TO: Los Banos City Council, Public Works and Parks and Recreation Dept.
This letter is in regards to the Hazardous materials issues at the City of Los Banos Airport in correlation to the proposed new construction of Colorado Ball Fields and Recreation areas.
Historically a release of hazardous materials to the environment has occurred at the airport.
Groundwater in the site vicinity is perched in a high water table, with depth to groundwater being only seven to ten feet below the surface. Therefore, any release of contaminants in the soil poses a risk to aquifer contamination. Contaminants have been found in wells owned by the Los Banos City Water District within three miles of the airport. Colorado Ball fields are approximately 1.1 miles.
The chief hazardous substances of concern at the airport are derived from prior pesticides, insecticides and herbicides used by crop dusting aircraft; these operations ceased in 1989. At the present time, no such flights are authorized from the airport; in fact, the only hazardous materials presently used and stored at the airport are those associated with the underground gasoline fuel storage tanks. Surface runoff and groundwater flow is generally to the northeast toward the San Joaquin River.
Rinse water from maintenance operations flows into a storm drainage system and pesticide chemicals, which have previously contaminated soil and groundwater on the site, may have been introduced to the environment via this route. Contaminants include Tribufos, a defoliant, dicapthon a highly toxic insecticide, and bromophosethyl, a wide spectrum pesticide.
My question is what are the plans to prevent the disruption of the soils around the ballfields during demolition and reconstruction in order to prevent any further contamination of city wells located in close proximity to the areas in question. Before this project continues to move forward, the public should be made aware of this as well any plans that have been or will be submitted to the FAA and that agency's responses.
I believe the upgrades to the existing ball fields and recreation areas are a great thing for our city's youth and I am in no way against it. I would just like to see it done correctly, with the proper steps taken so there are no disruptions in re-construction and the kids can have a fresh, new facility without costly mis-steps, delays or interruptions to the activities the park hosts.
Julie Creighton