Escondido Neighbors United – Community Update: July 2014

1. Cleanup
   of Chatham Brothers Barrel Yard, a
   State Superfund site that has contaminated the groundwater under Felicita Park
   and in Felicita Creek with industrial wastes.
2. Clean
   up contamination, protect habitat and open space, and reduce development
   impacts from the proposed Homeland/OakCreek gated housing development.
3. Improve
   public outreach and community
   involvement actions on the part of the Escondido City Council and San Diego
   County.
4. Promote
   and expand Felicita Park and stop pollution in Felicita Creek.
5. Oppose
   City annexations if they negatively impact current county residents, water
   quality, or the environment, including Oak Creek and Safari Highlands Ranch.

1. Chatham Barrel Yard—  ENU has formally
   requested that the Five Year Remedy Review not be finalized or approved until a
   community meeting is held and additional actions required to remediate
   pollution in groundwater and in Felicita Creek. We are hoping there will be a community
   meeting in late July or August at Felicita Park. We will keep you posted.
2. Homeland/Oak Creek Development—  The City of Escondido is developing a draft
   Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the 65-home development on the Homeland
   site. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has directed a
   site assessment be completed to determine what contamination is on the site and
   whether or not it needs to be remediated. 
   There is pollution present from the groundwater plumes from the Chatham
   Barrel Yard and from previous decades of agricultural activity. ENU
   has requested the EIR be postponed until the DTSC has completed its review and
   determination.
3. Improve Public Participation.  ENU has written a letter to the City
   making recommendations for improving outreach and public involvement in City
   decisions.

How
can you learn more?    Review
the linked documents:

1. Letter
   from the State Water Quality Board supporting our request for a community
   meeting about the Chatham Barrel Yard Waste Site. [link]
2. Letter
   from Delano and Delano, ENU’s legal
   representative requesting that the Oak Creek EIR process be postponed until
   health regulators have completed their assessment of contamination on the Oak
   Creek residential development site. [link]
3. Take
   a look at the following data bases related to contamination in the area.
   1. Department
      of Toxic Substances Control records related to Chatham
      http://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report.asp?global_id=37490029
      
   2. Regional
      Water Quality Control Board records related to Chatham
      http://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/profile_report.asp?global_id=SL209094184

1. Contact the Escondido Mayor and City
   Council and let them know you support delay of the Oak Creek
   Environmental Impact Report until all information is available for review by
   the public.  Let them know you do not
   want the City to annex contaminated land. 
   Call (760) 839-4880 or email:

    2. Sign our petition and ask your
neighbors to sign it.  
Help us connect with residents who share our goals and mission. [link]
Return the signed petitions to info@escondidoneighbors.org

    3. Stay in touch. Let
us know what you think and how you would like to help.  Please email info@escondidoneighbors.org.   

1. Help Improve Water Quality in the San Dieguito River Watershed
   Thursday, July 24th. 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
   City of Poway Council Chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive, Poway, CA 92064
   Let the City and County know that you support a strong Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) that will improve water quality and require action to clean up the Chatham contamination in Felicita Creek.
2. Join the blog Escondido 2014. A daily blog that will give you helpful information about what is happening in our city. Sign up at http://escondido2014.com/
3. Read Escondido Alliance/Allianza Escondido. A new monthly newspaper that is free and discusses many Escondido issues. http://www.escondidoalliance.com/

Visit Our website: www.escondidoneighbors.org