Waste Board Aids Final Cleanup of San Diego Burn Dump Site

SACRAMENTO--Neighbors and homeowners residing next to San Diego's 38th Street Burn Dump, a site in the City Heights area where the public dumped and burned refuse in the 1920s and 1930s, will benefit from a $750,000 matching grant from the State to the city to complete ongoing efforts to protect residents from the site. The California Integrated Waste Management Board--the State's primary recycling agency and a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency--approved the financial allocation today for the site, where ash-contaminated soil from past garbage-burning activities has put neighborhoods at risk.

"We are happy to be able to help the City of San Diego resolve this matter," said Waste Board Chair Linda Moulton-Patterson. "Old burn dumpsites are a legacy of out-dated disposal practices that have long since been eliminated by current public and environmental regulations."

The Waste Board funds will be used to pay for the final phase of the cleanup at the site, including still-needed engineering and environmental services, site security, grading, community outreach and assistance, and some limited waste removal by the city. The Waste Board today approved paying for half of the city's costs related to the 38th Street Burn Dump, not to exceed $750,000.

The city estimates the total cost for fully remediating the 38th Street Burn Dump could range from $2.6 million to $3.4 million. To date, the city and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) have expended a total of $2.2 million to remove most of the contaminated soils at the site. Multiple government agencies are involved in the cleanup, including the City of San Diego Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency, County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health, USEPA, and State Department of Transportation (CalTrans).

The old burn dump at 38th and Redwood streets dates back possibly to the 1920s, when the accepted practice for garbage disposal was burning in open dumps. Over the years, a buildup of substantial quantities of burn ash containing lead, zinc, and other components occurred in the soil. Following decades of development in the surrounding properties, the old dump now borders residential housing and city street right-of-way areas, posing significant potential public health risks.

Both the city and USEPA have made considerable progress in remediating the site since commencing work there last November. In December 2000, the federal agency completed removing 1,700 cubic yards of contaminated soil and shipping the dirt to the Kettleman Hills Class I facility for disposal. Moreover, USEPA removed radioactive material found at the site and on adjacent CalTrans property. The Waste Board initially discovered the material during site characterization work in 1999. This material was removed by USEPA as part of the initial emergency response. Additional radioactive material was identified and removed by USEPA in December 2000. The material was thought to possibly be discards from household or medical products.

"Today's vote is a vote for the community, and will help San Diego fulfill its commitment to eliminate a long-standing hazard in the City Heights neighborhood," said Moulton-Patterson. "We look forward to the day when this site will serve as an example of the city's environmental diligence."

The six-member Integrated Waste Management Board is responsible for protecting public health and safety and the environment through management of the estimated 66 million tons of solid waste generated in California each year. The Board works in partnership with local government, industry, and the public to reduce waste disposal and ensure environmentally safe landfills. California now diverts 42 percent of its solid waste away from disposal.

The Waste Board is one of six boards and departments within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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