Five Key Parcels That Are Ripe for Redevelopment.OF the countless polluted sites throughout Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , here are five that arguably hold the most promise for being cleaned up, redeveloped and redeployed to accommodate future economic growth. Pier S, Port of Long Beach Location: Terminal Island Size: 75 acres Current use: Oil production; disposal site for crude oil tank bottoms and excavated mud Owner: City of Long Beach Harbor Department On-site toxins: Various oil byproducts, including volatile organic compounds volatile organic compound Environment Any toxic cabon-based (organic) substance that easily become vapors or gases–eg, solvents–paint thinners, lacquer thinner, degreasers, dry cleaning fluids and aromatic hydrocarbons, also some heavy metals heavy metals, n.pl metallic compounds, such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel. Exposure to these metals has been linked to immune, kidney, and neurotic disorders. . Most of the toxins lie at the bottom of shallow pools of groundwater. How it got that way: From the early 1930s, various entities have used the site for oil production. Between 1965 and 1970, then-owner Union Pacific Resources Co. leased parts of the property to outside parties for disposal of crude oil tank bottoms and excavated mud. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a report from the state Department of Toxic Substances Control, there were anecdotal accounts that some types of waste disposed of on the site were not consistent with the terms in these lease contracts. In 1994, the city of Long Beach purchased the site from UPRC UPRC University of Puerto Rico-Cayey with the goal of converting it into a marine terminal that could then be leased out again. Cleanup prescription: According to an April 1999 action plan, the Long Beach Harbor Department has proposed removing some of the underwater soil, mixing some of the soil with cement and then sandwiching that mix between two layers of clean landfill. This would help prevent surface water from percolating through the soil and spreading the hazardous materials. In April, the specific cleanup procedures and goals were agreed upon, and the actual cleanup is scheduled to be complete in early 2002. Most likely reuse: Marine terminal Golden Eagle Refinery Location: 12000 S. Figueroa St., Carson Size: 30 acres Current use: Super Kmart on portion of site, with remainder sitting vacant Owners: LASMO Oil and Gas Inc. and Golden Eagle Refining Co. On-site toxins: Twenty acres of the site are contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. with petroleum hydrocarbons and lead, both in the soil and groundwater. Ten acres of the site are contaminated with lead and various other unidentified hazardous wastes, including sludge. How it got that way: From 1922 to 1984, an oil refinery operated on 20 acres of the site. The refinery was closed and tom down in 1985, leaving oil contamination behind. The soil contamination was cleaned up in 1995, and in 1997, a Super Kmart located on this portion of the site. But the oil gradually seeped into local groundwater, creating a 250,000-gallon plume. There was some concern that the plume would migrate into a nearby portion of groundwater tapped for drinking water drinking water supply of water available to animals for drinking supplied via nipples, in troughs, dams, ponds and larger natural water sources; an insufficient supply leads to dehydration; it can be the source of infection, e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or of poisoning, e.g. . In 1998, state regulators determined there was no such threat. Kmart continues to monitor the site. In 1961 and 1962, the oil refinery owners leased out a 10-acre portion on the northwest portion of the site to a firm that operated a landfill. There was little documentation of the types of trash accepted (laws 40 years ago did not require it), but lead and other toxic elements were left behind. This portion of the site is now awaiting cleanup. Cleanup prescription: The soil on the landfill portion of the site is currently being injected with air. At the same time, vapors are being extracted. Over the next few months, the state Department of Toxic Substances Control will be evaluating these steps to see if they adequately clean up this portion of the site. Then the department and LASMO will be coming up with a new cleanup action plan that might include additional steps, like removing the contaminated soil. Most likely reuse: Retail/commercial center Taylor Yard Location: Between Los Angeles River The Los Angeles River is an intermittent river flowing through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the west end of the San Fernando Valley, 51 miles (82 km) southeast to its mouth in Long Beach. and San Fernando Road San Fernando Road is a major street in the city and county of Los Angeles. It starts off in Castaic as The Old Road, passing through Santa Clarita and the Newhall Pass, where upon its intersection with Sierra Highway near the junction of the Golden State (I-5) and the , east of the Golden State (5) Freeway and west of Cypress Park Size: 243 acres Current use: Industrial park on portion of site, rest vacant Owner: Southern Pacific Railroad/Union Pacific Railroad On-site toxins: Oil, grease, cleaning solvents, diesel fuel, lead and acid solutions How it got that way: For almost 100 years, the site was an active rail yard, where train locomotives were maintained and cleaned. Workers used extensive amounts of cleaning and lubricating solvents on the site, which leached into the soil and ran off into the nearby L.A. River. The site also contained