State agency wants to provide oversight of Runkle Canyon
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

The proposed Runkle Canyon development may soon be subject to oversight from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, according to a letter sent to home builder KB Home last week.

Norman Riley, Santa Susana Field Lab project director for the DTSC, sent a letter dated Nov. 8 to executives with KB Home and Woolsey Canyon Development Group, LLC, urging them to enter into voluntary agreements giving DTSC authority to oversee cleanup at both locations.

"If we discover, at those locations, contamination at levels that pose an unacceptable risk to public health or the environment, we will also use our authority to require removal or other remediation of the contaminants from the affected property to levels considered safe for the intended land uses," the letter read. "In the case of planned residential developments, such actions, if necessary, may be required prior to construction."

The Simi Valley City Council approved the Runkle Canyon project in 2004, but grading at the site was halted in October 2006 after members of the public raised concerns to the mayor and council members.

Since then, construction in Runkle Canyon has been the subject of ongoing controversy, sparking debates between residents, the developer and city officials.

As of Wednesday evening, Keith Jajko, KB Home spokesperson, was unable to comment because he said the company had yet to receive the letter.

According to Angela Blanchette, a DTSC spokesperson, the letter was sent out on Nov. 8 and the agency will follow up with the developer accordingly to make sure they receive a copy.

City Council member Michelle Foster told the Simi Valley Acorn she hadn't read the letter yet either, but was pleased to hear the DTSC was becoming involved.

"It's consistent with everything we've said so far- that we're going to do everything we can to get scientific proof of whether that property is safe for residential development," Foster said. "If further testing up there leans towards no development, then we'll lean towards no development. If testing shows it's okay, then that's good."

Runkle Ranch, which calls for the construction of 461 upscale homes, sits on a 1,500-acre site adjacent to the former Santa Susana Field Laboratory- a facility that operated for nearly 50 years as a research site for nuclear reactor and rocket engine testing.

Riley was unavailable for comment.