By Martin Rubin Director, Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution
Los Angeles residents, desiring access to the new Airport Park off-leash dog areas, may want to ask the city of Santa Monica what they were thinking when they decided to build this park next to an airport that spews aircraft emissions carried by prevailing winds to adjacent areas. In October of 2001, the Santa Monica Task Force on the Environment expressed concern about constructing a park with playing fields adjacent to the airport because of elevated levels of air pollutants. In February 2003, a task force member noted that no risk assessment of potential health risks to users of the park was completed as part of the EIR, noting no air sampling was conducted at Santa Monica Airport.
After more than 10 years of residential complaints about jet emissions and safety concerns, culminating in a community protest at the airport a week before the gala opening of the park, Santa Monica has yet to address health risks that their airport imposes on families, including pets, in the adjacent communities and parks.
Until such a health study is completed, with the results showing that there is no risk, I would advise both Los Angeles and Santa Monica park users to exercise caution when taking children and dogs to the new Airport Park.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 11, 2007. Read the original PDF.