BERMITE CLEANUP NEARER BANKRUPTCY JUDGE TO PICK SITE DEVELOPER.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA - City officials are awaiting a May 4 decision by a bankruptcy court bankruptcy court n. the specialized Federal court in which bankruptcy matters under the Federal Bankruptcy Act are conducted. There are several bankruptcy courts in each state, and each one's territory covers several counties. judge to determine which of several bidders will clean up and develop the contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. Whittaker-Bermite property. At the monthly Citizens Advisory Group meeting Wednesday, city senior planner Jeff Hogan said officials hosted a meeting last month with several development companies, including Irvine-based SunCal Co. SunCal is presently planning a 3,900-home development in Northlake. Santa Clarita officials have said the city's best chance of quickly cleaning up Bermite and the water supply would be if a developer specializing in contaminated properties would acquire it to build a mix of homes and commercial developments. Developers have until April 20 to submit bids to an Arizona bankruptcy court. ``The city anticipates the opportunity to review those bids,'' Hogan said. ``On May 4, the bankruptcy court will determine who is best suitable for the project.'' Late last year, Lewis-Soledad Canyon LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control filed a motion of interest in an Arizona bankruptcy court to make way for the possible purchase from three shareholders of the 996 acres. The Lewis Group, considered one of the nation's largest privately held real estate development groups, focuses on developing mixed-use planned communities and residential subdivisions in California and Nevada, as well as building multifamily communities, shopping centers, office parks and industrial space, according to its Web site. For nearly 50 years, the 996 acres off Soledad Canyon Road was used by defense contractors to build and test dynamite, Sidewinder sidewinder, common name for a rattlesnake, Crotalus cerastes, found in the deserts of the SW United States. This 2-ft (60-cm), pale yellow and pink snake is named for its curious method of locomotion. missiles and small rockets used during World War II, the Korean War Korean War, conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. , the Vietnam War Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. and the Cold War. Manufacturing operations at Whittaker-Bermite concluded in 1987, but the site is contaminated with various chemical compounds, including perchlorate perchlorate: see chlorate. and heavy metals heavy metals, n.pl metallic compounds, such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel. Exposure to these metals has been linked to immune, kidney, and neurotic disorders. , solvents and possibly remnants of fired munitions mu·ni·tion n. War materiel, especially weapons and ammunition. Often used in the plural. tr.v. mu·ni·tioned, mu·ni·tion·ing, mu·ni·tions To supply with munitions. , which have migrated into the valley's groundwater system. The Castaic Lake Water Agency, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since 2002, is working to design a process to purify the contaminated areas. The capital cost is $4 million, agency officials estimate, and an additional $1 million annually for the cleanup. But federal funding has been cut. Cherokee Investment Partners, a North Carolina-based firm that specializes in such projects, has been interested in the property for more than two years. But Cherokee's bid for the land has stalled because of the $65 million worth of liens on the property. Meanwhile, testing at the site has continued by the Army Corps of Engineers at a reasonable pace, officials said. ``I think progress is being made and I think that is good news,'' said Connie Warden-Roberts, chairwoman of the citizens group. Susan Abram, (661) 257-5255 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com |
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