Toxic Dumping in Our Midst

Twice last week the Ortega Highway that runs between San Juan Capistrano and Lake Elsinore was closed to traffic when explosive and lethal chemicals were found illegally dumped along the road in the Santa Ana Mountains. There were three separate sightings of toxic chemicals along the roadway in 48 hours, with Monday’s discovery of the unstable, highly combustible material labeled by officials as the worst case of illegal toxic dumping in Orange County’s history.

The unnerving thing about that observation is that what officials are really fearing is that it was the county’s worst case--thus far.

Toxic emergencies are becoming dangerously commonplace in Orange County. In 1983, emergency teams responded to only 45 incidents. Last year, they rose to 208. So far this year, toxic emergencies have been reported on the average of almost one per day.

To an extent, illegal dumpings are predictable. Whenever nearby disposal sites are closed, as was the case last month in Santa Barbara County, the increased costs of transporting toxic wastes over longer distances tempts some irresponsible industries to try to save money by illegally dumping toxic materials closer to home. With 5,000 firms generating an estimated 493,000 tons of hazardous waste in Orange County each year, and the nearest liquid waste disposal site located in central California, the potential problem is obvious.

Orange County was fortunate last week. Under other circumstances, the results could have been disastrous. Some of the substances found along the roadside were considered lethal and the condition of some of the chemicals was so unstable that officials decided the safest thing to do was to detonate them where they were found rather than risk an explosion or the release of deadly fumes by transporting the toxic wastes through populated areas.

So, what about the next time?

The emphasis for industry has been and must continue to be more on-site treatment and on reducing the amount of toxic wastes produced as by-products in the first place. That’s the long-range solution. That and the opening of hazardous waste dumps, or at least transfer stations, closer to local industries than Fresno.

In the meantime, vigilance by local officials, industry and the public, the prompt reporting of any suspected illegal dumping and vigorous prosecution accompanied with stiff penalties might discourage some people from dumping toxic wastes and playing free and loose with the public’s safety.