Warm weather is here and, with it, the resumption of the cleanup activities
in the rail yard. Working to clean up the contaminated site is Environmental
Resource Managers (ERM), contractors for the railyard owners, Petrovich Development/Renova
Partners.
This summer, over 80,000 cubic yards of soil will be removed and transported
on 1,200 railcars to a hazardous waste landfill in Utah. The soil is contaminated
with hydrocarbons, arsenic, lead, petroleum by-products and asbestos.
Spring has also brought strong winds, which has raised concerns regarding whether
contaminated dust from the cleanup site is blowing into residential areas. Ed
Cooney of Portola Way, brought this to the attention of SCNA. Cooney saw some
excavation work being undertaken and was surprised at the amount of dust being
generated. On another occasion, Cooney noticed work crews working on a very
windy day.
SCNA wrote to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and ERM asking
a series of questions regarding dust control at the rail yard. DTSC responded
to the questions. The correspondence can be found at www.sierra2.org.
DTSC personnel believe that the dust control requirements at the site and the
air monitoring protect the surrounding neighborhood. Fernando Amador, the DTSC
cleanup manager, stressed that the concentration and type of contaminants does
not pose a significant or immediate health threat.
The dust control and air monitoring requirements apply only during active excavation
work. Excavation areas must be sprayed with water before and during the excavation.
During excavation, air monitors surround the worksite. The contractor is required
to cease excavating when winds exceed 15 mph. ERM reports monthly to DTSC on
the results of the air monitoring.
There are no dust controls or air monitoring required during non-excavation
periods. This is a particular concern with the dirt that has been excavated
and placed into piles for later transfer to railcars. At the time it is stockpiled,
water will be sprayed on the dirt. However, when work is stopped, for example
over a weekend or longer, no monitoring is conducted. During that time, the
soil on top of the pile may dry out and the wind might cause the soil to become
airborne dust.
In response, DTSC states that, in the past they required more extensive monitoring,
and the results of that monitoring showed that there is not a significant amount
of contaminants leaving the site. Therefore, they believe that monitoring during
the non-excavation periods is unnecessary.
If you see dust blowing on the site, and especially coming into the residential
area, you should call DTSC (Nathan Schumacher at 255-3650 or Tom Tse at 255-3643).
Please also call SCNA at 452-3005 and leave a message (with your name and phone
number) in the general mailbox stating that you called DTSC regarding dust from
the railyard.
Of course, everyone in Curtis Park is pleased that the railyard is being cleaned
up. However, we must be alert to avoiding exposure to contaminants during the
cleanup process.
SCNA will keep the neighborhood up to date on the activities in the rail yard.
If you want to be on the e-mail alert system, contact jana@sierra2.org.