Environment
Torres Martinez Reservation dump on Superfund list



An illegal dump on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Reservation in California has been put on the Superfund list of toxic sites.

The Environmental Protection Agency told dump owner George Auclair Jr., a tribal member, to start developing a cleanup plan. If he doesn't respond within five days, the EPA says it will take action.

The tribe welcomed the designation. "That is good news. The tribe is behind that 100 percent," Chairman Ray Torres told The Palm Springs Desert Sun.

A number of dump sites are in operation on allotted Indian land on the reservation.

Get the Story:
Feds crack down on Thermal dump (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 10/20)

Relevant Links:
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians - http://www.torresmartinez.org

Related Stories:
Underground fire on Torres Martinez Reservation (09/14)
Judge closes dump on Torres Martinez Reservation (08/09)
Editorial: Little help for tribes with illegal dumps (12/19)
Illegal dumping a big problem on reservation (12/13)
Fire burns for a week on Torres Martinez Reservation (04/11)
California tribe to use EPA grant to monitor water (02/02)
Calif. tribe gives members bottled water (02/11)
Church ordered to remove tent from reservation (10/05)
Judge asked to shut down reservation dump site (7/24)
Feds seek to close reservation mobile home park (07/11)
Waste dump on reservation told to stop burning (05/08)