This timeline shows the progression of how MHS’s environmental issue was discovered and has subsequently evolved. It begins in 2006, with the passing of Measure BB with the intent to improve health and safety for MHS, the several safety and environmental reports required and the discovery of the contaminated toxic soil in 2010. This soil was removed in 2011 but not until 2013 did most parents and teachers know. In October 2013, teachers requested the school be tested as they feared it was making them sick.
- Nov 2006: Measure BB Bond “Santa Monica-Malibu Schools Safety and Repair Measure”: “To improve health, safety, class instruction” passed by 67.5% of voters, allocating $268 million for facility improvements to all 16 SMMUSD campuses including renovations at MHS. Click Here to Read Full Bond Measure
- Aug 14, 2006: Lead Based Paint Survey for Bond BB: This survey includes Cabrillo and MHS and shows lead issues throughout both schools. The abatement level chosen is .7 mg/cm2. Click Here to See Document
- Sept 2008: Initial EIR for BB Project states intented of scope of work. Click Here to See Document
- Dec 15, 2008: EIR Scope for BB Project of new building Click Here to See Document
- Dec 15, 2008: EIR Scope for BB Project Presentation of new parking Click Here to See Document
- June 9, 2009: Bond BB required EIR that includes, ATC Associates report of Hazardous Materials Survey. This survey showed contaminants: lead, PCBs in light ballast, Asbestos, Mercury, etc at Malibu High School Click Here to See Document
- Oct 1, 2009: BB Bond requires Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Study by Arcadis, then operating as LFR Inc. This study notes potential site contamination from PCBs and Pesticides (referred to in Removal Action Work Plan 8/5/10)
- June 14, 2010: BB Bond requires Arcadis’s Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) Report. This report “indicated that pesticides and PCBs were present in shallow site soils at concentrations that presented an unacceptable health risk.” (referred to on pg 1) Click Here to See Document
- Aug 5, 2010: Arcadis Removal Action Workplan states an unacceptable health risk of PCB concentration in the soil for Aroclor 1254 was 1,420 ug/kg (CHHSL acceptable level 89 un/kg) and Chlordane is 683-1910 ug/kg (CHHSL acceptable level 430 ug/kg). Other toxins found in the soil that can be viewed under issues/ what’s in the soil. Click Here to See Document
- Nov 4, 2010: Board of Education Meeting: This is how the district hid the approval of the action work plan for MHS, they buried it in other School’s BB approvals and never mentioned “toxic soil.” Unless you already knew, went looking for a document you already knew the name of and asked for the work-plan to read it all, no lay person would ever know that there were toxicants in the soil, NO ONE knew about the toxins except those of the BB committee. “AGENDA: RE: CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION OF MALIBU MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL REMOVAL ACTION WORKPLAN AND AUTHORIZE FILING OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION – MEASURE BB”
- Aug 30, 2010: In 2013, Bond BB meeting minutes were discovered that state that “the public will know (about the toxic soil ) when we go to the board with an amendment to abate” rather then directly tell Parents that the district found toxic soil at MHS. Click Here to See Document
- Jan 12, 2011 Bond BB’s Draft EIR states that PCBs and pesticides “were detected in the soil in many of the soil samples” Click Here to See Document
- April, 2011: In the MHS E News is a letter from Principal, Mark
Kelly about BB Construction Beginning: On the 2nd page, in the 2nd to last paragraph, it
states, “In addition to initiating the fire alarm system upgrade, work will begin to
prepare the campus for the new building construction and construction of the new parking lot.
This preparation includes a soil remediation project involving the middle school quad and
several other areas around campus. Visually, once started, this project will be the first
that lets you see Measure BB at work…” There is no mention that there was toxic
soil found on campus “that presented an unacceptable health risk,” as
stated in the Arcadis Report PEA 6-14-10. Click Here to See
The E News Letter
- July 11, 2011- Aug. 24, 2011: Arcadis soil remediation takes place at MHS. Students and Teachers are present on campus for summer school. Teachers, Parents and Students were not informed that there were toxins in the soil that were being removed. Arcadis Report PEA 6-14-10 stated that risk would not occur until soil is disturbed. While soil was being disturbed, students, teachers and staff were present in classes around the toxic soil removal without being properly warned and notified.
