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The Santa Susana Field Lab sits above the San Fernando Valley and was home to one of the worst nuclear meltdowns in U.S. History. That meltdown was covered up for 20 yrs.
The radioactive site has yet to be cleaned up, and threatens residents of the SFV and greater LA. (thread)
The radioactive site has yet to be cleaned up, and threatens residents of the SFV and greater LA. (thread)
The SSFL is a 3,000 acre site built in the 1940’s to test nuclear reactors and rocket engines for the space program. Testing sites wouldn’t usually be put so close to dense urban areas, but the SSFL site was chosen against all recommendations to have a shorter commute from UCLA.
In 1959, the nuclear reactor had a partial meltdown. 13 of the 43 fuel rods experienced melting and inexplicably, they kept the reactor running for 10 more days.
The worst part? There was no containment dome, so radioactive material was vented intentionally for weeks.
The worst part? There was no containment dome, so radioactive material was vented intentionally for weeks.
Was there any mention to the public? Evacuations? Of course not. It took 47 days for the Atomic Energy Commission to even acknowledge there had been an incident with a wildly misleading statement that the event was “not an indication of unsafe reactor conditions”.
This leak was massive, extremely dangerous, and completely mishandled. For context, the 1959 meltdown released hundreds of times more radionuclides than the famous meltdown at Three Mile Island: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nuclear-accident-at-three-mile-island
A 2006 study estimated that just those thirteen days of radioactive material in LA’s air caused between 300 and 1,800 Angelenos to develop cancer.
Since the meltdown in ‘59, the SSFL has passed between public + private hands (NASA, Rocketdyne, Boeing) and been used for a variety of types of testing. The one thing that has tied all of the testing together? Extremely, incredibly, pathetically poor environmental practices.
We are talking radioactive waste burning in open air pits. Barrels of chemicals exploded with gunfire. Plumes of toxic smoke spreading across the area with no care for the affected populations.
That doesn’t even include the harm that comes from the tests! In the years that Rocketdyne operated SSFL, they conducted over 30,000 engine tests. How did they wash the equipment? With over a 1,000,000 gallons of carcinogenic solvents, ½ of which percolated into the groundwater.
Just a quick reminder, the SSFL is not located at some remote site - there are 500,000 people living within 10 miles of it today.
Fast-forward to 2018: The Woolsey fire begins at the SSFL and burns almost 100,000 acres.
It’s estimated that 40,000 tons of ash contaminated with radiation and chemicals were blown into surrounding areas by the Santa Ana winds.
It’s estimated that 40,000 tons of ash contaminated with radiation and chemicals were blown into surrounding areas by the Santa Ana winds.
A 2012 EPA study found insane levels of radiation in the area: “strontium-90 tested 284 times higher than normal; cesium-137, 9,328 times higher; plutonium-239, 92 times higher.” https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/santa-susana-field-lab/
What does 70 years of environmental negligence look like on the people living near the SSFL? A heartbreaking increase in rare forms of cancer. A 2007 study found a 60% chance increase in cancer rates in the population that lives within 5 miles of the SSFL.
Knowing all this, you may ask what substantial steps have been taken to clean the site up? Unfortunately, you may also know the answer. Since 1989 (!) there has been pressure to mitigate the SSFL. It has been 32 long years of broken promises, lawsuits, and corporate greed.
Boeing acquired Aerojet Rocketdyne in 1996 and with the company, the SSFL.
With the help of NASA and the Department of Energy, Boeing has since pulled out every trick in the book to fight against any responsibility and any substantial clean up.
With the help of NASA and the Department of Energy, Boeing has since pulled out every trick in the book to fight against any responsibility and any substantial clean up.
And how about actions by our elected officials, our congressman Brad Sherman for instance? Well guess who has taken $20,000 in campaign contributions since 2004 from Boeing and Aerojet Rocketdyne.
The SSFL is a lesson in environmental negligence and the problems with our officials being owned by corporations. We cannot leave this site to poison the innocent people around it. It is time for a complete clean up and it is time for frontline communities to be our priority.
Without the incredible work of Melissa Bumstead and @PARENTSvsSSFL, this issue may have stayed under the radar. Please sign her petition to clean the site up and support their organization. https://www.change.org/p/no-more-kids-with-cancer-clean-up-the-santa-susana-field-lab
I have barely scratched the surface in this thread, but there is an incredible documentary that was just released on the Santa Susana Field Lab. Watch it here: https://www.inthedarkofthevalley.com/
