City backs bill on field lab

The Simi Valley City Council has declared its support for a state Senate bill that would prohibit the lease or transfer of the former Santa Susana Field Laboratory until the site undergoes a complete cleanup pursuant to standards set by the state Department of Toxic Substances Control.

If it passes, Senate Bill 990 would, its supporters say, ensure that the 2,850-acre site is safe for suburban, residential or agricultural use before any part of it is sold or transferred.

The bill would also require that the property meet the strictest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards on allowable levels of radioactive contaminants.

In an Aug. 14 letter to state Sen. Sheila James Kuehl (DSanta Monica), who wrote the bill, Mayor Paul Miller said the city would support the measure based on its "philosophy to protect the public health and safety."

In its, Simi joins the Los Angeles City Council and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, both of which endorsed the bill in June.

Kuehl introduced SB 990 to the state Senate in February, where it passed with a 21-16 vote in May. The bill was originally created in response to plans by the Department of Energy to transfer the land to Boeing Co. after completing the cleanup later this year.

While the DOE has said its cleanup would meet state and federal standards, the EPA's standards outlined in the bill are much stricter.

"I think it's terrific," said Dan Hirsch, co-chair of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Study Group. "I think it's time the City Council weighed in on this critical matter to Simi residents and I think it will help assure passage of the bill."

According to Laura Behjan, assistant city manager of Simi Valley, the city's review of legislation is generally a lengthy process.

Behjan said the city's staff recommended support of the bill only after conducting a thorough review and receiving direction from the League of California Cities.

"This was always something the City Council was supportive of," Behjan said. "They were interested in making sure that the site is safe for the public."

Councilmember Steve Sojka said the city's support is not intended to alarm the community, but rather to take another step toward ensuring safety and quality of life for Simi Valley residents.

"Anything we can do to help maintain or ensure safety of residents- to have that site looked at- I'm in favor of," Sojka said. "But we want to caution not to create unnecessary panic."

In April, Kuehl spoke in favor of the bill at an Agoura Hills briefing that included a presentation on the history of the site. While officials representing Los Angeles, Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Hidden Hills attended the briefing, none from Simi Valley were invited. At the time, council members, including Glen Becerra, expressed frustration with Kuehl's office over the slight.

"We're the major stockholders in this deal, not the city of Agoura Hills, not Calabasas . . . it's unconscionable that the city of Simi and its residents would not be included in this type of discussion," Becerra told the Acorn in May.

In the time since, Becerra said, the city received a letter- signed by Kuehl- apologizing for not having contacted the city prior to the presentation on SSFL and SB 990.

"To the senator's credit, she sent us an apology letter, basically saying it was an oversight," Becerra said. "Saying that they didn't mean to do it and that they wouldn't do it again."

While Becerra said Kuehl's apology was not cause for the city to endorse the bill, he said he was impressed by her letter.

"I never expected that she would do that, but I was pleasantly surprised," Becerra said. "It was a real standup thing for the senator to do."

Becerra said supporting the bill was the right action for the City Council to take.

"For me, I just want to make sure our community is being looked after, that we're safe," he said.

"I'm not an expert in the area, but we felt as if we needed to set some standard and hold (Boeing) to it."

A hearing on moving SB 990 out of the suspense calendar of the Assembly took place on Thursday.

If it is taken out, Assemblymember Julia Brownley, who cowrote the bill, will present it for a vote on the Assembly floor.