Now with the astonishing results in, where arsenic levels in the water and soil at
astronomical levels, we have challenged ourselves to explain exactly how this deadly
toxin made its way into seemingly-pristine Runkle Canyon.
We did it the old fashioned way; we investigated the facts, facts that have eluded the
City of Simi Valley in its head-long rush to cash in on a development that could
potentially impact the health of hundreds of thousands of people in the Simi and San
Fernando valleys. If only the City put the health of its citizens, and the financial well-
being of Simi Valley free from the fear of potential lawsuits, before its myopic view
that just because Runkle Canyon looks nice, it couldn't possibly be contaminated.
Think about it: Runkle Canyon lies within a mile of Boeing’s massive Santa Susana Field
Laboratory formerly known as Rocketdyne. The lab had a nuclear reactor meltdown in
1959 that released up to hundreds of times the radiation more than the 1979 Three
Mile Island meltdown did. Two other meltdowns and numerous accidents occurred at
Rocketdyne causing so much pollution that it is costing you and me over a quarter of a
billion dollars to clean up!
The Radiation Rangers and StopRunkledyne.com aren't about tree-hugging or saving
frogs -- this is about the fact that Runkle Canyon's soil is radioactive and its
groundwater fouled by chemicals probably from Rocketdyne.
In our analysis, the City of Simi Valley can null and void its previous EIR approval based
on the language of the April 4, 2004 Planning Commission recommendation to certify
the Runkle Canyon Environmental Impact Report. This document is in the Simi Valley
Library.
Under the Development Agreement section called “Default of the Developer,” it states
“If a material warranty, representation or statement was made or furnished by the
Developer to the City with respect to this Agreement which was known to be false in
any material respect when it was made… (then the City can break the agreement and)
… Developer holds the City harmless.”
The City of Simi Valley must break this Development Agreement and save itself from the
avalanche of lawsuits that will land on the City threatening our community's fiscal well
being. It's the right and prudent decision for the health and prosperity of our fair city.
Patricia Coryell
Simi Valley, California
astronomical levels, we have challenged ourselves to explain exactly how this deadly
toxin made its way into seemingly-pristine Runkle Canyon.
We did it the old fashioned way; we investigated the facts, facts that have eluded the
City of Simi Valley in its head-long rush to cash in on a development that could
potentially impact the health of hundreds of thousands of people in the Simi and San
Fernando valleys. If only the City put the health of its citizens, and the financial well-
being of Simi Valley free from the fear of potential lawsuits, before its myopic view
that just because Runkle Canyon looks nice, it couldn't possibly be contaminated.
Think about it: Runkle Canyon lies within a mile of Boeing’s massive Santa Susana Field
Laboratory formerly known as Rocketdyne. The lab had a nuclear reactor meltdown in
1959 that released up to hundreds of times the radiation more than the 1979 Three
Mile Island meltdown did. Two other meltdowns and numerous accidents occurred at
Rocketdyne causing so much pollution that it is costing you and me over a quarter of a
billion dollars to clean up!
The Radiation Rangers and StopRunkledyne.com aren't about tree-hugging or saving
frogs -- this is about the fact that Runkle Canyon's soil is radioactive and its
groundwater fouled by chemicals probably from Rocketdyne.
In our analysis, the City of Simi Valley can null and void its previous EIR approval based
on the language of the April 4, 2004 Planning Commission recommendation to certify
the Runkle Canyon Environmental Impact Report. This document is in the Simi Valley
Library.
Under the Development Agreement section called “Default of the Developer,” it states
“If a material warranty, representation or statement was made or furnished by the
Developer to the City with respect to this Agreement which was known to be false in
any material respect when it was made… (then the City can break the agreement and)
… Developer holds the City harmless.”
The City of Simi Valley must break this Development Agreement and save itself from the
avalanche of lawsuits that will land on the City threatening our community's fiscal well
being. It's the right and prudent decision for the health and prosperity of our fair city.
Patricia Coryell
Simi Valley, California
| "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world -- indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead |
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© Copyright 2006-2011 StopRunkledyne.com
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| Read EnviroReporter.com's analysis of the Runkle Canyon Environmental Impact Report |
Water found in Runkle Canyon on Thanksgiving 2006!
