92-192 RESOLUTION NO. 92R-192
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ANAHEIM TERMINATING CONDITIONAL USE
PERMITS NUMBERS 1703, 2525 AND 3052, AND
DECLARING RESOLUTIONS NUMBERS PC77-184,
77R-670, 86R-394, 87R-91, PC84-106, 84R-299,
86R-395, 87R-92 AND PC88-225 NULL AND VOID.
WHEREAS, on August 29, 1977, the Planning Commission of
the City of Anaheim (hereinafter the "Planning Commission")
adopted its Resolution No. PC77-184 approving Conditional Use
Permit No. 1703 to permit a resource recovery and recycling
operation, with waivers of certain provisions of the Anaheim
Municipal Code, on certain real property and subject to certain
conditions of approval as expressly described and set forth in
said Resolution No. PC77-184; and
WHEREAS, thereafter, within the time prescribed by law,
an interested party or the City Council of the City of Anaheim
(hereinafter the "City Council"), on its own action, caused the
review of said decision of the Planning Commission approving
Conditional Use Permit No. 1703 at a duly noticed public hearing
held by the City Council on October 11, 1977; and
WHEREAS, on October 11, 1977, the City Council adopted
its Resolution No. 77R-670 approving Conditional Use Permit No.
1703 to permit the aforesaid use of the aforesaid property
subject to certain conditions of approval set forth in said
Resolution No. 77R-670; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 18.03.091 of the Anaheim
Municipal Code, the City Council conducted a public hearing on
August 19, 1986, which hearing was continued to August 26, 1986,
and then again continued to September 2, 1986, to consider
whether Conditional Use Permit No. 1703 (together with
Conditional Use Permit No. 2525) should be modified or terminated
due to activities being carried on in violation of said use
permit, in violation of state and local laws and ordinances, and
the uses being exercised in a manner detrimental to public
health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, on September 2, 1986, the City Council adopted
its Resolution No. 86R-394 modifying Conditional Use Permit No.
1703 by the addition of new conditions of approval thereto and
amending Resolution No. 77R-670 accordingly; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 18.03.091 of the Anaheim
Municipal Code, the City Council conducted a public hearing on
March 17, 1987, to consider whether Conditional Use Permit No.
1703 (together with Conditional Use Permit No. 2525) should again
be modified or terminated due to activities being carried on in
violation of said, and the uses being exercised in a manner
detrimental to public health, safety and welfare use permit, in
violation of federal, state and local laws and ordinances, and
the uses being exercised in a manner detrimental to public
health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 1987, the City Council adopted
its Resolution No. 87R-91 further modifying Conditional Use
Permit No. 1703 by an amendment to the conditions of approval
thereof and amending Resolutions No. 77R-670 and 86R-394
accordingly; and
WHEREAS, on June 11, 1984, the Planning Commission
adopted its Resolution No. PC84-106 approving Conditional Use
Permit No. 2525 to permit expansion of the aforesaid resource
recovery operation, including an automobile dismantling business
with wholesale and retail sales of auto parts, with waivers of
certain provisions of the Anaheim Municipal Code, on certain real
property and subject to certain conditions of approval as
expressly described and set forth in said Resolution No. PC84-
106; and
WHEREAS, thereafter, within the time prescribed by law,
an interested party or the City Council, on its own action,
caused the review of said action of the Planning Commission
approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2525 at a duly noticed
public hearing held by the City Council on July 31, 1984; and
WHEREAS, on July 31, 1984, the City Council adopted its
Resolution No. 84R-299 approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2525
to permit the aforesaid use of the aforesaid property subject to
certain conditions of approval set forth in said Resolution No.
84R-299; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 18.03.091 of the Anaheim
Municipal Code, the City Council conducted a public hearing on
August 19, 1986, which hearing was continued to August 26, 1986,
and then again continued to September 2, 1986, to consider
whether Conditional Use Permit No. 2525 (together with
Conditional Use Permit No. 1703) should be modified or terminated
due to activities being carried on in violation of said use
permit, in violation of state and local laws and ordinances, and
the uses being exercised in a manner detrimental to public
health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, on September 2f 1986, the City Council adopted
its Resolution No. 86R-395 modifying Conditional Use Permit No.
2525 by the addition of new conditions of approval thereto and
amending Resolution No. 84R-299 accordingly; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 18.03.091 of the Anaheim
Municipal Code, the City Council conducted a public hearing on
March 17, 1987, to consider whether Conditional Use Permit No.
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2525 (together with Conditional Use Permit No. 1703) should again
be modified or terminated due to activities being carried on in
violation of said use permit, in violation of federal, state and
local laws and ordinances, and the use being exercised in a
manner detrimental to public health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 1987, the City Council adopted
its Resolution No. 87R-92 further modifying Conditional Use
Permit No. 2525 by an amendment to the conditions of approval
thereof and amending Resolutions No. 84R-299 and 86R-395
accordingly; and
WHEREAS, on August 15, 1988, the Planning Commission
adopted its Resolution No. PC88-225 approving Conditional Use
Permit No. 3052 to permit a retail used automobile sales
facility, with waivers of certain provisions of the Anaheim
Municipal Code, on certain real property and subject to certain
conditions of approval as expressly described and set forth in
said Resolution No. PC88-225; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 18.03.091 of the Anaheim
Municipal Code, the City Council scheduled a public hearing for
August 13, 1991, to consider whether Conditional Use Permit Nos.
1703, 2525 and 3052 should be modified or terminated on the
grounds provided therein, including due to activities being
carried on in violation of said use permits, activities in
violation of statute, ordinance, law or regulation, and the uses
being exercised in a manner detrimental to public health or
safety or to constitute a nuisance; and
WHEREAS, prior to conducting the evidentiary portion of
said public hearing, such matter was continued by the City
Council to October 8, 1991; and
WHEREAS, on October 8, 1991, pursuant to Section
1.12.110 of the Anaheim Municipal Code, the City Council, by
motion, referred the aforesaid public hearing to a hearing
officer to be selected by the city Attorney from the Judicial
Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc., and the aforesaid
matter was continued by the City Council until following receipt
of the report and recommendations of the hearing officer; and
WHEREAS, on December 23, 1991, the Honorable John L.
Flynn, the hearing officer selected by the City Attorney,
conducted a duly noticed public hearing for the purposes of
viewing the aforesaid property; and
WHEREAS, on April 3, April 8, April 22, and May 1,
1992, the hearing officer conducted a duly noticed public hearing
to receive testimony and evidence concerning the possible
modification or termination of Conditional Use Permits Nos. 1703,
2525 and 3052; and
3
WHEREAS, the evidentiary portion of said public hearing
was closed on May 1, 1992; and
WHEREAS, closing arguments on such matter were
scheduled for June 24, 1992 and continued to July 15, 1992, at
the request of the permit holder; and
WHEREAS, the administrative record of said public
hearing certified by the hearing officer and the written
recommendations of the hearing officer concerning such matters
were received by the City of Anaheim on August 24, 1992; and
WHEREAS, on September 1, 1992, the City Council did
consider the administrative record and the written
recommendations of the hearing officer.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the city Council of
the City of Anaheim that the City Council hereby adopts those
certain findings as set forth in Paragraphs 1.1 through 8.1, and
9.7 through 9.9, inclusive, of the Final Findings and
Recommendations of the Hearing Officer to the Anaheim City
Council attached hereto, marked Exhibit A, and incorporated
herein by this reference as if set forth in full. (The exhibits
adopted as part of the findings in Paragraph 4.2 are on file and
available in the office of the City Clerk).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Conditional Use Permits
Numbers 1703, 2525 and 3052 be, and each of such permits is
hereby, terminated upon the grounds and for the reasons set forth
in Paragraphs 9.1 through 9.9 of the Final Findings and
Recommendations of the Hearing Officer to the Anaheim City
Council attached hereto, marked Exhibit A, and incorporated
herein by this reference, and which grounds and reasons, and each
of them, are hereby adopted.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby
finds and determines that it would have terminated each of said
Conditional Use Permits Nos. 1703, 2525 and 3052 upon each of the
grounds and reasons hereinabove adopted.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Resolution Numbers PC77-
184, 77R-670, 86R-394, 87R-91, PC84-106, 84R-299, 86R-395, 87R-
92, and PC88-225 be, and the same are hereby, declared null and
void.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the time within which
rehearings must be sought is governed by the provisions of
Section 1.12.100 of the Anaheim Municipal Code and the time
within which judicial review of final decisions must be sought is
governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure and
Section 18.02.060 of the Anaheim Municipal Code.
4
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the
City Council of the City of Anaheim this 1st day of September,
1992.
F THE CITY OF~NAHEIM ~
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
5
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OF ANAHEIM )
I, LEONORA N. SOHL, City Clerk of the City of Anaheim, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution
No. 92R-192 was Introduced and adopted at a regular meeting provided by law, of the Anaheim City Council
held on the 1st day of September, 1992, by the following vote of the members thereof:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Simpson, Ehrle, Pickler, Daly and Hunter
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the Mayor of the City of Anaheim signed said Resolution No. 92R-192 on
the 2nd day of September, 1992.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Anaheim
this 2rid day of September, 1992.
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
(SEAL)
I, LEONORA N. SOHL, City Clerk of the City of Anaheim, do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original
of Resolution No. 92R-192 was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim on
September 1, 1992.
CITY CLERK Of THE CiTY OF ANAHEIM
HONORABLE JOHN L. FLYNN, (RETIRED)
JUDICIAL ARBITRATION & MEDIATION SERVICES, INC.
500 N. State College Blvd., Suite 600
P.O. Box 14095
Orange, CA 92668
(714) 939-1300
HEARING OFFICER
JUDICIAL ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES
ORANGE COUNTY
PUBLIC HEARING IN RE: )
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NOS. )
1703, 2525, AND 3052 AND ) FINAL FINDINGS AND
ASSOCIATED BUSINESSES (ADAMS ) RECOMMENDATIONS OF
INTERNATIONAL METALS ) THE HEARING OFFICER
CORPORATION SELF-SERVE AUTO, ) TO THE ANAHEIM CITY
DISMANTLERS, COUNTY AUTO ) COUNSEL
RESALE SERVICES, INC., AND )
DBW SERVICES). )
PROPOSED FINDINGS
THE CUPS
1.1 This proceeding concerns the proposed revocation
of three CUPs previously granted by the city of Anaheim:
CUP No. 1703, CUP No. 2525 and CUP No. 3052.
