Paint Dumping Raises Concerns |
Just a few blocks northeast of Courtland Creek, someone at a home on Brookdale Ave. in Maxwell Park dug two huge holes in the backyard and, according to reports, buried more than 100 gallons of paint and chemicals. Neighbors at the Creek cleanup a week or so after the dumping was discovered were wondering how anyone could be so environmentally unaware. Or, they said, perhaps the offender was just trying to avoid a hazardous waste disposal fee. Laurie Umeh is a member of the Melrose High Hopes NCPC Beat 27X. She organizes the volunteer creek cleanups on Earth Day and on Coast to Bay Day. She is a close neighbor to the dumpsite. She was concerned about the effect of the dumping of these toxins on creek health because the Brookdale dumpsite is in the Courtland Creek watershed. "What drains into the ground water at this address eventually drains into Courtland Creek. It is directly down the hill." Umeh said. "We have to find out what impact the dumping has, not only on the neighborhood, but on Courtland Creek and the watershed, and how quickly the city will act to clean it up." Umeh has a right to be concerned. She was part of the working group of volunteers who were responsible for restoring part of the creek. After several years of planning and hard labor, it was in 1997 that a celebration opened what is now Courtland Creek Park. Natalia Nicoloff, Adelle Foley, Chris Ralls, Rochelle Rodgers, just a few of those who helped create the park, were part of the crew working on Earth Day and justifiably anxious about the impact of the dumping. |
 Barrel drums (top) and empty five-gallon paint buckets (bottom) at the dumpsite. Photo by Sheila D’Amico. |
Michael Johnson, policy analyst for Jean Quan's office, said that, once notified, the person responsible thought she would be able to come in and just clean it up. But this mess was going to take more to clean up than that. Johnson said Leroy Griffin, Assistant Fire Marshal, was on the job. When the Metro visited the site, large barrel drums and two dozen or so five-gallon paint buckets were among the debris sitting around two holes in the yard that now did not contain any visible paint.' Griffin said the first task was to reduce the potential for contamination. That called for the immediate removal of the paint and cleanup of the site. Although liquid paint is removed, colorless solvents and other chemicals may still be present. The property owner is required to hire a geologist to do the next task, an assessment at the fence lines. Once data is back, the city will know whether any of what Griffin called "chemicals of concern" remain. It still is unclear just what fines will be assessed or what charges brought against the person responsible for the dumping. If you spot anyone dumping hazardous materials, call the emergency number 911 or, from cellphones, 777-3211. This hazardous waste mess was first reported by an alert neighbor. The progress of the response is still being reported on by members of the Maxwell Park list serv. If you have household hazardous materials to dispose of, go to stopwaste.org to find out how to dispose of it correctly. Or call stopwaste.org at 891-6500. |