(photo courtesy of EnviroReporter.com)
(photo courtesy of EnviroReporter.com)
| What did we find? Check out "Fearless Frank" Serafine's footage of the goo in Runkle Canyon! |
| Google Earth down to Runkle Canyon's arsenic-laden water! |
Strontium-90 readings in Runkle Canyon average 37 times normal for the area with a
high over 411 times above background. CityBeat and EnviroReporter.com estimated
that over 112 tons of radioactive dust would be launched into the air during
construction which would then fall out over the Simi and San Fernando valleys and
beyond!
Did our government listen? No. Instead, the California Department of Health Services
(CDHS) performed secretive and useless tests to try to discount the threat of
radiation in Runkle Canyon.
Did we give up? No. We hounded the City to stop KB Homes and we thought that
Simi Valley was going to get serious about Runkle Canyon hazards.
high over 411 times above background. CityBeat and EnviroReporter.com estimated
that over 112 tons of radioactive dust would be launched into the air during
construction which would then fall out over the Simi and San Fernando valleys and
beyond!
Did our government listen? No. Instead, the California Department of Health Services
(CDHS) performed secretive and useless tests to try to discount the threat of
radiation in Runkle Canyon.
Did we give up? No. We hounded the City to stop KB Homes and we thought that
Simi Valley was going to get serious about Runkle Canyon hazards.
While the City promised to get real outside help that wasn't corrupted by bad
science, we could see the writing on the wall: our questions for CDHS were answered
with CDHS phony data and bad science.
Then on Thanksgiving Day, 2006, a nasty-looking Runkle Canyon stream came to
the attention of EnviroReporter.com which made us aware of it. Just like the cover
story "Radiation Rangers" shows, we tried repeatedly to get the City of Simi Valley to
come out to take a look at this goo with us and test it.
The City refused and instead foisted a phony KB Homes report on us, which made it
look like they had tested that stream water adequately. In reality, the developer's lab
tested for everything in the sole surface water sample except so-called "Title 22"
metals which are hazardous metals, including arsenic, regulated by California.
Seeing that the developer had only one surface water test performed, a test the City
in its infinite wisdom deemed as adequate, even though it was one sample on nearly
1,600 acres, we still knew different: something was (and is) wrong with the Runkle
Canyon water. So we had it tested ourselves for these hazardous heavy metals.
And we were lucky enough to have reporter Michael Collins, who broke this story in
the first place, analyze the phony CDHS answers that the City was hoping would
placate us so they could get on with this massive development.
But not so fast. We got out there and we professionally sampled and tested the goo!
science, we could see the writing on the wall: our questions for CDHS were answered
with CDHS phony data and bad science.
Then on Thanksgiving Day, 2006, a nasty-looking Runkle Canyon stream came to
the attention of EnviroReporter.com which made us aware of it. Just like the cover
story "Radiation Rangers" shows, we tried repeatedly to get the City of Simi Valley to
come out to take a look at this goo with us and test it.
The City refused and instead foisted a phony KB Homes report on us, which made it
look like they had tested that stream water adequately. In reality, the developer's lab
tested for everything in the sole surface water sample except so-called "Title 22"
metals which are hazardous metals, including arsenic, regulated by California.
Seeing that the developer had only one surface water test performed, a test the City
in its infinite wisdom deemed as adequate, even though it was one sample on nearly
1,600 acres, we still knew different: something was (and is) wrong with the Runkle
Canyon water. So we had it tested ourselves for these hazardous heavy metals.
And we were lucky enough to have reporter Michael Collins, who broke this story in
the first place, analyze the phony CDHS answers that the City was hoping would
placate us so they could get on with this massive development.
But not so fast. We got out there and we professionally sampled and tested the goo!
| "Perchlorate Patty" unravels The Mystery of the Arsenic in Runkle Canyon! |
| Always around Never square We'll be there -Radiation Rangers- |
KB Homes - "Where Trust Is Built"
If you believe that - you better read this!
If you believe that - you better read this!
| See the Runkle Canyon Timeline |
| KB Home build on a bombing range?YES! WATCH ABC-News 20-20 segment! |
These clips in support of SB-990, which we
and the City of Simi Valley support, say it all...
and the City of Simi Valley support, say it all...
| September 11, 2007 -- Boeing fined $471,190 for surface water pollution |
Yet City declares the soil and water clean. City denies water is
drinking source and seems clueless as to details of their own
damning report! Radiation Rangers reach out to State for relief!
