VENTURA : Reports Cite Soil Contamination

Toxicology reports show that county employees’ practice of dumping rain gauge waste in remote areas of Ventura County’s backcountry has left soil contaminated, an official said Tuesday.

Although soil samples taken near four rain gauges showed no evidence of ethylene glycol, a component of antifreeze, oil contamination was detected at each of the sites, said Robert Gallagher, resource manager in the county Environmental Health Department.

More tests are being conducted to determine if the amount and type of oil used is a threat to public health and safety, Gallagher said. If it is, state hazardous materials crews will be called in to remove the tainted soil, he said.

Although no ethylene glycol was found, flood control officials have already admitted that they routinely dumped antifreeze and oil onto the ground during annual maintenance of 19 rain gauges.

Because of that admission, a report on the flood control district’s dumping practices will be forwarded to the district attorney office’s, possibly by Friday, to determine if civil or criminal charges should be filed, Gallagher said.

“No physical evidence is required for us to file a case,” he said.