CLWA READY WITH BERMITE LAWSUIT.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The Castaic Lake Water Agency has ignored requests to meet with the developers of the contaminated Bermite property, opting instead to sue to rush a groundwater cleanup, a company official said Tuesday.

Robert Sagehorn, general manager of the CLWA, said the lawsuit is ready to be filed, but officials would meet with representatives from Remediation Financial Inc. to consider an out-of-court settlement.

At issue is the perchlorate contamination that has forced the CLWA's retail division to cap two wells that tapped the huge underground pool of water known as the Saugus Aquifer.

Samples taken from those wells showed levels of perchlorates - a rocket fuel byproduct linked to thyroid disease - surpassed new state health standards.

Two other retailers, the Valencia Water Co. and the Newhall County Water District, each have capped a well in the aquifer to avoid drawing contaminated water.

Phoenix, Ariz.-based RFI bought the Bermite property, a former munitions plant, with the intent of building a housing development to be called Porta Bella. But first the company must clean up soil and groundwater contamination that the state Department of Toxic Substances Control has traced to Bermite.

RFI hopes to quickly settle the dispute, but the CLWA has ignored the company's efforts to meet, spokeswoman Julie Buckner said.

``We are puzzled and disappointed by CLWA's stated intention to initiate litigation,'' according to a statement issued Tuesday by Santa Clarita LLC, the RFI arm managing Bermite developments. ``Mr. Sagehorn told the media as recently as a week ago that litigation could be avoided if an agreement could be achieved. However, our attempts to initiate such dialogue have been met with no response by CLWA.''

RFI attorney Gregory R. McClintock wrote CLWA attorney Robert Clark on May 17 and June 22 requesting meetings. The first was ignored; the second is pending, according to the statement.

The water suppliers maintain that RFI should begin immediately to ensure a safe supply of drinking water to supplement the imported state water managed by the CLWA.

Supporters for major developments planned in the Santa Clarita Valley have pointed to the tainted aquifer as a reliable water supply.

``We have an adequate supply of water, but these wells that have been shut down are extremely instrumental in our drought planning,'' Sagehorn said. ``This has become a matter of considerable concern. They've identified the groundwater problem as the last phase of the cleanup. It should be Phase No. 1.''

The water officials say they have talked with RFI over the past 2 1/2 years, with little progress. They want RFI to draft a cleanup plan for review by the state.