12 replies to this topic

[Shortpoet-GTD]

"A coalition of local environmental groups recently accused Magic Mountain of spewing
pollutants and trash into the Santa Clara River.

The groups took water samples of runoff flowing from the amusement park’s two storm water
channels and a pipe leading from the facility.
Three rounds of tests revealed excessive levels of copper, zinc, aluminum, iron, lead
and titanium
and also showed the presence of mercury, oil and grease, bacteria and other effluent,
the groups said. They say the park’s storm water monitoring reports show similar pollution
dating back to at least 2007."
Article here.

Question being-if it's been going on this long, why haven't we heard anything about it?

[MakingCents]

Is this magic mountain like one of those mini golf places?  Or is it a bigger park?  Around here we have magic mountains and they are like a mini golf course and a go-kart track.  I can't believe they would be even big enough to have this high amount of pollution.  If they are the same thing, then they literally have ZERO environmental awareness.

[still learning]

"Is this magic mountain like one of those mini golf places? Or is it a bigger park?"

It's one of the Six Flags amusement parks.  Big.  
Was there once, couple of decades ago.  Lots of people visit, lots of cars.

Maybe the setup was OK originally, but growth outstripped whatever control measures they have.

Sounds like part of the business problem is visible trash.  People see trash with the park logo in the river and all the way down to the ocean beaches miles away, wonder what other unseen pollutants there are.  If customers weren't such slobs, weren't tossing visible trash, maybe could get away with unseen pollution more.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

still learning, on 26 April 2012 - 07:11 PM, said:

wonder what other unseen pollutants there are.

"Three rounds of tests revealed excessive levels of copper, zinc, aluminum, iron, lead
and titanium
and also showed the presence of mercury, oil and grease, bacteria."

[zararina]

That would be "enough" or even "over" reasons to close that park and cancel their permit (if the officials there will believe on those tests and give value on it.)
They should fix those environmental issues first before they are allowed to be reopen .

[MakingCents]

still learning, on 26 April 2012 - 07:11 PM, said:

"Is this magic mountain like one of those mini golf places? Or is it a bigger park?"

It's one of the Six Flags amusement parks.  Big.  
Was there once, couple of decades ago.  Lots of people visit, lots of cars.

Maybe the setup was OK originally, but growth outstripped whatever control measures they have.

Sounds like part of the business problem is visible trash.  People see trash with the park logo in the river and all the way down to the ocean beaches miles away, wonder what other unseen pollutants there are.  If customers weren't such slobs, weren't tossing visible trash, maybe could get away with unseen pollution more.

Ok, I thought I had heard there was a big magic mountain amusement park out there.  I wonder how this stacks up against other amusements parks.  You are right on the trash thing, there is only so much a business can do with trash, the customers have to have the responsibility to dispose of trash in the correct place.  

But the elevated metal counts in the water is interesting to me.  I wonder if they have tested the water coming IN to the park to see how much those elevated levels are caused by the park.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

MakingCents, on 26 April 2012 - 06:00 PM, said:

Is this magic mountain like one of those mini golf places?  Or is it a bigger park?  Around here we have magic mountains and they are like a mini golf course and a go-kart track.  I can't believe they would be even big enough to have this high amount of pollution.  If they are the same thing, then they literally have ZERO environmental awareness.

It's 260 acres.

"It has paid more than $1 million in fines over the last decade for releasing polluted runoff, water board records show.
The park has reported discharging water with excessive levels of effluent, copper, lead, chlorine, bacteria and oil and grease
into the river more than 400 times since 1995."
More details here.

You would think that after 17 years, things would improve. Evidently not.

[MakingCents]

They have known about this since 1995?!  That is completely ridiculous!  When I saw this originally I figured they must have something broken that was leaking and they didn't realize it or somethign like that.  But seriously, 17 years?  Completely irresponsible.

[steph84]

Oh, no! Magic Mountain needs to clean up its act. I refuse to go to anymore of their theme parks until they get this situation under control. I wish more consumers would stand up to them and get them to clean up their act.

[dissn_it]

It is kind of shocking that an amusement park is causing that much pollution, has known about it for years and has still not resolved the problem. It is just the one park that is mentioned in the article so it really makes me wonder if all of the amusement parks have similar problems.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

dissn_it, on 17 May 2012 - 10:25 AM, said:

It is kind of shocking that an amusement park is causing that much pollution, has known about it for years and has still not
resolved the problem. It is just the one park that is mentioned in the article so it really makes me wonder if all
of the amusement parks have similar problems.

I would think, probably yes. They are not unique in the fact that they are close to water. Other parks are too, and
that's the problem. Chemicals and trash being "washed" into lakes, streams, and eventually the ocean.

[btatro]

Shortpoet-GTD, on 28 April 2012 - 03:35 AM, said:

It's 260 acres.

"It has paid more than $1 million in fines over the last decade for releasing polluted runoff, water board records show.
The park has reported discharging water with excessive levels of effluent, copper, lead, chlorine, bacteria and oil and grease
into the river more than 400 times since 1995."
More details here.

You would think that after 17 years, things would improve. Evidently not.

But yet have not fixed anything?! The initial cost may be high to resolve whatever issue they have going on, but must beat out paying millions in fines every so often.

[LosAngelesLover]

You should definitely write to someone responsible about this, this is just a disgusting waste of the Earth.