Countywide : Toxic Waste Cleanup Legislation Proposed

Assemblywoman Paula L. Boland (R-Granada Hills) has proposed new hazardous waste site cleanup legislation at the urging of Ventura County officials, government leaders said Monday.

According to the proposed legislation, businesses would have the option of working with county environmental health officials on hazardous waste cleanups instead of the state Environmental Protection Agency.

The purpose of the legislation is to make cleanup efforts easier and cheaper for businesses, said county Supervisor Vicky Howard.

“The state has some pretty horrendous fees they put on businesses,” she said. “We can handle this just as well as the state can and at a much lower rate.”

The proposed legislation, she said, is an example of how “Ventura County is making an extra effort to work with the business community.”

“For some time, we’ve been saying the county and local businesses need to form a partnership,” Howard said.

Supervisor Susan Lacey added: “By streamlining the permit process, we will also encourage more people to come in and report and clean up their spills, thereby benefiting the environment and the property owners.”