Ascon cleanup work to begin

The three-year cleanup of the contaminated Ascon dump site will begin

later this month, state officials said.

More than four decades of dumping have contaminated soil and

groundwater at the 38-acre site, at the southwest corner of Hamilton

Avenue and Magnolia Street.

Five dark, oily lagoons and a covered styrene pit surrounded by

piles of tires, pipes, wood piles and other construction debris make

up the dump site.

The eight companies responsible for the waste are in the process

of extensive testing of the soil, air and groundwater, said Jeanne

Garcia, spokeswoman for the Department of Toxic Substances Control,

the state agency overseeing the investigation and cleanup.

“What we’re trying to do is to get more information for a better

cleanup,” she said. “The more information we have regarding the

hazardous waste, we will have for a better cleanup.”

Workers are in the process of digging a trench through the buried

waste to measure the types and amounts of chemical emissions and

odors.

The companies overseeing the cleanup include Atlantic Richfield

Co., Chevron Environmental Management Co., Conoco Inc., Phillips

Petroleum, Dow Chemical Co., Shell Oil Co., Southern California

Edison, Northrop Grumman Space and Mission System Corp. and Exxon

Mobile.

State regulators concluded in the spring of 2003 that cleanup of

the site is necessary given the levels of contaminants found in the

soil and groundwater.

Cleanup is expected to take about three years to complete, Garcia

said.

Until 1984, Ascon was a functioning landfill for nearly 50 years.

Much of the waste came from oil drilling operations and included

drilling muds, wastewater brines and other drilling wastes.

From 1957 to 1971, chromic acid, sulfuric acid, fuel oils and a

form of plastic called styrene were also dumped on the site, as well

as asphalt, concrete, metal, soil and wood.

In the past year, samples have been collected from the lagoons,

groundwater and soil and analyzed for contaminants. Contaminants of

concern that were detected include organic compounds found in crude

oil and petroleum waste, such as benzene, benzidine and styrene, and

arsenic, lead and other metals.

“We want to make sure that anything proposed for the cleanup is

safe and effective,” Garcia said.

Documents about the Ascon site can be found at the Banning Branch

Library and at the Huntington Beach Central Library. For more

information, call Julie Johnson at (714) 484-5337.

Quiksilver takes on skate company DC Shoes

Legendary surf wear pioneer Quiksilver Inc. announced Monday that

it will buy skateboard-shoe company DC Shoes.

Quiksilver offers a clothing collection geared toward surf,

snowboard and extreme sporting enthusiasts, including accessories,

eyewear, footwear and wetsuits. It is also known for sponsoring

snowboarding legend Tony Hawk and six-time world professional surfing

champion Kelly Slater.

DC Shoes’ product line includes a wide range of skate shoes,

snowboard boots, men’s clothing and accessories.

The shoe company exceeded $100 million in sales in 2003, which

will boost Quiksilver’s $975 million in revenues.

Quiksilver officials say they are confident that the merger is a

cultural match made in heaven, with Quiksilver benefiting from a new

line of footwear and DC Shoes inheriting Quiksilver’s global

exposure.

Lifeguard tryouts to be held this weekend

Lifeguard tryouts for state and city beaches will be held this

weekend.

Tryouts for 30 open lifeguard positions at Huntington’s state

beaches will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Huntington State Beach in

front of the lifeguard headquarters.

The test will consist of an oral interview, a 1,000-yard swim and

a “run-swim-run” in which participants will be asked to run down the

beach for 200 yards, swim for 400 yards and then run another 200

yards to the finish line.

“The test is very difficult,” said Lt. Mike Brousard, Huntington

State Beach lifeguard supervisor. “The water’s 57 [degrees] right

now. It’s a nice day today, and the surf is small, but depending on

the conditions, it can be rough.”

Last year, tryouts were held in pouring rain and 12-foot surf.

“If it gets to the point that it’s life threatening, we call it

off, of course, but otherwise, rain or shine, we’ll have it,”

Brousard said.

The eight-day training is in June and lifeguards start work

immediately after training.

Pay starts at $14 an hour, Brousard said.

Tryouts for Huntington Beach city lifeguards will be held at 8

a.m. Sunday at 103 Pacific Coast Highway, one block south of the

Huntington Beach Pier.

City beach tryouts will include a 1,000-yard ocean swim, a

500-yard ocean swim and a 1,500-yard run-swim-run. Those selected

after tryouts must then successfully complete training, which will be

held April 10 through 25. Starting pay is from $14 to $15.50.

For more information on lifeguard tryouts for the state beaches,

call (714) 536-1454. For information on tryouts for the city beaches,

call (714) 374-1752.

Planning Commission approves streamline plan

The Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a plan that city

officials say will streamline the Planning Department and reduce

processing time and fees.

The proposal, which passed on a 4-1 vote, is expected to increase

efficiency by having Zoning Administrator Mary Beth Broeren approve

items that were previously heard by the Planning Commission . The

Planning Director, Scott Hess, will also have the authority to review

minor zoning applications.

“It allows lower hearing bodies to hear particular items,” Project

Planner Rosemary Medel said. “We’ll be hopefully improving processing

time and customer service.”

Items that will be dropped from the Planning Commission’s agenda

include those involving commercial recreation and entertainment uses,

such as billiard parlors, bowling alleys, theaters and tennis and

racquetball courts, Medel said.

Items selected are those that are typically approved easily,

without controversy, she added.

The proposal still needs City Council approval.

“Some items don’t need to be dragged on and heard at a higher

hearing body,” Medel said.