The following opinion piece is from a local environmental activist which The Signal refused to print it as it was counter to a recent City Council action; in essences the local newspaper continues to sensor residents with different views. The Beacon is all about valuing Free Speech regardless as to whether we agree with the opinion or not and despite what the City may or may not want. Enjoy! What kind of environment is the new One Valley One Vision general plan bequeathing to our children and grandchildren? 

Tuesday night as the City Council voted in a General Plan that would allow enough density to almost double our current population, the public was told that air pollution and water pollution are not really a problem. 

Santa Clarita is in a non-attainment zone for ozone and particulate matter (PM). The South Coast Air Quality Management District recently approved a “bump up” of our rating from severe to extremely hazardous, apparently with the City’s approval, allowing an extension of time to comply with Air Quality rules to 2024. 

The health effects of this pollutant as described in the March 17, 2011, letter to the county from the Attorney General describes Ozone as follows:  

“exposure to ozone can cause serious decrease in lung functions and increased risk of death from lung disease. Children chronically exposed to ozone concentrations found in the South Coast Air Basin may suffer life –long damage to their lungs.” 

The City of Santa Clarita is located in the South Coast Air Basin. 

The attainment date for PM2.5 is much earlier than the 2024 extended date for the ozone extreme designation. The PM2.5 plan, due in 2008, is still being processed with the US EPA, but apparently the City will support an extension for that pollutant as well. 

Adverse health effects for particulate pollution as described by the EPA website are as follows:

• ·         PM10 “(a) Exacerbation of symptoms in sensitive patients with respiratory or cardiovascular disease; (b) Declines in pulmonary function growth in children; and (c) Increased risk of premature death from heart or lung diseases in the elderly”.
• ·         PM2.5 Same as above. 

The same Air Quality report is in the county area plan and the city new general plan as part of the One Valley One Vision even though they have separate plans. The same consultant did both reports.  

The new general plan allows street to function at F, and yes that means the same as in school, FAIL. This will increase the air pollution problem.  

Valencia Water Company, a private developer owned water company, closed down a well because of perchlorate contamination. They detected the perchlorate in August of 2010. They did not make this information public till June 9. Only four days before the city council approved the general plan. Residents urged the Council to delay approval until it fully investigated. 

But after listening to Dan Masnada of Castaic Lake Water Agency who told the Council that the perchlorate pollution in the well was miniscule and the council should not be concerned, they moved ahead with approval. Since the well has enough perchlorate to require wellhead treatment, one has to wonder if the Public Health Agencies and the State of California would agree with Mr. Masnada.  They set Maximum Contaminant Level for perchlorate in drinking water is 6ppb  to be protect of public health.  The well was closed, and then public notification was legally required when readings exceeded that level.  

Ammonium perchlorate interferes with iodine uptake by the thyroid gland, thus producing hypothyroidism. (low thyroid levels). This condition especially affects sensitive populations including pregnant women, fetuses, infants, small children and those with impaired immune systems. It can cause retardation in infants and children. While State officials recently urged an even lower Maximum Contaminant Level for this chemical and the Environmental Working Group urges a 0 tolerance level for children, the public in this Valley were not even informed of the closure of this drinking water well due to perchlorate pollution for almost a year and no information on it appeared in the Environmental documents. 

Why was this new contamination hidden from the community? No Council member even asked this question. 

Last night was the one and only hearing on the General Plan at the City Council. It was the first and only time that the public had its 3-minute opportunity to speak to their decision-makers on this Plan. Many members of the public attended to ask the City to delay approval of the Plan and look into a variety of issues, including the serious water pollution problem that was only publicly disclosed last week.  As usual, they were ignored. 

We just have to ask the Council, is development in our Valley really so important that you can’t take some additional time to thoroughly read and address the public’s comments on these important health issues? Why are you willing to put the health of our children at risk? 

The public deserved answers. 

Cam Noltemeyer is a local resident a board member of the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment. Her commentaries represent her own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization she may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.