1.2 Since 1976 the Adams family has conducted business
on the subject property. The Adams family, particularly
George Adams, Jr., George Adams, Sr. and Terry Adams, have
been responsible for most of these activities including the
operation o'f Orange County Steel Salvage (OCSS), Adams
International Metals (AIM), WCS International (WSC),
EXHIBIT A
Anaheim-Fullerton Auto Dismantlers, Self Serve Auto
Dismantlers (aka Pull Your Part), County auto Resales
Services, Inc. (Auto Resales), and the hel!port;
1.3 In many instances the Adamses initiated a
particular use on' the property without obtaining the
necessary action, they subsequently applied for a CUP and
other zoning approvals. This is true of CUPs 1703, 2525,
2774, and 2756. .~
1o4 CUP 1703 was granted by the City Council on
October ll, 1977 subject to certain conditions "to permit a
resource recovery and recycling operation" on specified
portions of Lots 11, 12, 13, 31 and 32 and adjoining
portions of Pomelo Drive.
1.5 CUP 2525 was granted by the City Council on June
11, 1984 subject to certain conditions "to expand a resource
recovery operation including an automobile dismantling
business with wholesale and retail sales of auto parts" on
the identical property covered by CUP 1703 and, in addition,
specified portions of Lots 14 and 15. All of these uses are
allowed on any portion of the lots identified in CUP 2525.
1.6 The auto dismantling portion of the operation was
conducted by the Adamses on the parcels subject to CUP 1703
beginning in at least 1980 and was operated at that time
under a different name as part of OCSS (now AIM). OCSS and
George Adams were among the applicants but not the auto
dismantling operation. The petitioners (including OCSS and
George Adams) proposed no new buildings or structures and
all of the seven different operations conduoted by Orange
County Steel Salvage, including the auto dismantling offices
and storage, were within the existing building.
1.7 CUP 2525 is one integrated use permit for
recycling, resource recovery and auto dismantling. The
Adamses could have applied for separate CUPs for the
expansion of the resource recovery use and for the auto
dismantling use, since a property may have more than one
CUP, but they chose to apply for one integrated CUP. (A
separate CUP was sought by the Adams for the heliport on the
same parcels covered by CUPs 1703 and 2525.) At the hearing
before the City Council on July 31, 1984, when CUP 2525 was
approved the Adamses' representative, Mr. Philip Anthony
told the City CoUncil that:
"He was representing the applicant who was
the owner and operator of the Recycling and
Recovery Center .... The CUP request combined the
new lots with the existing operation into one new
revised comprehensive use permit to allow the use
of the two new lots for the identical operation
qoinq on the existinq property. The new CUP
clarified some of the terms and conditions of the
old permit and simplified and clarified what
would be allowed." (Emphasis added.)
1.8 CUP 2525 expanded on the use originally set out in
CUP 1703, thereby allowing that use on the adjacent property
(Lots 14 and 15), as well as authorizing a new use (auto
dismantling) (which was previously conducted illegally by
the Adamses' and OCSS) on all of the Lots covered by CUP
2525. The conditions of CUP 2525 and the related zoning
3
actions include almost all of the same conditions as CUP
1703.
1.9 CUP 3052 allowed establishment of a retail used
automobile sales facility with maximum area of free-standing
sign waived (20 square feet permitted, 308 square feet
approved).
1.10 At the hearing George Adams, Jr. testified that
the use granted under CUP 3052 had ceased to exist, and
there was no opposition to revocation of CUP 3052.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
I. THE HISTORY OF THIS PROCEEDING
2.1 The present proceeding was initiated when, after
giving the owner/operators additional time to comply with a
previous Notice of Code Violation/Order to Comply, Code
Enforcement Staff submitted a Staff Report to the City
Council and the City Manager on June 2, 1991. The Staff
Report recommended the termination of CUP Nos. 1703, 2525
and 3052.
2.2 Public Notice of the hearing on the proposed
revocation of CUPs 1703, 2525 and 3052 was provided by
publication in the Anaheim Bulletin on August 2, 1991,
mailing to property owners within 300 feet on July 30, 1991
and posting of the property on August 2, 1991. On Auqust
13, 1991, the city Council considered the matter at its
regular meeting and continued the hearing until October 8,
1991 at the request of Orange County. There was no
opposition to the continuance. (Id.)
2.3 On October 8, 1991, pursuant to Anaheim Municipal
Code Section 1.12.110, the City Council determined to refer
the matter to a hearing officer selected from Judicial
Arbitration and Mediation Services to conduct a public
hearing on the matter and prepare a recommendation to the
City Council. On .December 13, 1991, the Zoning
Administrator of the Anaheim City Planning Department
published notice that on December 23, 1991, the Hearing
officer would hold a public hearing to view the property
subject to CUP Nos. 1703, 2525 and 3052. The hearing was
held as noticed.
2.4 Subsequently, on March 21, 1992, the City Council
of the City of Anaheim published notice that on April 3,
1992, the Hearing Officer would conduct a public hearing
where public testimony would be heard to consider the
modification or termination of CUP Nos. 1703, 2525 and 3052.
In conjunction with the hearing, on March 31, 1992, Anaheim
Code Enforcement Staff submitted a staff report to the
Hearing Officer and copies of the staff report were made
available to interested parties. The Staff Report was an
update and expansion of the June 2, 1991, Staff Report and,
like the previous Staff Report, also recommended the
termination of the CUPs at issue.'
2.5 On April 3, 1992, the Hearing Officer opened the
public hearing and began receiving testimony. The hearing
5
remained open and further evidence was taken on April 8,
1992; April 22, 1992; and May 1, 1992. The City of Anaheim
("city") appeared and was represented by John W. Poole, Code
Enforcement Manager, Selma J. Mann, Deputy City Attorney,
and by Marsha croninger and James Hevener, Jones, Day,
Reavis & Poque. Respondents Adams International Metals
Corp. ("AIM") and Self-Serve Auto Dismantlers, Inc. appeared
and were represented by George Adams, Jr. and Terry-Adams.
Witnesses were presented by both sides, and evidence, both
oral and in writing, was received. Testimony was also
received from interested members of the public. At the
conclusion of testimony on May 1, 1992, the Hearing Officer
closed the evidentiary portion of the hearing and ordered
each side to submit position papers to be followed by
closing arguments on June 24, 1992.
2.6 on May 21, 1992, the City submitted its brief
supporting the termination of the CUPs. On June 12, 1992,
a brief opposing termination was submitted on behalf of
Adams International Metals (AIM) and Self-Serve Auto
Dismantlers, Inc. ("Pull Your Part") (collectively
"Respondents"). That brief contained two factual exhibits
not previously entered into the record. On July 22, 1992,
the City submitted its reply brief and concurrently
submitted a motion to strike one of the exhibits in
Respondent~' opposition brief as improper and prejudicial.
On July 24, 1942, the Hearing officer considered the City's
motion to strike and also a request for a continuance made
by Respondents to allow them an opportunity to more fully
respond to the motion to strike and to allow additional
briefing in response to one of city's arguments.
Respondents and the City wwere allowed briefing on two
issues: (1) collateral estoppel; and (2) the weight to be
accorded Respondents' Exhibit 71 which was the exhibit the
City had moved to strike. The Hearing officer also.~rdered
that the closing arguments would be continued to July 15,
1992, at which time both sides were to submit proposed
findings. On time both sides were to submit proposed
findings. On July 2, 1992, Respondents submitted their
supplemental brief and on July 10, 1992, the City submitted
its supplemental brief.
III. PREVIOUS REVOCATION OR MODIFICATION HEARINGS
2.7 Before the present revocation hearing, the Anaheim
City Council held previous hearings concerning the
revocation or modification of CUP Nos. 1703 and 2525. Two
separate public hearings were noticed and conducted over
several months before the City Council in 1986 and 1987.
both hearings resulted in identical modifications to CUP
1703 and CUP 2525 concerning the management of the shredder
waste. The first hearing was initiated by the City Council
on July 15, 1986, when it set an Order to Show Cause Hearing
"as to why Conditional Use Permit Nos.1703 and 2525 should
not be revoked" for August 19, 1986. Hearings were held
before the City Council on August 19, 1986 and September 2,
1986 concerning both CUPs 1703 and 2525.
2.8 On August 19, 1986, the first day of the
revocation hearing for both CUP 1703 and CUP 2525, the City
Council made the following finding:
The Council then determined that the following public
hearings to consider modification or termination of
Conditional Use Permit No. 1703 and Conditional Use
Permit No. 2525 would be heard as a combined hearing
since they involved the same business and location.
2.9 A staff report dated August 12, 1986, recommended
termination of CUPs 1703 and 2525 based on a history of
noncompliance with CUP and Code requirements, including
violations relating to landscaping, parking and an illegal
crane, as well as the Adamses' illegal storage of shredder
waste on the property. At the revocation hearing, the case
for revocation was presented by planning staff from the City
and Adamses were represented by their legal counsel, Mr.
Farano. There was extensive testimony including testimony
from Mr. George Adams Jr., owner and operator of the
affected business, Mr. Philip Anthony on behalf of Mr.
Adams, Mr. Poole on behalf of the City staff, and
representatives of the State Department of Health Services,
the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and members of the public.
2.10 After two days of hearings on August 19, 1986 and
September 2, 1986 the City Council determined to modify both
CUP 1703 and CUP 2525 to impose identical specific
conditions requiring the submission within ninety days of a
plan for the removal and cleanup of the large hazardous
shredder waste pile and a plan for the future treatment and
storage of all new shredder waste so that none was stored on
the property. The ~onditions also required removal of all
new shredder waste daily and submission of all manifests
weekly to the City Code Enforcement indicating shipment of
at least 1000 tons of shredder waste each month.
2.11 The Adamses' legal counsel, Mr. Farano, submitted
a request for a rehearing on the modification of CUP 2525 as
well as request for rehearing on the denial of CUP 2756.
