Aug 5, 2008 8:25 pm US/Pacific
New Law Tightens Caltrans Animal Dumping Rules
SACRAMENTO (CBS 5) ―
A CBS 5 Investigates probe into Caltrans' animal dumping has resulted in new legislation. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill tightening regulations on how the agency deals with dead animals and pets found on roadsides.
"I think that this really closes the book on a dark chapter," said Marin Assembly Member Jared Huffman. The bill sponsored by Huffman is designed to make sure Caltrans workers properly dispose of animals and pets found dead along roadsides statewide.
"I think I like many people was horrified when I saw the accounts of these pet cemeteries that you helped bring to light." Huffman said.
Huffman's bill came as a direct response to reports by CBS 5 Investigates of animal dumping by Caltrans workers in sites such as a deep ravine off Highway 9 near Saratoga, the one workers named the "pet cemetery."
Orange Caltrans bags, and animal remains, bones, skeletons, and even the body of a dead dog littered that hillside, thrown there by Caltrans employees. "If you throw it hard enough it goes down and everything disappears," one employee told CBS 5 Investigates.
It's a practice workers said had been going on for years and not just in Santa Clara County. CBS 5 found dump sites were also found in Sausalito, Monterey and San Mateo County, something that prompted outrage from local officials.
"It's outrageous behavior, terrible behavior, something has to be done to correct it," said San Mateo County supervisor Jerry Hill when CBS 5 Investigates showed him the video last year.
The investigation forced Caltrans to give new instruction to employees statewide. "The inappropriate practice by a few employees of dumping animal remains in non-designated areas has undermined our efforts," said Caltrans director Will Kempton in a videotaped message to his workers.
Huffman's bill sets out new requirements for the agency. Caltrans now must revise its procedures for removal and disposal of dead animals, notify pet owners when a dead pet is found, make sure not to dump within 150 feet of waterways or drainage sites and maintain a record of disposal sites.
"And frankly this law wouldn't have been drafted or signed by the governor had it not been for the good work that you and your station did in telling the world about this terrible practice, so thank you," Huffman said.
Caltrans said it's using what it calls last year's "unfortunate occurrences" to strengthen internal policies.
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