A coalition of green groups released figures showing a high incident of birth defects and infant deaths in Kettleman City during a press conference in Hanford on Wednesday, and called on the government to investigate the cause and extent of what they say is a "health emergency."

The groups also called for a moratorium on all permitting processes for proposed polluting projects until an investigation is done.

According to the advocates, five babies were born with birth defects in Kettleman City during a 14-month period starting September 2007, and three of them have died. They say an estimated 17 to 20 children were born there during that time period. These numbers, they say, are based on a recent door-to-door survey of residents.

The county health department says, however, that official statistics show birth defects and deaths are much lower.

"We're here to demand the county, state and federal agencies declare a health emergency in Kettleman City," said Maricela Mares-Alatorre, a Kettleman City resident leading a group El Pueblo Para Aire y Agua Limpio. "We don't know what's happening. We don't know why. But we do know that these thing could be caused by environmental factors, and we're begging the agencies to protect our town."

To make a point, a group of parents showed up to the press conference holding photographs of their children with cleft palates and holding up signs bearing slogans such as "Save the children" and "No more birth defects."

The press conference at the Kings County Government Center comes amid the time when residents of Kettleman City and Avenal face a series of projects being proposed near their communities.

Waste Management is trying to expand its hazardous landfills and renew a permit to continue storing and burying waste contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical known as PCBs.

In response to a call for a moratorium, officials with Waste Management said they have no intention of stopping any of their projects.

"We think it would be irresponsible to delay getting the permit, because this is essentially the last available place for hazardous waste in California," said Kit Cole, spokeswoman for Waste Management.

Concerns raised Wednesday are nothing new for Kings County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency previously found no evidence that the community's public health is adversely affected by the landfills.

But opponents simply don't buy it. For years, residents have complained of higher rates of asthma and cancer rates as well as cases of cleft palate among newborns.

Health concerns were last debated at a February meeting held by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because of the company's proposal to continue storing and burying waste contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical known as PCBs.

Tension is also flaring up because Waste Management is trying to expand its hazardous landfills and a new power plant is being proposed in Avenal, and sludge farm operations are being proposed nearby. Residents say these projects would add to the cumulative effect of pollution they are already experiencing.

"We're not here today to point a finger at any one company or any one pollution source," said Bradley Angel, executive director of San Francisco-based Greenaction. "We don't know. What we do know for sure is that the last thing Kettleman City needs is more toxic poisons dumped in their community and in the air and water."

Parents who were affected by cleft palate babies and infant deaths appeared at the press conference to provide testimonies.

Maria Saucedo and her husband, Alejandro Alvarez of Avenal, were among them.

Their daughter, Ashely Alvarez, was born with a cleft palate and a congenital heart defect in March 2008 and died 11 months later. Alvarez said they lived in Kettleman City at that time.

Saucedo, seven-months pregnant, said she is concerned for her new baby.

"I miss my baby, but she's not with us anymore. And right now I'm concerned with our new baby," she said. Alvarez added, "We don't know what's going to happen. I think it's a big problem. We live in fear in Avenal and Kettleman City."

Magdalena Romero of Kettleman City, who also lost her baby to birth defects last year, said "I'm here to ask for justice for my daughter, America Romero, who passed away," she said through a Spanish translation.

Their testimonies conflict with official disease data.

According to state statistics, 2.97 cases of birth defects per 1,000 live births were reported from Kettleman City between 1998 and 2005 -- a number far lower when compared with 13.7 for Kings County and 12.27 for the entire Valley.

Angel accused Kings County health officials of inaction on the issue. The officials responded saying they were never made aware of the problem.

"They've never provided us with any information about those cases. The concern we have is that if there are cases we don't know about, then they may not be receiving the services that we can make available to them," said Keith Winkler, director of the Kings County Department of Public Health.

Currently, two children from Kettleman City are enrolled in the county's California Children Services, which provides care for children with birth defects, Winkler said. He urged environmental justice groups to refer cases to the county.

Meanwhile, Waste Management officials stood by their health and safety record.

"The health and safety of the local community is of the utmost importance to Waste Management. Waste Management is ... committed to the safe and secure handling of waste," said Bob Henry, senior district manager of the company's Kettleman Hills Facility. "The facility is one of the most highly regulated sites in California and uses state-of-the-art technology to protect the local environment."

As part of the landfill expansion, Waste Management has agreed to pay $100,000 to fund a Kettleman City health study to be conducted by Kings County Public Health Department.

Leery of the company's involvement, environmental watchdog groups called for a no-strings-attached health study by an independent party.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(July 9, 2009)