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kaiserpapers.com/downey

Basic Background Information on The Downey Property that has made a large number of people sick.

Prior to 1996, A United States Air Force Base/NASA Facility located in Downey, Los Angeles County, CA was designated as a profoundly contaminated SuperFund site by the U.S. EPA. The site was downgraded to "brownfield" level of contamination and sold to The City of Downey. (A brownfield site is an abandoned or idle property where expansion or redevelopment may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.)


This site had been used by the military to develop neutron bombs, rocket fuel, missiles, the Space Shuttle, Satellites, as well as Delta rockets, and was the site of the first nuclear reactor in the State of California.  This information has been greatly documented by numerous U.S. and California Government Agencies.


The property has since been classified as a low priority clean up site and placed into private corporate hands, primarily Industrial Realty Group (or IRG.) and several other corporate entities that appear to be subsidiaries of IRG and clean up contracted out to Arcadis, a Netherlands based corporation). The land was never fully decontaminated.


Contrary to all standards, in 2005, Kaiser Permanente built medical facilities and a Regional Hospital on this property, again, the site of the former nuclear reactor, rocket fuel development, etc., etc. Despite the restriction placed by the City of Downey upon transfer of the property, which clearly states that no day care center, no school for those under 18, no houses, etc., may ever be placed on that property, Kaiser Downey Regional Medical Center has been built there.


The main military buildings on the property were converted to Downey Studios and used for filming by several companies. Downey Studios is owned by I.R.G.


Serious debilitating illnesses and confirmed deaths are being directly attributed to this property's toxic and radioactive contamination. This land was never fully cleaned up before being used for commercial purposes as a movie studio, a medical facility/hospital and numerous retail businesses. Currently the owners are attempting to turn a portion of it into a mixed use housing development.


There are over 100+ people that have become seriously ill and need immediate medical treatment, yet treatment is being denied to most of them all because of their entanglement with the California Worker's Compensation system. Some are diagnosed with radiation poisoning. Many are no longer able to work and are completely disabled. Many have been threatened with lawsuits by IRG if they publicize the scandal. Even the union representing the employees was sued by IRG. All have serious fungal and mold related illnesses. Some have various heavy metal illnesses. Some have peeling skin, some have terrible and painful rashes. Most have lost a great deal of their hair.  Several cancers have been diagnosed.

These people still need medical care.

The property was formally transferred to the City of Downey in the 1996 H.R. 3666 [104th]: Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act. This bill was introduced by Rep. Jerry Lewis, voted for by many Congressmen  and signed into law by Pres. Bill Clinton.