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0 0 Thursday,April 25, 1996 The Record ENVIRONMENT State expands list of polluters in Lodi By Richard Banner Low Biu Chief Cleanup meeting LDDI — A state-commissioned study says nearly a dozen busi- A meeting for property nesses are responsible for soil and owners affected by the water pollution below central Lodi deanup is planned for 7:30 that could take 20 years and p.m. April 30 in the many millions of dollars to dean Carnegie Forum. up. Nine other businesses are sus- Street listed as a pollution source. petted sources of the plume, State officials previously were which extends under a 600-acre aware of just three verified section of the city, including most sources of the pollution: the of the downtown area Lustre Cal nameplate company on The report comes as grim news Turner Road, Busy Bee cleaners for business owners, who now on North Main Street, and the may face substantial cleanup Guild Cleaners on Church Street. cesrs' But a study completed by 'U my insurance down[ cover Northeast Research Institute for this, it could bankrupt me;' said the California Department of Toxic Tom Gundershaug, the owner of a pump service on Sacramento please see LODI,e2 LODI wastewater superintendent. Toro city soil cleanup likely will cost several water wells have been dosed because million dollars, he said. of the contamination. "It's a problem that can be solved, Continued from 01 Forkas said the city will pay for and that's what we want to do — Substance Control shows numerous and coordinate a cleanup of the before it spreads and becomes even potential and confirmed sources.The groundwater, a project that likely will more expensive to address," he said. new confirmed sources of pollution run $18 million or more over many Forkas said most businesses carry include Gundershaug; the Lodi Years• The main pollutants, TCE and Insurance that should help pay for printing Co,; Cain Electrical Motors; pC& are used in cleaning solutions the cleanup. "There should be Griffith Motors; the former United and are suspected carcinogens. remorse for nearly all concerned," he Dry Cleaners; the former Advance Business owners and operators will said Cleaners; the former Service Laundry; be expected to pay for cleaning up and the former French Dry Cleaners. soil contaminated as a result of their The water cleansing would be Researchers gathered dozens of operations. State officials are check- accomplished by pumping ground- water and soil samples to pinpoint Ing various records to track down water out of the plume and running sources of the plume, which extends owners and operators of businesses it through carbon filters. It then up to 350 feet below ground, said that are defunct, Farkas said. No final would flow back into Ore city's water Fran Forkas, the city's water and figures have been established, but the system.