The risk in storing such large quantities of hazardous materials so close to a residential neighborhood is not acceptable. We ask that CPI and the City of Palo Alto take the following steps:

Immediately -- emergency planning and preparation

• Provide an emergency notification and response plan to be used in the time between when an accident occurs and when the Palo Alto Fire Department arrives and takes command.
• Install alarms and sensors for toxic fumes to provide the earliest possible warning of an accident regardless of when it occurs.

As soon as possible -- lower the risk

• Move the hazardous materials storage facility as far as possible from the residential area.
• Eliminate all cyanide from the facility by switching to cyanide-free processes or by moving the cyanide processing to a facility located away from any residential area.
• Relocate the plating shop, which is on the second floor overlooking the backyards of Barron Park residents, to the first floor on the other side of the building.

Long term -- eliminate the risk

• The City of Palo Alto should rezone the CPI site to eliminate hazardous material uses incompatible with the adjacent residential area and require the uses to be amortized (phased out) within a set period of time.