Anaheim Delays Action Against Toxin-Laden Auto Salvage Yard

An automobile salvage yard that has been storing more than 50,000 tons of residue laden with toxic PCBs won more time Tuesday to comply with Anaheim city regulations that its critics say the company has continued to ignore.

The Anaheim City Council voted 3 to 1 to postpone a decision on closing down Orange County Steel Salvage Inc. An attorney for the company sought an extension until after March 12, when the firm is scheduled to square off in court with the state.

State health officials filed suit last September to block further stockpiling of the hazardous waste, require the firm to conduct studies, prepare a cleanup plan and pay unspecified fines.

Councilman Irv Pickler cast the lone vote against an extension.

“This firm is taking advantage of the city and the people of Anaheim,” Pickler said. “I think it’s time we close that place down.”

Aide Calls for Shutdown

John Poole, head of the city’s code enforcement department, has recommended that the city close down the salvage yard.

Poole said the company’s owner, George Adams Jr., has failed to comply with repeated orders to dispose of the waste, remove an overhead crane illegally stored on the East Frontera Road property and comply with other city requirements.

Poole said the firm also has failed to dispose of a minimum of 1,000 tons of newly created residue each month, a requirement imposed last September. Instead of the 5,000 tons that should have been removed, Adams has disposed of only 1,865 tons, he said.

Poole also said Tuesday that after Arizona health authorities tested waste hauled to a Phoenix landfill from Orange County Steel Salvage, they refused to accept any more because high lead levels were found.

Acts to Prevent Deadlock

On Tuesday, Councilwoman Miriam Kaywood said she was voting “reluctantly” for the extension, to prevent a deadlocked vote among the four council members.

Unless the council can agree on a replacement for a vacant fifth council seat by next week, Kaywood said Tuesday’s delay on the already much-postponed Orange County Steel Salvage matter was an example of what could happen with most pressing city matters until the next county election in June.

The council has been split, 2 to 2, on who should fill the seat left vacant by former Mayor Don R. Roth’s election to the county Board of Supervisors.