News from Congresswoman Jane Harman

Congresswoman Jane harman - Press Release

March 22, 2002

Harman Release Independent Review of Kenwood Cleanup

-- Review Should Reassure Residents--

TORRANCE - Congresswoman Harman today released the findings of an independent review completed at her request to analyze the Environmental Protection Agency's removal of DDT from residences along Kenwood Avenue.

The report concludes that EPA's cleanup provides protection to Kenwood Avenue residents against future exposure to DDT. The neighborhood's DDT contamination is the result of the nearby operations of the former Montrose Chemical Company, which operated from 1947 to 1982 and produced about 1.6 billion pounds of DDT.

The contamination caused the EPA to place the plant site and several neighborhood sites, including Kenwood Avenue, on the National Priority List for cleanup under the Superfund Act.

"I am encouraged by these findings," said Harman. "Kenwood Avenue residents should feel reassured that soil with high levels of DDT has been removed from their yards."

The independent review was convened by Harman in response to community concerns about DDT levels and their lack of confidence in EPA's cleanup efforts.

Harman asked two nationally-known experts to critique scientific data collected about Kenwood Avenue by both the EPA and Del Amo Action Committee, a neighborhood advocacy group. The independent review was conducted by Dr. Yoram Cohen, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles and Dr. Perry L. McCarty, Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University. The report took approximately three months to complete.

After reading the report yesterday, Congresswoman Harman spoke with Dr. Cohen, Dr. McCarty and several environmental experts from the South Bay on a conference call in order to gain a full understanding of its conclusions.

Today she spoke with community leaders and she has asked the authors of the independent review to meet with the residents in the near future.

Harman added, "Even with these positive findings, the report does suggest the need for continued monitoring of the properties and that precautions be put in place to protect residents from DDT that could be uncovered during major road maintenance, utility work and home construction.

I will also work to ensure that EPA promptly removes the contaminated soil piles from the neighborhood."

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