News Release (C-13-98)

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For Immediate Release (C-13-98) Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670 September 25, 1998

Cal/EPA Directs DTSC & SWRCB To Take Actions at Jefferson Middle School

SACRAMENTO - Secretary for Environmental Protection, Peter M. Rooney today directed the California Environmental Protection Agency's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) to verify that community concerns at the Jefferson Middle School are addressed immediately and that operation of the facility be directly linked to a Health Risk Assessment developed by the state in 1997.

"New information about the facility has raised questions regarding the safety of children, teachers, and community members who may use the facilities," said Rooney. "I have directed DTSC and the LARWQCB to oversee the activities of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to ensure that the school is safe."

In 1997 DTSC worked with LAUSD to conduct a Health Risk Assessment (HRA). The HRA concluded that since volatile organic compounds at the site, (trichloroethylene - TCE - a solvent) could migrate to the surface, the site would be "safe to use as long as a soil vapor extraction system was continuously operating."

Recently, information was provided to DTSC that the soil vapor extraction system was operating sporadically, not in the manner as originally proposed and assumed by the HRA. In addition, it has been determined that soils from Caltrans may have been used as clean fill at the site.

"We insist that this system be operated in a manner to not only protect water quality but also to safeguard the health of the school children," said Dennis Dickerson, Executive Officer of the LARWQCB.

"If this system is not operating properly, the current risk exposure assessment cannot confirm the long term exposure affects on children and school employees," said Jesse Huff, DTSC Director. In a LARWQCB Cleanup and Abatement Order and a letter from DTSC, to the LAUSD, the school district was directed to take the following actions:

Proper and continuous operation of the soil vapor extraction system. The system must operate within the parameters which formed the basis for the July 1997 health risk assessment which found no health threats. If there are any changes in the operation of this system including discontinuing its use, DTSC needs to fully evaluate the current health risks.

Soil identification and characterization. LAUSD must provide LARWQCB and DTSC with comprehensive soil characterization data of the imported soil. At a minimum, such data must include the origin of the soil, the placement of the soil and chemical characterization.

Review of Risk Assessment and acknowledgment of changes. LAUSD must fully review the data upon which the July, 1997 risk assessment was based and report to DTSC and LARWQCB if there are any other changes which have occurred.

Report findings and deliverables by September 29, 1998. LAUSD must furnish DTSC and LARWQCB a report on the current and future operation of SVE a work plan to provide the soil data information and a preliminary report on the review of the health risk assessment by Tuesday, September 29, 1998.

Additional on-site monitoring will be required to verify that the SVE removes all harmful chemicals from school soil.

"If these directives are not followed or if DTSC determines that there are immediate threats to students, staff or the community at Jefferson Middle School, Cal/EPA will take all steps to protect public health and the environment," concluded Rooney.

The Jefferson Middle School is located on East 56^th Street in South Central Los Angeles. DTSC discovered environmental concerns at the Jefferson School site by accident in 1995 while working on a state Superfund site, (Hard Chrome) which is located across the street.

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1998 Releases | Archived Press Releases