According to a press release issued by Culver City this afternoon, the property owner of Culver City Skating Rink, Mr. Karagozian, has made the decision to decommission and close the Culver Ice Arena and thereby remove the ammonia from the refrigeration system.

Mr. Karagozian retained PIC Environmental of La Verne, CA, originally retained by Planet Granite to prepare a facility closure plan for review by the city. Last Friday, March 7, 2014, the city approved the final closure plan prepared by PIC Environmental, and confirmed that the work will start under the City’s supervision on Thursday, March 13, 2014. 

The owner really had little choice. According to a report prepared by an independent expert in ammonia refrigeration, Michael Dillon P.E., of Dillon Consulting Engineers, hired by the city:

The current ammonia refrigeration system constitutes an imminent hazard to any occupants within the building and to the  neighboring community. The only two viable options for mitigating the risks associated with this system are either (1) its immediate shutdown and decommissioning along with removal and proper disposal of the ammonia in the system and its associated equipment and piping, similar to what is proposed in the Facility Closure Plan of 7 March 2014); OR (2) the immediate shutdown of the system and removal of the ammonia preparatory to and in conjunction with a complete overhaul and upgrade of the system to bring it and the machinery room into compliance with current codes and  standards.

So it was either shut down the system or shut down the system.

Will it be Culver Ice Foundation to the rescue to provide the funds for 'complete overhaul and upgrade of the system? Stay tuned.