EPA plan targets vast DDT deposit off Calif. coast Stuff like this makes me sick! It really shows the absolute stupidity of some!

06-24-2009, 08:29 AM	#3
iainl140285 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 974	Re: EPA plan targets vast DDT deposit off Calif. coast I'll bet they didn't take 40 years to create the pesticide! But 40 years on all they have come up with is dump more sand on it Crazy crazy world we live in

06-24-2009, 02:03 PM	#4
Lorien Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Beyond the rim.... Posts: 412	Re: EPA plan targets vast DDT deposit off Calif. coast I love how 9 out of 10 times we pollute our planet, we just cover it up instead of finding ways to clean it up.

06-24-2009, 02:03 PM	#5
Lorien Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Beyond the rim.... Posts: 412	Re: EPA plan targets vast DDT deposit off Calif. coast ....... double post. Stupid database errors.

06-24-2009, 02:09 PM	#6
Seashore Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3,564	Re: EPA plan targets vast DDT deposit off Calif. coast