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Politics & Government

Benicia Arsenal Avoids Blanket Cleanup Order

State agency won't hit old Army sites with crippling order.

Many property owners at the Arsenal won't have to worry about more toxic clean-up being needed.

Both the Vallejo Times-Herald and the Benicia Herald reported last week that the California Department of Toxic Substances Control has asserted that the site will not be marked in its entirety with a "Imminent and Substantial Endangerment Order."

Benicia Patch coverage of the Arsenal Cleanup

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Had all Arsenal property owners been required to clean up whatever toxicity was left over from the Army's days at the complex, development would have been halted, according to the Benicia Herald.

According to the Times-Herald, the state's concern focuses on the lower Arsensal area:

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A proposed lower Arsenal housing plan, however, will continue to be stalled until the city has a road map for dealing with challenged properties. While many properties will be removed from the cleanup, others may have restrictions -- such as no housing -- placed on them.

But it should be business as usual for most industrial park businesses, some of which have had hardships getting financing due to the cleanup uncertainties, (Mayor Elizabeth) Patterson said.

The decision comes almost two weeks to handout a contract to Walnut Creek-based consultant ERS Corp.

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