HomeMy WebLinkAboutAscon Landfill Site - Community Notice - Department of Toxic (2) AUGUST 2022
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Department of Toxic Substances Control-DTSC's Mission is to protect California's people, communities, and environment from toxic
substances, to enhance economic vitality by restoring contaminated land, and to compel manufacturers to make safer consumer products.
Ascon Landfill Site Update
& Community Survey Results 20-4 ' m
21641 Magnolia Street, Huntington Beach, Californi!1� " rn
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The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) at~'7a :X rT1
*Sign up for DTSC mlail IF't* c�
is updating you on the Ascon Landfill Site (Ascon) z o
project, located at 21641 Magnolia Street (southwest c cn
corner of Magnolia Street and Hamilton Avenue) in We invite you to subscribe to our e-mail
Huntington Beach. list to stay updated on this project and to
help our outreach activities.
DTSC is the lead regulatory agency overseeing the
To subscribe
cleanup of the Ascon property and provides oversight 1. Visit: https://tinyurl.com/2p95pypx
on environmental investigations, monitoring, remedial
planning, and cleanups. DTSC is working with other 2. Email: If you need assistance to
regulatory agencies and is in close communication subscribe, please contact
with the City of Huntington Beach and the South Jessica Anderson, Public
Coast Air Quality Management District. Excavation Participation Specialist at
work at the Site is currently paused, pending Jessica.Anderson(a)-dtsc.ca.gov
decisions on the approach for the remainder of the
cleanup. *Unsubscribe at any time
DTSC continues conducting weekly onsite inspections with Ascon's technical team, with independent
air monitoring checks in the neighborhoods near Ascon. Regular inspections also are conducted by
the City of Huntington Beach stormwater inspector and by Orange County Vector Control.
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Future rendering of Ascon Site after installation of the multi-layer engineered cap.
Hearing impaired individuals may use the California Relay Service at 711 or 800-735-2929 TTYNCO/HCO to voice.
.{+�+ Additional information on DTSC sites can be found through our EnviroStor. (rev.S-2020)
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Community Survey Highlights, Community Questions and Concerns
Thank you to all who completed and returned the 2021 DTSC community survey questionnaire last
December. More than 250 surveys were completed, and 12 community stakeholder interviews were
held. DTSC has updated the Public Participation Plan, including the survey and interview responses,
and has placed it in the Information Repositories section listed below. Your feedback helps us
understand community needs and improve future outreach activities.
We listened to your feedback and heard concerns about restarting and completing the project, and
public health and safety-related questions. DTSC takes these concerns very seriously. Answers to
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are attached to the end of this update.
Next Steps at Ascon
DTSC has provided direction to the Ascon technical team on the draft Enclosure Feasibility Evaluation
Report and onsite Pilot Testing phase for the restart of work. This direction and subsequent work will
guide the approach for the remainder of the cleanup. These technical discussions involve other
regulatory agencies and environmental professionals, with a focus on how to minimize potential odor
impacts on the community. Before the start of Pilot Testing and the Restart phases of the final cleanup
at the Ascon Site, DTSC will announce and hold community meetings.
Information Repositories
Site-related information, such as reports, community updates (fact sheets), workplans, and other
project documents can be reviewed at the following three locations:
• Huntington Beach Central Public Library- Cultural and Information Center
7111 Talbert Avenue Huntington Beach, CA 92648; (714) 842-4481
• Huntington Beach Public Library- Banning Branch
9281 Banning Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; (714) 375-5005
• Department of Toxic Substances Control
5796 Corporate Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630; (714) 484-5337
For more information, please visit:
https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile report%global id=30490018
(To subscribe to document updates on Envirostor, click"Sign up for email alerts" in the top right corner)
If you have any questions about this project, please contact the following DTSC staff:
Clayton Larkins Jessica Anderson
Project Manager Public Participation Specialist
657-777-9816 714-484-5354
Clayton.Larkins fx,dtsc.ca.gov Jessica.Anderson(a)dtsc.ca.gov
For media inquiries only: WANT MORE INFORMATION?
Russ Edmonson, Public Information Officer Visit www.AsconHB.com and sign up for
(916) 323-3372 e-mail notifications
Russ.Edmonson(d7dtsc.ca.gov
Questions on Air Quality and Dust
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? Monitoring:
Please call the Ascon project hotline, Contact South Coast Air Quality Management
714-388-1825, or email info(c�AsconHB.com. District at 1-800-CUT-SMOG (288-766)
_.... . . ... . .
Nearing impaired individuals may use the California Relay Service at 711 or 800-735-2929TTYNCO/HCO to voice. a
1r4 Additional information on DTSC sites can be found through our€nviroStor. (rev.5-2020)
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FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Below are the responses to your top questions from the feedback you provided during the recent
community survey.
