CORPS WEIGHS CLEANUP ORDER DEBRIS DUMPING SOILED LAKES.Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer The Army Corps of Engineers has not decided whether to comply with an order giving it four months to remove all the concrete, rebar re·bar n. 1. A rod or bar used for reinforcement in concrete or asphalt pourings. 2. A group of such rods forming a grid. [re(inforcing) bar.] and other debris it dumped in the two Hansen Dam Hansen Dam in Los Angeles County, California was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District in 1939 and 1940. The project is located near the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley on Tujunga Wash, about one mile below the confluence of the Big Tujunga Wash lakes last year, officials said Tuesday. Water regulators want the federal agency to dredge or remove some 3,000 cubic yards of material, then restore the lakes' slopes to remove dangerous cliffs and drop-offs. Corps officials said they want to minimize damage to the lake habitat by removing only some of the debris, but are still reviewing the order. ``The action that they have directed does not appear to be the least environmentally damaging alternative,'' said Corps spokesman Greg Fuderer. ``As of right now, we haven't made a determination as to what our next step will be.'' But Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Regional Water Quality Control Board Executive Director Dennis Dickerson said the order is clear: ``They have to remove whatever they put in.'' In April and May 2002, the Corps dumped 1,300 cubic yards of reeds, soil and garbage dredged from Whittier Narrows The Whittier Narrows is located at the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California. It is a gap in the Puente Hills where the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River converge. and Sepulveda Basin in the small lower lake at the Hansen Dam Recreation Area. It then dumped 1,650 cubic yards of demolished construction materials and 2,200 cubic yards of soil from the Swim Lake repairs. Lake View Terrace neighbors discovered the dumping and organized to fight for the complete cleanup, with the support of the City Council. The Corps admits the dumping was a mistake and has promised to fix the problem. Meanwhile, there is still debate over how much acreage was damaged in the dumping. The water board has ordered the Corps to plant native vegetation and rehabilitate re·ha·bil·i·tate v. 1. To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education. 2. To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity. up to 201 acres, or roughly three acres for every one acre disturbed. But Corps officials say the dumping damaged less than one acre, meaning they have to rehabilitate less than three acres. Dickerson said the Corps must prove it didn't damage all 67 acres of the lakes by the dumping or else the federal agency is on the hook Adj. 1. on the hook - caught in a difficult or dangerous situation; "there I was back on the hook" dangerous, unsafe - involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm; "a dangerous criminal"; "a dangerous bridge"; "unemployment reached dangerous for the multimillion-dollar rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. project. Kerry Cavanaugh, (818) 713-3746 kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com |
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