Governor Unhappy With Toxic Cleanup, Cites Its Difficulty

Gov. George Deukmejian admitted Wednesday that he is disappointed in some of the actions taken on toxic waste cleanup by his Administration, but he said dealing with the poisons is a “very difficult, complex area.”

The governor declined to cite specific examples of his disappointment, but said he wished that work at two notorious sites, the Stringfellow acid pits near Riverside and the McColl dump in Fullerton, would proceed faster.

Long-planned removal of the McColl dump toxics ground to a halt after a Superior Court judge in Kern County issued an order May 31 barring the move of toxic materials to a dump in that county. The court requires an environmental impact report, which state officials said may cause up to 18 months’ more delay in removing the toxic sludge from McColl.

Criticism of the Administration’s handling of toxic wastes has intensified recently, particularly from Democrats who appear intent on making the issue a prominent one in next year’s gubernatorial campaign. Questions about toxic wastes have dogged Deukmejian for the last three weeks as he traveled around the state in a series of campaign-style appearances.

“I’d like to be able to clean up some of the more major toxic waste sites quickly, right now,” Deukmejian said at an impromptu press conference. “I’d like to start at McColl and Stringfellow. . . . I’m anxious to get them cleaned up as soon as possible.”

He also said he hopes that three separate investigations into toxic waste site cleanup work will help create “confidence” in the public’s mind that his Administration is handling the task properly.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has criticized the state’s handling of cleanup contracts at both Stringfellow and McColl. The FBI is looking into contracting problems at both sites. Subsequently, the governor also asked the legislative auditor general to probe the contracting procedures.

“I am hopeful that the outcome will be that we assure that the procedures being used are in accordance with the law,” the governor said.

The toxic waste site cleanup issue is made more complicated because the state must deal with the EPA and various court decisions, Deukmejian said.

“I have been a little disappointed with some of the (state’s) actions,” he told reporters after speaking to a Board of Forestry centennial anniversary conference.

“But it is significant to note we also have cleaned up approximately 100 sites and imposed significant fines on polluters.

No Solution Yet

“They (state officials) are trying very hard, but this is a very difficult, complex area. It’s fine to say, ‘Let’s clean up a toxic waste dump site.’ But the next question is: What do you do with it?”

Asked by reporters if he believed there were some doubts in the minds of citizens on the ability of the state to deal properly with the toxic waste problems, he replied, “There probably are some doubts in the minds of some people. I am anxious to eliminate those doubts.”

The governor added that the continuing controversy over toxic waste site cleanup has made it difficult to replace Joel Moskowitz, former deputy director of the Department of Health Services, who was in charge of the toxic substances control division. Moskowitz resigned in June to go into law practice.

“A lot of people are not thrilled about getting into that position,” Deukmejian said.