The Request for reheating was heard by the City Council on
December 2, 1986, again with extensive testimony by Mr.
Farano, Mr. George Adams, Jr. and a oonsultant for Mr.
Adams. Mr. Farano testified that the shredder waste was not
being removed as it was being. generated as required by
Conditions 11 and 12 of CUPs 1703 and 2525. Both requests
for rehearing were denied. No appeal was taken and both
decisions became final on December 2, 1986.
2.12 At the same time another Order to Show Cause
Hearing on why Conditional Use Permits 1703 and 2525 should
not be revoked was set for January 20, 1987 by a City
Council.
2.13 Extensive hearings were again held before the
City Council on February 17, 1987 and March 17, 1987. At
the hearings George Adams Jr. and the affected business were
9
again represented by Mr. Farano. The case for revocation
was presented by City staff. City staff submitted a Staff
Report dated January 13, 1987 which recommended termination
of CUPs 1703 and 2525 based on the history of violations,
the same violation as at the previous hearing in September
1986 and violations of the CUP conditions relating to the
shredder waste which had been imposed on both CUPs as a
result of that hearing. There was testimony from
representatives of the State Department of Health Services;
Mr. Farano and Mr. George Adams Jr. (on behalf of himself
and the affected business); and Mr. John Poole of Cede
Enforcement and Mr. Michael Doty, the Fire Marshall, (on
behalf of the city Staff).
2.14 At the conclusion of the hearings the City
Council decided to make further identical modifications to
both CUP 1703 and 2525 with regard to the management of the
shredder waste.
2.15 No request for rehearing was filed and the
decision of the city Counsel became final on expiration of
the applicable time period for such filing.
THE PROPERTY
3.1 The affected property consists of three parcels
totalling approximately 18.5 acres. It is adjacent to the
Santa Ana River, located in the river floodplain, and next
to an interstate freeway. A hotel and disabled senior
citizens facility are located nearby. Just across the river
are residential homes in the City of Orange. The property
is also within the Orange County Water Distriot's
groundwater recharge facilities which supply 65% of the
drinking water for central Orange County.
3.2 Part of the property is zoned "RS-A-43,000"
(Residential/Agricultural) and the remainder is zoned "ML"
(Limited Industrial).
BRIEF ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND ~-
4.1 As stated above, the Adamses initiated business
operations on the property illegally in 1976 without CUP
authorization. From that time up to and including the
present, the Adamses have operated on the property and
adjacent parcels in violation of various city Code
requirements, land use laws, numerous environmental laws and
CUP Conditions. These violations vary from extremely
serious violations, which represent a serious threat to
public health and safety, to less serious violations which
should have been easily corrected by the Adamses, but have
continued to be a problem throughout the history of this
facility.
4.2 Exhibit 1 to the city's Reply Brief is a "Brief
Summary of Enforcement Efforts Involving the Subject
Property" and is hereby adopted as a part of the~e findings.
In addition, Exhibits 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 to the City's Initial
Brief in SUpport of Revocation set forth a number of the
more serious violations of environmental laws and those
Exhibits are also adopted as part of these findings. A few
of the enforcement activities and violations will also be
further discussed here.
4.3 The Adamses' current operations include an auto
shredder which is used to separate metal parts from crushed
automobiles, appliances, and the leftover automobiles and
parts after the auto d~smantling operation. The auto
shredder produces a waste known as auto shredder waste
which consists of "ground-up seats, carpeting, wood, glass,
insulation, plastic, every conceivable thing that you could
possibly think of ...".
4.4 Under state hazardous waste management laws,
generators of a waste are required to characterize their
waste to determine if it is hazardous. Federal hazardous
waste laws contain the same requirement. (40 CFR 262.11.)
This requirement has been in place under state law since at
least 1979. From the beginning of the shredder operation in
about 1979 until sometime after October 1986 the Adamses did
not test any of their waste at all to determine if it was
hazardous and refused to do so when directed by the State
Department of Health Services (DHS).
4.5 In March 1984, the DHS gave written notice to the
Adamses that their shredder waste was a hazardous waste and
must be managed in accordance with the'hazardous waste laws.
Despite this notice, the Adamses continued to dispose of
their waste in a Riverside Class III landfill which is not
authorized to accept hazardous waste and they did not use
manifests or registered haulers as required. Adams disposed
of hazardous shredder waste in Riverside Class III landfill
without manifest or registered haulers after a Maroh 1984
letter from DHS n6tifying him that shredder waste was
hazardous. When the landfill discovered that the waste was
hazardous, it refused to accept the waste.
4.6 DHS issued several more notices of violation
directing the Adamses to comply with hazardous waste laws,
including the requirement to legally dispose of the shredder
waste and not to store it without a hazardous waste facility
permit. DHS also conducted extensive testing of the
shredder pile which demonstrated that it was a hazardous
waste.
4.7 Nevertheless the Adamses did not comply, and from
about mid-1984 until about 1987, the Adamses continued to
operate the shredder and illegally stockpiled increasing
amounts of hazardous waste onsite until that pile reached
40,000 to 50,000 tons. This large pile remains onsite today
and has never been removed. Thus, beginning in at least
1984 and continuing to the present, the Adamses have been
illegally storing hazardous shredder ~waste in the large
shredder pile and they did not apply for or obtain the
required hazardous waste facility permit for the storage of
such hazardous waste in violation of the hazardous waste
control laws and the federal Toxic Substances Control Act.
4.8 The large shredder waste pile is ~1ocated on a
parcel adjacent to the subject businesses and was place
there by the Adamses in violation of zoning and land use
laws. The Adamses' application for a CUP authorizing
storage of the shredder waste was denied by the City Council
on July 15, 1986 and, as set forth in paragraph 2.11, the
request for rehearing was denied on December 2, 1986 and
became final on that date. Extensive hearing were.~held on
the application before the Planning Commission on January
20, 1986, and then (on appeal by George Adams to the City
Council) before the City Council on March 18, 1986, April
15, 1986, and July 15, 1986 including testimony by Phil
Anthony and George Adams Jr. on behalf of the applicant,
testimony from representatives of the State Department of
Health Services and'from the Regional Water Quality Control
Board and from members of the public.
4.9 In denying the Adamses' application from CUP 2756
authorizing storage of the hazardous shredder waste, the
City Council made the following finding:
That the granting of the conditional use permit would
be detrimental to the peace, health, safety and general
welfare of the citizens of the City of Anaheim.
4.10 On September 17, 1986 DHS filed a civil
enforcement action against the Adamses and OCSS seeking a
preliminary and permanent injunction to prevent OCSS from
adding more shredder waste to the existing hazardous
shredder waste pile, civil penalties for illegal storage of
hazardous waste and numerous other violations of hazardous
waste laws, and, recovery or investigative costs. An
injunction was obtained by the state, requiring, among other
things, that the Adamses ship all newly generated shredder
waste off the property.
4.11 Between October 1986 and March 6, 1986 the
Adamses continued to stockpile shredder waste onsite in
violation of CUP Conditions 11 of CUP 2525 and CUPt703 and
the Superior Court injunction. CUP Conditions 11 were
imposed by the City Council on September 2, 1986 and
provided:
That no new shredder waste is to be stored on the
subject property or other property under the control
of Orange County Steel Salvage. All new shredder waste
is to be removed from the premises daily and disposed
of in a legal manner.
4.12 Due to these violations both the City Council and
the state required the Adamses to stop operating the
shredder, the state through a supplemental temporary
restraining order and the City Council by amending both CUPs
2525 and 1703 to provide
That the operator of Orange County Steel Salvage shall
immediately cease all metal shredding operations,
including, but not limited to, the shredding of
automobiles, appliances and other related items,
until the operator submits proof satisfactory to the
Code Enforcement supervisor.that all shredder waste
produced since January 6, 1987 has been lawfully
removed from the premises and disposed of in a lawful
manner. Manifests shall be submitted to satisfy the
above 'specified removal requirement which shall
indicate the shipment of at least one thousand (1,000)
tons of shredder waste per month.
15
4.13 By January 1987, due to the Adamses' refusal to
move the large hazardous shredder waste pile offsite and
legally dispose of it, the state had placed the site on the
state superfund list, making it eligible for public funds to
oleanup the property'. At that time the estimated cost of
the cleanup was $18,245,000.
4.14 On June 25, .1987 the state issued a Remedial
Action Order requiring the Adamses and OCSS, to "implement
an effective fire prevention system for the shredder pile"
within 30 days to timely submit and implement workplans and
cleanup plans to pay for the cleanup within 30 days of
receipt of an invoice from the DHS and to carry out the
order "in compliance with all local, state and federal
requirements..." Testimony and evidence at the hearing
showed that the Adamses, OCSS and its successor AIM violated
each of these requirements as described in more detail
below.
4.15 In September 1987, the Adamses resumed shredding
and almost immediately began storing the shredder waste
onsite in violation of the Superior Court injunction and the
CUPs. The Adamses also did not submit any proof to city
Code Enforcement that they had lawfully removed all shredder
waste produced since January 6, 1987, before they started
shredding again, as required by the CUP conditions imposed
on CUPs 1703.and 2525 on March 17, 1986.
///
16
4.16 The state filed a contempt action and on November
30, 1987 George Adams, Jr., George Adams, St. and OCSS were
found guilty on four counts of contempt for storing waste
beyond the time limits specified in the injunction.
4.17 In late 1987, it was discovered that wastewater
from the properties was being illegally discharged into the
Santa Ana River. The City issued two Notices of Violation
on December 8, 1987 and December 29, 1987 and the .Regional
Water Quality Control Board issued a Notice of Violation on
February 3, 1988. The Regional Board's notice directed
George Adams, Jr. to submit a report detailing corrective
action to abate the discharge and a schedule by February23,
1988 and state in part
The waters of concern are stormwater runoff, fluff
sprinkler water,. process and fire fighting water...
Metals found in the water not meeting the Basin Plan
objectives were cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead,
and mercury. In addition, the fire fighting water also
contained polychlorinated biphenyl, benzene, toluene,
and ethylbenzene, all of which would cause the water
to be prohibited from being discharged to surface or
subsurface waters. Discharges of untreated water from
your facility can no longer be tolerated."