1. Are there public health risks due to airborne contaminants from Ascon to those
who live and work in the surrounding area?
Results from years of air monitoring data during interim remedial measures and
investigations prior to the final cleanup phase, as well as results since the final cleanup
began in January 2019, indicate that there has not been a threat to public health.
During active excavation, air monitoring data are comprised of tests for volatile organic
chemicals (VOCs) and dusts that may carry bound chemicals, such as metals and
semi-volatile organic compounds. Data are compared with screening levels from the
federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to identify any
exceedances. Results are available to the public on both the DTSC Envirostor
database (link listed on page 2 under "For more information") and on AsconHB.com
(link also on page 2).
Nuisance odors were reported by members of the surrounding community during initial
cleanup activities at the Site in 2019. Even though air monitoring has shown that there
is no threat to public health from the chemicals causing odors, nuisance odors can still
impact your quality of life. Sources of nuisance odors are often difficult to identify, and
symptoms vary with age, genetics, gender, medical condition, and lifestyle. Some of
the more common symptoms of nuisance odors are headaches, nausea, nasal
congestion, dizziness, and watery eyes. Other frequently reported symptoms of
nuisance odors are sore throat, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, drowsiness,
and mental depression. ATSDR provides this and additional information on their
website (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/odors/index.htmi). DTSC is taking every effort to
minimize all exposures, whether these arise from Site chemicals or nuisance odors.
2. How about when work is occurring at the Site?
Since June 2019, Ascon has been regularly monitoring air quality on and offsite. The
air quality data have been below health-protective screening levels, as it has been
during prior field actions. Air quality monitoring during the Northwest Berm repairs in
2020 and Pit F work in 2021 indicates air quality is safe for the public. Near real-time
air quality telemetry monitoring as used during Pit F work will be included during future
active excavation work and available for public viewing on asconhb.com.
3. Are there offsite impacts to soils from Ascon?
No. Sampling and investigations conducted since 2002 found that impacts are
contained within/beneath the Site boundaries. Soil sampling conducted outside the
historical Ascon boundaries also show no Ascon-related impacts.
Hearing impaired individuals may use the California Relay Service at 711 or 800-735-2929 TTYNCO/HCO to voice.
S. 9 Additional information on DTSC sites can be found through our EnviroStor. (rev.5-2020)
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4. Are there impacts to groundwater from Ascon that can be a health risk to the
community?
No. Ascon-related impacts to groundwater outside of the historical landfill boundaries
are minimal, and do not have a pathway to expose the surrounding community. During
the final cleanup activity and temporary shutdown, monitoring continues with collection
of groundwater samples from five monitoring wells located offsite near the Site
perimeter. Monitoring will also continue after the final cleanup has concluded and the
environmental cap is constructed, with those results available to the public. Also,
drinking water wells in Huntington Beach are at least three miles from Ascon and are
independently monitored by drinking water providers.
5. Will the proposed cleanup remove all materials or contaminants from the
property?
No. The areas of Ascon where higher levels of contamination required removal and
disposal have been completed. Soils with lower concentrations of contaminants, as
well as disposed construction materials (such as concrete debris) will be reused
onsite. The final remediation of the Ascon Site includes installation of an engineered
multi-layer environmental cap that will safely cover remaining waste-impacted material
onsite. Following completion of the cleanup work and installation of a multi-layer
environmental cap, the property will be covered with imported clean soil, planted with
drought-tolerant native plants and grasses, and enclosed with a residential quality
fence as protected open space.
6. What protections will be in place to ensure safety and health for the community
near the Ascon Site in the future?
Protections provided by long-term monitoring and property inspections will continue
following the completion of the cleanup work. Soil vapor along the perimeter of the
Site will be monitored for methane and other volatiles after the environmental cap is
completed. The Ascon team will complete the remaining remedial work utilizing odor
mitigation technology and practices that have been enhanced based on additional
information gained since the June 2019 shutdown, at the direction of DTSC, in
coordination with the City of Huntington Beach and permitting with the South Coast
Air Quality Management District. Long-term groundwater monitoring will continue after
the cleanup is complete, using offsite monitoring wells and new replacement onsite
wells. If monitoring data exceeds post-construction cleanup levels, DTSC will compel
Ascon to conduct further investigation and/or remedial action. Additionally, property
use will be limited to activities that will not compromise the remedy (i.e., the cap) and
the property will be inspected at least annually to ensure these restrictions are not
violated in the future.
Hearing impaired individuals may use the California Relay Service at 711 or 800-735-2929TTYNCO/HCO to voice.
rl!N+ Additional information on DTSC sites can be found through our Envirn5tor. (rev.S 2020)