A group in Malibu aiming to ensure local schools maintains proper health and safety standards announced it is hosting a town hall meeting at Duke’s on May 1 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss a plan to remove dangerously high levels of a chlorine compound from the Malibu High School campus.
Malibu Unites has assembled four environmental experts to discuss an 81-page plan for inspection, management, and removal of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) issued by Environ, a company hired by the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD).
The environmental company reportedly issued its plan on April 25 to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. According to Malibu Unites, it has hired a team of experts for oversight of the plan. The experts have one week to comment on Environ’s proposed plan.
“Community input will be essential to our ability to move forward in a way that adequately represents everyone’s concerns,” a statement issued by Malibu Unites about the May 1 town hall read. “We are fortunate to have four of our Advisory Council members available to meet with us. They will translate the Environ plan into laypersons’ terms and answer questions … that have been lingering since the contamination issue was brought to public attention in October 2013.”
The experts attending Thursday evening’s town hall include health scientist Kurt Fehling, medical toxicology specialist Nachman Brautbar, public interest attorney Christina Georgio, and environmental justice advocate Penny Newman.
Admission to the May 1 town hall is free.
Late last year, caulk at Malibu High School was reportedly tested and it was discovered to have enough PCB to trigger an EPA investigation.
According to Malibu Unites, PCB is one of three materials fully banned by the EPA – in addition to asbestos and lead-based paint – and “poses a variety of health risks.”
To find out more about Malibu Unites, please visit its website here.
Duke’s Restaurant is located at 21150 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. The town hall will run from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
