Let McColl Serve as Bad Example : Long-Delayed Toxic Site ‘Cleanup’ Shows How Not to Do It

There was good reason for the recent celebratory atmosphere at the McColl toxic waste dump site in Fullerton. After too many years of delays, something was being done.

Homeowners, elected officials and environmental specialists witnessed a ceremonial groundbreaking for the start of a process to cover permanently sumps filled with waste.

The covers will have layers of soil, sand, a clay liner and a permanent seal to keep water out of the site and prevent gases from escaping. That is important, because noxious odors from McColl have made life miserable for nearby residents for nearly 20 years.

The houses are lovely, the area fine--except for McColl. It was used to dump aviation fuel during World War II and later became a repository for other wastes. When residents began moving into the area in the late 1970s, the problems quickly became clear.

Environmental investigators discovered the ground near the houses contained petroleum waste, sulfuric acid and benzene, which can cause cancer. Soon after, the federal government added McColl to the Superfund site list, meaning it deserved top priority in getting cleaned up fast.

The cleanup should have been quick. It was not. It took more than a dozen years and lengthy court battles even to start solving the problem. Even the term “cleanup” is a misnomer. An attempt to dig up the contaminated soil and truck it to an out-of-county dump foundered several years ago when a judge ruled the federal Environmental Protection Agency had not complied with regulations for the removal.

Oil companies that contributed to the toxic waste also battled in the courts, contending they should not have to pay. They lost, but it delayed the process and the question of which firms pay how much unfortunately still has not been settled. The total cleanup bill may pass $70 million.

The ceremony to begin construction was remarkable for the atmosphere of good feeling. That was a refreshing change from the anger and frustration of residents living near McColl who were kept waiting for so long for something to be done.

Living so close to danger and being uncertain of its effects took a toll on residents. Some blame the dump for their illnesses. Millions of dollars in damages have been paid over the years. But the demand for a solution always was paramount.

Government agencies, private companies and communities elsewhere that have contaminated sites need to look at McColl of an example of what not to do. The EPA says cleanups proceed more quickly now. They should. Speedier action is needed when people’s health is at stake.