• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Nature, Environment, History & Politics

The Valley Citizen

  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About
  • RSS Icon

"Clean up Modesto's toxic waste now," says Bruce Frohman

December 18, 2011 By Eric Caine 2 Comments

Blowing in the Wind?

Former Modesto City Councilman Bruce Frohman didn’t give up leadership when he left the Council. He’s always been a beacon of civic awareness. Here, Frohman sounds an urgent alarm over yet another toxic waste site in Modesto.

Every time a rock is flipped over in Modesto, another toxic waste site is sitting there like a scorpion, ready to inflict pain and suffering.

While serving on the Modesto City Council from 1999 to 2003, I learned as much as I could about toxic waste sites within the city, including location, how large the site, and the remediation. Imagine my shock when I only recently learned that even Cal Trans, an organization known for its high standards for road construction and employee professionalism, had created a 120 thousand cubic yard toxic soil site within the 132 Freeway right-of-way. The site is the second largest toxic soil site in Modesto, located less than 100 feet from residential property.

Placing so much Barium and other toxic materials so close to human dwellings is the pinnacle of irresponsibility.

In 1961, Cal Trans may not have known how toxic the soil was when they dredged the bottom of the FMC chemical pond to build freeway 99. One can understand that they were trying to save money by piling soil for a future 132 freeway. But once they realized that the soil contained Barium and other toxins that can cause severe health problems in humans, one would have expected them to immediately take action to protect the surrounding community.

When one looks at all the money and effort expended by FMC to remediate its toxic waste site, the chain link fence at the 132 site doesn’t look like much protection. Officially, Cal Trans maintains that there is no present danger to the public from the soils in the right of way. But talk to someone off the record and you may hear cryptic comments like, “I wouldn’t want any children to play in the soil,” and “The soil is not safe to move from its present location.” Thinking about the recent wind storm, how could toxic soil not have been blown into the surrounding area?

Cal Trans says it will put a concrete cap on the site when it builds the 132 freeway. If they know a concrete cap will be needed, what are they waiting for? Do they think that the present mounds of dirt are impervious to wind and rain?

While on the City Council, I learned how toxic waste harms the human body. For example, putting Flouride in drinking water is a bad idea. While the substance inhibits tooth decay, it is a toxic compound that accumulates in the body until it causes multiple adverse health effects. The toxic soil in the 132 right of way contains chemicals much more dangerous than flouride.

Am I making a mountain out of a toxic molehill? This is your community. What is your tolerance for unnecessary risk? I don’t take risks with the health and well-being of my fellow citizens.

As an emergency expediency, the money in the freeway construction fund should be used now to cap the 132 toxic soil site in concrete. With any remaining money, do a comprehensive study and clean up of pollution to the land and groundwater surrounding the site. We have waited 50 years for this freeway. We can wait a little longer in the name of public health.

Movies like “Erin Brocovich” have highlighted the fact that polluters have historically mishandled and underestimated the effects on humans of dangerous materials. Just because the site has existed for 40 years does not mitigate the fact that a clean up must be started now.

Filed Under: Environment

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ron Swift says

    January 13, 2012 at 10:54 pm

    Here’s a bit more info on toxic waste cleanup. Back around 1980 (give or take a year or two), county government wanted to establish a toxic waste dump in the hills northwest of Westley on property owned by Ed Filbin (remember the infamous tire fire of 1993? Same property). It primarily was to get rid of FMC waste which contained barium. A huge pit of many acres was to be lined with clay, supposed preventing groundwater contamination.
    Ed was all for the idea. So were county officials. But Modesto engineer and West Side farmer Robert Welty wasn’t, as he had ag land below the site. He almost single-handedly fought the issue.
    The state’s water agency held a hearing — in Redding!!! — and I remember attending. I don’t recall the action taken late that day after about a 5-minute discussion, but eventually the idea was dropped and apparently Modesto ended up keeping the contaminant that Bruce is now calling to our attention.

    Reply
  2. building company stratford says

    August 20, 2012 at 11:48 pm

    Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post!
    It’s the little changes which will make the biggest changes. Many thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Sunday said she views the midterm elections…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
Don Cameron went all in on a trickle-down survival tactic. It could help save America’s agricultural heartland—even if he doesn’t survive the new water war.
www.wired.com
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
This article first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A South Texan?s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
A South Texan’s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
When she began her year-long bird-spotting adventure, Tiffany Kersten was lost and lonely. She ended up achieving a major milestone and finding her way.
www.texasmonthly.com
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
A top aide said the Wisconsin Republican senator wanted to give Pence the list of pro-Trump electors as he prepared to certify the 2020 election.
www.politico.com
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
“I think it would have helped our party heal, given [people] more facts.”
www.axios.com
'Not safe anymore': Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
‘Not safe anymore’: Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
Homeless encampments now spill well beyond Portland’s downtown core, dividing a city that has invested liberally in support services.
www.latimes.com
Republicans Will Do It Again
Republicans Will Do It Again
They have not been chastened by the revelations of the January 6 committee.
nymag.com
Birdman
Birdman
Bird Brother: A Falconer’s Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife
www.earthisland.org
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Martins were bit players in politics, until they put Doug Mastriano one step away from becoming Pennsylvania’s next governor.
nymag.com
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Prominent Christian leaders accuse Trump allies of spreading misinformation about election and Covid, while distorting Christian teachings at ReAwaken America events
www.theguardian.com
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears 'moment of reckoning'
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears ‘moment of reckoning’
As the Colorado River water shortage worsens, major cutbacks are needed to reduce most perilous risks, a federal official tells senators.
www.latimes.com
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Supporters who thought they were donating to “election integrity” instead saw some of their money funneled to Trump hotels
www.rollingstone.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design