[CPEO-BIF] "Housing subdivision approved for Superfund hot spot, " Mountain View, California

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Housing subdivision approved for Superfund hot spot
City assured adequate safeguards in place for Fairchild Drive site

by Mark Noack

Mountain View Voice (CA)

June 11, 2015

An old motel bordering Highway 101, considered one of the most contaminated sites in the Middlefield-Ellis-Whisman Superfund site, will be redeveloped into a 26-home subdivision as part of a set of approvals granted Tuesday by the Mountain View City Council.

The plans for 277 Fairchild Drive were unanimously endorsed by the City Council despite concerns from nearby residents that any intensified construction and excavation could send toxic trichloroethylene (TCE) from the groundwater up into the air. Nevertheless the housing developer, city officials and an Environmental Protection Agency regulator all expressed confidence that a plan to monitor and vent the contaminants would provide adequate safeguards for the neighborhood.

"I understand why anyone would be nervous about exposure, but I believe enough has been done here, or will be done, to ensure this will be safe," said Councilman Lenny Siegel. "Mountain View is a model for constructing homes on TCE sites."

…

For the entire article, see
http://www.mv-voice.com/news/2015/06/11/housing-subdivision-approved-for-superfund-hot-spot

--

Lenny Siegel

Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight

a project of the Pacific Studies Center

278-A Hope Street

Mountain View, CA 94041

Voice: 650-961-8918 or 650-969-1545

Fax: 650-961-8918

LSiegel@cpeo.org

http://www.cpeo.org

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