The Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL), formerly known as Rocketdyne, was a Cold War-era testing facility located in the hills outside of Los Angeles. The SSFL was used for rocket engine tests for “America’s Race to Space,” beginning in 1949, and for experimental, top-secret nuclear work that began in 1953. The site was also used for rocket fuel, liquid metals, and chemical laser research.

The site’s cleanup deadline of 2017 has come and passed without remediation and the SSFL remains one of California’s most toxic sites. Dangerous chemicals, toxic metals, and radionuclides continue to migrate into local communities through the wind, rain, and during wildfire events.

The Boeing Company, which owns the majority of the site doesn’t want to pay for a complete cleanup and has entered a “Settlement Agreement” with the Department of Toxic Substances Control to leave up to 94% of the site contaminated permanently. NASA and the Department of Energy, who are also responsible for the cleanup of portions of the site, will leave up to 63% of their portion contaminated…unless residents fight back for a safe, smart, and complete cleanup of the site near their homes.