The city council recently agreed to honor a citizen petition foran environmental assessment worksheet, a series of questions thatin part aims to scope out what kind of contaminants are found onthe site and how they will be removed. The process also allows ahost of other government agencies to comment on the assessment.

Many of those questions already have been answered by reportsprepared by luxury homebuilders Toll Brothers, but the worksheetmay offer more information, according to city officials. The recentcouncil action capped months of intense scrutiny of the ranch,which illegally stockpiled large amounts of manure over the yearsand accepted demolition debris from the old Metropolitan Stadiumwhen it was razed in 1985. Former use of the site resulted inplacement of demolition debris and accumulation of animal waste,both of which must be removed and remediated prior to constructionof the homes, according to the city.

The builders hired environmental specialists who have noted thepresence of oil barrels, asbestos tiles, petroleum-contaminatedsoil and packed manure deposits on the-acre site. Toll had beenhoping to start work on the site in the fall, but faces delay dueto the environmental review.