NORCO COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT

REGARDING WYLE LABS

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is the lead agency charged with overseeing this process and providing for public participation as well. (DTSC's Informational Notice on CAG)

In August 2003, community members petitioned DTSC for assistance in forming a Community Advisory Group (CAG) pursuant to California’s Health & Safety Code, Section 25358.7.1. In October 2003, members were appointed to this group that represented a diversity of the community, including members of INSIST (a local environmental advocacy group), local citizens, business owners, school district representatives and City of Norco officials.

The founding members of this CAG adopted operating rules, a mission statement and goals for its identified phases of operation as follows:

Phase 1: Gather information - educate CAG members: Past meetings included DTSC presentations on Wyle's consent order, hydrogeology and toxicology. This enabled the CAG to review Wyle’s past history, DTSC agreements, data collection, locations of on and off-site contamination, chemical movement in the environment, remediation plans for the removal of toxic contamination, implications of toxic endangerment on the environment and the consequences to the health and well being of people (past and present) in contact with these chemicals. CAG requests for information were provided by DTSC by means of consent agreements, workplans, test updates and speakers addressing issues of hydrogeology and toxicology. The group has responded to DTSC by commenting on the reports forwarded to it.

Phase 2: Inform community and provide input The CAG’s activities will intensify in the coming months as its’ focus will be to ensure that the public is informed and involved early in the assessment of on- and off-site contamination, along with health risks; and make sure that community issues, concerns and comments are heard and considered by the DTSC in their decision making process. For information transfer and public awareness, the following steps have been taken. Outreach presentations have been made to the Corona-Norco Unified School Board, Norco City Council, RURAL (a local citizen’s group) and Corona Norco Teacher‘s Union. Two major newspapers attend and publicize reporters on the CAG meetings. A weekly local paper, a monthly newsletter for RURAL and the Chamber of Commerce will include information and meeting dates for the CAG.

A telephone calling group has been initiated to get the message out to the community on how to contact sources of information and dates for CAG meetings and presentations. A PowerPoint presentation regarding Wyle‘s operations and history has been developed for public information. This presentation has been made to the Corona-Norco School Board, Norco’s city manager, Jeff Allred and city staff. Subsequently, the City added several links to its’ website that are relevant to Wyle issues. Also, two repository sites have been established at the Corona Public Library and Norco City Hall.

Phase 3: Address public health and safety The DHS is the only agency able to look into current health concerns as they relate to past exposures and provide the community with investigative assistance. Its’ mission is to identify and work toward controlling harmful environmental factors and promote those that are healthful. To accomplish this, DHS will:

Conduct health and exposure investigations

Undertake health and exposure surveillance

Provide public health oversight, technical assistance and training

Facilitate public participation and effective community relations

Develop policy initiatives and recommendations

Maintain scientific preparedness

General CAG information The CAG regularly meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm in the City Council Chambers.

The CAG invites citizen participation so that questions or concerns regarding any aspect of the contamination problems - past, present or future - may be addressed; and encourages local associations and community groups to invite CAG representatives to its meetings.

For further information, please contact Celeste Tittle at 951-272-8455.