Boeing Lies in statement to Acorn Newspaper

This is yet another example of Boeing knowingly lying to our community. This is intentional. They assume our community can’t see past their schemes.

Boeing’s Lie #1

Boeing’s statement in the December 9th Thousand Oaks Article, Film Brings Fresh Eyes to Field Lab Cleanup Struggle said, "Health concerns raised by community members have been extensively studied and investigated, including experts of the community's choosing... studies have not shown the SSFL has had any measurable effect on off-site cancer rates..."

FACT #1:

Boeing continues to ignore the findings of the independent, federally-funded epidemiological study by Dr. Hal Morgenstern found a 60% Higher Cancer Incidence in the Community Surrounding the Santa Susana Field Lab (formerly Rocketdyne Facility) in Southern California.

In 2007 Community advocates demanded an independent study to be funded by ATSDR (Agency for toxic substances diseases registry) a federal government agency. Dr Morgenstern of University of Michigan, led the independent study, Cancer Incidence in the Community Surrounding the Rocketdyne Facility in Southern California, which found a 60% higher cancer incidence rate of 9 selected radio-sensitive and chemical-sensitive cancers, in residents living within 2 miles of the SSFL, compared to 5 miles.

Boeing misquoted Dr. Morgenstern's study to the point that Dr. Morgenstern wrote a letter to (then) Senator Simitian to clarify, "...Furthermore, Boeing’s quotes from our report were taken out of context, and they failed to report our specific findings that contradicted their claim...we found that the incidence rate was more than 60% greater among residents living within 2 miles of SSFL…." 

The “community” Boeing is talking about, in their quote to the Acorn, isn’t representative of the entire community. They’re talking about the CAG (Community Advisory Group), a handful of people who are against the complete cleanup. The CAG has received a $10k grant from the Department of Energy for “educating” the community about the SSFL according to DOE’s agenda, they have spread misinformation about the cleanup, and many of the members have, or do, work for Boeing, NASA or the Department of Energy.

Dr. Mack of USC made a powerpoint presentation, at the CAG’s request, and found no links between the SSFL and off-site cancers. The original document has been removed from the DTSC website. I’ve written to request a copy of it and will post it when it’s available.

Another time a community member asked Dr. Mack to make a statement about the pediatric cancers surrounding the SSFL. “Dr Mack summarized his … recent study of childhood cancer … and we have been unable to find evidence of local childhood cancers caused by SSFL.”

Denise Duffleild (associate director of PSR-LA) has asked Dr. Mack multiple times for a copy of the study that he used to make his claims, in addition to information about the funding source of the study, and if there were any co-authors. This is very standard information in any legitimate study. Dr. Mack refused to make the study public, or share any information about it. Based on this, we assume Dr. Mack did not conduct a study, but has been quoted extensively by Boeing, the DTSC and the CAG as an expert who did not find any links between SSFL contamination and off-site cancers.

Boeing Lie #2: 

Boeing said in the Acorn article, “These studies have not shown... that the surrounding communities are being exposed to hazardous levels of contaminants from the SSFL.”

Fact #2:

In 2012 the EPA SSFL Radiological Characterization of Soils study showed that the surface runoff water from the SSFL reaches local communities, the LA River, and the Pacific ocean. After the Woolsey Fire, Boeing was cited 57 times for contaminating the LA River with SSFL contaminants such as lead, arsenic, cyanide, and radioactive material. Clearly residents can be exposed to toxic and radioactive contamination from the SSFL, contrary to Boeing’s claims.

In 2012 the EPA “SSFL Radiological Characterization of Soils” study showed that the surface runoff water from the SSFL reaches local communities, the LA River, and the Pacific ocean.

  • Surface water drainage in the northern portion of Area IV [where radioactive work was done] flows north into Meier Canyon, which is a tributary to the Arroyo Simi, flowing westward and terminating in the Pacific Ocean. (page 115)

  • Drainage of the majority of the [SSFL] Area IV flows to the southeast into the Bell Creek drainage system… Bell Creek is the headwater and tributary of the Los Angeles River, which flows south and eastward terminating in the Pacific Ocean. (page 115)

  • Water sampling program determined… surface water does flow to [Runkle Canyon]. (page 115)

The 2006 UCLA Study “Potential Offsite Exposures Associated with the SSFL” found:

  • Groundwater monitoring studies have revealed significant groundwater contamination at the SSFL site, above health-based standards and regulatory levels… There is also concern that chemicals and radionuclides have migrated away from SSFL via both groundwater and surface water pathways.

