camp pendleton toxicity

TOXICITY CAMP PENDLETONEPAhttp://yosemite.epa.gov/r9/sfund/r9sfdocw.nsf/ViewByEPAID/ca2170023533?OpenDocumentTop of FormBottom of FormPacific Southwest, Region 9: SuperfundServing Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and Tribal Nations You are here: EPA Home Pacific Southwest Superfund Site Overviews Camp Pendleton Marine Corps BaseCamp Pendleton Marine Corps Base

Map this site in Cleanups in My Community EPA #: CA2170023533 State: California(CA) County: San Diego City: Camp Pendleton Congressional District: 48Other Names: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Bulletin BoardLinksOn this page Description and History Contaminants and Risks Who is Involved Investigation and Cleanup Activities Cleanup Results to Date Potentially Responsible Parties Documents and Reports Community Involvement Public Information Repositories Additional Links Contacts Progress Profile (EPA Headquarters)Description and HistoryNPL Listing HistoryNPL Status: FinalProposed Date: 07/14/89Final Date: 11/21/89Deleted Date: The Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base site covers 125,000 acres in San Diego County, California. The base provides housing, training, logistical and administrative support for the Fleet Marine Force units. Past disposal practices have contaminated the groundwater and soil. In an initial investigation, the Marine Corps found nine areas of contamination. Waste generation operations at this site include maintenance and repair of vehicles (trucks, tanks, and aircraft); landfill operations; waste disposal areas, such as scrap yards; and fire fighting drill areas. The base contains wetlands, streams, and rivers which feed into the Pacific Ocean. This land is the only remaining undeveloped area between Los Angeles and San Diego.Top of pageContaminants and RisksContaminated Media Groundwater Soil and Sludges Environmentally Sensitive AreaGroundwater and soils are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), spent oils, fuels, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, metals and herbicides. Though groundwater provides drinking water to the entire installation, the current drinking water supply is within drinking water standards.Top of pageWho is InvolvedThis site is being addressed through Federal actions.Top of pageInvestigation and Cleanup ActivitiesThe site is being addressed in four long-term remedial phases focusing on cleanup of soils; landfills, surface impoundments, and groundwater; other soils and groundwater; and remaining areas.Site StudiesGroup A (OU#1): In 1990, the Marine Corps began an investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination of the soil and groundwater at six subsites where data were already available. The investigations were completed in the fall of 1993, and final cleanup measures started in mid 1996. The OU#1 Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in 1995 and included institutional controls and monitoring for Site 9. The remaining sites called for no further action.Site Studies

Group B (OU#2): Landfills, Surface Impoundments, and Groundwater: In 1990, the Marine Corps began an investigation of the nature and extent of contamination in the landfills, surface impoundments, and groundwater. The OU#2 ROD was completed in 1997. The surface impoundments were included as no further action sites. The groundwater sites were deferred to OU#4 and the Site 7 landfill was included as part of OU#3. The landfill is capped as part the OU#3 remedial action.Site Studies

Group C (OU#3): Other Soils and Groundwater: In 1990, the Marine Corps began an investigation into the nature and extent of contamination of soils and groundwater on the base located in the Santa Margarita watershed, where data was not yet available. The investigation was completed in 1996, and the ROD was signed on February 11, 1999. The remedy selected was excavation and disposal at an on-base landfill that was designated as a Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU). The remedial action was completed in 2002. A methane capture system for the site is currently being constructed. The site has also been chosen as the location for a solar panel array to generate energy for several on-base projects, including powering the methane recovery system. An Explanation of Significant Differences was completed in 2008 to cover the work .Site Studies

OU#4: Remaining Areas: An investigation of the nature and extent of soil and groundwater contamination in subsites outside the Santa Margarita watershed on the base has been completed. The ROD was signed in June 2007. Soils removal has begun and several sites have been cleaned. Remedial Action Completion Reports were completed in 2010. Site Studies

