SOLUTIONS to TOXICS event in Eureka

Eureka, CA -- By popular demand Citizens for Real Economic Growth (CREG) will present a public informational session to discussion solutions to the toxic contamination of the Balloon Tract. This will be the third installment of their workshop series. The event called “SOLUTIONS to TOXICS” is scheduled for Monday, June 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Wharfinger Building on the Eureka Waterfront.

Local businessman and CREG spokesperson Larry Glass explained CREG’s decision to focus on solutions the acknowledged toxic contamination of the site. “The intense interest and overwhelming public opinion is that the site should be cleaned up,” he said. Glass emphasized that 77% of respondents agreed that the site should be thoroughly cleaned before anything is built on the former rail maintenance yard, referring to a poll he commissioned last month.

“We got a very positive reaction from the public after our event last month,” said Glass. “There were a lot of good questions raised and we saw the need for those questions to be answered.”

“It is quite obvious there is no lack of resources on the part of parcel owner Union Pacific (UP) to accomplish the high level of cleanup this community is owed,” continued Glass in reference to a first quarter financial filing by UP showing $311 million in net earnings for the three month period running January through March.

The big box mall project proposed by Security National owners Rob and Cherie Arkley proposes to “cap” the hazardous waste on the site. Residents are alarmed that this will be ineffective in keeping the poisons out of the Bay as well as leaving future generations with a toxic time bomb on the site.

Presenters include:

Hannah Clapsadle of Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (DUHC) will discuss the citizen sovereignty over corporations.

Alderon Laird will discuss public trust law issues.

Patty Cleary of Californians for Alternatives to Toxins (CATS) will discuss public nuisance law.

Eureka City Councilmember Chris Kerrigan will provide an overview of potential municipal ordinance remedies available.