Last week we asked you to take action to oppose the Department of Energy (DOE)’s corrupt cleanup plan that would have left 98% of the chemical and radioactive contamination at the Santa Susana Field Lab. Today, that plan is under the close scrutiny of public and state officials. I don’t believe that the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC), who enforces the cleanup, has ever been held publicly accountable before. But now over 573,000 people are watching closely – and the results have been transformative.

The Los Angeles Daily News wrote, “Officials with the state Department of Toxic Substances Control have criticized a federal agency’s proposal to clean up its portion of the contaminated Santa Susana Field Laboratory... DTSC ‘remains fully committed to holding DOE accountable to the requirements’ of the agreement, the letter said.”

I almost fell out of my chair when I read that. This is the same agency that lied to us, tried to undo the legal cleanup agreements, and who have approved draft after draft of horrific cleanup plans by DOE, NASA and Boeing. To see this change is a miracle. CalEPA and the DTSC, now under the Newsom Administration, are finally listening. Listening to you.

A year ago, most Southern Californians had never heard of the site, even though it is one of America’s worst nuclear meltdowns. Now it’s not only a byword, but it’s being taken seriously by the regulating agency again. By elected officials. By America. Because of you.

YOU are making a difference in my community with the power of your calls, emails, and by sending donations. Two years ago I had no idea how powerful we would be, and that by working together we could get closer to the full, promised cleanup. I hope you know that this email isn’t a fuzzy-feelings-pep talk. This is actually what’s happening and we couldn’t be where we are without you. I really mean it. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of myself and all the other cancer parents in our community, thank you for caring about us.

We still have a long way to go and formidable opponents, like Boeing, who are trying every trick in the book to get out of their cleanup obligations. But I know that together, we can move mountains – because we already have. I hope you’ll continue to be by our side as we blaze a path to keep the kids in our community safe from chemical and radioactive waste.

Melissa