wastewater treatment ponds and rubbish piles that leached toxins into the soil. Large portions of the site have been cleaned up and now house a Federal Express distribution center. An industrial park for telecommunications firms and a multiplex movie theater are planned for the remaining parts of the site that have been cleaned up. But about 60 acres retain contaminated, particularly on the northeast portion of the property. Cleanup prescription: Removal of contaminated soil and installation of monitoring systems. In August 1999, a removal action plan was approved for a portion of the remaining contaminated property. Final plans are due next year and actual cleanup is scheduled for 2001-02, with final certification due in mid-2002. Most likely reuse: Light-industrial manufacturing facilities Westway Terminal Co., Pier J Location: 1395 Pier J Ave. at the Port of Long Beach Size: 9 acres Current use: Bulk liquid storage terminal Owner: Westway Terminal Co. On-site toxins: Tetrachloroethylene tetrachloroethylene /tet·ra·chlo·ro·eth·y·lene/ (tet?rah-klor?o-eth´i-len) a moderately toxic chlorinated hydrocarbon used as a dry-cleaning solvent and for other industrial uses. ; 1,1,1-Trichloroethane; methylene chloride; and phthalate Phthal´ate n. 1. (Chem.) A salt of phthalic acid. . Although all of these chemicals can pose grave health threats, the state Department of Toxic Substances Control has determined that they are not in high enough concentrations to pose immediate human or environmental threats. How it got that way: The site was leased by the Port of Long Beach to the National Molasses molasses, sugar byproduct, the brownish liquid residue left after heat crystallization of sucrose (commercial sugar) in the process of refining. Molasses contains chiefly the uncrystallizable sugars as well as some remnant sucrose. Co. in 1968. National Molasses used the site as a bulk liquid storage terminal. Over the last 30 years, various acids, caustic soda caustic soda: see sodium hydroxide. caustic soda Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), an inorganic compound. The alkalies called caustic soda and caustic potash (potassium hydroxide) are very important industrial chemicals, with uses in the manufacture of , chlorinated chlorinated /chlo·ri·nat·ed/ (klor´i-nat?ed) treated or charged with chlorine. chlorinated charged with chlorine. chlorinated acids some, e.g. solvents and molasses products have been stored there. Some of these have leached into the soil. In 1991, Westway took over as the site operator. Westway has announced plans to demolish the storage facility, grade the site and return it to the port. Cleanup prescription: An April feasibility study determined that removal of some of the contaminated soil, combined with on-site heat treatment of the remainder of the soil and materials, would be the preferred cleanup method. Westway is expected to begin removal of the soil on three of the four parcels early next year. The fourth parcel has somewhat higher levels of contamination and will need a separate work plan and agreement. Most likely reuse: Marine terminal or port-related roadways/railways Waste Disposal Inc. Location: Los Nietos Road, between Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe Springs, city (1990 pop. 15,520), Los Angeles co., SW Calif., inc. 1957. The city lies in an oil and natural gas region and has diversified manufacturing. Road and Greenleaf Avenue in Santa Fe Springs Size: 40 acres Owner: Waste Disposal Inc. On-site toxins: Benzene, toluene toluene (tōl`y  ēn') or methylbenzene (mĕth'əlbĕn`zēn), C7H8 , phenol phenol (fē`nōl), C6H5OH, a colorless, crystalline solid that melts at about 41°C;, boils at 182°C;, and is soluble in ethanol and ether and somewhat soluble in water. , trichloroethane tri·chlo·ro·eth·ane n. Either of two colorless, nonflammable, isomeric compounds, C2H3Cl3, having a sweet odor, used as solvents for adhesives, pesticides, and lubricants, and in industrial cleaning solutions. , tetrachloroethene and at least 40 other chemicals. Some of these have leached into groundwater underneath the site and have migrated in the groundwater at least a mile away. The site is classified as a National Priority List Superfund site, one of 100 such sites in California and 1,800 nationwide. How it got that way: From 1928 through 1965, Waste Disposal Inc. operated a reservoir -- originally intended for crude oil storage -- as a hazardous waste disposal facility. Wastes included petroleum-related chemicals, solvents, sludge, construction debris and drilling mud. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and report said unidentified substances may have been dumped at the site illegally at night over a period of several years. The reservoir was covered in the late 1960s. Part of the site also contained a landfill. The site has been vacant since the late 1960s. Cleanup prescription: The EPA EPA eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA abbr. eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, n.pr See acid, eicosapentaenoic. EPA, n. came in during the 1980s and "stabilized" the site in an attempt to prevent the spread of contamination through storm-water runoff. Since then, the EPA has conducted numerous studies to determine the extent of pollution, especially chemicals in the groundwater. The agency is now evaluating cleanup options, including employing a process to extract vapors from the soil and removing some of the contaminated soil. The agency plans to come up with a proposed cleanup plan within the next year. Most likely reuse: Commercial or light-industrial facilities |
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