Seaside — Several residents urged the City Council on Thursday to oppose an upcoming Army planned burn at Fort Ord, arguing the military’s cleanup record and the site’s Superfund designation raise serious health concerns for nearby communities.

Nina Beatty, a public commenter, described Fort Ord as a Superfund site contaminated with multiple hazardous materials — including PFOS/PFAS, trichloroethylene (TCE), lead, and historic munitions residues — and said outgassing and smoke from any large controlled burn could spread toxins to nearby neighborhoods and schools. “The Fort Ord burn by the army is planned soon, which will put these toxins into the air,” she said. Beatty cited reports about the presence of contaminants at Site 39 and claimed treated wastewater injections and other changes can interact with legacy contamination in complex ways.

Why it matters: Fort Ord sits on lands that affect regional groundwater and air quality. Public commenters expressed concern for asthmatics, children and residents with prior toxic exposures. They urged local elected officials to intervene or to coordinate with county, state and federal agencies to protect public health.

City response and next steps: The council did not take formal action at the meeting. City staff and council members acknowledged the comment and said they would consider how Seaside might communicate concerns to county or state partners; no formal resolution or demand to the Army was introduced during the session.

Ending: Speakers requested the city do everything in its power to oppose the burn and to prioritize public health; the council asked staff to take the comments under advisement and to report back if any formal local action is proposed by staff.