District Plans Own Soil Tests at Explosion Site
Palmdale water officials said Wednesday that they plan to commission their own soil tests at an Antelope Valley quarry where firefighters exploded eight tons of fireworks, voicing doubts about state-sponsored tests that found no soil contamination.
Although Palmdale Water District Manager Hal Fones had said he was satisfied with the results of tests arranged by the state fire marshal’s office, water board members Tuesday night complained that the state’s consultant may have tested the wrong area.
Fones said the water district plans to hire the same consultant, Converse Environmental West of Pasadena, to conduct the new round of tests, possibly next week.
The June 27 blast was a widely publicized event intended to stress the danger of illegal fireworks.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
