California questions Navy cleanup reorganization

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

The State of California is concerned about the Navy's transfer of
cleanup management from the San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego. In a
September 28, 1999 letter to Navy Assistant Secretary Robert Pirie, Jr.,
Edwin Lowry, Director of the state's Department of Toxic Substances
Control (DTSC), writes, "A reduction or major transition in Navy
personnel assigned to [closing bases in the Bay Area] could result in
project delays and a major disruption to cleanup, reuse and
redevelopment activities. We are also concerned that downsizing could
jeopardize the local working partnership between the regulated agency,
the regulating agencies and the large number of other stakeholders that
are affected by environmental contamination at Navy facilities in the
Bay Area." 

Though "DTSC recognizes the Navy's need to efficiently manage its
resources," Lowry lists several potential negative impacts of the Naval
Facilities Engineering Command reorganization. He suggests, "Because of
these impacts, DTSC expects the Navy to maintain a strong presence in
the Bay Area. We ask that the Navy modify its plan to reorganize so that
impacts to cleanup and reuse at Bay Area facilities are minimized."

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org