CLEANUP EFFORTS MIGHT BE DELAYED TWO MORE YEARS.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The cleanup of the defunct Bermite munitions factory might not begin for two more years, much later than Santa Clarita leaders would like, according to the latest schedule released by state officials.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control, which is overseeing the cleanup effort, contends that it would be impossible to start the cleanup of the 996-acre site in the center of the city any sooner because of the time it takes to develop, review and approve the remediation plans.

``This is the most efficient way to conduct the cleanup,'' said Sara Amir, the chief of the Southern California Cleanup Operations branch of the DTSC. ``This way works better.''

However, Santa Clarita officials want the DTSC to start working immediately in order to stem the pollution of the groundwater beneath the site, which has shut down five municipal wells.

``The schedule is troubling,'' said Jeff Lambert, the city's planning director. ``We want things to go fast, and we want it done right.''

DTSC officials have demanded that Whittaker Corp., the former owner of the munitions factory, complete an action plan for each section of the property - a task that is expected to take several years because of the environmental study the plans require by state law, Amir said.

In the meantime, the groundwater pollution may spread and contaminate more wells, further threatening the water supply of the Santa Clarita Valley, city officials said.

Whittaker, which closed the factory in 1987, began studying the pollution on the site and developing plans to clean it up six months ago after the DTSC threatened to take it to court.

The hilly property, near the Santa Clarita Metrolink Station on Soledad Canyon Road, is littered with unexploded ordnance waste and dozens of toxic chemicals left over from decades of munitions testing and manufacturing by several companies, including Whittaker, for the military.

While compiling the action plans, Whittaker will conduct treatability studies and pilot programs on the most polluted areas of the property to determine the best methods for their remediation, Amir said.

Cleaning up the hot spots immediately would not be effective because of the voluminous environmental documents that would have to be prepared and reviewed by the public for each cleanup project, Amir said.

``The interim measures would take a lot of resources,'' Amir said. ``It would not be efficient.''

DTSC officials also cast doubt on Cherokee Investment Partners' claim that the cleanup can be completed in as little as three or four years. The North Carolina firm is deciding whether to purchase and redevelop the property.

``That time frame is not reasonable,'' Amir said.

However, officials with Cherokee said they remain confident that, with the cooperation of the DTSC, they can meet the time line they have presented to Santa Clarita leaders.

``Certainly, the bureaucracy could complicate matters,'' said Dwight Stenseth, Cherokee's managing director. ``We want to get out there the day after closing and take care of the hot spots.''

Cherokee is expected to finalize its purchase of the former factory near the Santa Clarita Metrolink Station on Soledad Canyon Road by the beginning of July, after coming to terms with the property owner and the lien holders, Stenseth said.

Once the purchase is final, the company will begin working in earnest with the DTSC to lay out a schedule and remediation plan, Stenseth said.

City officials are also dismayed that Whittaker has been required by the DTSC to survey the community, meet with local officials and compile demographic information about the area around the polluted site as part of a public participation plan.

The money it will cost to develop that plan would be better spent on cleanup efforts, officials said.

``We don't need another survey or another study,'' said Councilwoman Laurene Weste. ``We know what the community wants, and it wants this property cleaned up as soon as possible.''

The public participation plan is required by law and is a crucial part of the process, Amir said.

``We want to involve as much of the community as possible,'' Amir said.