Menu
Menu
Soilworks products are the industry’s top standard due to our insistence on creating high performance soil stabilization and dust control products that stand up to rigorous testing – both in the lab and in the field. Our commitment to quality and performance has led to our involvement and testing in hundreds of real-world situations. The following library of reports, presentations, specifications, approvals and other similar documents provide you, our customer, the transparency and dependable assurance that is expected from Soilworks.
Fact Sheet, September 2006
Department of Toxic Substances Control
Preventing environmental damage from hazardous waste, and restoring contaminated sites for all Californians.
Removal of Trash and Debris, and Soil Stabilization Activities to Begin at the Pacific Gas & Electric, Fresno-1 Former Manufactured Gas Plant Site
Introduction
Starting October, 2006 Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), under the oversight of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), will implement a Removal Action Work Plan for an Interim Remedial Measure (referred to as a RAW/IRM) at the PG&E, Fresno-1 Former Manufactured Gas Plant site located at 211 North Thorne Avenue, Fresno. Even though PG&E is conducting environmental investigations at the entire 12.8-acre site, this fact sheet will only focus on work being done on 3 acres (referred to as the Site) in the northern section. Environmental sampling at the Site shows that lampblack, a by-product of manufactured gas plant operations, is present in surface soils. Lampblack contains polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Prolonged exposure to PAHs may cause negative human health effects. A fence around the Site keeps people from making contact with the contaminated soil.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
In order to complete this work prior to the start of the rainy season, this action is considered time-critical. Federal law provides for public comment concurrent with time critical actions.
Public comment on the Removal Action Work Plan for an Interim Remedial Measure (draft RAW/IRM) for the Pacific Gas & Electric, Fresno-1 Manufactured Gas Plant site located at 211 North Thorne Avenue, Fresno, California is being accepted from:
October 2 through November 2, 2006
All comments must be submitted by November 2, 2006 and should be addressed to the Department of Toxic Substances Control, Attn: Mr. Mike Vivas, Project Manager, 8800 Cal Center Drive, Sacramento, California, 95826. Mr. Vivas can be reached by phone at (916) 255-3682 and by email at mvivas@dtsc.ca.gov.
In addition to the RAW/IRM, a California Environmental Quality Act Notice of Exemption is available for review. Copies of the RAW/IRM and Notice of Exemption are available for review at the Fresno County Library – Main Branch, 2420 Mariposa Street, Fresno, CA 93721, (209) 488-3195 and at 8800 Cal Center, Sacramento, California, 95826. Please contact Ms. Bobbi Jenson at (916) 255-3779 to review the files at the Sacramento office.
The RAW/IRM outlines how trash and debris will be removed from the Site, and how the soil stablizer (Soiltac®) will be applied to the exposed contaminated surface soil. This work is being done to prevent potential human exposures and spreading of the contaminated soil. While the RAW/IRM is being implemented, environmental investigations of the rest of the12.8-acre will continue. When the environmental investigation of the 12.8 acres is complete, PG&E will prepare a draft Remedial Action Plan to address contamination at the entire 12.8-acre site. The draft Remedial Action Plan will be made available for public review and comment.
What Is Soiltac®?
Soiltac® is a non-toxic mixture of chemicals that is applied to soil, hardens, sets in about one day and is used to stabilize contaminated soil so that it doesn’t blow around or seep off-site during the rainy season.
PG&E will be continuously inspecting the Soiltac® for signs of wear or deterioration. If they find that there is wear or deterioration, more Soiltac® will be applied.
What Will I See At The Site?
When fieldwork for the RAW/IRM starts, personnel, equipment, materials, and temporary facilities needed to conduct the work will be mobilized at the Site. The collected debris and trash will be disposed of off Site at an appropriate disposal facility. Dust control measures and air monitoring will be conducted during the debris and trash removal work.
Once debris and trash are removed from the three acres, Soiltac® will be applied to the exposed contaminated surface soil using a spray tank or truck-bed tank sprayer. The spray rate will be set high enough to allow even coverage with multiple coats and low enough to prevent material from draining away from the treatment area.
During debris and trash removal and soil stabilization activities, a water truck will be used as needed to control dust. Water will be sprayed over inactive work areas at the start of every shift to wet the surface without causing extensive soil saturation. Water will be reapplied as necessary to maintain the moisture content and minimize dust. Water will not be applied to active work areas where Soiltac® will be applied. Any fencing around the Site that was removed during application will be replaced to its original condition. Air monitoring for dust will be conducted using direct reading instruments in the field.
Effects of the Actions On the Environment
Before the RAW/IRM can be approved, it must meet the requirements of a California state law known as the California Environmental Quality Act (commonly referred to as CEQA). CEQA is important because it determines what impacts, if any, the actions will have on the environment.
DTSC determined that the project meets the definition of a categorical exemption from CEQA (Title 14 California Code of Regulations, Section 15330 of the CEQA Guidelines). Because of this determination, DTSC filed a Notice of Exemption. A Notice of Exemption states that the project will not have a negative impact on the environment.
More Information at the Library
The RAW/IRM and Notice of Exemption are both available for public review at:
Fresno County Library – Main Branch 2420 Mariposa Street
Fresno, CA 93721
(209) 488-3195
These documents are also available for review at:
Department of Toxic Substances Control 8800 Cal Center Drive
Sacramento, California, 95826
Please contact Ms. Bobbi Jensen at (916) 255-3779 if you wish to review documents at the Sacramento office.
Send Comments To
Comments must be submitted by November 2, 2006 and directed to:
Department of Toxic Substances Control Attn: Mr. Mike Vivas, Project Manager 8800 Cal Center Drive
Sacramento, CA 95826
(916) 255-3682
mvivas@dtsc.ca.gov
Questions?
If you have question about the proposed project, please contact Mr. Mike Vivas or Ms. Heidi Nelson, Public Participation Specialist, Department of Toxic Substances Control by phone at (916) 255-3575 or toll free at (866) 495-5651. Ms. Nelson can also be reached by email at hnelson@dtsc.ca.gov.
For specific project information, you may want to visit our web-based program called EnviroStor. The e-address for Envirostor is www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/ search.asp?basic=true. Once there, type in the words ‘PG&E MGP, FRESNO‘ in the site name block and hit enter. Double click on the words ‘PG&E MGP, FRESNO’ and you’ll be taken to the appropriate section. If you would like to learn more about the Department of Toxic Substances Control, please visit us atwww.dtsc.ca.gov.
Media Inquiries
Members of the press are requested to contact Carol Singleton, Public Information Officer, Department of Toxic Substances Control by phone at (916) 255-6578 or by email at csinglet@dtsc.ca.gov.
Notice to Hearing Impaired
You can obtain additional information by using the California State Relay service at 1-888-877-5378 (TDD). Ask them to contact Mr. Mike Vivas at (916) 255-3682.
Copyright Soilworks, LLC 2003-. All Rights Reserved. Soilworks®, Soiltac®, Gorilla-Snot®, and Durasoil®are registered trademarks of Soilworks, LCC.
Copyright Soilworks, LLC 2003-. All Rights Reserved. Soilworks®, Soiltac®, Gorilla-Snot®, and Durasoil® are registered trademarks of Soilworks, LCC.