Ventura County Reporter tells all in "Spin Cycle"
drinking source and seems clueless as to details of their own
damning report! Radiation Rangers reach out to State for relief!
Ventura County Reporter tells all in "Spin Cycle"
The developer KB Homes wouldn't do it. The City of Simi Valley wouldn't do it. So we
did it! We not only found arsenic, nickel and vanadium, three dangerous 'heavy
metals' regulated by the State of California, we may have figured out how those
toxins got here!
On July 2, 2007, the City went to retest Runkle Canyon and, interestingly, hired the
same lab we did, Pat-Chem Laboratories, to do the sampling. The plan was to "split"
the samples with another lab, chosen and paid for by the City (though we don't know
who it is), and we'll find out the results before the next City Council meeting July 16.
The testing party included Radiation Ranger "The Good Reverend John" Southwick
who helped guide a caravan of vehicles up Runkle Canyon in order to attempt to
sample in the same place we did in May. The group included members of city and
county government and KB Homes. Check out the photos of the July 2 sampling!
I first brought the subject of Rocketdyne and my fears about radiological and
chemical contamination to the Simi Valley City Council, the Mayor, and the City
Manager about three years ago. At that time, I believed their collective surprise. I
should have known better.
Only after Los Angeles CityBeat/ValleyBeat exposed this issue in March, 2005, did
anyone begin to listen to us. What we found out was there was super-high readings
of the leukemia-causing radionuclide Strontium-90 polluting Runkle Canyon.
did it! We not only found arsenic, nickel and vanadium, three dangerous 'heavy
metals' regulated by the State of California, we may have figured out how those
toxins got here!
On July 2, 2007, the City went to retest Runkle Canyon and, interestingly, hired the
same lab we did, Pat-Chem Laboratories, to do the sampling. The plan was to "split"
the samples with another lab, chosen and paid for by the City (though we don't know
who it is), and we'll find out the results before the next City Council meeting July 16.
The testing party included Radiation Ranger "The Good Reverend John" Southwick
who helped guide a caravan of vehicles up Runkle Canyon in order to attempt to
sample in the same place we did in May. The group included members of city and
county government and KB Homes. Check out the photos of the July 2 sampling!
I first brought the subject of Rocketdyne and my fears about radiological and
chemical contamination to the Simi Valley City Council, the Mayor, and the City
Manager about three years ago. At that time, I believed their collective surprise. I
should have known better.
Only after Los Angeles CityBeat/ValleyBeat exposed this issue in March, 2005, did
anyone begin to listen to us. What we found out was there was super-high readings
of the leukemia-causing radionuclide Strontium-90 polluting Runkle Canyon.
| City of Simi Valley lab results worse than Radiation Rangers Runkle Canyon report! |
In the photograph above, the arrow shows that the
entrance to the proposed development is closer
than two miles from the worst meltdown in U.S.
history (even though the actual reactor location
here is a little off).
entrance to the proposed development is closer
than two miles from the worst meltdown in U.S.
history (even though the actual reactor location
here is a little off).
| "Where Science and Morality Meet: Don’t build Runkle Canyon" By "The Good Rev. John" Southwick |
| TOP TEN LIST REASONS NOT TO BUILD IN RUNKLE CANYON |
| Simi Valley City Council Thou Dost Protest Too Much |
Frank Serafine and Terry Matheney attended the November 5, 2007 Simi Valley City Council meeting to ask
when the Runkle Canyon development would be agendized and to question Council Members about
contributions to their campaigns from Runkle Canyon developers. The Council responded with a lengthy and
venomous attack full of distortions, diversions, dirty tactics, ignorance, and downright lies. They seem to
believe that if they repeat their preposterous statements enough times, people will believe them. We think
our community is smarter than that. Still, with so much malarkey going around, we decided to set the record
straight with a list of the City’s most incredulous and demonstratively false statements.
1. The City Council has repeatedly questioned the Rangers’ character and credibility. (Click here
for the recent VC Reporter article that chronicles their hostile attitude.) At the November 5
meeting, they used Frank Serafine’s statement - that 70% of their campaign contributions came
from developers - as evidence that we are dishonest.