4.18 In January 1988, a serious fire occurred
involving the large shredder pile which is contaminated by
PCBs among other hazardous chemicals. A hotel and senior
citizen facility nearby were evacuated due to the toxic
smoke from the fire. Burning of PCBs can produce highly
toxic compounds dangerous to persons who are exposed.
4.19 ~ June 14, 1988 the Regional Board wrote to
George Adams Jr. regarding wastewater discharges on and from
the property. The letter stated in part:
This is to summarize the results of the meeting held at
Orange County Steel Salvage, Inc. (OCSS) on June 2,
1988... The site includes the auto dismantling facility
as well as the auto shredding facility.
Wastewater at the site results from process water used
for sprinkling the shredder waste pile and from
stormwater runoff that commingles with pollutants at
the site. As we previously informed you, the discharqe
of wastewater off your property or the Dercolation of
wastewater on your property, is not allowed without
appropriate waste discharge requirements issued by this
Board. In addition, the discharge of any water to
areas overlying the inactive landfill is prohibited...
It is imperative that an approved surface water
manaqement plan be in effect as soon as possible, but
absolutely no later than the be~innin~ of the next
rainy season (i.e. October 15, 1988). As a result, i_~t
was a~reed that Mr. Stirrat, on behalf of OCSS, would
submit a draft plan by July 1, 1988, a final plan by
July 15, 1988, and that the system would be installed
and operational no later than October 15, 1988. In the
interim, OCSS is still responsible for assuring that
the prohibitions on discharges noted above are complied
with.
4.20 The wastewater management plan was not approved
until well after October 15,1988, and was never implemented
as approved. After the plan was approved, George Adams
unilaterally changed the plan, did not obtain the discharge
permit which was part of the approved plan and did not make
any changes to the plan to accommodate the lack of a
discharge permit.
4.21 On July 30, 1990 the state filed a claim for the
costs of cleanup against AIM alleging that AIM has operated
a steel salvage business at the site since 1976 and that it
is responsible for the release of various hazardous
substances at the site, including PCBs and lead and claiming
18
that the state had incurred response costs of at least
$500,000.
4.22 On September 17, 1990, the state entered into a
Consent Decree with AIM in which AIM "voluntarily and
irrevocably assumes responsibility for all past, present and
future legal obligations and liabilities of OCSS with
respect to California and federal laws and regulations
relating to any hazardous substance at the AIM facility".
Under this Consent Decree, AIM is required to comply with
the Remedial Action Order issued by DHS and to implement the
Remedial Action Plan to perform"all obligations required by
the Permanent Injunction Pursuant to Stipulation entered in
Orange County Superior Court Case No. 50-11-04" and to make
monthly payments to DHS starting at $20,000 per month and
increasing to $70,000 per month "until all the costs
associated with removal and remedial work concerning
Hazardous Substances at the site, including oversight costs
of DHS, have been paid".
4.23 In the March 17, 1987 CUP revocation hearing Mr.
Robinson had testified on behalf of the state and informed
the city Council that it would be "in the vicinity of 6
months before arriving at a plan that will be implemented
immediately" for the cleanup of the site. On June 28, 1992,
over four years later, DHS finally approved a partial
Remedial Action Plan.
///
HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS
5.1 At the hearing, both sides presented oral
testimony and documentary evidence on the hazardous
chemicals released on the property and the health and safety
risks presented by ~he conditions at the site.
5.2 George Adams, Jr. testified as to his opinion of
the risks posed by PCBs and the shredder waste. Mr. Adams'
also testified that he is a lawyer, but has no training or
qualifications in chemistry or toxicology, or relating to
the flammability of materials or the causes and suppression
of fires, so his opinions on these subjects have been
disregarded. Mr. Adams also presented testimony from Alon
Label, an employee of Brian A. Stirrat & Associates an
engineering firm. No information was given with regard to
Mr. Label's educational background or area of expertise or
whether he had any education or experience in chemistry or
toxicology. Mr. Label stated he had been the project
manager for the site for about a year, but no information
was provided on his past experience, duties or
qualifications for that position. Therefore, his opinions
were given little weight.
5.3 The City presented testimony by Mr. James McNally
with regard to the history of the site, the hazardous waste
violations and the health risks presented. Mr. McNally's
testimony agd resume indicate that he was employed by the
Regional Water Quality Control Board for one year and then.
20
by the State Department of Health Services in the Toxic
Substances Control Division for six years, three years in
surveillance and enforcement and three years in site
assessment and cleanup. In 1988, Mr. McNally joined Dames
& Moore, a private '~nvironmental cgnsulting firm, where he
manages the Los Angeles office's environmental practice and
work on environmental site characterizations and cleanups
and compliance. Mr. MeNally has a Master's degree in Public
Health in Environmental Health from UCLA and an
undergraduate degree in Environmental Science also from
UCLA. He publishes and teaches regularly on hazardous waste
compliance and cleanup issues. Mr. McNally was very
familiar with the subject property and its history during
the time he worked at DHS and with cleanup and enforcement
actions at other auto shredders as he worked directly on the
OCSS site for DHS and supervised other staff working on the
case until he left DHS in 1988. Based on his background and
experience, both academic and work, Mr. McNally qualifies as
an expert on both the violation and the health risks at the
site.
5.4 Michael Doty, Fire Marshall for the City of
Anaheim, also testified as an expert with regard to fires
which had taken place at the subject facility. The City
also submitted a declaration by Timothy Riley, the previous
Fire Marshall for the City, with supporting exhibits
including a resume. Both Mr. Doty and Mr. Riley are experts
in matters relating to the fires at the facility. The City
also presented a letter from Dr. Michael Sullivan regarding
the potential health risks associated with the shredder
waste on site. Dr. Sullivan has a B.S., M.S. and PhD. in
toxicology. He i~ a principal Health scientist for
McLaren/Hart/Chemrisk at their Burbank office and is
responsible for supervision of staff and technical oversight
for risk assessments. Dr. Sullivan qualifies as an~expert
in toxicology.
5.5 The large shredder waste pile and the new shredder
waste piles contain a wide variety of hazardous chemicals.
Extensive testing was conducted of the large shredder pile
by DHS. These tests showed that the pile contained
hazardous concentrations of lead and PCBs and was therefore
a hazardous waste. The Stipulation for Entry of
Supplemental Permanent Injunction reads, "It is hereby
stipulated as follows:... Defendants George Adams, St.,
George Adams, Jr. and Adams International Metals, are
represented by George Adams, Jr., attorney at law...
Defendants have illegally accumulated the following two
waste piles on their premises: (i) A pile containing
approximately 3000 tons of shredder waste, located on the
North Side of the Defendants premises near the Santa Ana
River (the "River Pile") .... Tests from material in this
pile show that it is contaminated with PBCs at levels
greater than 50 ppm. (ii) A pile containing approximately
700 tons of fine waste (the "Fine Waste Pile")... Tests from
materials in this pile show that it is contaminated with
PCBs at levels greater than 50 ppm."
5.6 Additional tests during the RIFS demonstrated the
presence of many 0~her hazardous chemicals. Among the
chemicals listed as hazardous by state hazardous waste
regulations in 22 CCR 66261.126 Appendix X are lead, zinc,
copper, nickel and cadmium compounds, arsenic, ·mercury,
polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), and various volatile
organics including acetone,.ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene,
and xylene. All of these chemicals were found in the large
shredder waste pile and some in the new shredder waste.
5.7 The City presented testimony and submitted
extensive documentation on the health hazards presented by
PCBs and lead including the official Toxicology Profiles for
each of these chemicals prepared for the federal Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the U.S.
Public Health Service in collaboration with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency as required by Section
110(3) of the federal Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986.
5.8 Lead is a persistent and bioaccumulative toxic
substance. "Lead compounds are cumulative poisons that
accumulate in the bones and soft tissue, particularly the
brain, resulting in reduced functioning." The ASTD report
includes the following information on lead:
Lead in air can be carried long distances from where it
is released. Lead in air attaches to dust. The lead-
containing dust is removed from the air by rain. Lead
stays in soil for many years. However, heavy rain can
cause lead-containing soil to move into water... you
might be exposed to lead and lead compounds from
breathing air, drinking water and eating soil or foods
that contain lead. Breathing in air with dust that
contains lead or swallowing lead-containing soil such
as might be found at a hazardous waste site .... are
also sources of exposure .... Children who put toys or
other items in their mouths may also swallow lead if
lead-containing dustand dirt are on these items... The
major sources of lead are... lead-containing dust and
soil carried into water by rain and wind; and
wastewater from industries that use lead. Lead is
released to soil from such sources as lead-containing
waste in ... hazardous waste dumps .... Plants can take
up lead from soil such as might be found at a hazardous
waste site .... Lead can enter your body when you
breathe in air with lead-containing dust or particles
of lead. Almost all of the lead in the lungs enters the
blood and moves to other parts of the body .... when
children swallow food or soil containing lead as might
be found at a hazardous waste site... much more of the
lead enters their blood and moves to other body
parts... Because some lead is stored in the body ~h
time you are exposed, the levels of lead in bone and
teeth get higher as a person gets older... The
effects of lead once it is in the body are the same no
matter how it enters the body. However, exposure to
lead is especially dangerous for unborn children
because their bodies can be harmed while they are being
formed. If a pregnant woman is exposed to lead, it can
be carried to the unborn child and cause premature
birth, low birth weight, or even abortion .... More of
the lead swallowed by children enters their bodies, and
they are more sensitive to its effects. For infants or
young children, lead exposure has been shown to
decrease intelligence (IQ) scores, slow their growth,
and cause hearing problems. These effects can last as
children get older and interfere with successful
performance in school. These health effects can happen
at exposure levels once thought to be safe .... To
date, workplace studies do not provide enough
information to determine the risk of cancer for workers
exposed to lead. However, because laboratory animals
fed lead in their diet throughout their lives have
developed tumors, lead should be thought of as a
probable cancer-causing substance in humans. Exposure
to high levels of lead can cause the brain and kidneys
of adults and children to be badly damaged. Lead
exposure may increase blood pressure in middle-aged
men .... Also, a couple may have trouble having
children if the man is exposed to lead because high
levels of lead may affect his sperm or damage other
parts of the male reproductive system.
