West Covina

Responding to problems that arose with the evacuation of families near the BKK landfill last year, Assemblyman Frank Hill (R-Whittier) has introduced a bill that would require the state Department of Health Services to schedule a public hearing if it evacuates families near a toxic dump.

Hill said the bill was prompted by the refusal of the department to hold a formal hearing last year on BKK. Hill, other legislators and the city of West Covina asked for a so-called “501 hearing,” authorized by Senate Bill 501, to determine if BKK should be closed as a danger to the environment. State health officials conducted informal meetings, but refused to hold a 501 hearing on grounds that the procedure was cumbersome, unnecessary and useful only if the state intended to return authority over the dump to the city.

Assembly members Sally Tanner (D-El Monte) and William H. Lancaster (R-Covina) are co-authors of the proposed legislation.