Why does anyone live in Spring Valley?

[Anonymous]

From wikipedia:

During World War I Spring Valley was an undeveloped area on the main campus of American University that the Army was allowed to use for testing chemical weapons, such as mustard gas, therefore also known as the American University Experimental Station or Camp American University and Camp Leach. In 1993, during excavations of a utility trench, construction workers found unexploded ordnance, and scientists found high levels of arsenic in the soil.[2] This touched off a cleanup effort by the Environmental Protection Agency and Army who call it the Spring Valley Formerly Used Defense Site. Cleanup lasted merely two years at first. A decade later, in 2003 many more dangerous sites in the area were uncovered, including perchlorate in groundwater and three burial pits on grounds of the South Korean ambassador’s residence. In 2005 ATSDR issued a "Health Consultation"' and 2 years later Johns Hopkins University was contracted for a health study, and reported in 2007. A review of all site data and previous health studies was supposed to be completed by 2013. As of 2014, the work is still ongoing with tons of earth being replaced and at least one house being scheduled for demolition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Soring Valley (1983-1985); my first born spent his first year there. I never heard about the risk Until reading this thread. Please give me a quick summary or link. Thanks.

Don't read about it! Nothing can be done and it will just freak you out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Spring Valley (1983-1985); my first born spent his first year there. I never heard about the risk Until reading this thread. Please give me a quick summary or link. Thanks.

Don't read about it! Nothing can be done and it will just freak you out.

Well, I'm the PP above who used to live in Spring Valley (on further reflection it was 1981-1984) and I've spent the last couple of hours reading, examining maps, and feeling quite appalled. First, I can't believe I never heard about all of this though I've continued to live in the DC area after leaving Spring Valley. I tend to read national and world news online and skip the local news. So... wow. My specific former residence does not lie within the areas of greatest interest; it's about two blocks outside the "range fan." No one in my family has had any health issues. So while I feel slightly reassured on the personal level, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that such a large toxic site could have faded from memory between the end of WW I and the beginning of residential development all over the site roughly 20 years later. How is that possible? Mind boggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Spring Valley (1983-1985); my first born spent his first year there. I never heard about the risk Until reading this thread. Please give me a quick summary or link. Thanks.

Don't read about it! Nothing can be done and it will just freak you out.

Well, I'm the PP above who used to live in Spring Valley (on further reflection it was 1981-1984) and I've spent the last couple of hours reading, examining maps, and feeling quite appalled. First, I can't believe I never heard about all of this though I've continued to live in the DC area after leaving Spring Valley. I tend to read national and world news online and skip the local news. So... wow. My specific former residence does not lie within the areas of greatest interest; it's about two blocks outside the "range fan." No one in my family has had any health issues. So while I feel slightly reassured on the personal level, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that such a large toxic site could have faded from memory between the end of WW I and the beginning of residential development all over the site roughly 20 years later. How is that possible? Mind boggling.

I'm sure the project was very classified so probably obscured things. Did they ever find the massive Death Valley pit I read in a few articles?

[Anonymous]

Because you find AU park too pedestrian and cramped and you're looking for a DC address as far away from all the rest of chocolate city as possible. Same reasons people have always chosen SV. Wide open and isolated is rare in the nice parts of the city.

[Anonymous]

Went to a friends house for cookout there last weekend, I asked if they had any mustard for my hot dog, i said opps, too soon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because you find AU park too pedestrian and cramped and you're looking for a DC address as far away from all the rest of chocolate city as possible. Same reasons people have always chosen SV. Wide open and isolated is rare in the nice parts of the city.

Plus, free cancer!!!

[Anonymous]

Aren't real estate agents required by law to disclose this to potential buyers? When I was looking to purchase in the area 10 years ago, my real estate agent barely made mention of it. Between the munitions issue and lack of public transportation, I settled on the Cleveland Park area. So glad I did my own research!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because you find AU park too pedestrian and cramped and you're looking for a DC address as far away from all the rest of chocolate city as possible. Same reasons people have always chosen SV. Wide open and isolated is rare in the nice parts of the city.

Plus, free cancer!!!

There hasn't been one proven impact case and Spring Valley is much bigger than the suspected contamination zone. besides this isn't like some superfund site in the hood or industrial sites EOTP, the full resources of gov will eventually make the area back up to SV standards. Even if something was to happen the claimant impact valuations for residents there would be through the roof due to the caliber of the owners. A litigator's dream and the visibility and influence will just make the whole process more comprehensive

[Anonymous]

Actually when we looked at homes there many of the sellers had Geo soil reports to hand out at the open house.

