Contamination continues to be an issue at Mule Creek State Prison, as recent water testing has revealed elevated levels of toxic chemicals most likely emanating from the prison's dry cleaning facility.

The issue was raised at the same council meeting where Sen. Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) denounced any expansion of the local prison, saying that past promises were never kept.

Mule Creek State Prison Warden Richard Subia also spoke at the Feb. 20 Ione City Council meeting about the recent findings. He said low levels of the dry cleaning solvents dichloroethylene and perchloroethylene have been detected in the prison's monitoring wells.

"I wanted to come forward about this new turn of events," he said.

Subia said secondary testing of the wells will begin March 5. He said if those tests come back positive for volatile organic components such as PCE and DCE, he plans to work with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board to solve the problem.

Subia said he hopes to get to the bottom of the problem once the March 5 testing is completed.

"I want to make sure we hurry to get the testing done," he said.

"Two other prisons statewide have this same problem," Subia added. "With dry cleaning factories it is not uncommon to have problems with the water table."

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, PCE and DCE have a depressive effect upon the central nervous system. Exposure can lead to inebriation, convulsions, spasms and unconsciousness at high concentrations. PCE is the most common solvent used for dry cleaning.

According to Subia, PCE is brought to the prison in 55-gallon drums and any remaining sludge resulting from the dry cleaning process is put back into the drum, then transported to an on-site hazardous storage center. A contracted waste disposal company then hauls the sludge to a proper disposal site. Subia said the prison only uses one 55-gallon drum of PCE in a typical year.

Councilman Jeff Barnhart asked Subia if there is any chance the contamination has reached the city's sewer lines.

"If staff are not following proper procedures, it could enter into the system," Subia replied. "Even a small spill can make its way into the groundwater."

Subia said his two main goals are to make sure his staff are following procedures correctly - "and I am informed they are," he said - and to clean up the contamination if there is a problem as soon as possible.

"I commend you for being forthwith," Barnhart said.

According to Subia, the prison is already providing bottled drinking water to three Ione families whose wells were contaminated with nitrates.

"Today's information compounds the issue for me," Subia said. "March 5 can't come soon enough."

Ione resident Gene Riddle told council members it was very important the city test its own wells for VOCs, as well as private wells in the area.

Riddle said there are 10 monitoring wells for the prison, but all are on-site.

"Other wells in the vicinity haven't been tested," he said.

Riddle said he has been a geologist for 16 years and has also worked for the state Department of Toxic Substances Control.

"VOCs move quickly in water," he said. "The water table here is very shallow and now there is water in the system."

Council members all seemed to think VOC testing was a good recommendation.

"We should test everything we have," Mayor Jerry Sherman said.

Cox weighed in on the contamination issue as well as the proposed expansion of Mule Creek.

"I encourage the council to move in the direction of having all wells in some geographic pattern tested," he said. "We certainly need to get a handle on the current situation."

Cox, who represents an area that includes six prisons, also addressed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to expand the prison by 400 beds, saying any expansion must include mitigation measures. Cox added that the state should not expand a prison that is already causing problems.

During an interview with the Ledger Dispatch last month, the senator said the state had taken a scenic foothills community and turned it into "a company town.

"The state hasn't done it's job," he said.

The prison remains one of the most dominant employers in both the city and county, Cox explained, creating dangers for emergency vehicles, pedestrians and local schools during shift change hours when, Preston Drive is clogged with prison personnel.