Each day passers-by stream past a vacant lot on the outskirts ofcampus not knowing what lies beneath the soil. Despite seriouswarnings of dangerous health risks posted on the lot, the city of SanDiego maintains it is safe.
The lot on the northwest corner of Lindo Paseo and College Avenuehas been empty for nearly five years, but still has a sign posted onthe fence warning of hazardous materials.
The sign reads: “Detectable amounts of chemicals known to theState of California to cause cancer, birth defects or otherreproductive harm may be found in and around this facility.”
The sign is required as a stipulation by Proposition 65 of theCalifornia Health and Safety Code, also known as the Safe DrinkingWater and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. It requires the governor topublish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer and reproductivetoxicity. The list must be updated at least once a year.
The chemicals found in the lot are contaminants from the gasstation that used to be located on the site, said Jim Shuck, arepresentative for the San Diego County Department of EnvironmentalHealth. A Unocal 76 gas station formally operated at the site and islikely the cause of the contaminated soil, he said.
Shuck said there was probably a leak in the dispenser area andthat the leak is centered in the middle of the lot about 10 feet to45 feet below ground.
Despite the contamination, Shuck warns that there is not a strongenvironmental concern.
“You go pump your gas and you’re getting more benzene from thatthan you will ever get from this lot,” Shuck said.
Benzene is a hydrocarbon produced by the burning of naturalproducts. It is a known carcinogen and a component of productsderived from coal and petroleum. It has been on the harmful chemicalslist since February 1987.
The Phi Kappa Theta fraternity house is located directly next tothe lot. Andrew Kielsling, fraternity president, said members are notconcerned with any type of health risk.
“No members have expressed discomfort or worry to me about livingnext to the lot,” Kielsling said.
Public administration senior Reina Castro said she is glad to knowthat the chemicals are not significantly harmful.
“I walk past there and it’s scary to think that you’re beingexposed to such harmful materials,” she said. “It’s the fear that thecontaminants of the soil can spread, like through erosion and thewater system.”
Shuck said environmental concerns are not the issue. The majorconcern with the lot is over real estate.
The lot is currently leased by California — based oil companyUnocal 76 and owned by Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Yet,the lot is located in an area the SDSU Foundation wants to use withinthe College Community Redevelopment Project.
The lot will eventually be a part of an outdoor shopping centerand apartment complex known as The Paseo.
Shuck said there will be a high cost to clean the soil and it’s amatter of assessing who’s going to pay the bill. He said it’s anexpensive legal and financial issue that will have to be resolvedbetween the two parties.
At this point, nothing can be built on the land until the soil iscleaned, he said.
Theresa Nakata, director of Community and Public Relations for theFoundation, said she is not familiar with information about thecleaning. However, she said attaining the property will not be aproblem.
“Federal and state environmental law requires that thecontaminating party — in this case, Unocal — remediate the site,”Nakata said. “The county of San Diego oversees this process. Also,any legal agreement we have for the property will address the issueof remediation. “Given this, we are not concerned.”
