Testing at Portola High School

[peppy]

@hello
Do you plan to build swimming pool and fill it with ground water? If so,  I highly recommend staying out at least 5 miles from BP. Just to be safe you know.

Im still laughing about your wikipedia quotes.  LOL

I am glad I could put a smile on your face.

You are still waiting for the right opportunity, correct? By right, I mean price drops in Irvine. Would you say you have incentives for reduced demand?

I'll admit, as a buyer in BP, I am incentivized to discount toxin scare. And, I genuinely believe that its just a scare, hence my purchase.

Now you and I are not going to affect any trends. It's just that we are wired differently to perceive risks.

AAHHH I see now why you are so quick to discredit any of this.  Unlike you, I really have no financial motives for this.  I have never considered BP, PS nor PP due to location but also the potential toxic issues.  I think I have mentioned this before... even if this area dropped 50% in price, I still wouldnt buy there.

My intentions were not to affect any trends but rather to raise awareness since many are either unaware or apathetic. 

I agree with you.  I think we are wired differently to perceive risk.  I do believe I have more awareness and knowledge on the subject matter of toxic chemicals than you and probably most of the people on this current blog.  Thus when I read that GP used to be a superfund site, there are chemical founds on the high school, etc, then I begin to think of the potential dangers.

The real question is how much contamination is there and how will it affect health?  In all honesty, no one can answer this question.  To me this is the scariest thing- the unknown.  No bozo from the EPA can tell you this land is safe with certainty.  Of course they will say it anyway.  Trust me on this.  Just because some bozo from the OC register or LA times reports the land is safe, it doesnt mean the land is safe.  They just report what they are told.  Sure, you are thinking that we can never know if any plot of land is safe.  I agree with you.  The only difference here is that we are talking about a previous superfund site with toxic chemicals being dug up randomly at a high school site, not some random empty plot of land with no history.

Even if this land was super contaminated you are not going to see 100% of people coming down with cancer in next few years.  Some people are super resilient and may not have symptoms, some may only have mild symptoms, other may have serious symptoms and others yet have have super complicated problems and others may eventually come down with life threatening illness.  These things may be seen from weeks to even over a lifetime.  In fact there are studies coming out showing that these toxic chemicals could be causing generational problems so that your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren could be harmed.

I am just being the devils advocate here since everyone here seems so dismissive about this.

I'll let another cat out of the bag. Glyphosate and 2.4-D are already routinely sprayed on all school grounds.  >

 

[hello]

@hello
Do you plan to build swimming pool and fill it with ground water? If so,  I highly recommend staying out at least 5 miles from BP. Just to be safe you know.

Im still laughing about your wikipedia quotes.  LOL

I am glad I could put a smile on your face.

You are still waiting for the right opportunity, correct? By right, I mean price drops in Irvine. Would you say you have incentives for reduced demand?

I'll admit, as a buyer in BP, I am incentivized to discount toxin scare. And, I genuinely believe that its just a scare, hence my purchase.

Now you and I are not going to affect any trends. It's just that we are wired differently to perceive risks.

AAHHH I see now why you are so quick to discredit any of this.  Unlike you, I really have no financial motives for this.  I have never considered BP, PS nor PP due to location but also the potential toxic issues.  I think I have mentioned this before... even if this area dropped 50% in price, I still wouldnt buy there.

My intentions were not to affect any trends but rather to raise awareness since many are either unaware or apathetic. 

I agree with you.  I think we are wired differently to perceive risk.  I do believe I have more awareness and knowledge on the subject matter of toxic chemicals than you and probably most of the people on this current blog.  Thus when I read that GP used to be a superfund site, there are chemical founds on the high school, etc, then I begin to think of the potential dangers.

The real question is how much contamination is there and how will it affect health?  In all honesty, no one can answer this question.  To me this is the scariest thing- the unknown.  No bozo from the EPA can tell you this land is safe with certainty.  Of course they will say it anyway.  Trust me on this.  Just because some bozo from the OC register or LA times reports the land is safe, it doesnt mean the land is safe.  They just report what they are told.  Sure, you are thinking that we can never know if any plot of land is safe.  I agree with you.  The only difference here is that we are talking about a previous superfund site with toxic chemicals being dug up randomly at a high school site, not some random empty plot of land with no history.