OU#5: The OU-5 ROD contains Sites 1D, 1A1, 21, 1111, 6A & 13 . The OU is comprised of sites which required a greater level of cleanup funding than previously proposed or were uncompleted when Site 7 was pre-maturely closed. The ROD was signed in 2007 and soils removal has begun. Site 1-D has encountered unexpected groundwater not contemplated in the ROD and a ROD amendment is being prepared by the Navy. Soils remediation at the site will be ongoing. Camp Pendleton is participating in the Installation Restoration Program, a specially funded program established by the Department of Defense (DOD) in 1978 to identify, investigate, and control the migration of hazardous contaminants at military and other DOD facilities. It is not a closing base, but a growing base. At the same time, the Marine Corps is maintaining biodiversity at the site. Top of pageCleanup Results to Date

In December 1995, 14,000 cubic yards of soil containing trichloroethane (TCE) and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) was removed from a former fire-fighting drill field. The TPH contaminated soil was treated through bioremediation and the TCE contaminated soil was removed and disposed of at an off-site landfill. In January 1997, approximately 12,000 cubic yards of soil containing organochlorine pesticides (maximum of 140 ppm DDT and 1280 ppm DDD) was removed from a former pesticide disposal area--Site 3. The soil was stabilized at an on-site treatment facility and disposed of at an on-site landfill. Thirty-two 55 gallon drums of material containing pesticide and medical waste were also removed and disposed of off-site. In January 1997, approximately 25,000 cubic yards of soil containing pesticides, metals, and PAHs was removed from Site 6 and stabilized at an on-site treatment facility and disposed of at an on-site landfill. In February 2007, Site 1111 was excavated to remove drums containing pesticides and solvents. Groundwater was removed from the excavation, treated on site and removed form the facility. The excavation was continued until all soils were clean. Four new monitoring wells were installed and will be monitored to assess if further groundwater remediation is necessary.

In 2002, the Marine Corps completed construction of a landfill cap for a 28 acre class III landfill which operated from 1946 to 1970. The Marine Corps followed EPA's presumptive remedy guidelines for landfill caps with oversight from EPA under the Federal Facility Agreement (FFA). Construction began in April 1997. The landfill was designated as a CAMU as part of the OU#3 ROD.

The Five Year Review Report completed in August 28, 2009 concluded that: Based on the results of the Five-Year Review process, remedies that have not yet been completed, but are still in the construction phase for IR Sites 1A (OU-3), 1D and 30 (OU-4), and 1A-1 and 1H (OU-5), are expected to be protective upon completion and in the interim, exposure pathways that could result in unacceptable risks are being managed. The remedy for IR Site 7 was found to be protective of both human health and the environment; however, the Methane levels in compliance gas monitoring probe GP-9 continue to be near the 5 percent by volume State criterion. Top of pagePotentially Responsible PartiesPotentially responsible parties (PRPs) refers to companies that are potentially responsible for generating, transporting, or disposing of the hazardous waste found at the site.

Online information about the PRPs for the site is not yet available. Top of pageDocuments and ReportsRecords of Decision

12/07/95Record of Decision for OU1





05/27/08Explanation of Significant Differences for OU3

06/16/10Explanation of Significant Differences for OU3

Technical Documents

08/16/02Five Year Review Report for OU1

09/27/07Five Year Review Report for OU1

08/28/09Five Year Review Report for OU1 through OU5

Top of pageCommunity InvolvementPublic Meetings: The base maintains its community involvement program with respect to its clean-up activities, including holding public comment meetings. Top of pagePublic Information RepositoriesThe public information repositories for the site are at the following locations:Oceanside Public Library330 North Hill StreetOceanside, CA 92054 The most complete collection of documents is the official EPA site file, maintained at the following location:Superfund Records CenterMail Stop SFD-7C95 Hawthorne Street, Room 403San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 820-4700Enter main lobby of 75 Hawthorne street, go to 4th floor of South Wing Annex.Additional LinksTop of pageContactsEPA Site ManagerMartin [email protected] Code SFD8375 Hawthorne StreetSan Francisco, CA 94105EPA Community Involvement CoordinatorViola [email protected] Code SFD6375 Hawthorne StreetSan Francisco, CA 94105EPA Public Information [email protected] ContactTayseer [email protected] Corporate AvenueCypress, CA 90630PRP ContactTheresa [email protected] of the Navy1220 Pacific HighwaySan Diego, CA 92132Community ContactOther ContactsAfter Hours (Emergency Response)US EPA(800) 424-8802Top of page

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Superfund SiteInformationSite DocumentsData Element Dictionary (DED)

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Contaminants of Concern at

CAMP PENDLETON MARINE CORPS BASE (EPA ID: CA2170023533)

The data and content on this page were last updated on Thursday, October 10, 2013.