- Aug 15, 2011: MHS Principal, Mark Kelly, sent a welcome letter to parents. It did not mention contaminated or toxic soil. It read, “BB campus improvement projects continued as we underwent a soil remediation project that was required preparation for the construction of our new library, administration and classroom building.” Click here to see letter
- June 12, 2012: Arcadis released their Removal Action Completion Report, 11 months after removal. “Approximately 1158 tons of soil was transported to Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic, CA.” (pg 37) Click Here to Read Report
- Aug 2013: SMMUSD trenched under and through two classrooms in
building E
(rooms 1 & 2).
- Aug 22, 2013: Teachers and students return to MHS to dirty and dusty classrooms without knowledge of soil trenching in areas previously containing toxic soil. Click Here to See More Photos
- Oct 2, 2013: Teachers send a letter to the district concerning cancer and health issues demanding testing of the school. Parents are upset to learn that the district discovered toxins on campus in 2010 and never informed the Parents. Click Here to See Letter From Teachers
- Oct 7, 2013: Malibu High Classes Moved Due To Toxic Scare: Click Here to See Fox 11 News Report
- Oct 8, 2913: Malibu Schools Organization send letter to District on behalf of the PTSA, Shark Fund, Site Council, Special Ed Foundation, Boys & Girls Club, and AMPS encouraging relocation of building E classrooms, assure community that safety is the highest priority and appoint a district liaison. Click Here to See Letter
- Oct 8, 2013: MHS parent meeting to discuss concerns. Parent asked crowd of 400 people how many of their children had headaches and approximately 70% of parents hands were raised. Click Here to Read Article
Click Here to Watch FOX LA Report
- Oct 8, 2013: “Malibu Middle School classes will be relocated while the school district tests the building and surrounding soil for contaminants…Santa Monica-Malibu Superintendent Sandra Lyon told hundreds of concerned parents and students Tuesday.” Click Here to See Article
- Oct 2013: Mark Katchen is hired as SMMUSD Environmental Consultant. By Jan 2014, for 3 months of work, he was paid a reported total of $261,000 before being terminated. Click Here to See Article Click Here to See Contract
- Oct 17, 2013: first Malibu Schools Environmental Task Force Meeting Click Here to See Document
- Oct 17, 2013: Mold Report by Executive Environmental Click Here to See Document
- Oct 24, 2013 second Task Force meeting Click Here to See Document
- Oct 31, 2013: third task force meeting Click Here to See Document
- Nov 2013: 30 Teachers hire PEER to protect their interests to ensure a healthy campus. PEER is a non-profit that represents Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. Click here for more on PEER
- Nov 14, 2013: Task Force meeting: Mark Katchen presents air testing evaluation criteria specifically for Malibu High based on the number of days and number of hours students and teachers are in school. The task force accepts 20.2ng/m3 as the air test evaluation criteria based on residential screening levels of 1 in 1 million cancer risk. Click Here to See Photo
- Nov 16, 2013: Letter to task force from task force parent member explaining PCB evaluation criteria should be residential screening levels at 1 in 1 million cancer risk. Click Here to See Letter
- Nov 17, 2013: Sunday night emergency task force meeting for PCB air sample results. Mark Katchen changes air testing evaluation criteria for air tests from agreed upon 20.2 ng/m³ to 100 ng/m³.
- Nov 17, 2013: Superintendent posts letter stating PCB results “fall well below risk guidlines” but then removes this letter. Click Here to See Letters
- Nov 18, 2013: Superintendent contacts the US EPA. PCB tests results show that PCB levels exceed safe screening level regulations of the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) of 50ppm and therefore requires regulatory action.
- Nov 18, 2013: Teacher Representative sends letter to Superintendent and Task Force regarding an unwarranted change in PCB screening levels from 20.2 ng/m³ to 100 ng/m³ after knowing PCB air results, making the PCB air results fall below our chosen screening level rather than above. Click Here to See Letter
- Nov 21, 2013: Letter sent from the EPA explaining the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) and that Malibu High School is now under EPA regulation. Click Here to See Document
Click Here to Watch KTLA Report
- Nov 21, 2013: SMMUSD hires Pillsbury Law Firm at $695 per hour. Click Here to Read Board Notes Click Here to See Article
- Nov 25, 2013: PEER sends letter on behalf of teachers to SMMUSD. Scope and Source of Contamination Still Unknown as District Tries Damage Control. Click here to read PEER letter Click Here for PEER Press Release
- Nov 2013: Summary of PCB testing. 7 sample test results are above the TSCA regulations (1, 5, 8, 301, library). Click Here to See PCB Summary
- Nov 2013: Pillsberry law firm hired to defend the district at $700 per hour.