The new shredder waste piles and the large shredder
waste piles as well as the leachate (including precipitation
run-off) are hazardous wastes. The new shredder waste piles
and the large shredder waste pile are also regulated under
the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. .~
5.9 Three lead compounds--lead acetate, lead phosphate
and lead subacetate--have been listed by the State of
California under Proposition 65 (The Safe Drinking Water and
Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) as chemicals known to the
state to cause cancer and lead has been listed under the
same law as a chemical known to the state to cause
reproductive toxicity.
5.10 The ATSDR report on PCBs includes the following
information:
The manufacture of PCBs stopped in the United States in
October 1977 because of evidence that PCBs accumulate
in the environment and may cause health hazards for
humans .... Although PCBs are no longer manufactured,
human exposure still occurs. Many older transformers
and capacitors still contain fluids that contain PCBs.
The Useful lifetime of many of these transformers can
be 30 years or more. The two main sources of human
exposure to PCBs are environmental and occupational.
PCBs are very persistent chemicals ... Eating
contaminated fish can be a major source of PCB exposure
to humans. These PCBs originate in contaminated water,
sediment, PCB-laden particulates and in fish that have
eaten PCB-contaminated prey .... PCBs in water, or on
soil surfaces, evaporate and are then returned to earth
by rainfall or settling of dust particles .... Once in
the air, PCBs can be carried long distances; they have
been found in snow and seawater in the Antarctic ....
PCBs can be released into the environment from: poorly
maintained toxic waste sites that contain PCBs, illegal
or improper dumping of PCB wastes, such as transformer
fluids .... PCBs enter the body through contaminated
food and air and through skin contact .... Animal
experiments have shown that some PCB mixtures produce
adverse health effects that include liver damage, skin
irritations, reproductive and developmental effects,
and cancer .... Human studies to date show that
irritations such a acnelike lesions and rashes, can
occur in PCB-exposed workers. Other studies of people
with occupational exposure suggest that PCBs might
cause liver cancer. Reproductive and developmental
effects may also be~related to occupational
exposure .... ~.
5.11 PCBs have been listed by the State of california
under Proposition 65 (The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic
Enforcement Act of 1986) as a chemical known to the state to
cause cancer and as a chemical known to the state to cause
reproductive toxicity.
5.12 A hazardous waste is defined as "a waste, or
combination of wastes, which because of its quantity,
concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious
characteristics may either: (A) Cause, or significantly
contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in
serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness,
or (B) Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to
human health or the environment when improperly treated,
stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed."
(Health and Safety Code Section 25117.) The record has
clearly established that the Adamses have improperly
treated, stored, transported, disposed of and otherwise
managed their hazardous shredder waste. These violations
26
and the shredder waste present a serious health risk.
5.13 As discussed above in Section 4, the state has
determined that the subject property should be included in
the state superfund program in order to allow the use of
public funds for Cieanup to protect public health and
safety. This program was specifically enacted by the state
legislature to address s~tes which pose a threat to public
health and the environment.
5.14 The proposed cleanup of the property includes all
parts of the site, including contaminated soil where the
shredder operates and contaminate~ soil in the auto
dismantling area. As of 1989 soil testing showed that there
are an estimated 60,000 tons of soil contaminated with PCBs,
lead, zinc and petroleum hydrocarbons on this property which
rests above Orange County's drinking water and in a
floodplain. All of this soil must be remediated. This is
in addition to the 50,000 ton large hazardous waste shredder
pile. The highest levels of PCB and lead metals are
processed and reclaimed due to the ongoing operations at
AIM. The Pull Your Part area was also found to be
contaminated and must be remediated. The levels of toxic
chemicals found are so high that they make the contaminated
soil a hazardous waste. This soil contamination increases
each day that operations on the property continue and the
threat to groundwater increases also.
III
5.15 The Adamses argued that a risk assessment
prepared by his consultant in 1989 showed that the shredder
waste pile did not present a significant risk to human
health or the environment. These arguments rested on three
premises: that the· shredder waste being produced is
nonhazardous; that the study provided in Adams' Exhibit 24
was complete and reliable to demonstrate a lack of exposure
to the relevant individuals; that the risk assessment
performed in 1989 was complete. These arguments wer~ not
convincing for the reasons discussed above in the preceding
paragraphs of this Section as well as the following reasons.
5.16 The "study" submitted in Adams' Exhibit 24 was
performed by Terry Adams. No testimony or documentation
concerning his qualifications to perform such a study or the
scope and acceptability of the study for the purposes stated
was presented. The methodology of the "study" is not
described. The study does not include testing for PCB
exposure which is one of the primary concerns with regard to
the large shredder waste pile and the lime treatment process
used in the shredder operation, which studies show to cause
evaporation of PCBs. The study does not consider potential
exposure to lead, PCBs and other hazardous chemicals for
nonworkers including customers, pregnant women and children
who are at particular risk. OSHA standards are not
applicable to these individuals and these types of
exposures.
5.17 The shredder waste being produced is not
nonhazardous and testing has shown it to be hazardous. Both
the shredder waste which the Adamses were disposing at the
Orange County landfill in July 1991 and the shredder waste
stored on the property beginning July 1991 through February
1992 have been shown to be hazardous. The Stipulation for
Entry of Supplemental Permanent Injunction reads, "It is
hereby stipulated as follows: ... Defendants GeorgeAdams,
$r., George Adams, Jr. and Adams International Metals, are
represented by George Adams, Jr., attorney at law ....
Defendants have illegally accumulated the following tow
waste piles on their premises: (i) A pile containing
approximately 3000 tons of shredder waste, located on the
North Side of the Defendants premises near the Santa Ana
River (the "River Pile") .... Tests from material in this
pile show that it is contaminated with PCBs at levels
greater than 50 ppm. (ii) A pile containing approximately
700 tons of fine waste (the "Fine Waste Pile") .... Tests
from materials in this pile show that it is contaminated
with PCBs at levels greater than 50 ppm." Waste with more
than 50 ppm PCBs is hazardous waste.
5.18 The risk assessment described in Adams' Exhibit
39 and the Remedial Action Plan is incomplete in that it
does not consider important potential exposure routes,
including fire and toxic smoke and surface water
contamination and sensitive populations such as the disabled
senior citizens and it is also outdated. Even if it were
accepted, its conclusions are limited to the estimated risks
during a five year period and the large shredder pile has
already been on the property since 1984 which is eight
years.
5.19 The risk assessment states that "there were no
sensitive populations as~0ciated with schools or hospitals
identified within one half mile of the site." However,
facility for disabled senior citizens is located nearby and
had to be evacuated in the January 1988 fire. The risk
assessment stated that "surface water runoff from the fluff
pile following rainfall... is discharged into the sanitary
sewer ... Therefore, the surface water runoff was not
considered to be a pathway ... This is incorrect as George
Adams testified that he discharged surface runoff to the
Santa Ana River during rainfall in February 1992, and that
surface water also percolated into the ground and that the
17
waste piles were unlined.
5.20 Both the Orange County Water District and the
19
Regional Water Quality Control Board have expressed serious
concern about the infiltration of surface water into the
contaminated soil and in to the landfill beneath portions of
the site which may be contaminating groundwater. The City's
Supplementary Binder Exhibit 71 contains a letter from the
Regional Board to DHS dated November 1988, which states:
///
26 ///
30
The continued presence of the pile at this site
presents a threat to the quality of the Santa Ana
River. For this reason we would like to see the pile
removed as quickly as possible. Storm water runoff
from the pile and the generation of leachate from fire
prevention sprinklers utilized on the pile are
generally maintained onsite since the site is situated
in a depression.where there is no natural drainage of
these wastes off-site. However this creates a flooding
problem on-site which has previously hampered site
operations to the extent that representatives of OCSS
have pumped this water directly to the River or have
redirected the water.to areas where it could discharge
to the River. These discharges contain salinity and
several heavy metals in excess of our Basin.--Plan's
water quality objectives. . Another goal of the
surface water management plan'~to minimize ponding of
all water at the site. The site, including the pile,
overlies a portion of an old municipal landfill.
Percolation of water over this landfill would increase
the moisture content in the landfill and promote
generation of leachate which could affect the quality
of local groundwater .... Any contaminants emanating
from the pile as a result of surface water runoff would
be available for percolation to the ground ... In
summary, the pile presents an ongoing threat to ground
and surface waters as long as it remains in place. The
longer it remains in place, the greater will be the
extent of soil remediation that may be necessary
beneath the pile once the pile is removed."
As noted above, the surface water management plan which the
Board relied upon to minimize these risks was not
implemented as approved and further discharges to the River
and into the soil resulted. Since the fire prevention
program requires the continual application of water to the
large shredder waste pile, a constant stream of leachate
from the pile is generated and seeps into the soils carrying
contaminants, infiltrating the landfill and threatening the
groundwater resource beneath.
5.21 'The risk assessment also did not consider
exposures of workers or persons offsite to fire and toxic
smoke or the unusually toxic chemical compounds which are
produced when PCBs burn.
5.22 There have been several fires at the facility as
a result of ongoing business operations, including the
shredding of cars and metal salvage. There is a serious
risk of future fires at the facility as a result of the
business activities of the Adamses, including the auto
shredder and metal salvage activities. .~'
5.23 Fires at the facility may burn the new and older
shredder waste and other materials onsite producing toxic
smoke which is a health hazard to persons at the facility
and in the vicinity.
5.24 In January 1988, a serious fire occurred
involving the large shredder pile which is contaminated by
PBCs, among other hazardous chemicals. A hotel and senior
citizen facility nearby were evacuated due to the toxic
smoke from the fire. Burning of PCBs can produce highly
toxic compounds dangerous to persons who are exposed.
5.25 The Risk Assessment was not accepted by the DHS
toxicologist, and when they reviewed portions of it they
found it to be out of date and required considerably more
stringent cleanup levels.
