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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEQCB Min 1988-01-19 e . l' " r ._ CITY OF SEAL BEACH . ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONTROL BOARD January 19, 1988 MINUTES I. Call to Order Chairperson Gayle Knapp called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. II. Pledge of Allegiance Lowell Kolb led the Pledge of Allegiance. 111. Roll Call Present: Don Eisenberg Ray Fortner Gayle Knapp Lowell Kolb Absent: Steve Gavlick . Also Present: Pam Walker Department of Development Services IV. Discussion: Asbestos in the Home Ms. Knapp introduced the staff report and opened discussion on the issue of asbestos in the home. Mr. Kolb stated that he did not want any of the options, nor did he feel the recommendations were valid. Mr. Fortner felt that Options 2 and 3 in the staff report were most realistic in terms of council implementation and staffing requirements. He stated that Option I had the problem of inviting city liability and igniting i nappr opr i ate concerns. He quest i oned. Opt i on 4 as add i ng additional cost to construction, which might exceed the benefit. He preferred Option 2. Mr. Kolb felt the recommendations were fine in and of themselves, but the Board should do more. Mr. Eisenberg did not wish to add anything to Mr. Fortner's assessment. He thought Option 2 was the most efficient. He requested clarification of the likelihood that asbestos would be used in new construction. . 1 . . . e . EQCB Minutes January 19, 1988 Ms. Walker stated that asbestos might be encountered in demolition associated with new construction, but no new materials would contain asbestos. Ms. Knapp asked about the Cal/OSHA requirement which Option 4 would duplicate, and stated she felt it was unnecessary to copy the actions of a strong state agency. She was curious as to whethe~ Ca1/0SHA had been included in the state budget. Mr. Kolb replied that the agency had been preserved. He clarified his previous statements to assert that the options presented were not unacceptable, and should be taking place right now. His point was that some additional action needed to occur. He recommended neighborhood canvassing. In particular, he proposed steps to address the problem of broken duting creating friable asbestos: The scope of action would be College Park East, an area likely to have alumibestos ducting given the builder and the time of development. Information gathering would follow, targeting several homes in the area for inspection and testing. After such study, the EQCB should propose solutions to the City Council. Mr. Fortner asked whether any relationship between broken ducting and a dangerous level of asbestos in the home environment had been demonstrated. He recalled that Jeff Benedict had said that such a connection has not been established. He felt there was no firm basis to conclude that broken ducting posed a danger. Without that knowledge, he felt it irresponsible to raise an emotional issue and suggest there is a problem. Mr. Kolb reported that his impression was that broken ducting posed a real problem. He did not wish to be alarmist, but he wished to warn people that air blowing over loose asbestos could be dangerous. He offered to approach the issue from the standpoint that broken ducting leads to a loss of heat~ from an economic standpoint. Ms. Knapp asked for w clarification bf Mr. Benedict's report. Her understanding was that on~y m~terials containing asbestos that had been damaged were a problem. Ms. Walker reported that Mr. Benedict had stated that the extent of the danger of asbestos was unknown. Conflicting theories hypothesize that a single fiber can lead to 2 . . . e . . ' EQCB Minutes January 19, 1988 asbestosis, and, conversely, that repeated significant exposure must take place before asbestosis will occur. Mr. Fortner pointed out that asbestos is present in the atmosphere. Ms. Walker concurred that this area has a high level of ambient asbestos due to the geological conditions. She stated also that very little research has been conducted on indoor pollution. Mr. Ko1b felt that even though the ri~k of indoor asbestos is unknown, the Board could develop a warning taking into account the state of existing knowledge. Mr. Eisenberg suggested contacting the builder of College Park East to inquire about materials used in ducting. Mr. Kolb and Ms. Walker reported that the builder had not been responsive to their inquiries. Mr. Eisenberg volunteered to check his ducting for asbestos and report back in writing to the Board. Mr. Fortner asked whether Board members could ask friends in their districts to allow inspections of their attics. Mr. Kolb discussed his efforts several years ago to discover the extent of the problem in College Park West. Ms. Knapp expressed the concern that the Board remain within its authority. She observed that the attic checks would be within the Board's charge to study and investigate matters of environmental concern. Ms. Walker advised the Board to refer citizens' concerned about the treatment of asbestos in their homes to Jeff Benedict at the Orange County Health Department. The Board's consensus was that a check of several homes in College Park East for ducting containing asbesto~ would be ~ good first step. 3 . . . ... " - 1 . . ~ e . EQCB Minutes January 19, 1988 Ms. Knapp reqested staff to contact Jeff Benedict with questions regarding his assessment of the seriousness of the home asbestos issue, and whether there were meters to test levels of asbestos indoors. V. Board Concerns Mr. Eisenberg inquired about the impact that new CALTRANS work ~lould have on the City. Specifically, he mentioned a soundwall in Rossmoor and the 7th Street connector associated with the Bixby project. Ms. Walker stated she could not comment on those issues. Ms. Knapp reiterated her concern regarding the enforcement sign ordinance. Ms. Walker outlined the procedures being followed by staff on sign enforcement. Mr. Eisenberg and Mr. Fortner commented on a failure by the police force to observe traffic laws. They specifically mentioned speeding on Seal Beach Boulevard and rolling stops at stop signs. Mr. Fortner commented further on the lack of enforcement against alley parking violations. Mr. Kolb inquired about the parking pass program at Edison Park. Ms. Walker was unable to comment on that issue. In response to questions from he Board, Ms. Walker reviewed the status of the Mola Project and the D.W.P. property. VI. Staff Concerns Ms. Walker reported that there were no staff concerns at this time. VI1. Adjournment with the consent of the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m., with the next meeting of the Board to be held on March IS, 1988 at 8:00 p.m. 4