OJAI : Lacey Letter Urges Halt of Radar Project
Supervisor Susan Lacey has sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, urging him to use his clout to halt construction of a National Weather Service radar tower on Sulphur Mountain near Ojai.
The tower “dominates the landscape of this otherwise beautiful rural residential area,” Lacey said in the letter sent Thursday.
Lacey also raised concerns about the health risk of long-term exposure because of the levels of radiation the radar antenna will emit. Opponents of the radar system have said they are worried about the possible adverse health effects of such exposure.
“This uncertainty and risk have substantially compromised the residents’ enjoyment of their homes,” Lacey said in the letter.
Many opponents of the project live near the tower, situated on a ridge along Sulphur Mountain Road. The tower site lies within Lacey’s supervisorial district.
Lacey suggested that the radar tower be relocated to another, less-populated ridge.
The weather service wants to install the Doppler radar system to improve forecasting for Southern California. Weather service scientists have said the low-level, non-ionized radiation from the tower will pose no significant threat to the health of those who live nearby.
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