Toxic Waste Testing May Be Handed to County

Glendale city officials are proposing to turn over to Los Angeles County the technical and expensive task of testing underground storage tanks for leaks of hazardous materials.

Glendale Fire Chief John Montenero told the Glendale City Council this week that regulating and monitoring storage of hazardous materials has become a “huge problem.” He said new state regulations have become so complicated that the city has neither the staff nor the technical knowledge to properly monitor more than 800 storage tanks containing hazardous materials in the city.

He said the city could be held liable for damages if there should be a leak and could be required to clean contaminated wells and sites even if the source of contamination was outside the city.

In an ordinance adopted in December, 1983, the city reaffirmed its responsibility for enforcing state health and safety codes governing storage of hazardous materials. A motion to repeal that ordinance will be brought before the council Tuesday.

Montenero said that, if the city drops its ordinance, control over storage of hazardous materials will become the responsibility of the county.

Council members John F. Day and Ginger Bremberg said they are reluctant to relinquish Glendale’s control unless they are assured that the county is equipped to monitor tanks for leaks. They said the county in the past has lacked the manpower to enforce health and safety regulations.

Contaminants believed to have originated from illegal dumping sites in the San Fernando Valley forced three water wells in Glendale to close several years ago. Day said that, if the county cannot adequately enforce codes, the city may have to do the job itself.

But City Manager James Rez said Glendale is even less prepared than the county to monitor and clean hazardous spills.

Montenero was asked to prepare a detailed report on the situation for the council.