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San Mateo County Times December 12, 2000  For more information, contact:
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Tardy toxicity results upset residents at Midway Village By
Christine Louie DALY CITY -- State environmental officials Thursday said toxicology reports for soil gathered around Midway Village should be released later this month -- three months after residents had been promised. Residents are upset the state Department of Toxic Substances Control has delayed releasing findings on soil samples taken from the housing complex this summer. Many believe the soil contains harmful carcinogens that have triggered nosebleeds and cancerous tumors in residents at the 138-unit complex, adjacent to a former Pacific Gas & Electric Co. substation where coal was manufactured more than 100 years ago. Current and past residents plan to file individual lawsuits against PG&E once the state releases the soil reports, which residents believe will show high levels of toxins. "We can't do much until we get the results," said Lula Bishop, a 23-year resident of the complex. Representatives from the federal Environmental Protection Agency said the delays are due to more than 350 samples taken from 150 different locations at the site. "It took a little longer than we expected," said Michelle Schutz, a San Francisco-based EPA project manager. She said state and federal officials have been re-analyzing all data generated from the lab contracted to conduct the tests. "We are just at the point of evaluating and confirming the data," said Otis Jackson, a spokesman for the Department of Toxic Substances Control. It is very likely the report will be ready by the beginning of January, Jackson said. Should the results confirm what residents have suspected, the department will commit to preserving the health of the community, he said. But Bradley Angel of Greenaction, a San Francisco-based environmental advocacy group, said the state should not have conducted the tests. Angel believes state officials were aware the soil was laden with harmful chemicals and used the sampling to delay moving residents out.
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