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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
PR03:009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 01/09/2003
STATE SIGNS CONSENT ORDER TO INVESTIGATE AND CLEANUP THE
ASCON
LANDFILL SITE 1/9/2003 38-Acre Site Contains Numerous
Contaminants, Including Arsenic and Lead
HUNTINGTON BEACH
Governor Gray Davis today announced the signing of a landmark
consent order in which seven major corporations agreed to work
together to investigate and clean up the Ascon Landfill located in
Huntington Beach. The order, developed by the State's Department of
Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), enables the site to be cleaned up
for appropriate future land use.
"This agreement is a significant achievement that brings
together, for the first time, a group of companies with the
financial resources to investigate and clean the Ascon property,"
said Governor Davis. "With the State's leadership, this agreement
ensures the protection of public health and will enable the
revitalization of a magnificent coastal property."
The corporations (responsible parties) who signed the Consent
Order are: Atlantic Richfield Company; Chevron Environmental
Management Company; Conoco Inc. and Phillips Petroleum Company; The
Dow Chemical Company; Shell Oil Company; Southern California Edison
Company; and Northrup Grumman Space & Mission System
Corporation (formerly known as TRW Inc.). DTSC expects to issue an
enforcement order to additional parties who have not signed on to
the consent order.
"We are glad that the many parties involved have reached an
agreement that paves the way for the final investigation and clean
up of the site," said Ed Lowry, DTSC Director.
The 38-acre site is located at the southwest corner of Hamilton
Avenue and Magnolia Street in Huntington Beach. The landfill
operated from approximately 1938 through 1984, and accepted waste
from oil drilling operations and construction activities. Many
contaminants where found at the Ascon site, including volatile
organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and metals
including arsenic and lead. The site has remained vacant since
1984.
In accordance with the Consent Order, the cleanup plan for
soil/waste and the associated environmental impact report are being
prepared. Future site activities include a pilot study, a remedial
investigation to determine the extent of groundwater contamination
and an air-monitoring program to gather air data related to the
site.