- Nov 29, 2013: Raw test results data available on SMMUSD website Click Here to See Document
- Dec 12 2013: EPA/ DTSC study session at the board of education meeting (parent questions start around 1 hour 15 minutes). Click Here to Read Summary Click Here to See Board Meeting
Click Here to Watch KTLA Report
- Dec 19, 2013: At the task force meeting the Superintendent announces a cleaning and testing plan that the task force did not review or approve. Mark Katchen told the Task Force that he intended to test with the windows open despite Task Force Members’ objections.
- Dec 19, 2013: Jennifer deNicola sends a letter to EPA concerning the testing and cleaning plan and to ensure that windows will be closed during testing. Click Here to See Letter
- Dec 19, 2013: Superintendent send out letter to all parents that states the EPA approved district testing and cleaning plan for 18 rooms (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 301, 302, 303, library, PE office, room 1 storage closet). Later it was revealed that the EPA had not yet received the testing and cleaning plan before the letter was sent out.
- Dec 20, 2013: At 8:58am the district sent the EPA the “Limited
PCB Remediation, Verification Sampling Work Plan for Malibu High School/Middle School” for 5
rooms (not all 18 listed above) and the plan states that the air testing will be done with
the windows open. Click Here to See Work Plan
- Dec 20, 2013: 1:14pm EPA sends letter to the district approving
the “Limited PCB Remediation, Verification Sampling Work Plan for Malibu High School/Middle
School” with 2 conditions: all air testing will be
done with the windows closed and the EPA wants notice of testing so they may send
an EPA official to Malibu to oversee testing and do some of their own independent testing. Click Here to See EPA Letter
- Dec 20, 2013: 6:00pm Superintendent issues a correction email to previous evenings email, stating she had spoken to soon and the EPA had not yet approved plans, but now they have. Click Here to See Superintendent Correction Letter
- Dec 20, 2013: SMMUSD Board of Education Update from Sandra Lyon, Superintendent: discusses testing and cleaning plan. States that the testing plan was sent to the EPA on Dec 19th and approved on Dec 20th, however, the testing plan was not sent to the EPA until Dec 20th at 8:58am Click Here to See Update
- Dec 21-22, 2013: Mark Katchen oversees pre-cleaning air testing of 11 rooms with the windows open in the majority of the rooms in direct opposition of EPA condition: “windows shall be closed.” These are the rooms that were pre-tested 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 16, 302, 303, PE office, and room 1 storage closet.
- Dec 26, 2013- Jan 3, 2014: cleaning occurs in 18 rooms (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 301, 302, 303, library, PE office, room 1 storage closet)
- Dec 26, 2013: The EPA confirms that the then only received testing and cleaning plans for 5 rooms on Dec 20th at 8:58 AM and was not aware of the other 13 rooms being tested and cleaned. Yet parents were lead to believe that the EPA approved testing and cleaning of all 18 rooms. Click Here to See Document
- Dec 31, 2013: Pre-cleaning air testing results show the PE office has highest result of 97ng. Teachers and Parents realize that the 3 rooms with the highest level of PCBs are used by the 3 teachers with thyroid cancer. Click Here to See Raw Data
- Jan 2, 2014 PEER sends a letter to SMMUSD referencing lack of transparency, problems with the testing and cleaning plan, and RFQ for new environmental engineering firm. Click Here to See Press Release Click Here to See Letter Click Here to See Jan 6th Response from Sandra Lyon
