In March, a few posts ran about the efforts of Christina Walsh and others to start a Community Advisory Group (CAG) for the Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL) in Simi Valley, that would be recognized by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). It was the last part, the DTSC recognition, that proved the stumbling block. So after months, starting the end of 2009, of Christina trying to make the CAG a reality through working with the DTSC, she just decided to start one up on her own, in a very creative way.
Through my membership in the online Yahoo Group, “The Rockedyne Information Society,” I have been receiving emails about the new CAG’s progress. What Christina has done is set up online meetings through Webex, where anyone who wants to, can attend via their own computer. To quote from her email “SSFL CAG Effect” – Vol 1 of 7-2, “…”CAG Webex meetings have brought us forward in the process, we now have a broad cross-section of the community involved and interested and invite others to join. We want openness and transparency and inclusiveness, meaning everyone has a voice.”
For an example of what the CAG is doing, today (7-2) at 9:30, there was scheduled a “discussion with NASA about groundwater and seeps” and everyone was invited to participate.
If you would like to join the Rocketdyne Information Society online group, just go to www.YahooGroups.com. There you will find directions on how to join the CAG if you would like to.
To clarify, I continue to post information about SSFL cleanup efforts because I think it is a regional issue, and deserves our attention. I have no evidence to show that the Conejo Valley was effected by the longtime rocket testing at SSFL or by the partial nuclear meltdown of the experimental sodium reactor in 1959. And, I emphasize that Agoura Hills, Oak Park , Calabasas and Westlake Village, are supplied with 100% their drinking water from the Sacramento Delta…not from local wells. So, please, just consider the ongoing SSFL postings as a way to stay informed, what with print papers working with fewer reporters.
Posted by Janna Orkney
Christian // Jul 4, 2010 at 9:19 PM
Thanks for keeping us informed on the SSFL process and opportunities. While it seems correct that there are no water issues here, the upcoming studies will be looking at what, if any-!, contaminants blew offsite into the Conejo, Simi, and San Fernando Valleys over those operational decades.
A positive reason to care about SSFL’s future is that it is in the middle of the second and wider wildlife corridor that, along with the narrower Newberry Park one, are the only open connections for critter migration between the coastal Santa Monica’s habitats and inland Santa Susana, San Gabriel, and Topatopa ones. That makes our area more interesting, vital, and fun. Also there are proposals to make the cleaned up property a big open space park, which would be adjacent to our Cheseboro Canyon and Upper Las Virgernes Canyon Parks. That would extend their trails north for miles through the scenic rocky Simi Hills.
With the CAG community group, one can also go to: http://cleanuprocketdyne.org/cleanuprocketdyne.org/Community_Advisory_Group/Community_Advisory_Group.html – and check out postings or the archives to get a feel for what’s up.