5.26 For all of the foregoing reasons and based on the
level of contamination described in the Remedial Action Plan
which is atbributable to the business operations on the
property (see paragraph 5.14 above) and the pattern of new,
repeated and continuing violations set forth in Section 4
above and Section 6 below, the operations of the Adamses on
the property present a serious hazard to public health and
safety and the environment. Furthermore, the Adamses are
collaterally estopped from arguing that the storage of the
large hazardous shredder waste pile is not detrimental to
the public health, safety. and welfare in that this issue has
already been finally determined as to these par~ies in a
previous adjudicatory hearing before the city Council which
decision has become final.
THE VIOLATIONS
6.1 The Adamses and the affected businesses are in
violation and have recently been in violation of numerous
CUP conditions, and of numerous statutes, ordinances,
regulations or laws. Specific violations and citations to
the record are set forth in Exhibits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 of
the City's Initial Position Brief and in Section V of that
Brief. The Exhibits have been adopted as part of these
findings, but some violations will be set. forth here.
6.2 The Adamses argued that the Pull Your Part
operation was separate from the shredder operation and was
therefore not responsible for complying with the CUP
conditions relating to shredder waste and the related
violations. This argument is incorrect legally and
factually. ..First, the Adamses are collaterally estopped
from arguing (1) whether CUPs 1703 and 2525 can be
separately considered, (2) whether the uses approved under
CUP 2525 can be severed, and (3) whether any use, including
Pull Your Part, can be held not responsible for complying
with all of the conditions of the CUP authorizing it,
including the conditions concerning the shredder waste.
6.3 Second, the shredder operation and the auto
dismantling business wereoperated as one business under one
unified CUP which was CUP 2525. (See paragraphs 1.5~- 1.8.)
All the Adamses' business activities on the property,
including AIM, Pull Your Part and Auto Resales, are
controlled by George Adams, Jr. and operated in an
integrated manner, as parts of a single business. The Auto
Resale and the former Auto Auction were represented to the
City by the applicant, Mr. Adams, as a means to generate
more income to clean up the "old" shredder pile. Abandoned
vehicles, in various states of decay and related parts and
materials for the different operations are often stored
throughout the property, including on the Auto Resale lot
and on adjacent parcels in unpermitted locations, without
regard to which operation they belong to. The discharges
and wastewater run off from the Pull Your Part lot, the
shredder waste pile and the AIM shredder yard all commingle
and are discharged together.
6.4 All of the violations discussed in'this Section
are either Qurrent ongoing violations or recent violations.
III
6.5 In 1991 the Adamses created multiple new illegal
hazardous waste piles on the property, in violation of CUP
Conditions 11 and 12 of CUPs 1703 and 2525, in violation of
the Hazardous Waste Control Laws (HWCA), and in contempt of
court. (This is pa~t of a pattern of conduct as the same
illegal activity occurred between 1984 and 1986 and twice in
1987.) (See Section IV qf these Findings.)
6.6 Between July 1991 through and in¢luding.F~bruary
4, 1992 during the pendency of this hearing newly-generated
shredder waste contaminated with PCBs in excess of 50 parts
per million was stored on the subject property for more than
15 days in violation of CUP Conditions 11 of CUP 2525 and
1703 and the Superior Court Injunction. The Adamses
continued to operate the shredder during this time period.
George Adams, Jr., George Adams, St. and AIM stipulated to
this violation. The Stipulation for Entry of Supplemental
Permanent Injunction reads, "It is hereby stipulated as
follows: ... Defendants George Adams, Sr., George Adams, Jr.
and Adams International Metals are represented by George
Adams, Jr., attorney at law ..... 5. Defendants acknowledge
that they violated the Permanent Injunction in that, since
July, 1991, they have continued to operate their shredder at
times when they continuously had on their premises, newly-
generated shredder waste which was well over 15 days old.
6. As a result of this violation, Defendants have illegally
aocumulated the following two waste piles on their premises:
35
(i) A pile containing approximately 3000 tons of shredder
waste, located on the North Side of the Defendants premises
near the Santa Ana River (the "River Pile") .... Tests from
material in this pile show that it is contaminated with PCBs
at levels greater than 50 ppm. (ii) A pile containing
approximately 700 tons of fine waste (the "Fine Waste Pile")
.... Tests from materials in this pile show that it is
contaminated with PCBs at levels greater than 50 ppm."
6.7 On February 21, 1992 and on February 26, 1992,
during the pendency of this hearing, newly generated
shredder waste was stored on the property more than 15 days
while the shredder operated in violation of CUP Conditions
ll and 12 of CUPs 1703 and 2525 and the Superior Court
Injunction.
6.8 In August 1991, the Adamses were caught illegally
disposing of hazardous shredder waste in an Orange County
Class III landfill. This was in violation of the HWCA and
the Superior Court Injunction because they illegally
transported and disposed of hazardous shredder waste
offsite. (This was part of a pattern of violations in that
the Adamses had previously been caught illegally disposing
of hazardous shredder waste in a Riverside Class III
landfill (See paragraph 4.5 above) and similarly they were
found to be illegally disposing of PCB contaminated shredder
waste in Arizona in October 1986 and February 1987 without
previous testing or the use of registered haulers or
36
manifests as required by the HWCA.)
6.9 The Adamses argued that this recent and repeated
illegal storage was "caused" by the Orange County Landfill,s
refusal to accept their waste after it was tested and found
to be hazardous. 'This argument is insufficient and not
credible. The Landfill was a Class III landfill which is
not authorized to accept hazardous waste. The Adamses'
attempt to dispose of hazardous waste in the landfill was
illegal under the HWCA and contrary to the Superior Court
injunction. Furthermore the County tested for heavy metals
an~ found them in hazardous concentrations, but did not test
for PCB's. The new shredder waste piles known as the River
Pile and the Fines pile were contaminated with greater than
50 ppm PCB's and could not be accepted for disposal by a
Class III landfill. Furthermore, the piles were created
beginning in July 1991, before the County notified the Adams
that the shredder waste had tested hazardous and could not
be accepted.
6.10 In addition, CUP Conditions 12 have not and are
not being complied with. Manifests or other shipping
documents are not currently being submitted to Code
Enforcement and have not been submitted except occasionally,
after pressure from Code Enforcement since Conditions 11 and
12 were originally imposed. The one thousand ton per month
minimum shipment of waste is not being met or documented as
required. (Id.) These are continuing violations.
///
~ 37 '
6.11 The plan for treatment and removal of all new
shredder waste was not submitted by December 2, 1986 to the
Planning Department as required by CUP Conditions 15 to CUPs
2525 and 1703.
6.12 Condition 13 of CUPs 1703 and 2525 has not been
complied with and is not being complied with because no
written plan was submitted by the Adamses by December 2,
1987 to the Planning Department Code Enforcement -Mousing
Supervisor, describing the specific means and scheduling,
including the estimated date of completion for removal of
the existing shredder waste pile, nor'has any such plan ever
been submitted.
6.13 As to both the new shredder waste pile and the
large shredder waste pile, the Adamses failed to apply for
or obtain a hazardous waste facility permit as required by
the HWCA and failed to operate the piles in accordance with
the management and closure requirements for hazardous waste
piles.
6.14 Beginning in at least 1984 and oontinuing to the
present the Adamses and the responsible businesses have
failed to apply for or obtain a hazardous waste facility
permit for the storage of hazardous waste in the large
shredder pile in violation of the hazardous waste control
laws and the federal Toxic Substance Control Act.
6.15 The Adamses and the responsible businesses have
failed to prepare and to implement a closure plan for the
large hazardous waste pile as required and in a timely
manner.
6.16 The Adamses and responsible businesses are not in
compliance with financial assuranoe and construction
operation and maintenance requirements for hazardous waste
piles, with respect to the large shredder pile.
6.17 The Adamses stored hazardous waste resulting from
their business operations..under CUPs 1703 and 2525 in waste
piles (the "River Pile and the Fines Pile") on the facility
on and after July 1991, without applying for or obtaining a
9
~ 10 hazardous waste facility permit in violation of the
California Hazardous Waste Control Laws.
11
6.18 On or about December 1991 through February 1992,
12
the Adamses treated hazardous waste from the "River Pile and
the Fines Pile" (which piles contained more than 50 ppm
PCBs) without first Obtaining state and federal permits or
variances authorizing such treatment in violation of the
16
California Hazardous Waste Control Laws and the federal
17
Toxic Substances Control Act.
18
6.19 From July 1991 through February 1992, the Adamses
19
stored hazardous waste in waste piles including the "River
Pile and the Fines Pile" (which contained more than 50 ppm
PCBs) without complying with the construction and operation
and closure requirements applicable to such waste piles in
violation of the California Hazardous Waste ControlLaws and
the federal .Toxic Substance Control Act. These violations
include failure to place a liner beneath each pile; failure
to install a leachate collection system above the liner to
39
collect and remove leachate from the pile; failure to cover
the piles and take steps to prevent wind dispersal; failure
to maintain access for emergency vehicles such as fire
trucks; and failure to prepare or implement a closure plan
and to sample for contamination from the pile after removal
of the waste piles.
6.20 Each of the wiolations of Paragraph 3 of the
Permanent Injunction of March 12, 1991, issued by theOrange
County Superior Court in Case No. 50-11-04 identified in
paragraphs 6.6, 6.7 & 6.8, is also a violation by AIM of the
District Court Consent Decree in Case No 5ACV 90-617 AHS
(RWRX).
6.21 The Adamses and AIM recently violated the
Permanent Injunction in Case No. 50-11-04 beoause they
failed to maintain the fifty foot fire access around the
entire perimeter of the existing waste pile. (Inspections
on: 05-09-91; 10-14-91; and, 10-17-91 observe that there was
not a 50 foot access around the shredder waste pile.)
6.22 AIM is in violation of the Consent Decree in Case
No. 5ACV90-617 AHS (RWRX) because it has not paid the
monthly payments as required. In addition AIM, George
Adams, Sr. and George Adams, Jr. did not pay the DTSC the
cost of its oversight, which is $800,000.00, within thirty
days as required by the Remedial Action Order issued in June
1987. Further, the receipts submitted by the Adamses for
remediation of the site showed that in the last year that
receipts are provided (February 25, 1991 through March 1,
40
1992) the Adamses spent only a total of $27,445.29 or an
average of $2,287.11 per month. This includes the months
following the approval of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) by
the state on June 30, 1991, when Respondents should have
been working at top Speed on the preparation of the detailed
Remedial Design Plan (which was due sixty days after the RAP
was approved under the state's Remedial Action Order) and on
implementation of the RAP.