- Jan 2-3, 2014-EPA Kathy Baylor comes to Malibu to oversee air testing of only 5 rooms (1,5,8,301,Library)
- Jan 3, 2014: Superintendent, Sandra Lyon confirms that she tested with the windows open despite the EPA’s written directive on Dec 20th, 2013 to have the windows closed. Click Here to Read
- Jan 4-6, 2014: Mark Katchen does air testing on 13 post-cleaning rooms with windows open, in direct opposition of EPA condition: “windows shall be closed” (2,3,4,6,7,9,10,14,16,302,303, PE office, room 1 storage closet)
- Jan 5, 2014: Superintendent posts air testing samples chart, confirming that the windows were open during testing despite EPA’s condition for approval that the “windows are to be closed.” Click Here to See Chart
- Jan 5, 2014: Q & A Posted to SMMUSD website regarding winter break cleaning and testing. Click Here to See Q & A
- Jan 10, 2014: SMMUSD Board of Education Update from Sandra Lyon, Superintendent: discusses cleaning and testing that took place over winter break. Lyon states that air samples are within EPA acceptable levels of 200 ng/m³. A residential cancer risk for PCBs at 1 in 1 million is 4.3 ng/m³. The highest classroom level detected was 97 ng/m³, in one of the rooms where a teacher has thyroid cancer. The original agreed upon detection limit was 20.2 ng/m³. Click to Read Update
- Jan 12, 2014: PCB Air Sample Raw Data for 5 rooms: 1,5, 8, 301, Library Click Here for Jan 12 Air Data
- Jan 13, 2014: PCB Wipe Samples Raw Data for 5 rooms: 1, 5, 8, 301, Library Click Here for Wipe Date
- Jan 13, 2014: Teachers write a letter to the Superintendent that they will not be returning to their classrooms in the vacated building E after cleaning has occurred due to no evidence and lack of comprehensive testing to prove that these rooms are safe for themselves or their students. Click Here to See Letter Click Here to See Press Release
- Jan 13, 2014: Panel interviews four Environmental Engineering Firms. Click Here to See Document
- Jan 14, 2014: PCB Air Samples Raw Data for 13 rooms: 2,4,6,7,9,10,14,16,302,303,GYM, Outside Click Here for Jan 14 Air Data #1 Click Here for Jan 13 Air Data #2
- Jan 15, 2014: Superintendent letter to EPA regarding sample numbers and verification wipe and air samples are posted to SMMUSD. Click Here to Read Letter to EPA and See Sample Numbers for 13 Rooms Air Tested Jan 14 Results
- Jan 16, 2014: Malibu Unites pens “Parent’s Right to Know Act” and begins to advocate to government agencies and lawmakers. Click Here to Read Draft
- Jan 19, 2014-Superintendent sends out letter confirming Board approval of the hiring of Environ Environmental Engineering Firm. Click to Environ Website
- Jan 24, 2014: Sandra Lyon, Superintendent, sends letter to PEER, written by SMMUSD attorney ($700hr), stating that the district does not have to respond to California Public Records Acts within a specified time frame. The letter is a legal tactic to not comply with or postpone the PRA. Click Here to See Letter
- Jan 27, 2014: EPA letter: EPA requires district to submit analytical reports and a cleanup plan by Feb to address PCBs in caulk and the air for the entire school. Click Here to See Letter
- Feb 5, 2014: SMMUSD board meeting approves DTSC’s voluntary
agreement estimated at $42,000. Also approved was an increase from $25,000 to $50,000 paid to
the task force liaison. Jan Maez stated that approx. $15,000 of this contract was
specifically paid for environmental task force work. On Jan 5, 2014, the district posted a
Q&A to district website that stated no task force members are being paid.
