Belvedere Citizen / Eastside Journal, Number 40, 1 October 1980 — Torres requests inquiry into storm system waste [ARTICLE]

Torres requests inquiry into storm system waste

Assemblyman Art Torres iD-Los Angeles) Chairman of the Assembly Health Committee, last week requested the State Department of Health Services to immediately conduct a thorough investigation into the reports of toxic waste substances appearing in the Los Angeles county flood control storm system. Torres said in a letter to Ms. Beverlee Myers, Director, Stale Department of Health Services, "If there is sufficient evidence indicating that the chemicals exist, it could pose a serious health and safety threat to the residents of the slate, and particularly, to the individuals who have had direct contract with the l'"' ———“

potentially contaminated storm drains; specifically; Los Angeles County lifeguards and bathers." Torres' request for a state investigation was prompted by several reports to the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors that indicated a strong possiblity of hazardous and toxic wastes in some county facilities and at disposal sites located throughout many communities. In addition to the reported wastes substances in the storm system, toxic waste problems have appeared in East Los Angeles, Santa Fe Springs, West Covina, Palos Verdes, Calabasas, and Fullerton.