Gas still leaking in south

Naturally occurring methane and hydrogen sulfide gas is killing grass

and trees and sometimes forms bubbles on the ground in at least three

private yards in the Southeast area of Huntington Beach.

The problem was discovered in the late 1980s, when residents in

the area began complaining of sulfuric odors. In 1991, the city had

trenches built in the problem areas to trap the gas underground. For

the most part, the trenches have served their purpose, Fire Marshall

Charles Burney told the City Council at a study session Monday.

“It’s been very successful,” Burney said. “It has allowed

vegetation that was not growing in areas over there in the past to

return.”

But some residents, such as Carl Wysacki, who lives on Christine

Drive, are still encountering problems.

Wysacki has never been able to grow anything in his yard. When he

and his wife first moved into their new home more than 40 years ago,

she told him that he wasn’t watering his plants enough.

“I can’t grow trees, I can’t grow anything,” he said.

Burney suspects that the gas is escaping through the uppermost

clay layer of the trench, which has begun to deteriorate.

Fixing the problem, Burney said, will involve putting a more

substantial barrier underground to contain the gas.

A consultant, Bryan Stirrat and Associates, was hired by the city

in November to advise it on ways to deal with the problem.

Keith Tucker, a resident who lives on Christine Drive, hired his

own consultant, who determined that the readings hadn’t dropped after

the trenches were built.

Tucker, an engineer himself, said the sulfuric smells still exist

and many residents still can’t grow grass.

“They’re saying that we can basically put a Band-Aid on this and

everything will work fine,” Tucker said, who thinks the problem is

much more widespread than the city will admit. He wants to see the

city run more tests over a larger area.

The Fire Department and private contractors are preparing a report

on mitigation measures that they expect will be ready by early next

week. Though a date has not yet been set, they predicted that a

public meeting would be held within the next couple of weeks.

Independent wins 5 statewide awards

The Huntington Beach Independent captured five awards in the

annual California Newspaper Publishers Assn. Better Newspaper

Contest.

Competing in the weekly 25,001 and up circulation category, the

paper won first place for sports coverage, sports photo,

environmental or agricultural reporting and front page. It won a

second prize for feature photo.

“I’m extremely proud of our staff and the awards prove that our

journalism is viewed as exceptional on the state level,” Independent

Editor Tony Dodero said. “Further, it should be evidence to our

readers that we are committed to providing Huntington Beach with

top-flight community news.”

Individual winners in the categories included City Editor Danette

Goulet, sports writer Mike Sciacca, Photo Editor Steve McCrank and

photographer Kent Treptow.

State commission to vote on sale of Edison’s pipes

The California Public Utilities Commission is set to vote today on

the sale of three huge storage tanks and a network of fuel pipelines,

which run under Huntington Beach.

In March 2002, Southern California Edison announced its plan to

sell off its entire 120-mile Southern California delivery network.

Later that month, Pacific Energy Partners, formerly known as Pacific

Terminals LLC, submitted an application to buy the entire system for

$158.2 million.

The three tanks, near the Ascon toxic dump in Southeast Huntington

Beach, hold 467,000 gallons of crude oil. A smaller tank holds 26,000

gallons.

The pipelines run north on Newland Street, head west on Garfield

Avenue, north on Edwards Street, west on Warner Street and north on

Bolsa Chica Street. Through the pipeline, oil can be transported as

needed from a refinery to Huntington Beach and back to the refinery.

Advisory board is accepting applications

The Citizens Participation Advisory Board, which determines how

federal grant money for public services, capital projects and other

activities should be doled out, is accepting applications to fill

several open seats on the board.

The board reviews requests for Community Development Block Grant

funding and makes recommendations to the City Council on where and

how to allocate the money. Funding for these grants are allocated by

the U.S. Department of Urban Housing and Development.

The board meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in City

Hall. Applicants must live in Huntington Beach and be at least 18

years old. Applications can be picked up at the City Council Office

at 2000 Main St. For more information, call (714) 536-5553.