Dispute over MTBE plume at Hamilton

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California
MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL
Dispute over MTBE plume at Hamilton
By Jennifer Gollan, IJ reporter
January 5, 2003

Novato officials say a toxic underground plume at a former Navy gas
station at Hamilton Field migrated this year to within 100 feet of the
Novato Charter School and the North Bay Children's Center.

But a top Navy official, in a statement to the Independent Journal,
denied the plume is moving in that direction and insisted the property
is safe.

Novato City Manager Rod Wood said while the suspected carcinogen MTBE,
or methyl tertiary butyl ether, "is on the edge of the school property
we are not aware of any risk to the kids or to the school."

Nevertheless, the city has stalled on an agreement to buy the property from the
Navy, and is trying to block the Navy from putting the land up for public
auction because of possible risks associated with the plume.

The Navy is emphatic that the former Navy gas station at the corner of
Main Gate Road and C Street is safe enough to be put up for sale, and
stands by an earlier report that says the plume is traveling in a
direction away from the school and child care center.

State regulatory officials, who declared the area safe for the opening
of the charter school in September 2001, also dispute the city's
contention regarding the plume.

"The shape of the plume is changing, but the whole plume is not moving,"
said Wil Bruhns, senior engineer for the California Regional Water
Quality Control.

Officials of the charter school as well as the day care program said
they had not been informed by city officials that the MTBE was nearing
their properties. They also said there is no danger to their children.

"The detection of movement of a plume eastward off the property could be
a concern," Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, said in a prepared statement.
"The Navy needs to continue monitoring this plume and it should take
necessary actions to prevent future problems."

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,1413,234~24407~1870581,00.html

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