Even if this land was super contaminated you are not going to see 100% of people coming down with cancer in next few years.  Some people are super resilient and may not have symptoms, some may only have mild symptoms, other may have serious symptoms and others yet have have super complicated problems and others may eventually come down with life threatening illness.  These things may be seen from weeks to even over a lifetime.  In fact there are studies coming out showing that these toxic chemicals could be causing generational problems so that your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren could be harmed.

I am just being the devils advocate here since everyone here seems so dismissive about this.

I'll let another cat out of the bag. Glyphosate and 2.4-D are already routinely sprayed on all school grounds.  >

you are talking about "roundup"?  I thought Irvine was going to stop spraying this. 

The truth is that our environment is filled with potentially harmful chemicals.  The goal for all of us is not to eliminate all these chemicals since it will be impossible.  However since many can have cumulative effects, we should try to always minimize them.  ok im done with this topic.

 

[Cornflakes]

@hello
Do you plan to build swimming pool and fill it with ground water? If so,  I highly recommend staying out at least 5 miles from BP. Just to be safe you know.

Im still laughing about your wikipedia quotes.  LOL

I am glad I could put a smile on your face.

You are still waiting for the right opportunity, correct? By right, I mean price drops in Irvine. Would you say you have incentives for reduced demand?

I'll admit, as a buyer in BP, I am incentivized to discount toxin scare. And, I genuinely believe that its just a scare, hence my purchase.

Now you and I are not going to affect any trends. It's just that we are wired differently to perceive risks.

AAHHH I see now why you are so quick to discredit any of this.  Unlike you, I really have no financial motives for this.  I have never considered BP, PS nor PP due to location but also the potential toxic issues.  I think I have mentioned this before... even if this area dropped 50% in price, I still wouldnt buy there.

My intentions were not to affect any trends but rather to raise awareness since many are either unaware or apathetic. 

I agree with you.  I think we are wired differently to perceive risk.  I do believe I have more awareness and knowledge on the subject matter of toxic chemicals than you and probably most of the people on this current blog.  Thus when I read that GP used to be a superfund site, there are chemical founds on the high school, etc, then I begin to think of the potential dangers.

The real question is how much contamination is there and how will it affect health?  In all honesty, no one can answer this question.  To me this is the scariest thing- the unknown.  No bozo from the EPA can tell you this land is safe with certainty.  Of course they will say it anyway.  Trust me on this.  Just because some bozo from the OC register or LA times reports the land is safe, it doesnt mean the land is safe.  They just report what they are told.  Sure, you are thinking that we can never know if any plot of land is safe.  I agree with you.  The only difference here is that we are talking about a previous superfund site with toxic chemicals being dug up randomly at a high school site, not some random empty plot of land with no history.

Even if this land was super contaminated you are not going to see 100% of people coming down with cancer in next few years.  Some people are super resilient and may not have symptoms, some may only have mild symptoms, other may have serious symptoms and others yet have have super complicated problems and others may eventually come down with life threatening illness.  These things may be seen from weeks to even over a lifetime.  In fact there are studies coming out showing that these toxic chemicals could be causing generational problems so that your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren could be harmed.

I am just being the devils advocate here since everyone here seems so dismissive about this.

Do you go out in Sun? You know there are gaping holes in ozone layer and excessive exposure to sunlight is linked with skin cancer.

I am sorry you are terrified of something that was dumped 60 years ago.

 

[hello]

@hello
Do you plan to build swimming pool and fill it with ground water? If so,  I highly recommend staying out at least 5 miles from BP. Just to be safe you know.

Im still laughing about your wikipedia quotes.  LOL

I am glad I could put a smile on your face.

You are still waiting for the right opportunity, correct? By right, I mean price drops in Irvine. Would you say you have incentives for reduced demand?