[Anonymous]

And this is why I read DCUM. I had no idea! Interesting. Also, testing mustard gas in your own backyard. Gold star, American U!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because you find AU park too pedestrian and cramped and you're looking for a DC address as far away from all the rest of chocolate city as possible. Same reasons people have always chosen SV. Wide open and isolated is rare in the nice parts of the city.

Plus, free cancer!!!

There hasn't been one proven impact case and Spring Valley is much bigger than the suspected contamination zone. besides this isn't like some superfund site in the hood or industrial sites EOTP, the full resources of gov will eventually make the area back up to SV standards. Even if something was to happen the claimant impact valuations for residents there would be through the roof due to the caliber of the owners. A litigator's dream and the visibility and influence will just make the whole process more comprehensive

You're getting at a good point. Not only hasn't there been a single proven case, I don't believe a single claim has been litigated. In a neighborhood full of Big Law partners, that's a good indication that any case wouldn't withstand serious scrutiny (ya know, something more stringent than a City Paper writer/intern).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because you find AU park too pedestrian and cramped and you're looking for a DC address as far away from all the rest of chocolate city as possible. Same reasons people have always chosen SV. Wide open and isolated is rare in the nice parts of the city.

Plus, free cancer!!!

There hasn't been one proven impact case and Spring Valley is much bigger than the suspected contamination zone. besides this isn't like some superfund site in the hood or industrial sites EOTP, the full resources of gov will eventually make the area back up to SV standards. Even if something was to happen the claimant impact valuations for residents there would be through the roof due to the caliber of the owners. A litigator's dream and the visibility and influence will just make the whole process more comprehensive

You're getting at a good point. Not only hasn't there been a single proven case, I don't believe a single claim has been litigated. In a neighborhood full of Big Law partners, that's a good indication that any case wouldn't withstand serious scrutiny (ya know, something more stringent than a City Paper writer/intern).

The legal standard is different than any possible risk. There are munitions buried there. Any normal person would proceed with caution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because you find AU park too pedestrian and cramped and you're looking for a DC address as far away from all the rest of chocolate city as possible. Same reasons people have always chosen SV. Wide open and isolated is rare in the nice parts of the city.

Plus, free cancer!!!

There hasn't been one proven impact case and Spring Valley is much bigger than the suspected contamination zone. besides this isn't like some superfund site in the hood or industrial sites EOTP, the full resources of gov will eventually make the area back up to SV standards. Even if something was to happen the claimant impact valuations for residents there would be through the roof due to the caliber of the owners. A litigator's dream and the visibility and influence will just make the whole process more comprehensive

You're getting at a good point. Not only hasn't there been a single proven case, I don't believe a single claim has been litigated. In a neighborhood full of Big Law partners, that's a good indication that any case wouldn't withstand serious scrutiny (ya know, something more stringent than a City Paper writer/intern).

The legal standard is different than any possible risk. There are munitions buried there. Any normal person would proceed with caution.

All risk is relative, there are rapists illegals in MoCo schools and yet people send there kids there. Old bombs deep under ground while not ideal are not top of the risk pyramid. I suspect it is still safer than living on hill east and honestly it is doubtful there will ever be a real incident. Most people in old cities would be surprised what is under their feet, what do you think is under much of France?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because you find AU park too pedestrian and cramped and you're looking for a DC address as far away from all the rest of chocolate city as possible. Same reasons people have always chosen SV. Wide open and isolated is rare in the nice parts of the city.

Plus, free cancer!!!

There hasn't been one proven impact case and Spring Valley is much bigger than the suspected contamination zone. besides this isn't like some superfund site in the hood or industrial sites EOTP, the full resources of gov will eventually make the area back up to SV standards. Even if something was to happen the claimant impact valuations for residents there would be through the roof due to the caliber of the owners. A litigator's dream and the visibility and influence will just make the whole process more comprehensive

You're getting at a good point. Not only hasn't there been a single proven case, I don't believe a single claim has been litigated. In a neighborhood full of Big Law partners, that's a good indication that any case wouldn't withstand serious scrutiny (ya know, something more stringent than a City Paper writer/intern).

The legal standard is different than any possible risk. There are munitions buried there. Any normal person would proceed with caution.

All risk is relative, there are rapists illegals in MoCo schools and yet people send there kids there. Old bombs deep under ground while not ideal are not top of the risk pyramid. I suspect it is still safer than living on hill east and honestly it is doubtful there will ever be a real incident. Most people in old cities would be surprised what is under their feet, what do you think is under much of France?

This post confirms my hunch that Spring Valley is full of Republicans; they tend to discount environmental risks, yet worry about "illegal rapists" etc.