Bermite Wins Extension to Burn Explosive Waste

Bermite, a Saugus defense contractor, Tuesday was given 60 more days to continue open burning of explosive waste, but the firm was instructed to continue its search for a different way to dispose of the material.

The extension, approved by a South Coast Air Quality Management District hearing board, will allow Bermite to go on burning up to 600 pounds of explosive waste per week at its 1,100-acre production and test site at 22116 W. Soledad Canyon Road.

Bermite officials told the hearing board that they are checking with chemical waste-treatment firms in several states, but as yet have no assurance that any of them can accept the material, according to Bill Freedman, a lawyer for the air-district staff. Freedman said Bermite is to report back to the board on Sept. 10. He said the air-district staff will oppose further extensions of the open-burning variance unless Bermite commits itself to an alternate disposal method at that time.

Makes Decoy Flares

Bermite, a division of Whittaker Corp., a Los Angeles-based conglomerate, manufactures decoy flares and other explosive components of weapons systems.

Bermite, which says the burning has had no significant impact on air quality, has been burning its waste off and on for several years under county fire permits or air district variances.

However, the air district staff is trying to end the practice, and last spring convinced the hearing board to deny the request of another Santa Clarita Valley explosives firm to burn a 50-ton stockpile of explosive waste in the desert east of Lancaster.

That company, Space Ordnance Systems, now is attempting to reclaim part of the waste and ship the rest to Groce Laboratories Inc. in Greer, S.C.

Groce, which has said it can chemically neutralize at least part of the SOS waste, is one of the disposal firms Bermite has contacted.