Test Results On Alleged Toxicity In Wildomar Neighborhood Expected Shortly

UPDATE: John Scandura of the state's Department of Toxic Substances Control contacted Patch after publication of this article. He said he is still awaiting the final results of the South Coast Air Quality Management District testing. Discussions with SCAQMD have revealed preliminary test results show nothing out ot the ordinary in the Autumnwood development, although DTSC must still analyze the findings before drawing final conclusions, he said. Scandura also confirmed that his agency would be represented at a yet-to-be-scheduled community forum designed to answer questions about SCAQMD's findings.

ORIGINAL POST: As some Wildomar residents and local elected officials lean on the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control to test soil in a neighborhood that could be making people sick, an official from the South Coast Air Quality Management District has confirmed his agency will have test results available within two weeks.

The SCAQMD was called in to test the air quality in the Autumnwood neighborhood of Wildomar after two residents there died and others say they have been sickened.

The deaths have not been tied to poisoning, according to officials. Illnesses in the area could not yet be linked to toxicity by county health officials because residents have not forwarded their health records, confirmed Jose Arballo Jr., spokesman for the County of Riverside Department of Public Health.

On Jan. 2, investigators from SCAQMD took indoor and outdoor air samples at three homes located in the Autumnwood development, according to SCAQMD spokesman Sam Atwood.

The SCAQMD investigators returned to Autumnwood Jan. 15 to obtain soil samples from one residence located on Amaryllis Court, Atwood said.

Atwood did not provide details on any preliminary test results but said the unusual step of obtaining soil samples by SCAQMD was a precautionary measure to ensure all concerns are being addressed.

“We want to help out,” he said, noting the results should be published within two weeks.

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Department of Toxic Substances Control is normally tasked with obtaining soil samples, but a spokesman from DTSC has maintained that SCAQMD test results should be reviewed first because there have been no findings yet that warrant DTSC testing.

“We’re not seeing anything at this point,” DTSC branch chief John Scandura said during a Dec. 11 community forum at Wildomar Elementary School in which DTSC, SCAQMD, county health officials and Wildomar officials addressed concerns posed by Autumnwood residents.

Scandura said during the Dec. 11 meeting that the testing is expensive; Atwood said the SCAQMD testing is running into the "tens of thousands of dollars," not including staff salaries.

Atwood confirmed that DTSC is reviewing all the SCAQMD test results and quality assurance on the findings is now being conducted.

Atwood, along with Wildomar City Councilman Ben Benoit, said that a second community forum is being scheduled in Wildomar.

The upcoming forum will be held to publicly discuss test findings and DTSC officials are likely to attend, Benoit said.

SCAQMD will be represented at the forum, Atwood confirmed.

But Autumnwood residents have maintained they want DTSC to conduct its own tests and they have been frustrated by the state agency's hesitation.

On Jan. 22, Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) also expressed disappointment in the DTSC's response to the Wildomar situation.

“It is not yet clear what substances, if any, are causing illnesses in the development. However, in a request for cooperation from my office and our constituents the DTSC has been unresponsive and even evasive.” Melendez said.

“We just want to get to the bottom of this for everyone; we want the families who have been displaced from this to be able to either move back in to their homes or move on,” she continued. “I hope DTSC and CAL/EPA will be communicative regarding the ongoing investigation not only with my office, but with the residents and former residents it continues to affect."

News on the upcoming community forum is expected shortly.