FALSE. We are upstanding and honest citizens. That is why it is important for us to say that Frank was
wrong. He was confused by missing data and made a mistake when he spoke at the meeting. Unfortunately,
the City used his mistake to divert attention from the fact that 4 out of 5 of them have accepted money from
Runkle Canyon developers, and Mayor Paul Miller and Council Member Glen Becerra accepted the money
before they voted on the Runkle Canyon development Environmental Impact Report in 2004. Council
Members Barbra Williamson and Steve Sojka have also received Runkle developer campaign contributions.
This is highly unethical. And yet they question our character and credibility?
2. Sojka and other Council Members stated that no one came forward in 2004 when they voted on
the Runkle Canyon development.
FALSE. Patty Coryell was there and spoke against the development – click here to read her remarks.
3. Williamson said that the Rangers did not provide the Council with the results of our tests, and
that the test results that are posted on our website could have been “doctored.”
FALSE. This is patently absurd. The complete report has been posted on this website for months. Does
Williamson really think that PatChem would allow a falsified test of theirs to be posted online? And given her
attitude, why would she trust the report anymore if we had handed it to her in person? This accusation simply
distracts from the fact that the City did their own testing subsequent to ours, and their results were worse!!!
In addition, the City's report is only posted online. Following Williamson’s reasoning, their report could be
falsified as well, which just goes to prove the ridiculousness of her accusation.
4. In Becerra’s longwinded and emphatic tirade, he repeatedly stated that we are creating
“hysteria,” that we are alarmists and use scare tactics.
FALSE. We are trying to protect our community’s health, period. Unfortunately, the information that we have
uncovered about Runkle Canyon’s radioactive and chemical contamination is highly disturbing and backed
by the good science of numerous chemical and radiological reports done by licensed laboratories. Becerra is
using the “if you can’t attack the message, attack the messenger” strategy, which is harmful to the community.
5. Becerra said that we called the Council Members “murderers.”
FALSE. Not one of us ever said such a thing. This exaggeration is baffling to us and significantly
misrepresents who we are and what we have said to the Council.
6. Becerra said that the people who came to the last City Council meeting and advocated against
the Runkle Canyon development live in houses in Malibu overlooking the ocean.
FALSE, or at least a large exaggeration. Of the 12 people who testified at the last City Council meeting, all
stated that they were from Simi or the surrounding area. Such inaccurate statements by the Council have
become routine. Regardless, the Council chose to attack the character of these extremely knowledgeable,
upstanding and civic-minded citizens which is reprehensible.
7. Becerra repeatedly stated that he doesn’t care if the development is built or not. He said the
City would not make money from it, that it actually costs the City money.
FALSE. Development brings in money, plain and simple. However, it is true that possible law suits from
building on Runkle Canyon could be costly to the City.
8. Becerra said that the proposed Runkle development is 2 miles away from Rocketdyne.
FALSE. The property is directly adjacent to it and homes are planned to be a mile away.
9. Becerra said that the Rangers are "dangerous people" who are doing "dangerous" things to
people who live near Runkle Canyon.
FALSE. This is a thinly disguised attempt to turn our neighbors against us. We realize that we live next to
contaminated property. What is dangerous is trying to dig it up for development, and for the City Council to
use such dirty tactics toward its citizens. Consider the source: these people are taking the developer’s
campaign contributions and yet they trash our character. Read the articles on this website if you want to
know about our character. We want Simi Valley safe from any potential environmental disaster.
10. Becerra said that if what we contend is true, that radioactive and chemical contamination in
Runkle Canyon could be coming from highly polluted Rocketdyne above, that it would mean that
the poisons flowing down the canyon’s creek threaten the people who already live here.
TRUE. Both our tests, ours and the City’s this summer, show extraordinarily high amounts of the toxic heavy
metals arsenic, nickel, vanadium, barium, cadmium, and chromium. And yet, even with the threat this water
presents to the pets of people walking in Runkle Canyon, the City has chosen not to make KB Home fence
off the water and post warning signs. That water continues on its way to the Arroyo Simi, the groundwater of
which supplies 20% of our drinking water.
when the Runkle Canyon development would be agendized and to question Council Members about
contributions to their campaigns from Runkle Canyon developers. The Council responded with a lengthy and
venomous attack full of distortions, diversions, dirty tactics, ignorance, and downright lies. They seem to
believe that if they repeat their preposterous statements enough times, people will believe them. We think
our community is smarter than that. Still, with so much malarkey going around, we decided to set the record
straight with a list of the City’s most incredulous and demonstratively false statements.
