El Toro Soil Cleanup to Be Discussed Today

The military vows to thoroughly clean up contaminated soil on the western corner of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, but a dispute continues over how to reverse ground-water pollution in the same area.

Base cleanup is a critical and controversial issue as military officials plan to retire the 4,700-acre military base by mid-1999, possibly to be recycled into a commercial airport.

Nearly 75% of the base is already deemed clean. Although the military is obligated to clean up the remainder of the facility, there are different opinions over how that should be done.

A public meeting is being held at 4:30 p.m. today at Irvine City Hall to discuss soil cleanup plans and invite public comment.

The cleanup area to be discussed beneath two hangars. Soil and ground-water contamination was caused by the spilling and leakage of a contaminant used mainly as a degreaser and cleanser for aircraft maintenance operations from the 1950s through the early 1970s, officials said.

Soil and water contamination at the retiring base does not pose a health risk, said 1st Lt. Matthew Morgan, a base spokesman.

There is a dispute over how the ground-water cleanup should be handled, so the military has decided to separate soil and ground-water cleanup efforts and proceed with soil cleanup.

The Orange County Water District and others are discussing with the military how to clean up ground-water contamination. The district wants the military to pay for part of a cleansing plant, but the military believes there are better ways to handle the problem, officials said.