Residents speak out about Grover Beach soil contamination
GROVER BEACH, Calif. - Concerned citizens of Grover Beach are speaking up about contaminated soil at a construction site on west grand avenue.
For several weeks, employees of surrounding businesses have been complaining of smells and fumes that lead to various symptoms.
Some citizens say they have seen what appears to be old, broken and leaking oil drums being unearthed at a construction site on west grand avenue in grover beach.
It's impacting people who work nearby.
“We had customers starting to get frustrated. My employee had a horrible headache. I did too. She had to leave,” says Christopher ‘Z’ Zapheris, Grover Station Grill’s owner.
The site was previously an a.t.v. rental business, and the current project will eventually be a four-story multi-use facility, including condominiums, retail commercial space, and outdoor patio space for the public.
“During initial stages of demolition, grading excavation contractors encountered presence of tar balls as well as contaminated soil at the site,” says Megan Martin with Grover Beach Community Development.
The impacted soil has been covered with tarps, and will be disposed of at an approved facility.
“We were aware of the extent of the impacted soil and that there would be excavation that needed to occur,” says Martin.
They say the applicant, Coastal Community Builders, are doing the best they can to remove the dirt in question.
“We believe at this point in time, that any odors that have been detected to date are more related to the asphalt in the construction along West Grand Avenue than they are related to the site,” says Martin.
Grover Beach Community Development says the potential impacts to the environment are less than significant due to the current mitigation efforts.
But even if the problem is temporary, it's making an impact
“I was very frustrated as it was another loss of business with the growth of Grover Beach and multiple customers leaving frustrated because all they could do is smell and taste oil,” says Zapheris.
Project leaders say encountering materials like this is not uncommon in construction projects, especially at sites with histories like this one.
The contaminated soil is expected to be fully cleared by the end of next week.
