Boeing’s $1M Donation

Boeing recently donated one million dollars to a wildlife corridor overpass near Los Angeles in February, 2022.

But Boeing didn’t do it because they love nature. In a classic greenwashing move, Boeing donated $1M to “protect” the same wildlife that they’re currently poisoning with heavy metals, toxic chemicals and radioactive contamination…

Los Angeles Water Board

Product defense firms: Expert Panel

In his book, The Triumph of Doubt, author David Michaels writes about product defense firms.

“Much of [product defense firms] work involved the production of scientific materials that purport to show that a product a corporation makes, or uses, or even discharges as air or water pollution, is just not very dangerous…these operations have toxicologists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians… deflating the benefits of proposed regulation.”

Boeing’s interactions with the Los Angeles Water Board reads like a chapter out of a product defense firm handbook. In 2019, after the Woolsey Fire, Boeing provided the salaries for five “independent” scientists for the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board after the Woolsey Fire.

Photo from the documentary, “In the Dark of the Valley,” from the 2019 Los Angeles Water Board hearing.

It was not surprising that the Expert Panel found no links between Boeing’s contamination that polluted the Los Angeles River and the Arroyo Simi and the SSFL. Instead, they blamed the record-high levels of radioactive and toxic chemical contamination on burned telephones and asphalt. Boeing’s fines, resulting from “exceedances” that included measurements of lead in rain runoff 14x above the legal limit, were reduced from $154,250 to just $28,000.

Boeing Awards Themselves

The Wildlife Habitat Council is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. For a fee you can become a member which allows companies to also be certified. Certified for what, you ask? It doesn’t matter to these companies. As long as the certification says “Wildlife Habitat Council” on it, it looks good for them. Past winners also include ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Bayer, AstraZeneca, and Monsanto. Boeing won three awards for the Santa Susana Field Lab but the website has no details of the projects.

Boeing’s Enviornmentalist swag

Boeing hasn’t made the Santa Susana Field Lab into a park yet, but they’re ready! They don’t mention anywhere on the pocket guides that their proposed “recreational” cleanup standard would require you to be on the site for less than two hours at a time, only a few times a month. Otherwise you would be exposed to radiation above the EPA maximum limit- though the World Health Organization argues there is no safe exposure to radiation.

Boeing’s PR Campaign

Boeing knew it would need a major PR Media Campaign if they wanted to get out of the cleanup. After all, a PR strategy is much cheaper than the cost of a 100% cleanup. They hired Robert E. Douglass, and he was so proud of his work that he posted it online. It was never intended to reach the public, as it shows their well-planned methods of deception, and it was removed immediately.

You can read the draft of the PR report or scroll through the highlights below. The overall concept: greenwash the cleanup so they can leave most/all of the radioactive and carcinogenic waste onsite and come out looking like environmentalists because of it. It would be a win-win for them and a lose-lose for our community.

Read the Article: “Greenwashing” Rocketdyne

Boeing’s Conservation Easement

Read the Reuter’s article that focuses on Boeing’s Conservation Easement.

In 2017 Boeing donated their portion of the SSFL (2,400 acres) to a Conservation Easement in favor of North American Land Trust (NALT). Boeing claims this will “preserve and protect” the land and wildlife. The easement will prohibit residential or agricultural development at the property. Development of learning centers, cultural centers and recreational buildings are permitted. It is unclear if this would allow a casino on the property.

The Conservation Easement may provide Boeing with valuable tax benefits because they can claim the value of the easement as a tax-deductible charitable donation. It may also lower their state income tax, depending on California state laws.

Boeing’s Earth Day Hikes

Once a year, on Earth Day, Boeing opens up the field lab to unsuspecting hikers for a “nature walk” through one of the most contaminated sites in America. Visitors must first sign waivers saying they will not hold Boeing responsible for any health issues that they, or their offspring, might get from their time on the site. Rocketdyne Cleanup Coalition protested these hikes, Parents Against SSFL continues to warn the public of the risks the hikes pose.

Beware the extreme ENVIRONMENTAL conditions

Boeing’s safety brochure, sent to participants prior to a tour of the site

Boeing’s safety brochure, sent to participants before a tour of the site, has a whole page of potential dangers including wildlife encounters, lightening, and sun exposure… but not a single word about the radioactive or toxic contamination onsite. That should have been Boeing’s most urgent safety concern for visitors to the site, but that would harm their PR story.

Boeing’s "Protect Santa Susana" Website

Boeing doesn’t mind paying graphic designers, photographers and programmers to create an entire website dedicated to their lies and propaganda. It’s cheaper than paying for the complete cleanup they agreed to in 2007 with the Department of Toxic Substances Control. You’ll notice that they make outrageous claims about the progress of the cleanup and that residents are not at risk.

By following their link to their Cleanup of the Santa Susana: A Comprehensive Cleanup they link to the $40 million dollar EPA radiation study. “In 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency completed an extensive radiation survey and found that low levels of residual contamination from past nuclear energy research affects approximately 40 acres of this portion of the site. The results demonstrate that previous remediation efforts have been effective in eliminating the majority of legacy contamination.”

You'll notice they don't mention that according to Boeing’s own 2015 study parts of their property are so contaminated that 96 out of 100 people would get cancer if they lived there and ate the produce they grew there.

Boeing’s Commercial about the SSFL

The original video can be viewed at www.protectsantasusana.com

Boeing Lies in Acorn Article

Boeing’s statement in the December 9th Thousand Oaks Article, Film Brings Fresh Eyes to Field Lab Cleanup Struggle lied.

BOEING’S LIE #1

"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.

Boeing FLirts with DTSC

NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit catches DTSC Director Debbie Raphael meeting with Boeing lobbyist Peter Weiner

Consumer Watchdog found this flirtatious email between the DTSC Director and a Boeing Lobbyist as a result of a public information act request.

It’s never good for the public when regulating agencies and polluters get cozy. Boeing knows this. It’s no mistake that Boeing lobbyist Peter Weiner was flirting with DTSC director Debbie Raphael in 2013. It was a great way to influence the DTSC Director about the Santa Susana Field Lab, which appears to be exactly what Boeing Lobbyist Peter Weiner did.

In response to the NBC and Consumer Watchdog reports, four state senators, including Senator Kevin DeLeon (D-Los Angeles), called for a senate investigation into DTSC. DTSC Director Raphael resigned soon after.

A photo from Director Raphael’s Senate confirmation hearing, next to Boeing Lobbyist Peter Weiner