I'll admit, as a buyer in BP, I am incentivized to discount toxin scare. And, I genuinely believe that its just a scare, hence my purchase.

Now you and I are not going to affect any trends. It's just that we are wired differently to perceive risks.

AAHHH I see now why you are so quick to discredit any of this.  Unlike you, I really have no financial motives for this.  I have never considered BP, PS nor PP due to location but also the potential toxic issues.  I think I have mentioned this before... even if this area dropped 50% in price, I still wouldnt buy there.

My intentions were not to affect any trends but rather to raise awareness since many are either unaware or apathetic. 

I agree with you.  I think we are wired differently to perceive risk.  I do believe I have more awareness and knowledge on the subject matter of toxic chemicals than you and probably most of the people on this current blog.  Thus when I read that GP used to be a superfund site, there are chemical founds on the high school, etc, then I begin to think of the potential dangers.

The real question is how much contamination is there and how will it affect health?  In all honesty, no one can answer this question.  To me this is the scariest thing- the unknown.  No bozo from the EPA can tell you this land is safe with certainty.  Of course they will say it anyway.  Trust me on this.  Just because some bozo from the OC register or LA times reports the land is safe, it doesnt mean the land is safe.  They just report what they are told.  Sure, you are thinking that we can never know if any plot of land is safe.  I agree with you.  The only difference here is that we are talking about a previous superfund site with toxic chemicals being dug up randomly at a high school site, not some random empty plot of land with no history.

Even if this land was super contaminated you are not going to see 100% of people coming down with cancer in next few years.  Some people are super resilient and may not have symptoms, some may only have mild symptoms, other may have serious symptoms and others yet have have super complicated problems and others may eventually come down with life threatening illness.  These things may be seen from weeks to even over a lifetime.  In fact there are studies coming out showing that these toxic chemicals could be causing generational problems so that your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren could be harmed.

I am just being the devils advocate here since everyone here seems so dismissive about this.

Do you go out in Sun? You know there are gaping holes in ozone layer and excessive exposure to sunlight is linked with skin cancer.

I am sorry you are terrified of something that was dumped 60 years ago.

clearly you still dont get it.  Like I said, Im done.  You make your own choices, I'll make mine.  All I was doing was simply sharing information and trying to raise awareness.  BTW, dont be sorry.  I dont live there...

 

[jmoney74]

So there are environmental reports on the website.. what else do you want?  Again, I'm all for the truth.. but the publication still doesn't have any factual data.. just accusations. 

 

[Cornflakes]

Saw a video on youtube on this scare yesterday. The irony is that couple of vets who actually used those chemicals back in 70s, used to spray the parts and jets without protective gear on are saying that these chemicals are so dangerous after sitting all these years there and the whole rant. BTW those vets are kicking it healthwise well into their 60s maybe 70s.

 

[jmoney74]

Saw a video on youtube on this scare yesterday. The irony is that couple of vets who actually used those chemicals back in 70s, used to spray the parts and jets without protective gear on are saying that these chemicals are so dangerous after sitting all these years there and the whole rant. BTW those vets are kicking it healthwise well into their 60s maybe 70s.

Aren't the chemical sites closer to the 5 fwy area?  I believe so. 

 

[Cornflakes]

Saw a video on youtube on this scare yesterday. The irony is that couple of vets who actually used those chemicals back in 70s, used to spray the parts and jets without protective gear on are saying that these chemicals are so dangerous after sitting all these years there and the whole rant. BTW those vets are kicking it healthwise well into their 60s maybe 70s.

Aren't the chemical sites closer to the 5 fwy area?  I believe so.

The way I see it, the issue has two points. Chemicals laced surface and ground water. EPA and Navy spent years and $350MM to remove dirt, and clean up ground water. But, that is besides point. Let's assume for a moment that they did not do a thing and its all just conspiracy. That leaves you with laced soil sitting there since 1999, when the base was decommissioned. Now, do I think that those chemicals sitting on the dirt are so powerful that 17 years of sun exposure, rain, and wind has not been able to wash away its potency? I don't. It does not take a chemist degree for me to draw that conclusion. Are those chemicals still so potent that their vapors are in the air I am going to breath? I doubt. I am not digging up a pool in my 4 sqft backyard, and my kids are not going to roll in that dirt for fun, ever.