  • Groundwater elevations at the SSFL site are significantly higher than elevations at Simi and San Fernando Valleys, with groundwater emerging from a number of springs and seeps in the canyons leading from the site into the valleys. (page 66)

  • Two drainage channels at the SSFL join to form the headwaters of Bell Creek. Chemical contamination in the Bell Creek Headwaters has been reported above EPA health-based standards. (page 66)

  • Exposure to groundwater can take place if groundwater is used for irrigation of edible crops, or as a source of drinking water for people or livestock. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the locations of groundwater wells and groundwater use around SSFL. (page 74)

  • In various offsite locations, groundwater contaminants have been detected at levels above health based standards (see Table 4-1 and Figure 4-3). The detection of contaminants associated with SSFL off site, within 1 to 2 miles, suggests that—if these contaminants have originated from SSFL—migration pathways must exist. These pathways include surface water runoff (controlled and natural) in the northwest and south, as well as migration via groundwater in the northeast and northwest. Migration via surface water away from the site is associated primarily with man made channels, although natural surface flow can also take place during periods of heavy rainfall. (page 70)

Los Angeles Waterboard has fined Boeing multiple times, over decades, for SSFL contamination polluting the Los Angeles River

  • 2019: The Boeing Company report the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, the last quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019.

    • Lead was measured at 17 times the state safety limit one December day in water leaving the site toward Bell Canyon, those Boeing records show. More water containing lead, at 10 times the limit, was detected leaving the site toward Dayton Canyon.

    • Additional exceedances above EPA levels included arsenic, cyanide, dioxins, copper, iron, manganese, nickel and a form of radiation called gross alpha.

  • 2010: The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and Boeing reached an agreement that requires the company to pay $500,000 for chronic violations of the stormwater permit.

  • 2007: Boeing Co. has paid more than $471,000 for allowing excessive levels of lead, mercury and other toxins to flow from the nuclear and rocket-engine test site into surrounding canyons as well as the Arroyo Simi and Bell Creek, a tributary of the Los Angeles River.

  • 2006: Water Board issued 0 notices of violation for strontium-90 exceedances of Boeing’s pollution permit limits. Strontium-90 was reported at 8.44 pCi/L on October 18, 2005, sample from Outfall 003.

  • 2004-2006: The state directed the Los Angeles board to fine Boeing $471,190 for 79 water-quality violations over 15 months, for higher-than-allowed levels of chromium, dioxin, lead, mercury, radioactive strontium 90 and other contaminants. The proposed fine covers 79 violations from October 2004 through January 2006.

  • 2002: In a separate case, Boeing paid the L.A. regional water board $39,000 in fines for surface water pollution in 2002.

The independent, peer-reviewed 2021 soil and ash study, directly after the Woolsey Fire directly linked the SSFL to offsite contamination.

  • The most radioactive sample was found nine miles away from the Santa Susana Field Lab, in Thousand Oaks. The sample was 19 times more radioactive than normal levels. Radioactive samples were also collected from Simi Valley, West Hills and near Oak Park and Agoura Hills.

  • The results of the study determined that 1 out of every 30 samples, or three percent, contained radioactive particles that were chemically identified as originating from the Santa Susana Field Lab.

  • The purpose of sampling is to apply the found percentage to the total un-sampled area. For example, 730,000 people live within ten miles of SSFL. Three percent of 730,000 means that potentially 22,000 people may have been exposed to  radioactive smoke and ash during the Woolsey Fire. 

  • Because the limits of the study were set for radioactive contamination, we don’t know what type or amount of chemical contamination was released into the community during the Woolsey Fire. Since radioactive contamination from the SSFL reached the community during the fire, it’s reasonable to assume that chemical contamination was also released.