6.23 The Adamses have failed to implement the Remedial
Action Plan in accordance with the requirements of the
Remedial Action Order and are in violation of the Remedial
Action Order.
6.24 George Adams recently illegally discharged
contaminated wastewater and hazardous waste leachate into
the Santa Ana River On February 12, 1992.
6.25 Throughout the entire time the Adamses have
operated, there have been options for disposal of the
shredder waste in permitted hazardous waste landfills and
legal means to avoid violating the law. First, the Adamses
could stop producing hazardous waste at any time. Second,
the Adamses could have, and were required by law to
characterize their waste and legally dispose of it as it was
produced. (See City's Initial Brief.) Third, at any time
from 1984 to and including the present, they could have
taken the ~!legally stored hazardous waste to a legal
disposal site. Finally, at any time from 1979 up to and
including the present, they could have applied for a
hazardous waste storage permit and taken steps to comply
with the construction, operation, financial assurance and
closure requirements for hazardous waste piles.
ADDITIONAL FINDINGS AND VIOLATIONS
7.1 Violation No. 4 as presented in the March 31,
1992, Staff Report states:
[a]11 steps necessary to protect against flooding
at the Subject P~operty and to avoid the
unauthorized discharge/disposal of wastewater,
leachate and/or runoff from the Subject Property
'must be taken in a timely manner, including the
construction of necessary grading and other
improvements and the obtaining of all necessary
permits or variances for discharge/disposal of
wastewater.
In short, the violation concerns the need for adequate
steps to protect surface and ground water from pollution
created by operations at the Subject Property.
7.2 There was a significant amount of evidence
presented that established the long-term nature of this
problem and its effects. The city presented testimony and
documentary evidence in the form of a letter from the
California Regional Water Quality Control Board, dated
FebruarY 3, 1988, concerning illegal discharges. Other
documentary evidence supports the fact that the Adamses
failed to take the necessary steps to develop and implement
a plan necessarY to address the problem in a timely manner.
7.3 ,.Mr. LaRochelie, a City Code Enforcement
Supervisor, presented extensive oral testimony establishing
that Mr. Adams had received notice of the problem, but that
drainage problems were never adequately addressed.
7.4 The City established that the long-term continuing
violation concerning drainage has still not been rectified
through reference to a July 9, 1991, Code Enforcement
inspection log where grey water was observed pooling in the
property and no approved drainage plan was in place, and
also the February, 1992,.illegal discharges of contaminated
wastewater and leachate into the Santa Ana Rive~. The
February 7, 1992, letter from the RWQCB clearly supports the
fact that the discharge was illegal and due in part to the
failure to have an adequate drainage system.
7.5 The city also established that the contaminated
run-off from the Adamses' activities on the ~ubject Property
present a risk of contamination of the groundwater which is
beneath the site.
7.6 The continuing failure to have an adequate
drainage system is a violation of Condition 3 of CUP 2525
that requires that drainage be disposed of in a manner
approved by the City.
7.7 The discharge of contaminated wastewater and
leachate in February, 1992, was illegal.
7.8 The discharges to adjoining surface waters and the
risk of contamination of the groundwater under the Subject
Property is detrimental to public health and safety so as to
constitute a. nuisance.
7.9 Violation No. 5 as presented in the March 31,
1992, Staff Report states:
43
[a]11 buildings or structures over 120
square feet in the area shall be
authorized by a building permit.
Obtaining required permits and
inspectors, or present finalized
permits for said building or
structures, as required.
This violation~ in short, concerns the fact that the
Adamses have built or maintained structures without proper
permits. ~
7.10 The City presented evidence in the March 31,
1992, Staff Report and back-up documents that established
that several of the structures on the property had never
been properly permitted including memoranda from various
City Employees with authority over theserequirements.
7.11 During the Public Hearing, Peggy Flanagan, a City
of Anaheim Code Enforcement. officer, presented oral
testimony that outlined basic permitting requirements and
substantiated the fact that Mr. Adams had notice that the
permit requirements had not been satisfied, yet the
violation remained outstanding.
7.12 The failure to obtain necessary building and
associated permits is a violation of Anaheim Municipal Code
Section 18.04.090.020 which requires such permits. It is
also part of a pattern of conduct that establishes the CUPs
have been exercised in violation of law.
7.13 Violation No. 6 presented in the March 31, 1992,
Staff Report.states:
[a]11 signs over 20 square feet in area are
required to be authorized by approval of a
Conditional Use Permit. Obtain Conditional Use
Permit approval for, or remove the freestanding
billboard sign advertising "Pull Your Part"
located at the property identified as 3300 East
Frontera Street.
This violation speaks for itself and concerns the fact
that the size of allowable signage is controlled by the zone
a property is located in.
7.14 The City established that a sign in excess of
twenty square feet was l~cated in a portion of the Subject
Property zoned RS-A-43,000. The evidence was in the form of
a Code Enforcement log indicating the existence of the sign
and photographs 25(D) (1-4) that document the sign and its
approximate size. This evidence was confirmed by testimony
by Ms. Flanagan during hearing who explained the fact that
the Adamses had never finalized the reclassification
associated with CUP 2525 and that the sign had been erected
anyway.
7.15 There was evidence that Mr. Adams should have
been aware that the reclassification was not completed as
far back as at least 1985. Also, Mr. Adams could have
checked a.zoning map and seen that it was obvious the
reclassification had never been completed. (A zoning map
for the Subject Property was reproduced as part of the
notice for the public hearing and is included as p. 2 of the
March 31, 1992, Staff Report)°
7.16 Violation No. 7 presented in the March 31, 1992,
Staff Report states:
[a]11 on-site and on-street vehicle repair
activities shall cease.
This violation concerns both the off-site problem of
people repairing vehicles in the street which is associated
with the operations.at the Subject Property and the on-site
problem of the operation of vehicle repair facilities at the
Subject Property.
7.17 Although the persons actually involved in the on-
street vehicle repair violations were not directly
associated with the operations at the Subject Property, the
City established that the problem was significant and was
caused by the operation of the "Pull-Your-Part" business at
the Subject Property. Evidence of this included Coded
Enforcement inspection log references; numerous citations
issued to persons violating the prohibition against on-
street vehicle repair; and photographs of the activity
taking place. Mr. LaRochelie substantiated these violations
through oral testimony. Mr. Poole also provided testimony
establishing the causal connection between the operation at
the Subject Property and the violations.
7.18 The on-street vehicle repair is a violation of
Anaheim Municipal Code Section 12.16.070 and can be
considered to constitute evidence that the CUPs have been,
and are being, exercised in a manner constituting a
nuisance.
7.19 The existence of an on-site vehicle repair
facility was also established by the City. The evidence
included Code Enforcement inspection log references; as well
as oral testimony by Mr. LaRochelie. Mr. LaRochelie
explained that private vehicles are being repaired at the
site, presumably for resale at the used car lot. This is an
additional use and'unpermitted under CUPs which relate to
storage operations and sales of used cars.
7.20 The on-site vehicle repair operations at the
Subject Property violate Anaheim Municipal Code~.Section
18.61.050.070 and 18.02.040 whioh prohibit commercial
vehicle repair in an RS-A-43,000 zone and require a CUP for
such activities in an ML Zone. The p~oof of on-site vehicle
repair also is evidence of a pattern of conduct establishing
that the CUPs have been, and are being, exeroised contrary
to law.
7.21 Violation No. 8 presented in the March 31, 1992,
Staff Report states:
[¢]ease all tow truck operations at or
originating from 3200 East Frontera Street. A
towing operation is not allowed within an "ML"
Limited Industrial Zone.
This violation relates to the fact that although tow
trucks can be used on-site for moving wrecked vehicles, a
tow-truck operation where vehicles are moved from off-site
to on-site is not permitted under the current CUPs.
7.22 The City presented evidence that established that
a tow truck operation where vehicles from off-site were
brought on-~ite had been operated at the Subject Property
for many years. Numerous Code Enforcement inspection logs
and photographs concerning this violation were referenced by
the City in its March 31, 1992, Staff Report. Testimony by
Mr. LaRochelie and Mr. Poole corraborated the fact that at
least one tow truck, advertising the Pull-Your Part
business, had been Operating out of the Subject Property and
that the problem was that this operation had never been
permitted. Mr. Adams even admitted having operated the tow
trucks since 1977.
7.23 The operations of the tow trucks out of the
Subject. Property is a violation of Anaheim Municipal Code
Sections 18.61.020 and 18.61.030 because towing operations
are not allowed in an RS-A-43,000 or an ML Zone. It is also
evidence of a pattern of ¢onduot establishing that the CUPs
have been, and are being exercised contrary to law.
7.24 Violation No. 9 presented in the March 31, 1992,
Staff Report states:
[i]mplement mitigation measures to eliminate
heavy accumulations of dust and smoke caused
by and emanating from time-to-time from the
business operations.
This violation addresses two related air quality
problems. The first is the hazard from smoke and fires at
the Subject Property and the second is the problem of dust
from the operations. The fire issues have been discussed in
Section 5.
7.25 The City also established that there has been a
long-terma~d continuing dust problem at the facility. The'
evidence presented ranged from City Counsel hearing minutes
showing that the City had a real concern over the potential
for such a problem, to a memorandum from Rod Hallock, the
city of Anaheim's Sanitation Superintendent, that as of
April 2, 1992, additional street sweeping was necessary on
the street in fron~ of the Subject Property despite any
efforts allegedly made by the Adamses to control dust and
additional oral testimony substantiating the problem and
that Mr. Adams had notice of the problem. -~
7.26 The dust problem at the Subject Property is part
of an overall pattern of conduct that establishes that the
CUPs have been and are being exercised in a manner that
constitutes a nuisance.
7.27 Violation No. 10 presented in the March 31, 1992,
Staff Report states:
[i]nadequate provision has been made for
employee customer traffic being generated
from these facilities, creating an undue
burden on existing public rights of way, and
causing potential traffic hazards.