Click Here to See Liaison Contract Click Here to See DTSC Agreement
- Feb 7, 2014: SMMUDS Board of Education Update from Sandra Lyon, Superintendent: states that Environ contract is being completed including a scope of work. Board members and Task Force members have asked to see the Environ Contract but have not received it. Lyon says Public Records Acts have been completed but they have not as you can see in the next timeline entry. Click Here to See Update
- Feb 7, 2014: Letter from Sandra Lyon to PEER delaying response to their Public Information Request Act (PRA). Click Here to Read PEER’s response to Sandra Lyon: Click Here to Read Sandra Lyon’s response to PRA from California Safe Schools: Click Here to Read
- Feb 7, 2014: Title of Juan Cabrillo: Click Here Title of Malibu High: Click Here
- Feb 20, 2014: Letter to SMMUSD Board of Education from Jennifer deNicola, concerned parent/ President of Malibu Unites urging them to direct their district staff to be more forthcoming, transparent and timely. Click Here to See Letter Click Here to See Response
- Feb 21, 2014: SMMUSD Board Update Click Here to See
- Feb 24, 2014: Public Request Act response. This includes contract with Phylmar/Mark Katchen group, NRC Cleaning Contract, emails between EPA and district… Click Here to See PRA
- Feb 25, 2014: PEER sends a letter to SMMUSD regarding military operations during WWII that may help explain the extensively contaminated soils found in 2009 on MHS. This letter to stressed the need to conduct a site assessment covering the entire three-school campus to determine the extent and the source of toxic chemicals and asking for assurance that such an assessment will be done. Click Here to See Letter Click Here to See Press Release
- Feb 28, 2014: SMMUSD Board Meeting Agenda for March 6th shows a purchase order (PO) for Pillsbury Law Firm for $120,000. The DTSC contract and the Environ contract is included. The Environ contract does not state that they will test the soil. Click Here for Full Agenda Click Here to See PO
- Feb, 2014: Phylmar Group Pre- and Post-Best Management Practices Cleaning PCB Air Sampling Report Click Here to See Final Report
- Feb 2014: Phylmar Group Limited PCB Remediation and Verification Sampling Report Summary Click Here to See Verification Report
- March 1, 2014: County of Los Angeles Public Health Letter issued without any study on illness and PCB exposure. Click Here to Read
- March 6, 2014: Task Force Meeting: Discussed Environ’s plan to communicate with stakeholders: once a month updates, email address for incoming emails but there would be no response, no plans for Environ to meet with stakeholders or task force. Task Force parents and teacher members stressed that this communication plan would not be acceptable to parents and teachers.
- March 6, 2014: KTLA 5 News Report: Prior Knowledge of Toxins at Malibu High
- March 7, 2014: Board Weekly Update: Environ Contract was ratified. Click Here to View
- March 12, 2014: Letter from the DTSC Confirming Comprehensive Soil Testing of all three campus Click Here to View
- March 13, 2014: Malibu Unites Celebrates: DTSC send email to MU confirming agreement to comprehensive testing for all three campuses. Click Here to See Email
- March 13, 2014: MHS Community Update from District Click Here to View
- March 14, 2014: Malibu Times Article: Advocacy Groups Merge for Environmental Safety at Malibu High Click Here to Read
- March 14, 2014: Sandra Lyon Letter Summary: Environ is asking EPA for an extension to the March 30th, 2014 deadline; despite having 62 days to comply with this deadline (see Jan 27th, 2014). Parents have advocated for comprehensive soil testing for 6 months and soil testing was not written into the March 6th, 2014 contract with Environ. Malibu Unites is thrilled that Lyon is in support of the “Parent Right to Know Act” so that no other parent, student and teacher will be unknowingly exposed to toxins as was the Malibu School community. Click Here to See Letter
- March 19, 2014: E&E Reports: Officials Agree to Test Soils Click Here to Read
- March 19, 2014: Letter from Sandra Lyon Click Here to Read
- March 20, 2014: Malibu Unites letter to SMMUSD asks for independent oversight to work in collaboration with district. Click Here to Read Letter
- March 21, 2014: LA Weekly Article: Malibu High School Parents Demand a Role in Toxins Testing and Cleanup Click Here to Read
- March 21, 2014: District Response to PEER and Malibu Unites
request for money set aside for independent oversight. Click Here to See Letter
- March 21, 2014: EPA results of 5 tests form Jan 3rd, 2014. Click Here to See Letter
- March 24, 2014: Surfside Article: District, Parents Clash Over Transparency Click Here to Read
