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HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS <br /> May 5, 1982 <br /> Page Four <br /> The State prohibits unsafe metal concentrations in <br /> waste materials received at the site. No more than three <br /> metals are allowed in a waste material exceeding the regu- <br /> latory level. Therefore, a 1/4 ton Chevy pickup truck <br /> filled with dirt containing the amount of copper found in <br /> one U.S. penny, and the amount of nickel in one U.S. nickel, <br /> and the silver in a pre-1962 silver dollar, would exceed <br /> those material levels permitted to be received at the <br /> Forward, Inc. , site under State regulations. <br /> The FMC waste received at the Forward, Inc. , site <br /> contains the elements barium and strontium. Barium is <br /> contained in common minerals found in the San Joaquin Valley. <br /> Barium is used in making housepaint, soap, paper and glass. <br /> Barium sulfate, an insoluble compound, is used in medicine <br /> to aid in diagnosis. Barium is relatively abundant in nature <br /> and is found in plants and animals. Brazil nuts contain <br /> 3000 to 4000 ppm of barium. <br /> Strontium is used to make paint and rubber and in re- <br /> fining sugar from sugar beets, and in hair removers and <br /> toothpastes. Some safe drinking water supplies naturally <br /> contain levels up to 50 parts per million. Some plants <br /> naturally contain strontium and are healthy with levels <br /> as high as 26, 000 parts per million. Strontium is essentially <br /> nontoxic from a chemical standpoint. No adverse effects <br /> from industrial use have been documented. <br /> The FMC barium/strontium waste accounts for 96% of <br /> the total solid waste material received at the Forward, Inc. , <br /> site. It is clear that the "huge volumes of hazardous waste" , <br /> reported in the news media as being received at the Forward, <br /> Inc. , site, present virtually no hazard to the environment. <br /> The harrassment of the Forward, Inc. , business, for their <br /> legal disposal of this relatively low hazard material is <br /> unwarranted. <br /> THE OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL OF FORWARD, INC. UNDERSTAND <br /> AND APPRECIATE VALID PUBLIC CONCERN FOR THE PROPER DISPOSAL <br /> OF WASTE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF SAN JOAQUIN <br /> COUNTY RESIDENTS. <br /> Nevertheless, and, again, to be blunt and plain-spoken - <br /> the Austin Road site has been the subject of an almost continual <br /> campaign of attack which verges on harassment and interference <br />