Mitigating measures shall be taken to provide
adequate egress, ingress and on-site parking
facilities to reduce or eliminate potential
traffic safety methods.
This violation involves the fact that traffic, in and
out of the Subject Property, has dramatically increased from
levels originally represented when the CUPs were granted,
yet no adequate provision has been made to remedy the
effects.
7.28 M~inutes from the Planning Commission and City
Counsel Meetings where CUPs 1703 and 2525 were considered
established that vehicular traffic originally was to be in
the range of 40-50.vehicles per day, and even with expanded
operations under CUP 2525, traffic was estimated at less
than 60 customers a day with an average of 50 trucks a day.
Several traffic counts submitted by the City show that
traffic now exceeds'~000 vehicles per day. In addition, the
City provided evidence showing the impact of this problem,
including Code Enforcement Inspection Logs, photographs and
oral testimony from Mr. LaRochelie concerning- heavy
congestion and the possibility of traffic accidents.
Further, David Williams, the operator of DBW & Associates
located at the Subject Property, complained of the impact on
his business of traffic congestion problems associated with
the other businesses.
7.29 The fact that the Adamses may have begun the
process for applying for a CUP for an additional parking lot
does not relieve them of their responsibility for the
traffic problem. First, the city is not obligated to give
the Adamses permission to build the additional parking area
as this is an expansion of their use (traffic has increased
nearly ten-fold from original representations) that may not
be compatible with surrounding land uses. Second, oral
testimony from Greg McCafferty, Associate Planner with the
City of Anaheim, showed that the Adamses had not followed
through on their CUP application.
7.30 The traffic problems associated with the Subject
Property are part of an overall pattern of use that
establishes that the CUPs have been, and are being,
50
exercised in a manner constituting a nuisance.
7.31 Violation 12 presented in the March 31, 1992
Staff Report states:
[a]11 commercial vehicles making deliveries
to businesses at this location shall
immediately cease loading, unloading and/or
double parking in the public street.
This violation is similar to Violation No. 10 in that
it involves traffic problems, but addresses a particular
concern over loading and unloading that was expressed as
part of the conditions for CUP 3052.
7.32 The City established that there was a distinct
problem with vehicles used for delivering and removing
junked and used cars and as well as processed scrap metal to
and from the Subject Property. Evidence was presented in
the Violation Binder supporting the March 31,. 1992 Staff
Report.
7.33 The loading and unloading of vehicles in the
street constitutes a violation of condition No. 4 of CUP
3052 that requires all loading and unloading to take place
on-site. It is also part of a pattern of conduct that
establishes that the CUPs have been, and are being,
exercised in a manner constituting a nuisance.
7.34 Violation No. 13 presented in the Staff Report of
March 31, 1992, states:
[r]emove all inoperable vehicles currently stored
within the designated off-street parking area
located':~on the west side of (abandoned) Newkirk
Road, and on the south portion of the property
designated and approved for used car sales.
1 7.35 The City established that there was a continuing
2 problem with the storage of junked vehicles on the property
3 permitted as a used car lot. In conjunction with the March
4 31, 1992, Staff Report, documentary and photographic
5 evidence was submitted. Also, Mr. LaRochelie testified that
6 there was an ongoing problem.
7 7.36 Although not a particularly serious violation by
8 itself, this is a direct violation of condition 13~-of CUP
9 3052 that specifically prohibits the storage of inoperable
~ I0 vehicles on the property permitted by CUP 3052. As such, it
1I is evidence of an overall pattern of conduct that
12 establishes the CUPs were exercised, and are being
13 exercised, in a manner contrary to the conditions of their
14 approval.
15 7.37 The storage of inoperable vehicles on the
16 property permitted by CUP 3052 is also.evidence that the
~ Adamses ran their various businesses .as one overall
~ 18 operation and made little effort to keep impacts from one
business from affecting adjoining properties.
7.38 Violation No. 14 presented in the March 31, 1992
Staff Report states:
[r]epair fencing so that waste pile and business
activities are not visible from the street and
trails. Remove and replace overgrown, missing
and dead vegetation along the north and south
property lines.
This violation involves a disregard primarily for
aesthetic considerations. The property is located at an
entryway to the City and complaints were received from the
52
public. The City Council imposed aesthetic conditions to
minimize the adverse impact of these otherwise inappropriate
activities.
7.39 Problems with landscaping have been continuous
since before CUP 170~ was first granted. At a City Planning
Commission meeting an Adams representative responded to
concerns raised by the. Commissioners by stating that
adequate fencing to screen the operation would be installed
within 90 days. Notices of violations stretch baok as far
as 1982, continue through 1984 and the City presented
evidence that the violation continues to recur.
7.40 The failure to maintain adequate site-screening
and landscaping is a violation of conditions 2, 3 and 4 of
CUP 1703 that require such measures and is evidence of a
pattern of conduct that establishes that the CUPs at issue
have been, and are being, exercised in manner contrary to
the conditions of approval.
7.41 Violation 15 presented in the Maroh 31, 1992,
Staff Report states:
[r]emove refuse, waste, and debris, consisting of
but not limited to tires, batteries, auto parts,
abandoned motor cycle chassis, trash, debris, and
other discarded items located in, and adjacent
to, the public right-of-way and along all
property boundaries.
7.42 The Citypresented evidence that established that
the accumulation of used auto partS, including batteries
which contain hazardous substances, is a long-term problem
at the Subject Property.
53
7.43 The accumulation of used auto parts in the street
is a direct result of operations at the Subject Property and
is a violation of Anaheim Municipal Code Section
6.44.010.050 that prohibits the accumulation of refuse and
waste matter. More importantly, it is evidence of a pattern
of conduct at the Subject Property which establishes that
the CUPs have been, and are being, exercised in a manner
?
8 constituting a nuisance.
9 ~RAUD
8.1 The City also presented convincing evidence that
the Adamses had obtained CUP 2525 by fraud. In addition to
the grounds for termination described above, Section
18.03.092 also provides for termination of a CUP if the CUP
was obtained by fraud. George Adams, Sr. initially applied
for CUP 2525 (to expand a resource recovery facility
including an automobile dismantling business) in 1983. See
Exhibit 38 of the Supplemental Binder. In this application,
l?
he specifically represented on the initial study form that
the property was not going to be used for storage of
hazardous wastes. Id. As with CUP 1703, the applicant had
20
initiated the use without the required CUP and rezoning. A
general plan amendment was also required. The application
was reviewed by the Planning Commission on May 14, 1984
after two continuances had been requested by the Petitioner.
The Plannin??ommission required further tests regarding the
proposed septic system, because of their concerns about the
proximity of the property to the Santa Ana River and water
54
supplies and the resulting potential for contamination. The
Planning Commission reviewed and discussed the zoning and
application and tests on June 11, 1984 and approved the CUP
and negative declaration. All three matters came before the
City Council on JulyS31, 1984 and after further discussion
they were approved including the negative declaration and
CUP 2525. In March 1984 Adams had received notice from the
Department of Health Services that the shredder waste in the
waste pile on site was in fact a hazardous waste. Adams'
failure to correct the error in his application despite
three hearings, and to inform the city that hazardous wastes
in fact were and would be stored and pre~ent on the
property, constituted a material omission and
misrepresentation. This constitutes a wholly separate and
independent basis for termination of CUP 2525.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions
of law the hearing officer recommends that CUPs 1703, 2525
and 3052 be revoked for the following reasons:
9.1 CUPs 1703, 2525 and 3052 should be terminated
because the uses for which approval was granted have been so
exercised as to be detrimental to the public health or
safety;
9.2 CUPs 1703, 2525 and 3052 should be terminated
because the use and activities and conditions on the
property constitute a nuisance;
9.3 CUP 1703, and CUP 2525 should be revoked because
55
they are being, or recently have been, exercised contrary to
the terms or conditions of such CUPs;
9.4 CUP 1703, CUP 2525 and CUP 3052 should be
terminated because they are being, or recently have been,
exercised in violation of statues, regulations, ordinances
and laws;
9.5 CUP 3052 should be terminated because the use for
which such approval was granted ceased to exist;
9.6 CUP 2525 should be terminated because the approval
was obtained by fraud.
I also conclude that
9.7 AIM, Orange County Steel Salvage, Self Serve Auto
Dismantlers aka Pull Your Part are all controlled by George
Adams Jr. and the Adams family and operated as one business
under CUPs 1703 and 2525 and the Adamses are collaterally
estopped from claiming otherwise;
9.8 The operations of the Adamses and the business on
the property present a very serious risk to health, safety
and the environment; and the Adamses and the businesses are
collaterally estopped from claiming otherwise; and
9.9 The City of Anaheim has made extensive efforts to
obtain compliance by the Adamses and the businesses operated
by the Adamses on the subject property from 1977 to the
present and has taken numerous previous enforcement actions
short of termination of CUPs '1703, 2525 and 3052 and
considered and tried reasonable alternatives to revocation
which have failed to be effective in obtaining compliance
and reducing or preventing the risk to public health and
safety and the environment due to the Adams' failure or
~ refusal to comply.
DATED: August 20, 1992
Jo g officer
57
PROOF OF SERVICE BY MAIL
I, STEPHANIE A. CATTERALL, not a party to the within action,
hereby declare that on August 21, 1992, I served the attached
FINDINGS AND RECOM~ENDATION0n the parties in the within action by
depositing true copies thereof enclosed in sealed envelopes with
postage thereon fully prepaid,. in the United States Mail, at
Orange, California, addressed as follows: ·
JAMES J. HEVENER, ESQ. SELMA J. MANN, ESQ.
JONES, DAY, REAVIS & POGUE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY
555 WEST FIFTH STREET 200 SOUTH ANAHEIM BOULEVARD
SUITE 4600 SUITE 356
LOS ANGELES, CA 90013-1025 ANAHEIM, CA 92805
JEAN A. MARTIN, ESQ.
PILLSBURY, MADISON & SUTRO
725 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET
SUITE 1200
LOS ANGELES, CA 90017-2513
I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing to be
true and correct. Executed at Orange, California on the 21TH day of
AUGUST, 1992.
STEPHANIE A. CATTERALL