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Offsite Impact of SSFL
For thirty five years, activists, legislators and media have misled the public about SSFL. Finally, here is a compilation of evidence that SSFL has NOT impacted the health of its neighbors.
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Nuclear Decommissioning at SSFL
A major activity at SSFL has been the decommissioning of DOE-owned and Boeing-owned nuclear and radiological faciities in Area IV.
Since 2000, politics, legislation, litigation and regulatory abuse and inaction has interfered with the established decommissioning process, and delayed radiological cleanup at SSFL.
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Sodium Reactor Experiment (SRE) Accident
The 1959 accident at the Sodium Reactor Experiment has served as a lightening rod for community attention towards SSFL. Learn more about the myths and facts surrounding the SRE accident.
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"To date, DTSC has not found any evidence that contamination from research and testing operations at SSFL has posed or would pose a threat to human health or the environment outside the SSFL site boundaries." [DTSC, 2018]
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Santa Susana Field Laboratory - Inconvenient Truths
Misinformation and disinformation surrounding SSFL has has been perpetuated by activist organizations, legislators and the media. The following short, two-page summary is a quick read that gives the facts about SSFL.
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PSR-LA Petition & Complaint (2013-2023)
In August 2013, PSR-LA alleged that demolition debris from decommissioned former nuclear facilities should be classified as low-level radioactive waste.
Petitioners: Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles, Southern California Federation of Scientists, Committee to Bridge the Gap and Consumer Watchdog.
Respondents: Department of Toxic Substances Control and California Department of Public Health.
Real Party In Interest: The Boeing Company
VIEW MORE
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DTSC-Boeing Settlement Agreement (2022)
On May 9, 2022 DTSC announced a Settlement Agreement "to hold Boeing accountable to its cleanup obligations at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory."
A primary objective is for Boeing to cleanup radionuclides (but not chemicals) in soil to background, in its areas of responsibility.
The following paper provides an opposing view.
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Jared Blumenfeld's Conflict of Interest (2022)
Request to the California Attorney General to conduct a conflict of interest investigation on CalEPA Secretary Jared Blumenfeld.
One month later, Mr. Blumenfeld resigned as CalEPA Secretary. Attorney General Bonta did not have the common courtesy to reply to my letter.
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Personal Communication with Federal and State Officials, and Media
The correspondence below with federal and State officials, and media, concerning legislative, regulatory and operational actions related to the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) has been initiated by myself, acting as a private citizen and community resident.
The material discussed has benefited from the knowledge acquired during my twenty five years as Senior Manager of Radiation Safety at SSFL before my retirement. However the views and opinions expressed are mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Boeing Company, the Department of Energy (DOE) or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Neither Boeing, nor DOE, nor NASA has approved this correspondence, neither has it been sought. I alone am responsible for its content.
Senate Bill 990 (2007) and Health and Safety Code § 25359.20
Request for Revocation of SB 990 Language
after being Struck Down in Federal Court.
Request for Removal of SB 990 from DTSC Website. |
The language of SB 990 still remains in the Health and Safety Code 25359,20. In 2023, DTSC finally removed all language pertaining to SB 990 from its website.
VIEW MORE |
2020 Amendment to Order on Consent
Opposition to Management of Non-radiological Building Debris
as Low-level Radioactive Waste |
In 2020, prior to DOE's planned demolition and disposal of its remaining buildings in Area IV, the DTSC pressured DOE to dispose of all decommissioned material and all debris from non-radiological buildings to the EnergySolutions LLRW disposal site.
VIEW MORE |
2022 DTSC-Boeing Settlement Agreement
Opposition to the Settlement Agreement
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In 2022, after 18 months of secret negotiations, Boeing and DTSC signed a "Settlement Agreement" that required radionuclides to be cleaned to background, and required chemicals to be cleaned up to residential land use, assuming that 100% of fruit and vegetable consumption is grown in the on-site backyard.
VIEW MORE |
2024 DTSC STREAM Platform
SSFL Tool for Response, Engagement, and Answer Management |
In 2024, DTSC initiated a platform named STREAM to better respond to stakeholders questions. This coincided with the initiation of the Soil Smarts Workshops.
VIEW MORE |
DOE Supplemental EIS
DOE Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Area IV |
In December 2024 DOE issued a Spplemental EIS for soils in Area IV of SSFL, based on findings by the DTSC that the 2010 AOC cleanup to background mandate was not practical.
VIEW MORE |
California Public Records Act (PRA) Request for Communications Between
Dan Hirsch
and Rick Brausch During Drafting of SB-990 and the 2010 AOCs |
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In March 2025, a public records act (PRA) request was made to DTSC for communications between Daniel Hirsch and DTSC. Documents provided so far have unearthed email communications between Hirsch, Brausch, and staffers of one-time State Senator Shiela Kuehl during drafting of SB-990.
VIEW MORE |
Falsification of DOE Waste Shipping Records at the
Energy Technology Engineering Center (2020-2021)
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Re-defining of Low-Level Radioactive Waste
In the 2020 Amendment to the Order on Consent, DTSC required the DOE to classify, and manage demolition debris from decommissioned buildings and buildings with no history of radiological use, as low-level radioactive waste (LLRW). DTSC forced DOE to dispose of this material out-of-state to a licensed LLRW disposal site.
Complaint to the DOE Energy Technology Engineering Center
Review of waste profiles and waste manifests for decommissioned material and debris from buildings with no history of radiological use, reveals that falsified data has been used, in a blatant attempt to mischaracterize non-LLRW as LLRW.
VIEW MORE
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Senator Dianne Feinstein's Correspondence with
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson (May 1999)
FOIA HQ-2024-01615-F |
In 1999, Senator Dianne Feinstein communicated her concerns about cleanup standards at SSFL to Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. A FOIA was submitted to DOE in 2024 for this letter and Secretary Richardson's reply. To date, DOE has failed to produce these letters.
VIEW MORE |
| Communication with Kit Stolz, Ojai Valley News |
| Date |
Communication |
| March 20, 2025 |
Email to Kit Stolz, following discussion at DOE's March 18, 2025, SEIS Scoping Meeting |
| GAO-25-107565 Nuclear Waste Cleanup |
| DOE Should Collect Information Specific to Soil and Legacy Landfills to Inform Overall Remediation Efforts. Compares remediation at eighjt major DOE sites, only one of which, ETEC, requires cleanup to background |
| Date |
Communication |
| September 29, 2025 |
Email to DOE and DTSC Management, Questions why ETEC is unique in requiring cleanup to background. |
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