Risk Assessment for Storing and Handling Hazardous Materials at CPI

Community Meeting

Please attend this Important Meeting

Some background:

• A series of spills and releases of toxic materials starting in 2006 alerted Chimalus residents that large quantities of cyanides, acids, and other extremely hazardous materials are used on a daily basis right behind our homes.
• CPI maintains a plating shop on the second floor of Building 2. This is particularly dangerous in an earthquake environment.
• CPI was allowed to vastly increase the amounts of hazardous materials on this site without any notice to the neighborhood or any public review.
• The City of Palo Alto ordered a study of the toxics, possible amortization, and zoning updates that was to have been completed by December of 2012. Now, over a year later, the report will be presented.

What can WE do? What can the City do?

• Hazardous Materials and Plating Shops should not be near families and children.  Safety requires Distance between toxics and people.
• We, the residents, MUST DEMAND Zoning Changes – Amortize the CPI Plating Shop – Move it AWAY from our homes!
• Fire Department oversight is NOT ENOUGH: Accidents and unexpected events occur.

Residents have followed this for 8 long years  – since the nitric acid fume release in February 2006.  Here is the timeline of events and actions.  Click for a clearer, enlarged view.