1. The City Council has repeatedly questioned the Rangers’ character and credibility. (Click here
for the recent VC Reporter article that chronicles their hostile attitude.) At the November 5
meeting, they used Frank Serafine’s statement - that 70% of their campaign contributions came
from developers - as evidence that we are dishonest.
FALSE. We are upstanding and honest citizens. That is why it is important for us to say that Frank was
wrong. He was confused by missing data and made a mistake when he spoke at the meeting. Unfortunately,
the City used his mistake to divert attention from the fact that 4 out of 5 of them have accepted money from
Runkle Canyon developers, and Mayor Paul Miller and Council Member Glen Becerra accepted the money
before they voted on the Runkle Canyon development Environmental Impact Report in 2004. Council
Members Barbra Williamson and Steve Sojka have also received Runkle developer campaign contributions.
This is highly unethical. And yet they question our character and credibility?
2. Sojka and other Council Members stated that no one came forward in 2004 when they voted on
the Runkle Canyon development.
FALSE. Patty Coryell was there and spoke against the development – click here to read her remarks.
3. Williamson said that the Rangers did not provide the Council with the results of our tests, and
that the test results that are posted on our website could have been “doctored.”
FALSE. This is patently absurd. The complete report has been posted on this website for months. Does
Williamson really think that PatChem would allow a falsified test of theirs to be posted online? And given her
attitude, why would she trust the report anymore if we had handed it to her in person? This accusation simply
distracts from the fact that the City did their own testing subsequent to ours, and their results were worse!!!
In addition, the City's report is only posted online. Following Williamson’s reasoning, their report could be
falsified as well, which just goes to prove the ridiculousness of her accusation.
4. In Becerra’s longwinded and emphatic tirade, he repeatedly stated that we are creating
“hysteria,” that we are alarmists and use scare tactics.
FALSE. We are trying to protect our community’s health, period. Unfortunately, the information that we have
uncovered about Runkle Canyon’s radioactive and chemical contamination is highly disturbing and backed
by the good science of numerous chemical and radiological reports done by licensed laboratories. Becerra is
using the “if you can’t attack the message, attack the messenger” strategy, which is harmful to the community.
5. Becerra said that we called the Council Members “murderers.”
FALSE. Not one of us ever said such a thing. This exaggeration is baffling to us and significantly
misrepresents who we are and what we have said to the Council.
6. Becerra said that the people who came to the last City Council meeting and advocated against
the Runkle Canyon development live in houses in Malibu overlooking the ocean.
FALSE, or at least a large exaggeration. Of the 12 people who testified at the last City Council meeting, all
stated that they were from Simi or the surrounding area. Such inaccurate statements by the Council have
become routine. Regardless, the Council chose to attack the character of these extremely knowledgeable,
upstanding and civic-minded citizens which is reprehensible.
7. Becerra repeatedly stated that he doesn’t care if the development is built or not. He said the
City would not make money from it, that it actually costs the City money.
FALSE. Development brings in money, plain and simple. However, it is true that possible law suits from
building on Runkle Canyon could be costly to the City.
8. Becerra said that the proposed Runkle development is 2 miles away from Rocketdyne.
FALSE. The property is directly adjacent to it and homes are planned to be a mile away.
9. Becerra said that the Rangers are "dangerous people" who are doing "dangerous" things to
people who live near Runkle Canyon.
FALSE. This is a thinly disguised attempt to turn our neighbors against us. We realize that we live next to
contaminated property. What is dangerous is trying to dig it up for development, and for the City Council to
use such dirty tactics toward its citizens. Consider the source: these people are taking the developer’s
campaign contributions and yet they trash our character. Read the articles on this website if you want to
know about our character. We want Simi Valley safe from any potential environmental disaster.
10. Becerra said that if what we contend is true, that radioactive and chemical contamination in
Runkle Canyon could be coming from highly polluted Rocketdyne above, that it would mean that
the poisons flowing down the canyon’s creek threaten the people who already live here.
TRUE. Both our tests, ours and the City’s this summer, show extraordinarily high amounts of the toxic heavy
metals arsenic, nickel, vanadium, barium, cadmium, and chromium. And yet, even with the threat this water
presents to the pets of people walking in Runkle Canyon, the City has chosen not to make KB Home fence
off the water and post warning signs. That water continues on its way to the Arroyo Simi, the groundwater of
which supplies 20% of our drinking water.
