Arco Neighbors Mount Campaign for State Approval of Toxic Cleanup

Frustrated with delays in the cleanup effort at the Arco station that leaked gas into the surrounding Seal Beach neighborhood, residents, city and county officials gathered Tuesday to find ways to nudge the cleanup forward.

Residents of Seal Beach’s Bridgeport neighborhood pledged to circulate a petition and county and city officials agreed to write letters urging the California Coastal Commission to approve Arco’s plan to demolish the gas station at PCH and 5th Street and remove the contaminated soil.

"We will be sending a letter to the Coastal Commission stating we believe this is a health and safety issue and requesting to ge this approved," said Richard Sanchez, the county’s director of Environmental Health.

Multiple gas tank leaks spanning decades spilled gasoline into the soil, and tests found that the spill was off-gassing’ benzene, a known carcinogen, into people’s homes. Three homes were evacuated and treated last year to stem the flow of hazardous gases into the homes. The residents were able to return home, but the gas station’s closure and cleanup plan have been on hold since last year, pending approval from the Coastal Commission, said Sanchez.

Looking for updates and action on cleanup, residents filled city council chambers Tuesday night.
Susan Perrell, a Bridgeport resident who has served on the task force that successfully fought for the cleanup, outlined the plan of attack. Perrell passed around a letter for signatures to appeal to the Coastal Commission to expedite the permit.  

Next, the group began honing in on the key question: When will the Coastal Commission approve the Arco permit to allow the excavation of the Arco station to begin?
Ray Zeoli, a Bridgeport resident  and former environmental engineer, charged Arco officials with dragging their feet.

“Arco’s actions do not add up,” he said. “Parallel work can be done on a project like this, and Arco should not be waiting if a May date for projected excavation date is going to happen.”
However, said Sanchez, Arco representatives made it clear that they don’t believe they can start work without the Coastal Commission’s approval, stating, “We cannot put a stick in the ground without the CC permit.”

They said they have been fined $35,000 for working without the permit, added Sanchez.
The projected excavation date for the Arco cleanup is May 15, and the next meeting of the Coastal Commission is March  9. If a permit is not obtained then, it would have to wait for the monthly meeting in April.
Resident David Sutton, expressed skepticism about Arco using the permit issue as an excuse.

“How complete is the Arco permit application? Will it cover the whole project,” he asked. “If it does not, this could be done with one permit after another, and take forever.”
However, the application for the permit looked pretty complete, said Perrell.
Arco representatives opted not to attend the meeting.

“We invited Arco to the meeting, but they declined as did the Coastal Commission,” said Sanchez.

Some residents said they understood why it is hard to reach the Coastal Commission, noting that it protects the commission from the influence of lobbyists and helps to keep coastal communities protected from destructive projects.
Sanchez encouraged the group, noting, “Your strength has been in your ability to speak as one strong force.”
The residents created a websitedocumenting the history and ongoing developments from the Arco spill and cleanup effort.

Paige Austin contributed to this report.