Deukmejian Stresses Environmental Goals

Gov. George Deukmejian, sounding more aggressive as he continues to fight off criticism of his environmental record, told a business group Friday that he believes “a clean and healthy environment” is just as important as economic growth.

“We aren’t going to rest until we have cleaned up our air and all of our unsafe toxic dumps--every single one,” the Republican governor told about 500 business executives attending an Inland Empire Economic Development Council luncheon.

Critical U.S. Study

No mention was made in the speech of a recent highly critical U.S. Environmental Protection Agency audit of his Administration’s toxic waste cleanup program, or recent criticism of his environmental record by Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, a likely Democratic candidate for governor next year.

While Deukmejian has been stressing environmental issues lately, he went to greater lengths than he has in recent weeks to defend his environmental programs in the speech here.

He said he had tripled funding for toxics programs and involved the state in the cleanup of more than 100 chemically contaminated sites. He also noted that he had just signed a bill that will provide an additional $100 million for toxic cleanups.

Deukmejian gave the speech in a hotel about 15 miles from Riverside County’s Stringfellow toxic dump site, considered one of the worst in the state. Visibility outside was limited by a brown, smoggy sky.

Attack on Pollution

The chief executive said he hopes to reduce air pollution by “vigorously enforcing” the state’s automobile smog check program.

Deukmejian told the sellout luncheon, “There’s no excuse for the most advanced society on Earth to be choked by pollution and threatened by toxic contamination.”

The governor said he is committed to achieving a balance between economic growth and the environment. “We don’t have to choose between a healthy economy and a positive quality of life. With commitment and common sense, we can achieve both,” he said.

Deukmejian departed from his prepared text to take another swipe at Bradley and the city of Los Angeles for not helping the state develop a prison within city limits. Noting that San Bernardino County and other regions of the state have prisons, Deukmejian drew applause from the audience when he said it is time Los Angeles does its “fair share” toward housing the state’s prison population.

Aid for Victims

Earlier, Deukmejian participated in an awards ceremony for the state’s victim witness program at the County Hall of Administration. The governor told an appreciative audience that the state had dispersed $31 million to 25,000 crime victims since 1983.

From San Bernardino, Deukmejian went to Redlands, where he was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree by the University of Redlands.