- March 25, 2014: EPA’s Kent Thomas of the Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Lab, presentation on PCBs Click Here to See EPA Region IX, Steve Armann presentation on PCBs Click Here to See
- March 27, 2014: Malibu Unites Lobbies Board of Education to Halt Rodenticide Use at Malibu High, Comply with the Healthy Schools Act and Adopt an Organic Pesticide Program: Click Here to Read Click Here for Pesticide Violations
- March 28, 2014: Public Records Act Release of information about Asbestos Click Here to See PRA
- April 1, 2014: Malibu Unites Letter to board: State of California cited SMMUSD for Pesticide Violations Click Here to See Letter Click Here to Read Press Release
- April 4, 2014: DTSC Community Survey DTSC Survey 3-4-14
- April 4, 2014: SMMUSD Weekly Update and Environ’s Schedule: Superintendent Lyon denies Malibu Unites request of independent expert oversight. She thinks that Environ can peer review itself and present only the district’s experts viewpoint to the EPA and DTSC for approval. The district continues to not show good faith in transparency and community input. Please see MU Blog for response to Lyon’s update Click Here for Update
- April 25, 2014: Environ PCB Plan submitted to EPA Click Here to Read
- April 28, 2014: EPA webinar: Three experts made presentations to the entire US on the serious health affects of PCBs even at low levels. Do you think that we should leave PCBs in schools? Some people want to manage PCBs in place and continue to let them expose school age children, do you think this method will put children in potential harms way?” Click Here for Expert Answer
- April 29, 2014: Malibu Unites Hosts a Town Hall on PCB Removal at Dukes on May 1st Click Here to See News Article
- May 5, 2014: Malibu Teachers Reject Schools PCB Cleanup Plan Click Here to Read Press Release Click Here to Read Letter to EPA
- May 7, 2014: Malibu Unties Keeps Gaining Momentum Click Here to Read Malibu Times Article
- May 9, 2014: Malibu Unites Town Hall Meeting at Dukes to discuss clean-up plan at MHS Click Here to Read Surfside Article
- May 9, 2014: The Fehling Group, LLC sends comments to EPA regarding the Environ plan being inadequate. Click Here to Read
- May 21, 2014: SMMUSD sends a letter sating that the school will be closed for the summer for testing. Click Here to Read Letter
- June 4, 2014: EPA rejects Environ Plan. Envrion must submit MHS plan as per EPA instructions to EPA in 30 days. Click Here to Read Letter from EPA
- June 20, 2014: EPA Region 9 Administrator, Jared Blumenfeld visited Malibu Unites to do a toxic tour of MHS. Blumenfeld said there is not enough data to say school is safe. Click Here for News Coverage
- June 25, 2014: Malibu Times: EPA director tours the school Click Here to Read
- June 27, 2014: Malibu Unites Response to Environ Memo of June 16, 2014: Testing will not be completed by August, please order portable classrooms for teachers. EPA and Environ are not adhering to TSCA law. Click Here to Read
- June 30, 2014: Press Release: TOP EPA OFFICIAL ADMITS MALIBU HIGH IS NOT “SAFE”, THEN TELLS SCHOOL DISTRICT: DO NOT TEST THE CAULK Click Here to Read
- July 3, 2014: Environ’s Second PCB Plan for MHS Click Here
- July 17, 2014: Comments to EPA regarding district.Environ’s plan to keep PCBs in place for 15 years. Click Here to Read Comments
- July 17, 2014: Independent Test Results: Highest PCB Results in Nation for classrooms. Juan Cabrillo room 19: 340,000ppm and MHS room 506: 370,000 click here to see report click here for key to sample number and room locations
- July 17, 2014: CBS News Article: Click Here
- July 18, 2014: The Science of PCB and Health: This document compiles health issues related to PCB exposure. Click Here Click Here for One Page Summary
- July 20, 2014: Letter to EPA, Jared Blumenfeld and SMMUSD in support of testing sources and removal of all PCBs from MHS/JC by John Ferbas, MS. Hyg., Ph.D. Click Here to Read
- July 28, 2014: Malibu Unites Response to Laurie Lieberman stating the school is Safe and the district will not provide an alternative space for students to learn in. Click Here
- Aug 12, 2014: PCB Source Investigation Plan from SWAPE Environmental. This plan will investigate the sources of PCBs. It will take 3 days to execute over a weekend and 10 days to receive lab results and a preliminary report. Click Here to See Plan
- Aug 14, 2014: Email from Jan Maez to EPA stating removal of only 4 rooms of caulking (1, 5, 8, library) and acknowledges this is voluntary and not an approval by the EPA. Click Here to Read Letter
- Aug 19, 2014: Malibu Unites and PEER file a notice of the intent to sue SMMUSD Board, Sandra Lyon and the EPA for failure to comply with violations under TSCA and the PCB regulations. Click Here to Read Notice
- Sept 16, 2014: City Council comes to 5-0 Resolution, urging SMMUSD to conduct source testing for PCBs. Click Here to View Resolution
