Halaco Engineering Co.

Last updated

Halaco Engineering, Co., Metal Recycling Facility
Superfund site
Geography
City Oxnard
County Ventura County
State California
Coordinates 34°08′20″N119°10′55″W / 34.1389000°N 119.1819000°W / 34.1389000; -119.1819000 Coordinates: 34°08′20″N119°10′55″W / 34.1389000°N 119.1819000°W / 34.1389000; -119.1819000
USA California location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Halaco Engineering Co.
Information
CERCLIS IDCAD009688052
Contaminants aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, cesium-137, chromium, copper, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, potassium-40, silver, thorium-228, thorium-230, thorium-232, zinc
Responsible
parties		6
Progress
Proposed03/7/2007
Listed09/19/2007
List of Superfund sites

Halaco Engineering Co. operated a scrap metal recycling facility at 6200 Perkins Road, Oxnard, Ventura County, California from 1965 to 2004. The state placed the facility on the California Hazardous Waste Priority List in 2007. [1] The facility includes a smelter area west and the Waste Management Unit (WMU) east of the Oxnard Industrial Drain (OID). Attention was brought to the Halaco site through illegal waste disposal without permits. Further investigation yielded a discovery of harmful contaminants. Remediation of surrounding contaminated areas including the wetlands was completed in 2007. Restoration of the wetlands and management of the WMU are ongoing. [2]

Contents

History

The Halaco Superfund Site is a 43 acres (17 ha) nonferrous metal recycling facility that operated primarily to process aluminum and magnesium metals from 1965 to 2004. The site is located on both sides of the Oxnard Industrial Drain (OID), which flows through a perennial beach lagoon and wetlands adjacent to Ormond Beach that extends from Port Hueneme to the northwestern boundary of Navy Base Ventura County, at Point Mugu. [3] The degradation by dumping and agricultural uses dates back to the founding of Oxnard with the placement of the outfall from a five-mile-long pipeline (8.0 km) serving the sugar beet processing plant that operated from 1899 until 1959. This south edge of the Oxnard Plain has been attractive to industrial uses with an 11 acres (4 ha) containerboard mill facility opening in 1955 immediately adjacent to the north along Perkins Road. [4] The City of Oxnard Wastewater Treatment plant is west, across the street [5] with an electrical generating plant, that began commercial operation in 1971, just south along the beach. [6]

Prior to 1970, Halaco discharged wastewater into the Oxnard Industrial Drain (OID) and a small lagoon on the smelter property. In 1971 a waste management unit (unlined earthen evaporation pond) was constructed. Dumping of hazardous waste into this area has resulted in contamination of surrounding areas, including soils, groundwater, as well as uncontrolled emissions of ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. Coastal wetlands which are home to endangered species including the snowy plover and the California least tern, as well as fisheries in the adjacent Pacific Ocean have been affected by zinc, lead, ammonia, and arsenic. [7] In 1979, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attempted to stop Halaco from dumping waste into the wetlands but dropped the effort after the company sued. Halaco filed for bankruptcy and ended operations at the property in 2004. [3] An estimated 700,000 cubic yards (540,000 m3) of waste remain onsite. [8]

The property had become an encampment for homeless people when in 2017, the city council decided to dismantle and clean up the collection of makeshift homes. [9] [10] Another eviction and clean up occurred in 2021. [11]

Contamination

The waste pile and associated surface impoundment currently contain approximately 700,000 cubic yards (540,000 m3) of waste. Preliminary site contamination investigations have revealed a combination of several metals and radionuclides, including aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, silver, zinc, cesium-137, potassium-40, thorium-228, thorium-230, and thorium-232. The culmination of these wastes led to contaminated air, groundwater, and soil risks. All of these factors caused minor concern for the well-being of nearby residents. On September 19, 2007, the State of California placed the Halaco Metal Recycling Facility on the California Hazardous Waste Priority List. [1]

Health effects

In the 1990s, nearby community members complained of an acrid smell coming from the waste pile, air emissions turning into acid clouds and noxious fumes, and skin irritation. The California Department of Public Health also reviewed the available health information related to the possible health effects caused by the Halaco contamination. This review includes information on asthma, cancer, birth defects, low birth weight, and preterm births for communities more likely exposed to contaminants from Halaco in the past. [12] [3]

Remediation

The EPA identified 6 companies as waste contributors, labeling them as Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs).

The assessment consists of the following measures:

In April 2007, coir matting was installed around the Waste Management Unit in order to prevent erosion of contaminated soils. Additionally, a 6-foot barbed wire fence perimeter was constructed around the WMU. [13]

As of June 5, 2007, 11 sample holes and 3 background holes were installed. Ongoing monitoring occurs by scanning for metals using the Niton XRF and the Smith Detection System HAZMAT ID to screen for other chemical contaminants. If other contaminants are detected, those samples will be submitted for laboratory analysis. [14] [15] [16]

The EPA removed two structurally unsafe buildings in 2010 but squatters, drugs and graffiti continued to be problem. By 2014, the remaining brick buildings were at risk of collapse due to fires, so the city demolished them after the removal of asbestos. [17]

Timeline

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 EPA Halaco Superfund Site (January 2009) The Remedial Investigation: EPA laying the groundwork for cleanup
  2. ↑ O'Neal, Chris (September 5, 2020). "City of Oxnard moves to purchase Halaco Superfund site". Ventura County Reporter. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Hadly, Scott (June 3, 2007). "Halaco: What went wrong?". Ventura County Star . Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Buyer found for Oxnard paper plant". Ventura County Star . June 1, 2012. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Wastewater Division — City of Oxnard". Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  6. ↑ California State Coastal Conservancy. "Ormond Beach Wetlands Restoration Project". Archived from the original on April 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ Guzik, Hannah (March 5, 2015). "Oxnard councilwoman to receive environmental award". Ventura County Star . Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  8. ↑ Environmental Protection Agency: On Site Coordinator, Halaco Engineering
  9. ↑ Leung, Wendy (November 30, 2017). "Oxnard's homeless weigh next move as encampment eviction nears". Ventura County Star . Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  10. ↑ Leung, Wendy (January 17, 2018). "After months of warning, homeless ordered to leave Oxnard Halaco encampment". Ventura County Star. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  11. 1 2 Varela, Brian J. (December 5, 2021). "Oxnard clears out homeless encampment at former Halaco site". Ventura County Star. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  12. ↑ California Department of Public Health. Public Health Assessment: EPA FACILITY ID: CAD009688052 Archived 2013-10-19 at the Wayback Machine 21 January 2010
  13. ↑ Hadly, Scott (June 4, 2007) "Future of Halaco's mountainous mess is uncertain" Ventura County Star
  14. ↑ NOAA Southwest Region, Halaco Engineering, Inc
  15. ↑ Support Document for the Revised National Priorities List
  16. ↑ Hadly, Scott (June 3, 2007) "Costly cleanup process has many steps" Ventura County Star
  17. 1 2 Wenner, Gretchen (October 6, 2014). "Halaco buildings become rubble with emergency demolition". Ventura County Star . Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  18. ↑ EPA Envirofacts
  19. ↑ "Halaco's history". Ventura County Star . June 3, 2007. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  20. ↑ "MacDonald urges officials to fully fund Superfund program to clean up Halaco site". Ventura County Star . March 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
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