Runkle Canyon soil and water labeled 'safe'

More than a month after city officials contracted with two labs to collect and analyze surface water and soil samples from the proposed Runkle Canyon development site, limited test results have determined that the area poses no immediate threat to the public.

Two surface water samples and one soil sample taken from the area were split between PatChem Laboratories in Moorpark and American Environmental Testing Laboratory in Burbank. The results were forwarded to TetraTech, Inc. of Santa Barbara for analyzing. The firm sent a completed report to the city Wednesday.

"The bottom line is that there is not a concern for the public's exposure to water or soil on that site," said Laura Behjan, assistant city manager.

In May, a group of Simi residents collected samples and paid $3,000 to have them analyzed by Pat-Chem. Members of the group, including John Southwick, approached the City Council and claimed that their results revealed elevated levels of poisonous arsenic, nickel and copper. This prompted city officials to conduct a new set of tests in response to the group's claims. Southwick and a representative from Pat-Chem accompanied city officials on the July 2 trip to Runkle Canyon to ensure that samples were taken from the same places.

The completed report states that surface water samples collected from the Runkle Canyon stream contain metals at "concentrations exceeding selected water quality criteria."

Behjan said the statement refers to drinking water standards and because the stream will not be used for that purpose there is no immediate cause for concern.

Dawn White, water quality manager at the Southern California Water Company, could not provide information specific to Runkle Canyon but said that any well water used for drinking water is "rigorously tested and meets drinking water standards."

According to the report, the arsenic concentration in the soil sample collected in May was approximately four times that of the concentration of the sample taken in July.

TetraTech concluded that exposures to the soil tested "are generally similar to what individuals may experience at other locations in California, and do not represent a potential threat to the public."

Behjan said the test results are being sent to KB Home, the developer planning to build 461 homes on the 1,500-acre site, and the City Council for review.

"We're asking them to review it and inform us of what they plan to do in response to the recommendations (made in the report)," Behjan said.

A complete copy of the report is available on the "Runkle Canyon Update" section of the city's website at simivalley.org.