- Sept 22, 2014: District Attorney Called on New PCB Findings in Malibu Schools. Click Here to Read Press Release
- Sept 22, 2014: Pillsbury Law Firm on behalf of the district sends response to 60-day notice stating they do not have information about independent testing, yet Environ references this independent testing data in several of its weekly updates. Click Here to Read
- Sept 23, 2014: Independent testing results reveal high levels of PCBs in more classrooms above Federal law, some rooms as high as 231,000 ppm which is over 4000 times the legal limit. (MHS room 505, 401, 205, 7) Click Here to See Labs
- Sept 26, 2014: Environ submits a supplemental plan to EPA, which we call plan 2.5. This addition to the July 3rd plan says, the district agrees to remove only 5 rooms of PCB laden caulking (room 1, 5, 8, library and 505 (independently tested)) but nothing else even if it known to contain PCBs over 50ppm. The district will not test the caulking in any other rooms. The remainder of the July 3rd plan remains in place and no other PCBs will be addressed for 15 years. Click Here to read updated plan
- Sept 29, 2014: Map of where PCBs are in soil at Juan Cabrillo by building G
- Sept 29, 2014: Steve Arman says, “it is my understanding that in the Supplement, the District is agreeing to remove any caulk with known and verified PCBs greater than 50 ppm, including caulk that was tested by independent parties.” We are waiting for Lyon to verify if this is correct. Click Here to Read Email
- Oct 6, 2014: Malibu Schools Will Remove Known PCBs But Won’t Test For Them: Will School Act on Independent EPA-Lab Tests with Ultra-High Illegal PCB Levels? Click Here to Read Article
- Oct 7th, 2014: 8th International PCB Workshop in Woods Hole, MA. Malibu Unites presented to top scientists, researchers, medical professionals and regulators from across the world. The general consciences is that PCB caulking at high levels must be removed ASAP. Read Full Summary of Workshop Lectures Here
- Oct 10, 2014: Letter from DTSC about soil step-out sampling has been conducted in three areas: (1) the area east of Building G (PCBs), (2) the Cornucopia area (Arsenic), and (3) the planter east of Building H (LEAD). DTSC Step Out sampling report Environ letter to DTSC Oct 3
- Oct 15, 2014: Save the Date for Nov 22nd Be Thankful Fundraiser Click for Sponsorship Click for Tickets Sales
- Oct 16, 2014: Letter to District Attorney Jackie Lacey regarding PCB Congener 126 and the dangerous levels it has been found at MHS and Juan Cabrillo. Click Here to Read Letter
- Oct 16, 2014: Test results for PCB congener 126, the most toxic of all PCBs. Results show levels of 126 at 122ppm which is 3 million times higher than EPA screening level. Click Here to see 122ppm test for JC room 19 Click Here to see 57.6ppm test for MHS Woodshop Room
- Dec 11, 2014: EPA confirms that district must remove all PCB-laden caulking over 50ppm, including the classrooms identified by independent tests. Click Here
Current Rooms Tested Over 50ppm
MHS: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 205, 401, 505, 506, 704, Old Gym Office, library
JC: office, 18, 19, 22, 23
- Dec 12, 2014: Click Here to See Malibu High School Weekly/Monthly Cleaning Schedule shows Best Management Practices dust removal occurring only once a month.
- Dec 16, 2014: SMMUSD orders a secret, special cleaning of MHS hours before PCB air and dust testing. Click Here to see email
- Dec 19, 2014: SMMUSD Press Release: The District continues to spend taxpayer funds to distract public from source testing to identify the extent of PCB contamination and removal to be in compliance with TSCA.
- Dec 22, 2014: Public Records Request Received of Environmental Expenditures: Environ, Pillsbury and Mark Katchen.
- Dec 25, 2014: AU/MU Response to District’s Press Release: District Orders a Secret “Special Cleaning” Rendering Results Meaningless and a Waste of Taxpayer Money. Click Here to Read
- Jan 12, 2015: Peer and AU/MU send 60-day notice to Individual School Board Members included is new school board members and Jan Maez, Ass. Superintendent and Sandra Lyon, Superintendent. Click Here to Read
- Jan 13, 2014: Updated Map of all known PCB contamination at Malibu High and Juan Cabrillo Click Here to See Map
- Jan 13, 2014: Press Release showing District spend reaches $4 million yet no PCB removal of caulking has occurred. Click Here for Press Release Click Here for Board Approved Purchase Orders Totaling over $4 million
- Jan 15, 2015: JM Environmental provides a conceptual approach and budgetary pricing to remove PCBs from Malibu High and Juan Cabrillo. This price is less than $1 million. This is 1/4 of what the district has spent to date with not one ounce of caulking removed. Click Here to Read JM Environmental Plan