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The chemical substances (i.e., hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants) listed below were identified as contaminants of concern (COC) for the site. COCs are the chemical substances found at the site that the EPA has determined pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. These are the substances that are addressed by cleanup actions at the site. Identifying COCs is a process where the EPA identifies people and ecological resources that could be exposed to contamination found at the site, determines the amount and type of contaminants present, and identifies the possible negative human health or ecological effects that could result from contact with the contaminants.

The contaminants of concern at this site are sorted below by contaminant name. You may also sort this list by the area of the site on which it is found, called operable units (OUs), or sort this list according to the media in which they were found (e.g. soil or ground water).

see the glossary for definitions of contaminated media and operable units (OUs) >>

CAS #Contaminant NameContaminatedMediaArea of SiteFound (OU)More Information

107-06-21,2-DCAGround WaterLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

1746-01-62,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZO-p-DIOXIN (TCDD) TOXICITY EQUIVALENTS (TEq)SoilSOILS-OU05 (05)

72-54-84,4-DDDSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

72-55-94,4-DDESoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7429-90-5ALUMINUMSoilLANDFILL (03)

7429-90-5ALUMINUMSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)

7440-36-0ANTIMONYGround WaterLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-36-0ANTIMONYSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-36-0ANTIMONYSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)ATSDR Profile

7440-36-0ANTIMONYSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

7440-36-0ANTIMONYSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-38-2ARSENICGround WaterNO ACTION SITES (02)ATSDR Profile

7440-38-2ARSENICSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-38-2ARSENICSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)ATSDR Profile

7440-38-2ARSENICSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

7440-38-2ARSENICSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-39-3BARIUMSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-39-3BARIUMSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-41-7BERYLLIUMSoilOVERALL SITE (01)ATSDR Profile

117-81-7BIS(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATESoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-42-8BORONSoilLANDFILL (03)

7440-42-8BORONSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)

7440-43-9CADMIUMSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-43-9CADMIUMSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)ATSDR Profile

7440-43-9CADMIUMSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

7440-47-3CHROMIUMSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-47-3CHROMIUMSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)ATSDR Profile

7440-47-3CHROMIUMSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-48-4COBALTSoilLANDFILL (03)

7440-48-4COBALTSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)

7440-50-8COPPERSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-50-8COPPERSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)ATSDR Profile

7440-50-8COPPERSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

7440-50-8COPPERSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7439-89-6IRONSoilLANDFILL (03)

7439-89-6IRONSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)

7439-92-1LEADSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7439-92-1LEADSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)ATSDR Profile

7439-92-1LEADSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

7439-92-1LEADSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7439-96-5MANGANESESoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7439-96-5MANGANESESoilSOILS-OU04 (04)ATSDR Profile

7439-96-5MANGANESESoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

7439-96-5MANGANESESolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7439-97-6MERCURYSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7439-97-6MERCURYSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

7439-97-6MERCURYSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7439-98-7MOLYBDENUMSoilLANDFILL (03)

72-54-8P,P-DDDSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

72-55-9P,P-DDESoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

50-29-3P,P-DDTSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

TBD-00000003PAHs (POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS)SoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-22-4SILVERSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

127-18-4TETRACHLOROETHENEGround WaterLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

127-18-4TETRACHLOROETHYLENEGround WaterOVERALL SITE (01)ATSDR Profile

7440-28-0THALLIUMGround WaterLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-28-0THALLIUMSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-28-0THALLIUMSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

108-88-3TOLUENESoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

79-01-6TRICHLOROETHENEGround WaterLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

79-01-6TRICHLOROETHYLENEGround WaterOVERALL SITE (01)ATSDR Profile

7440-62-2VANADIUMSoilLANDFILL (03)

7440-62-2VANADIUMSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)

7440-62-2VANADIUMSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)

7440-66-6ZINCSoilLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

7440-66-6ZINCSoilSOILS-OU04 (04)ATSDR Profile

7440-66-6ZINCSoilSOILS-OU05 (05)ATSDR Profile

7440-66-6ZINCSolid WasteLANDFILL (03)ATSDR Profile

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About CAS #

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) is a division of the American Chemical Society. CAS builds and maintains the largest and most current database of chemical substance information in the world. These chemical substances are labeled with CAS Registry Numbers (CASRNs or CAS Numbers) and are used internationally as unique numeric identifiers for a single substance. They have no chemical significance and, because they are widely used, are a link to a wealth of information about a specific chemical substance. They are provided here for reference purposes to hopefully aide you in researching the respective chemical. For more information, visit the CAS Web site.

