The California Department of Toxic Substances Control has confirmed a tentative date for its verdict on Romic Environmental Technologies’ permit application to expand its services in East Palo Alto.
“We are expecting to have a decision between June and September,” said Mohinder Sandhu, DTSC branch chief.
An East Palo Alto community youth group, Youth United for Community Action (YUCA), held a march yesterday in protest of Romic’s continued presence in the city. YUCA members charge Romic has polluted their city and violated state and federal toxics laws for years, putting the community at risk.
They accuse the state toxics department of dragging its feet by allowing Romic to operate under an expired permit for 15 years.
Yesterday evening, they assembled at Pulgas Avenue and Bay Road, and beat a piñata effigy of Romic to show their frustration, member Annie Loya said. The group of 30 young people, ranging in age from 7 to 19, stood in front of a big rig on its way to Romic, blocking its passage for 20 minutes.
Sandhu said his department has received a large amount of commentary to the environmental impact report regarding Romic’s permit application. Each comment must be responded to in writing.
Romic was fined for numerous violations last year, and paid a settlement of $849,000.
Romic’s settlement with DTSC is among the top 10 largest in the Bay Area, the largest being $3.2 million, according to DTSC Media Representative Angela Blanchette.
Romic and the toxics department were at odds regarding interpretations of the old permit under which the company operated, Sandhu said.
He called the old permit “vague and ambiguous.” An upgraded permit would make Romic’s obligations clear, he said.
Romic spokesman Chris Stampolis said he drove to the Home Depot site where the youth’s march began, in hopes of talking with the group, but could not locate them.
He said he not been contacted with any questions by the YUCA group.
“Romic has an open-door policy to anyone in the community to come by for a tour or ask questions about the facility,” he said.
Stampolis had no comment regarding the blockade of a truck going to the facility.
“I would refer you to the policy of East Palo Alto Police,” he said, but added he respected the group’s right to protest.
He did not call the police yesterday, he said.
“Romic welcomes strict enforcement when there is consistent oversight and equitable inspections throughout industry competitors,” he said.
Romic had no violations for releasing waste products into the community, he said.
Asked about the release of ferrous cyanide and other chemicals into the sewer system in the mid- and late-1990s, Stampolis said “I would refer you to the sanitary district for comment.”