If you live in the Barron Park neighborhood of Palo Alto, you know the rural atmosphere makes our community unique. But it does not insulate us from the unpleasant side effects of the industrial activity in the adjacent Stanford Research Park. It doesn't protect us from contamination that might seep into the ground or toxic vapors that might spew into the air.
What protects our neighborhood environment also preserves its rural atmosphere — it is the vigilance by concerned and knowledgeable residents and the resolve by the community to act collectively and exert its political strength when necessary.
In the 1980's, when organic solvents were found to have contaminated the waters underneath Barron Park, the community brought the problem to the attention of the State Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC). The DTSC forced the polluters to identify the sources of the contamination and then to plan, finance and execute an extensive cleanup. This has been a great success! The level of contamination measured in observation wells has now dropped to below the EPA drinking water standard.
In 2007, the community came together again and was successful in having the City Council strengthen the zoning ordinances in the Research Park to restrict the use of hazardous materials near residences.
This followed an accident on February 2nd of 2006 in Building #2 of Communications and Power Industries (CPI) on 811 Hansen Way. This facility borders Barron Park.
While toxic vapors were released, fortunately there were no serious injuries. But because this facility is so close to residences and handles significant levels of hazardous materials, concerned residents are continuing their efforts to focus attention on this situation.
The CPI Hazard Watch web site was created to be a source of information about the hazardous materials stored at CPI and to press for solutions to the issues raised by CPI.
CPI Hazard Watch is the only comprehensive source of information on CPI and its hazardous materials, based on information from governmental agencies, newspapers, the Internet, CPI, and other sources.