About ATSDR

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR is charged under the Superfund law (CERCLA) to assess the presence and nature of health hazards at specific Superfund sites, to help prevent or reduce further exposure and the illnesses that result from such exposures, and to expand the knowledge base about health effects from exposure to hazardous substances. ATSDR maintains a series of fact sheets and profiles about contaminants of concern commonly found at Superfund sites. Links to these resources are provided above when available. For more information, visit the ATSDR Web site.

About EPAs IRIS

The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), prepared and maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), is an electronic database containing information on human health effects that may result from exposure to various chemicals in the environment. IRIS was initially developed for EPA staff in response to a growing demand for consistent information on chemical substances for use in risk assessments, decision-making and regulatory activities. The information in IRIS is intended for those without extensive training in toxicology, but with some knowledge of health sciences. For more information, visit the EPA IRIS Web site.

About EPAs SRS

The Substance Registry System (SRS) is the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) central system for information about regulated and monitored substances. The system provides a common basis for identification of chemicals, biological organisms, and other substances listed in EPA regulations and data systems, as well as substances of interest from other sources, such as publications. The system does not provide health hazard information at this time. For more information, visit the EPA SRS Web site.

DISCLAIMER: Be advised that the data contained in these profiles are intended solely for informational purposes use by employees of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for management of the Superfund program. They are not intended for use in calculating Cost Recovery Statutes of Limitations and cannot be relied upon to create any rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States. EPA reserves the right to change these data at any time without public notice.

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Camp Pendleton

EPA Home | Privacy and Security Notice | Contact Us URL: http://cfpub.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/second.contamsThis page design was last updated on Tuesday, January 20, 2009Content is dynamically generated by ColdFusion

http://www.clrsearch.com/Camp-Pendleton-Demographics/CA/Pollution-Levels

Camp Pendleton Pollution Indexes Save this location ShareTop of FormCompare to Bottom of Form Pollution Index

2010 Pollution IndexesCamp Pendleton, CA California United States

Air Pollution Index10698100

Ozone Index10698100

Lead Index12279100

Carbon Monoxide Index90113100

Nitrogen Dioxide Index9596100

Particulate Matter Index111105100

The data for Camp Pendleton, CA may also contain data for the following areas: Camp Pendleton

Index score: (100 = National Average) for an area is compared to the national average of 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the national average, while 50 indicates half the national average. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Demographic Information FAQ

http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-diego/1184128-does-pollution-pendleton-base-get-oceanside.html

bouncethelight Location: Southern California3,116 posts, read 2,751,759 times Reputation: 3411

The base sits on a huge piece of land, and it's mostly undeveloped, which is unusual for the coastline in Southern California - and that's good for the environment! But the toxic waste that was stored there is still a little scary... Superfund Sites: Camp Pendleton Marine Corp Base Largest Toxic Area in Southern California - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

01-25-2011, 10:11 PM

xani 240 posts, read 229,710 times Reputation: 157

I looked over environmental data for Camp Pendleton, from scorecard website... a lot of stuff--yes it's a big superfund site, but I wonder how much more is there that doesn't get released to the public. Someone had mentioned open bit burning in Pendleton. Oceanside is definitely way less smoggy than LA and OC and easier to breathe.. but yeah knowbing about that lead-releasing facility 2 miles from Oceanside made me feel doubts.SCORECARDCAMP PENDLETON

Site Description Stage of Clean-up: Construction Underway

Conditions at proposal (July 14, 1989): The Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base encompasses approximately 125,000 acres in San Diego County, California. The installation is bordered by the City of San Clemente to the north, the City of Oceanside to the south, and the City of Fallbrook to the east. The base has served as a training base since its establishment in 1941. Industrial and other support operations have generated hazardous wastes, including waste oils, contaminated fuels and other PETROLEUM products, cleaning solvents, and pesticide rinsate. Camp Pendleton is participating in the Installation Restoration Program (IRP), established in 1978. Under this program, the Department of Defense seeks to identify, investigate, and clean up contamination from hazardous materials.More...

