Gallegly Says He’s Told Radar Tower Could Be Moved

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) said Friday that a top administrator with the National Weather Service has told him the government would consider relocating a radar tower on Sulphur Mountain if Ojai residents who oppose the structure can find the money to fund the move.

But weather service officials challenged Gallegly’s statements and said the tower is staying right where it is.

Gallegly said he was told by Elbert W. Friday Jr., director of the National Weather Service, in a phone conversation on March 10 that if Ojai residents near the tower come up with the money, he would have the tower moved.

“He was getting back to me to advise me (about) a concern I had had,” Gallegly said. “We went on discussing problems I saw the tower was creating in Ventura County, just kind of rehashing things.”

Then, Gallegly said, “He just came out of the blue and said, ‘If J. R., or Mr. Hagman, would like to pay for it . . . I will be happy to move it.’ ”

Friday could not be reached for comment, but a spokeswoman with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the National Weather Service, questioned Gallegly’s comments.

“That is not my understanding of the conversation,” said Lori Arguelles, spokeswoman for the atmospheric administration. Despite what may or may not have been said in the conversation, she said, “the weather service has no plans to move the radar tower.”

Gallegly said the conversation occurred a few days after he and actor Larry Hagman held a press conference near Capitol Hill in Washington. Hagman lives near the tower and has joined other Upper Ojai residents who have rallied for its removal.

The residents have demanded for months that the weather-tracking system be relocated, claiming that microwave radiation from the tower is a threat to their health. Weather service officials last month conducted tests that they said showed the amount of radiation emitted by the tower is low and is not a health hazard.

Gallegly said he was told by Friday that the cost to move the tower would be about $500,000. “What’s interesting is they said before it would cost $2 million,” Gallegly said.

No matter what the cost, residents said they don’t have the money to pay for the move themselves.

“It’s arrogant to even consider that locals can raise that kind of money,” resident Dale Givner said.

Arguelles said because there is no plan to move the tower, the government has not calculated a relocation cost.

Arguelles said the Sulphur Mountain site offers unique coverage of the Los Angeles Basin. The tower will replace an aging weather-tracking system in West Los Angeles.

“This is the only site that provides the right coverage,” Arguelles said. “There were 30 sites that were looked at. Of those 30, this is the only one that provides adequate coverage.”

The weather service does not expect the tower to be fully operational for another six to eight months, said Todd Morris, a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard.

“We have no intentions of moving the weather system at this time,” Morris said. “We have not even entertained the idea.”

After his conversation with Friday, Gallegly said he faxed a letter to the weather service that stated: “I appreciate your offer to move the tower if alternative means of funding can be found. I intend to search for such alternatives, either here in Congress or in the local community.”

Gallegly said the weather service has not responded to that letter.

But Arguelles said, “A response from Dr. Friday to the congressman is forthcoming.”

Gallegly is one of several local and state officials who have joined the fight to move the 98-foot-tall radar tower, which was erected in November with no prior notice to nearby homeowners.

Calling themselves the Citizens Against Radiation Exposure, a group of residents rallied beneath the tower Friday afternoon, and are planning a public meeting in downtown Ojai later this month.

“It’s not going to stop us from going gung-ho,” Ojai resident Rick Loy said.

Despite the challenge to Gallegly’s comments by weather service officials, Upper Ojai residents said they see Gallegly’s conversation with Friday as a small victory.

“I believe what Rep. Gallegly said,” resident Virginia Loy said. “With the National Weather Service’s batting average for honesty and integrity, I don’t doubt that they are taking back what they said to our congressman.”

Givner agreed.

“Gallegly’s a smart individual, I don’t think he’d just imagine (the conversation),” Givner said.