Toxics Alert at UC Berkeley Richmond Field Station
Richmond Field Station is a lovely remote research facility by the bay - at least that's what it seems at first glance. But a terribly mishandled toxic clean up in the fall of 2004 next door to the Richmond Field Station made the danger alarmingly clear to many workers there. Many employees complained of the toxic dust and fumes which made them ill. Clericals sought CUE help as they were being harassed because of their speaking out about the unsafe conditions - conditions described by the Contra Costs Health Director, Wendell Bruner as "Things happened in the clean-up of the Zeneca site which should never have happened."
We discovered that employees knew of many contaminants they had to work with at RFS, remnants from previous ownership but also from UC's own toxic and sometimes even nuclear experiments. Other UC unions became alerted. We quickly saw the advantage of working with the Richmond community activists. As the California Department of Toxics Control (DTSC) was brought in and a Community Advisory Group (CAG) was formed, we were able to persuade them to include the Richmond Field Station in their oversight.
UC cancelled their announcement of building an expanded research facility at RFS.
CUE represents 16 clericals in departments as varied as COENG engineering research, Institute. of transportation Studies, Earthquake Engineering Research, Institute of Business and Economics Research, and the Library. Some current and previous employees have experienced unusual health problems, even rare cancers. So have employees and residents in nearby areas.
The DTSC ordered UC to do a report of current conditions of the site. UC responded with a 900 (?) page report but it was blasted by the CAG Toxics Committee as totally incomplete and inadequate. The DTSC just announced they are investigating illegal UC practices around toxic waste at the RFS. The Dept of Health is expected to release their health assessment of RFS very soon.
While DTSC's goal is to mitigate and prepare these "brownfields" for future use, CUE, other UC unions and CAG members want maximum safety for the people involved.
CUE was able to stall a move to the Forest Products Building of our members 2 years ago. Now arsenic levels have been found in that area so high that the EPA mandates emergency removal of the contaminated soil.
What we have learned through this process is that government oversight of "brownfields" is a slow process - it's already been over two years since the CAG was formed and the investigation of RFS is just now seriously getting underway.
See Daily Planet and Dept of Toxics site.
(claudette)