Sources of Contamination: Discharge to sewer/surface water Dumping - unauthorized Inadvertent spill Lagoon disposal Landfill Recycling (Other than primary operation) Road oiling Storage - drums/containers of waste Storage - finished product Storage - raw material Waste pile Waste tank - above ground Waste tank - below ground

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Threats and Contaminants Groundwater and soils are contaminated with VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS), spent oils, fuels, POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBS), pesticides, metals and herbicides. Though groundwater provides drinking water to the entire installation, the current drinking water supply is within drinking water standards.

Contaminants Detected

GroundWaterSurfaceWaterAirSoilOther

2,4,5-TP ACID (SILVEX)X

POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLSX

TRICHLOROETHANE (ALL ISOMERS)X

Groundwater and Drinking Water

Were drinking water wells shut down due to contamination?No

Are drinking water wells potentially threatened?No data

List ground water uses.

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04-25-2013, 10:03 PM

luvalesh 2 posts, read 263 times Reputation: 10

burn pits in camp pendlton 1977-1978

hiI have stage four neuroendocrine cancer and bloodcancer after being at camp pendlton, oceanside in1977 to 1978. did burn pits hit all of oceanside?bell. law group said atsdr claims no contaminats indrinking water tho I know there were high levels oflead in drinking water.there was silvex, vocs, pbcs among others.please postLu. valesh

04-25-2013, 10:12 PM

luvalesh 2 posts, read 263 times Reputation: 10

how long will camp pendlton stay under the radarwhile the camp lejuene marines and dependentsare being covered for the same exposures thatcaused the same cancers?Lu vales

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/san-diego/1184128-does-pollution-pendleton-base-get-oceanside.html#ixzz2hYPGfTDb

http://www.militarycontamination.com/SanDiegoCountyCA.php24 Bases with reported TCE water contamination(Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)Camp Pendleton Marine Corps BaseSan Diego County, CAMarine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton encompasses about 125,000 acres in southern California (MCB Camp Pendleton 2001a and 2001b; USEPA 2004). The base lies along the Pacific Ocean and contains an estimated 17 miles of coastline (MCB Camp Pendleton 2001a and 2001b). The entire base, except for about 125 acres in southern Orange County, is within northern San Diego County (MCB Camp Pendleton 2001a). MCB Camp Pendleton lies between two major citiesSan Diego is 38 miles south of the base and Los Angeles is 82 miles north (MCB Camp Pendleton 2001b). In 1980, 2, 4, 5-TP (silvex) was detected in two base production wells (51 and 73 micrograms per liter [g/L]) (MCB Camp Pendleton 1980). An initial assessment study (IAS) conducted in September 1984 identified eight sites that warranted further evaluation. The IAS determined that none of the sites posed an immediate health hazard, but recommended five sites for further investigation (SCS Engineers, Inc. 1984). A site investigation (SI) in 1988 included sampling of six sites: the five identified in the IAS and an additional site recommended for further study by the Navy. Sampling detected metals in soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water; VOCs in groundwater and surface water; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides in soil; and an SVOC in groundwater (CDM 1988). Three of the remaining UST sites are in residential areas, but only subsurface soil and groundwater contamination remains at these sites. Soil remediation has occurred in these residential areas, with remaining contamination beneath several feet of soil or pavement and inaccessible to residents. Further, the UST site-related groundwater contamination is not near any drinking water production wells (Mark Bonsavage, IRP Manager, MCB Camp Pendleton, personal communication, 2005).