Now for the ground water. I agree, that is still an issue. No doubt those chemicals leeched into ground water. That's is where my risk taking comes in. I am trusting that EPA did do the clean up of water as they claim to be. I put my faith in IRWD that they are not using the ground water for residential use as I have read on some sites. As for drinking, I never drink tap water anyway. The little I use for cooking and showers will kill me in few short years if all my assumptions and faith in Navy, EPA and IRWD are dead wrong. And, at that point, I won't be alone. I will have huge company of all BP residents. So, I won't feel so foolish afterall.

 

[zubs]

I have seen a cleanup report from a company that cleaned up the mess aerojet made in Chino Hills.  Aerojet makes depleted uranium ammunition for fighter jets.  They use to mfg and test in Chino Hills.  They moved away in the 90s but still own that land.  They hired a cleanup company and the report they produced after the cleanup is no joke.  It's hundreds of pages with what they did to cleanup the site.  (From how much dirt they removed to how they found bullets and other ordinance from a crashed military craft back in the 50s). I believe they plan to sell that property to developers.

Perhaps concerned citizens can ask for a copy of the cleanup report for MCAS El Toro.  It should be hundreds of pages of graphs and notations of what they found at the site and what they did to clean it up.  In our litigious society everyone covers their ass.

 

[Cornflakes]

zubs, I was seriously expecting some funny meme from you. Here, I will make up for it.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Perhaps concerned citizens can ask for a copy of the cleanup report for MCAS El Toro.  It should be hundreds of pages of graphs and notations of what they found at the site and what they did to clean it up.  In our litigious society everyone covers their ass.

Will it tell us about the alien that Will Smith shot down in 1996?

 

[fe9000]

Perhaps concerned citizens can ask for a copy of the cleanup report for MCAS El Toro.  It should be hundreds of pages of graphs and notations of what they found at the site and what they did to clean it up.  In our litigious society everyone covers their ass.

Will it tell us about the alien that Will Smith shot down in 1996?

I predict they are coming back in a few months, so we need to be prepared.

 

[Cornflakes]

Perhaps concerned citizens can ask for a copy of the cleanup report for MCAS El Toro.  It should be hundreds of pages of graphs and notations of what they found at the site and what they did to clean it up.  In our litigious society everyone covers their ass.

Will it tell us about the alien that Will Smith shot down in 1996?

I predict they are coming back in a few months, so we need to be prepared.

Will it boost BP sales as BP will be national news at that point?

 

[irvine buyer]

Got this email from the IUSD:

This August, IUSD will open Portola High School, Irvine?s fifth comprehensive high school.  While there is considerable excitement about the opening of our new school, there continues to be misleading information disseminated in the community about the school site, which is on the former El Toro Marine Base.  I would like to take this opportunity to share information with you about IUSD?s actions to ensure the safety of the site.

Throughout the multi-year process, IUSD has worked with all necessary agencies and experts to vet and ensure the safety of the site.  In analyzing and determining the best location for Portola High School, IUSD?s process, procedures and findings have been based on the scientific studies, tested principles and protocols of such agencies as the California Department of Education, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the California Department of Public Health, the Department of the Navy, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  This well-documented and comprehensive process has been provided on our website, presented in Board Meetings, shared with the City Council, discussed at public events and with an array of diverse stakeholders such as the PTA, the Irvine Public Schools Foundation and community supporters.

Further, in 2014, the DTSC and the California Department of Education determined that the Portola High School site met the required state approvals for the development of the high school and gave IUSD the ?green light? to move forward with the school?s construction.  As the lead environmental agency on this project, the DTSC has been responsible for providing oversight of the required testing and for analyzing the results.  Throughout this process, the DTSC has confirmed the safety and suitability of the site.

