“U.S. Government to Demolish Buildings at Contaminated California Nuclear Test Site.” Edited by Grant McCool, U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, 20 May 2020, www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2020-05-20/us-government-to-demolish-buildings-at-contaminated-california-nuclear-test-site. 

After decades of nuclear, rocket fuel and liquid metal testing, the Trump Administration said that they are planning on the removal of ten radioactive buildings at the U.S. government’s former Santa Susana Field Laboratory located in the northwest corner of Los Angeles which opened in the late 1940’s. This decision from the Trump Administration is part of an environmental legacy left over from nuclear and government research from the cold war, as well as concerns for the upcoming fire season (this article was from late May) that could pose a threat “on and off the Santa Susana site”. Gavin Newsom says that the surrounding communities are excited for this “cleanup”.

This is a somewhat shocking but good plan of action from the Trump Administration. In the 60’s an experimental sodium-cooled unit experienced a core meltdown, making the surrounding area to become very dangerous, and resulted in many lawsuits. The radioactivity from this site has a good chance at damaging the health, and possibly the cells, of humans, animals and marine life as LA is obviously near the ocean. While much of the damage is done, this is a great step forward in environmental justice for the surrounding community, as well as great strides towards other building that pose threats in other areas of the state and country.