The base water systems draw their water from local groundwater basins. MCB Camp Pendleton has four main groundwater basins: Las Flores, San Mateo, San Onofre, and Santa Margarita (Parsons 1999). The bases North System has four wells in the San Mateo River Basin and three wells in the San Onofre River Basin (MCB Camp Pendleton 2004a, 2005c). This system provides drinking water to about 12,00015,000 consumers in the San Onofre housing and mobile home areas, San Onofre Recreation Beach, and 5264 areas of the base (see Figure 3) (MCB Camp Pendleton 2005b, 2005c). The South System has 12 wells in the Santa Margarita River Basin and three wells in the Las Flores River Basin. This system provides drinking water to about 39,00043,000 consumers in the remaining base areas, including residences in the 43 area and all areas south (MCB Camp Pendleton 2004a, 2005c).

http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/military/20051122-9999-1n22pollute.html

Toxic woes fester at Camp Pendleton

Cleanup efforts praised; years of more work aheadBy Rick RogersUNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERNovember 22, 2005 LAURA EMBRY / Union-Tribune Bladders and metal tanks at the Las Pulgas Landfill on Camp Pendleton hold 300,000 gallons of contaminated water, just one of several environmental concerns on the base.

Contaminated drinking water is the latest environmental problem plaguing Camp Pendleton, which has so many toxic waste sites that it was declared a public health threat more than a decade ago. The 125,000-acre base the last large chunk of mostly undeveloped land between Los Angeles and the U.S.-Mexico border is an environmental contradiction. Bald eagles soar over the site and steelhead trout swim in its waters. But the area is also home to plumes of solvents, pockets of pesticides and trenches of petrochemicals. Some of the trouble is decades old, to times before anyone realized the dangers of burying, burning or dumping hazardous materials. Others are more recent, such as Camp Pendleton's difficulties with dangerously high levels of lead and copper in its tap water. Even a well-intentioned project has now become an environmental headache. A liner for a base landfill that opened in 1999 has leaked radioactive runoff, according to documents from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. The liner threatens to leak again during the rainy season. It will cost more than $250 million and take a decade to fully assess all of Camp Pendleton's pollution concerns, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates. The dollar figure does not include expenses for actual cleanup and bills related to at least one lawsuit alleging that toxin-laced dust made a Marine's daughter sick. "If you look at Camp Pendleton in terms of risks to people, it is one of the more seriously contaminated military sites in the country," said Lenny Siegel, executive director of the Center for Public Environmental Oversight, a watchdog group based in San Francisco. Even so, Siegel and state and federal pollution experts largely give high marks to Camp Pendleton's environmental program. For example, they praise base officials' prompt efforts to provide free bottled water and medical screening for people concerned about exposure to tap water containing high levels of lead or copper. The Marines began offering the assistance in September, when they announced the contamination problem. "They're not dragging their feet," said Martin Hausladen, an EPA project manager who monitors Camp Pendleton. A national priorityIn 1989, Camp Pendleton was the first location in San Diego County named to the federal Superfund list. Congress created the Superfund in 1980 to pay for cleaning up hazardous-waste sites that threaten public health. While the Defense Department pays for environmental restoration on military bases, being selected for the national priority list still brings with it the moniker "Superfund site." LAURA EMBRY / Union-Tribune More than 500 monitoring wells are set up throughout Camp Pendleton to give state, federal and military officials a way to track the movement of contaminants on the base.

By 1989, the Marines had detected Silvex, a cancer-causing herbicide now banned in the United States, in two drinking-water wells and discovered hazardous waste in seven locations at Camp Pendleton, the EPA said. Since then, the number of toxic sites on the base has surged to at least 208, according to an EPA report issued in 2004. That's not counting the more than 250 underground fuel tanks that were found to be leaking and removed in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, more than 500 monitoring wells throughout Camp Pendleton track the movement of contaminants and serve as the front lines for state, federal and Marine Corps agencies working to protect the 60,000 people who live and work on the base. Officials from the EPA, state Department of Toxic Substances Control and regional water board are working with Camp Pendleton officials to fix the problems. Since 1989, the Pentagon has spent $148 million on Camp Pendleton trouble spots the EPA has described as "low-hanging fruit." Remaining are "some very difficult sites," said Beatrice Griffey, a geologist supervising cleanup of Camp Pendleton's underground storage tanks for the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. Nationally, there are about 1,300 Superfund sites. Fifty, including Camp Pendleton, fall under the Navy's jurisdiction. The other Marine installations on the national priority list are: Camp Lejeune, N.C. The logistics base in Albany, Ga. The logistics base in Barstow. The Cherry Point air station in North Carolina. The Parris Island recruit depot in South Carolina. Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia. The Yuma air station. The former El Toro air station in Orange County. Complete details on the scope and progress of Camp Pendleton's environmental restoration work are difficult to obtain. But documents that base officials submitted to the secretary of defense in 1997 and 1998 describe some of the challenges. For instance, the paperwork described leaking underground tanks that "contaminated millions of gallons of groundwater the only source of drinking water for over 30,000 Marines, sailors" and their families on the base. More than 100 tons of contaminants from the base's aquifers were removed, the documents showed. Threats old and newIn recent months, the Navy unveiled a $16 million plan to clean two additional polluted sites at Camp Pendleton a former burn pit and a flood-prone, small-arms range that contains copper, arsenic, lead and dioxins. Camp Pendleton is vulnerable to groundwater contamination because its aquifers are relatively close to the surface. So far, with the apparent exceptions of the Silvex and now the lead and copper, its drinking water has been largely spared. But more environmental threats loom. LAURA EMBRY / Union-Tribune Large bladders on the base are filled with water contaminated with tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen.

