For Immediate Release: July 30, 2020
Media Contact: Soledad Calvino, 415-972-3512, [email protected]

KETTLEMAN CITY, Calif. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a permit renewal and modification for the continued storage and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste at the Kettleman Hills hazardous waste facility. The facility is located along the I-5 corridor approximately 3.5 miles southwest of Kettleman City, California. The permit includes comprehensive operating, monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure that PCB waste operations are protective of public health and the environment.

EPA’s permit will allow Chemical Waste Management Inc. (CWM), the owner and operator of the Kettleman Hills Facility, to continue storing and disposing of PCB waste. Under the permit, valid for 10 years, the PCB disposal can take place at the existing hazardous waste landfill. This disposal location has already been approved by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The permit decision follows a public comment period and engagement process during which EPA hosted several public meetings and a public hearing.

EPA also prepared an Environmental Justice Analysis to document that environmental justice concerns, including the need for outreach to potentially affected communities to seek their involvement, were considered in the approval of the permit. The document carrying today’s decision includes the EPA’s responses to the 23 people who commented during the public comment period.

The permit and supporting documents are available for review online at https://www.epa.gov/ca/kettleman-hills. Information is also available in Spanish.

PCBs are toxic, manmade chemicals formerly used in electrical equipment. Congress banned the manufacture of PCBs in the U.S. in 1976 due to concerns over environmental and public health hazards. EPA has identified PCBs as probable human carcinogens, and they have also been shown to cause other adverse health effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system.

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PUERTO RICO (July 30, 2020) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a cleanup plan to address contaminated soil at the Pesticide Warehouse I Superfund Site in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The plan includes removing and disposing of contaminated soil from the site and the long-term monitoring of the groundwater to protect people’s health.

“Under our successful Superfund program, we are proposing the best course of action to protect the public from pesticide-related contamination from this site over the long-term,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “This cleanup plan was developed in consultation with the Puerto Rico government and represents our mutual commitment to protecting human health on the island.”

Under the proposed cleanup plan announced today, EPA is proposing to excavate and remove the upper 10 feet of contaminated soil in targeted areas of the site. The excavated soil, about 14,100 cubic yards, will be thermally treated before being disposed of at facilities licensed to receive the waste. The footprint of the excavation will require that the remaining dilapidated buildings at the site be demolished.

EPA will implement institutional controls to restrict the future use of the site to non-residential uses and utilize long-term monitoring of the groundwater to prevent and reduce human exposure to contaminated groundwater until the cleanup goals are met.  EPA is requiring periodic collection and analysis of groundwater samples to verify that the level and extent of contaminants are declining. Throughout the cleanup, monitoring and further studies will be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the remedy. The EPA will conduct a review within 5 years to ensure the effectiveness of the cleanup.

Pesticide Warehouse I was a pesticide storage warehouse that the Puerto Rico Land Authority owns, which was used for pesticide mixing and storage operations from 1953 to 2003. In October 1999, the property was leased to Agrocampos, Inc. During its years of operation, the site was used to supply pesticides for pineapple crops in the surrounding area as well as for the storage and preparation of insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Leftover and excess pesticides were discharged directly to the ground adjacent to the main warehouse resulting in soil and groundwater contamination, including significantly elevated levels of aldrin, toxaphene, and dieldrin among other hazardous contaminants.

A 30-day public comment period for the proposed plan will occur from July 30, 2020 to August 29, 2020. On August 6, 2020 a Virtual Presentation will be available at the following link: www.epa.gov/superfund/pesticide-warehouse-1

Written comments on EPA’s proposed plan may be mailed or emailed to Luis E. Santos, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, City View Plaza II – Suite 7000, 48 RD, 165 Km. 1.2, Guaynabo, PR, 00968-8069 or [email protected].  Comments postmarked on or before August 29, will be accepted.

The EPA’s proposed plan for the Site will be made available at www.epa.gov/superfund/pesticide-warehouse-1

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