Belmont Learning Center Site

* The Belmont Learning Center and its academy theme will provide a much needed new educational facility for Los Angeles. We appreciate your coverage of this important joint venture development between the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Temple Beaudry Partners (Aug. 6).

One issue mentioned, however, demands an immediate response, because it was reported as a safety concern from a school board member. A 10-acre portion of the Belmont site (which will be used for athletic fields) crosses the old Los Angeles oil field, although the actual school building site is adjacent to the oil field. Indeed, much of the surrounding neighborhood rests on this same turn-of-the-century field. The district investigated the oil field conditions extensively when these 10 acres were acquired some years ago. This investigation is being updated in the current environmental review for the high school.

There is no inherent danger in building a school near an oil field. Beverly Hills High School, for example, rests over an oil field. Obviously, care needs to be taken to remediate any remaining surface conditions, such as proper abandonment and capping of old wells. The location of the school buildings and athletic fields will comply with the recommendations contained in the environmental review for the high school.

VICTORIA M. CASTRO

Board Member, 2nd District

LAUSD