Site Studies
From 1970 - 2004: Various State, local and Federal agencies sampled and chemically analyzed soil, sediment, groundwater, surface water, and/or air at or near the Site.
2006: EPA completed a multimedia study as part of its site assessment and stabilization efforts. The study included laboratory analysis of approximately 129 soil, sediment, and waste samples, 10 surface water samples, 14 groundwater samples, and 35 air samples. Results are summarized in the January 10, 2007, "Integrated Assessment" report (see "Technical Documents" below).
June 2007: EPA completed additional testing of waste materials buried in the southeast corner of the former smelter to determine the levels of thorium, radium, and metals in the materials.
2007 - 2008: EPA prepared the "EPA Testing Plan for the Halaco Superfund Site" (see "Technical Documents" below), which summarizes information on Halaco's operations and waste disposal practices, summarizes past testing in each of more than 16 areas of the Site, compares past test results to human health and ecological screening levels for contaminated soils and sediments, and proposes soil testing, water testing, and other sampling and analysis activities intended to provide the majority of the information needed to complete the Remedial Investigation.
2007: EPA completed a preliminary study of surface water and groundwater movement at and near the Site to better determine the extent and movement of Halaco's wastes, and a screening-level assessment of human health and environmental risks posed by Site related contamination. See "Technical Documents" below. The studies are part of the "Remedial Investigation" of the Site.
2009: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) completed a draft report summarizing its investigation of the public health implications of exposure to contamination from the Halaco Site. Key findings were that activities that create a lot of dust (e.g., dirt bike riding in contaminated areas) pose a public health concern but that the following exposure pathways pose no public health concern:
- Exposure to the soil in the nearby agricultural fields and neighborhoods.
- Short-term exposure when trespassing on the Halaco site.
- Visiting the Nature Conservancy Land, Ormond Beach, or the wetlands.
- Swimming in the Oxnard Industrial Drain.
Other findings and the complete Public Health Assessment report are available at:
http://www.ehib.org/project.jsp?project_key=HALA01
2009-2010: In December 2009, EPA completed an Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA) and proposed demolition of two abandoned industrial buildings at the Site. The evaluation made use of data collected during several days of testing inside the buildings in October 2009 (summarized in the "Building Assessment Report"). EPA received public comments on its EE/CA report from December 29, 2009 to January 29, 2010. The EE/CA report, the Building Assessment Report, EPA’s response to comments, and its decision to proceed with the removal (the "Action Memorandum") are available below in the “Documents and Reports Section.” The demolition work was completed in March 2010, as described above.
2009 - 2011: From October 2009 through June 2010, EPA completed a major field effort that included soil, soil gas, sediment, groundwater, and surface water testing needed to fill data gaps related to the sources, nature, extent, and movement of contamination at the Site. The objectives of the testing included:
- determining if contaminants other than metals are present in Halaco’s wastes;
- determining the extent to which waste materials are in contact with surface or groundwater;
- evaluating the potential for the production of ammonia and other gases in the waste areas.
- delineating the extent of contamination in the Nature Conservancy properties, the Oxnard Industrial Drain, and the Ormond Beach lagoon;
- identifying any other areas adjacent to the Halaco properties contaminated by Halaco’s operations; and
- determining the extent of groundwater contamination resulting from Halaco’s waste disposal practices.
As of September 2011, laboratory analyses have been completed and EPA is compiling and interpreting the results. EPA is completing a series of five reports summarizing the results of the testing. The first four reports, available in the "Documents and Reports" section below, describes testing completed on The Nature Conservancy (TNC) property to the east and north of the Halaco waste pile, the wetlands and beach to the south, the OID and lagoon, and the Halaco properties. The reports and transmittal letters include a description of the testing effort, a complete tabular summary of results, figures depicting key results, and a short discussion of the significance of the test results and next steps. The fifth report, which will address contamination of groundwater and surface water at the site, is expected in early 2012.
2011: In June 2011, EPA and its contractors completed a focused field effort to collect data needed to better evaluate risks to birds, fish and other wildlife at the site and identify cleanup levels for contaminated soils and sediments. The effort included the collection and analysis of sediment, fish, and insect samples. As of January 2012, laboratory analysis of the samples is complete and data analysis is underway. The results of this effort are expected in early to mid-2012.
2010 - 2012: EPA has begun to evaluate cleanup options for the site, including reuse of the waste materials and excavation of contaminated soils and sediments in less contaminated parts of the site. Cleanup is likely to be needed of the smelter property, the waste management area, the Nature Conservancy property, the lagoon area, and the groundwater.
If needed, EPA will implement additional interim measures to control off-site movement of contaminated waste, groundwater, surface water, and air.