El Cerrito, CA – On Saturday, November 6th, Assemblywoman Hancock (D-Berkeley) and members of the Legislature will hold a public hearing and community dialogue in Richmond. They will examine the State process for assessing the condition and cleanup of toxic sites, and for insuring that public concerns are addressed prior to cleanup operations.

“To protect human health and the environment, extreme care must be exerted when toxic materials may endanger the public welfare. We do not want a toxic cleanup to become a toxic threat.” emphasized Hancock. Hancock will be joined by Assemblywoman Cindy Montañez (D-San Fernando) who is chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Environmental Justice. Assemblyman John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), chair of the Assembly Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials Committee, will also attend.

Concerns of neighbors surfaced recently when the cleanup contractor for Stege Marsh, part of the old Stauffer/Zeneca site, returned to complete the marsh cleanup operations. Not only are there complaints about lax standards on the current work on the site, but about the future plans for the toxic-laden acreage.

Montañez voiced her concerns as well. “In California, cleanup of toxic sites is a stimulus for economic development. But we must protect people from toxic contamination. The cleanup must be a win/win situation.”

Citizens are encouraged to attend the hearing.

What: Hearing and Community Dialogue about Toxic Site Cleanups

Who: Assemblymembers Hancock, Montañez, Laird, others

When: Saturday, November 6th, 2004

Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: UC Field Station, Bldg 454, 1301 South 46th Street, Richmond