To date, the District has conducted more than 200 tests throughout the school site.  Based on the results, the DTSC documented there is no threat to public health or the environment.  As part of this continued oversight, the DTSC has now asked IUSD to collect additional ?confirmational? samples to reaffirm the safety of the site.  IUSD will begin this process immediately and will analyze additional soil samples.  The District will continue to fully comply with the DTSC?s requirements, protocols and procedures, in addition to state and local laws.   

The DTSC believes this work can be done quickly with ?little or no impact? to our construction ? the timeline for opening the school remains unchanged.  IUSD will provide you with regular updates, including all test results.  As with all other Irvine schools, Portola High School will continue IUSD?s tradition of excellence and the Irvine community will be proud of its next comprehensive high school.

For more information about the Portola High School site and a history of IUSD actions and DTSC documents, please visit iusd.org/portolaconstruction.

Thank you for your engagement and support of our students and schools, which enables IUSD to best serve our students.

 

[iacrenter]

Got this email from the IUSD....

To date, the District has conducted more than 200 tests throughout the school site.  Based on the results, the DTSC documented there is no threat to public health or the environment.  As part of this continued oversight, the DTSC has now asked IUSD to collect additional ?confirmational? samples to reaffirm the safety of the site.  IUSD will begin this process immediately and will analyze additional soil samples.  The District will continue to fully comply with the DTSC?s requirements, protocols and procedures, in addition to state and local laws.

This looks like a big deal. Did IUSD cave to pressure? Does DTSC have additional concerns to warrant further testing? Why the need for additional testing if they are confident the site is "safe" ?

I thought IUSD has always maintained the site is safe and NO further testing is needed. They also stipulated that further testing would delay the school opening and be detrimental to district needs. Now they are telling a different story.

 

[qwerty]

Yeah you have to be a complete moron to send your kid to portola high school. What kind of parent would send their kid to a school with known contaminated land?  Horrible.

 

[pricedoutJay]

Yeah you have to be a complete moron to send your kid to portola high school. What kind of parent would send their kid to a school with known contaminated land?  Horrible.

I'm not in PS high area but either way it sucks for residents.  If there is danger, it's obviously horrible but even if  IUSD is correct, how much can we trust what government agencies say and whether the "safe" limit for cleaning was safe enough or not...

I saw many families with kids at PS 3 and Beacon Park...  I don't know if I would call them complete morons but it would be a tough decision on kids well being versus having a good deal on a new home...

maybe things will be just fine like Columbus Grove, Columbus Square and Tustin Legacy....  I mean people will move in no matter what...

 

[irvinehomeowner]

Yeah you have to be a complete moron to send your kid to portola high school. What kind of parent would send their kid to a school with known contaminated land?  Horrible.

But it's okay to live on contamination land.

#boomerang

 

[eatthis]

This looks like a big deal. Did IUSD cave to pressure? Does DTSC have additional concerns to warrant further testing? Why the need for additional testing if they are confident the site is "safe" ?

I thought IUSD has always maintained the site is safe and NO further testing is needed. They also stipulated that further testing would delay the school opening and be detrimental to district needs. Now they are telling a different story.

You can't win with the TI crowd. When no there was no additional test everyone is up in arms about why the district is against more test. Now that they're doing more tests people complain why they're doing more test.

I applaud the school district for listening to feedback and taking this step. I'd much rather they do additional test, using an independent source, and be doubly sure it's safe. As for test delaying school opening, that may still be the case. But, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Even delaying the opening of the school by a year or more should be on the table if that's the time needed to thoroughly do the testing. Irvine's got 4 other high school. I'm sure they can find a way to fit these kids in.

 

[Our Gang]

Take a look at what has happened with Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Long term toxic dumping resulted in birth defects. Now having served at Camp Lejeune has the same potential VA disability rating as Agent Orange exposure. No different at El Toro, Tick .... tick .... tick ..... There is a capped toxic dumpsite in view of the new school.