Hausladen said a plume of chlorinated solvents from the Camp Pendleton air station has crept 100 feet to 150 feet toward drinking-water wells in the past four years. Concentrations of the solvents are four to eight times higher than federal guidelines. Officials with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board believe it is just a matter of time before the plume reaches the wells. Camp Pendleton officials can use existing technology to remove chlorinated solvents and other contaminants on the base. Such work can be extremely expensive, said John Anderson, a senior geologist for the water board. As a backup strategy, he said, the Marines are considering importing some of their water. Not all of Camp Pendleton's problems are linked to past practices. The Las Pulgas Landfill is located slightly west of the base's central area. In the late 1990s, the Marines wanted to add a 17-acre section to the 39-acre site. They hired contractors to expand the landfill and brought in another contractor to monitor the work. On May 24, 1999, the contractors finished installing a liner to keep contaminants from seeping into the ground, according to records from the water board. The first whiff of potential trouble with the liner came when the Marine Corps failed to submit an inspection report that summer. When base officials turned in a report in December, it was incomplete, the water board said. Then in April 2003, Camp Pendleton was cited for failure to control erosion and runoff from the landfill. That December, a study suggested the liner was damaged. Water board officials described a "number of technical discrepancies between the as-built construction and the design specifications." During a December 2004 meeting, water officials discussed "referral to a federal/state agency for investigation of criminal/negligence issues" concerning the liner. At the very least, the sides of the liner have failed and it is possible that the bottom has split as well, said John Odermatt, a senior engineering geologist for the regional water quality board. The board is drafting an order to force Camp Pendleton to fix the landfill. Marine officials said they are investigating whether the liner has leakage problems. Since February, Camp Pendleton has been cited four times for its leaking landfill. At least 1,000 gallons of leachate water that filters through garbage has seeped into the ground, according to the water board. At least 300,000 additional gallons of leachate are being stored at the Las Pulgas Landfill in large bladders and metal tanks. The liquid is contaminated with tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen, at levels up to 2.5 times the federal limit for drinking water. The Marine Corps said it is close to finalizing an agreement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that will allow it to dump the tritium into its sewage treatment system. The idea is to dilute the tritium to federal Clean Water Act standards and then discharge the treated waste into the ocean. As Camp Pendleton officials work with various regulatory agencies to address pollution problems, they also face the prospect of a courtroom battle. A July 2002 lawsuit filed in San Diego federal court alleges that a young girl living with her family at the base's Wire Mountain housing complex suffered severe brain damage from landfill waste. The suit claims that in late 1999 and early 2000, Lacie Myers was exposed to thallium that blew off dirt being disposed in a landfill near her home and school. Thallium, a toxic metal, is now banned but was once used in rat poison. Lacie, now 9, continues to suffer from ailments such as mental impairment and hypersensitivity to heat and cold, the lawsuit says. Her family seeks $15 million in damages, and the case could go to trial early next year. Neither Scott Allen, the San Francisco lawyer representing the Myers family, nor Camp Pendleton officials would comment on the litigation. In the immediate future, Camp Pendleton residents should not fear an environmental catastrophe, said Anderson, the water board geologist. He's less sure about the long-term situation. "There always seems to be a contaminant du jour that (Camp Pendleton officials) have to deal with," Anderson said.

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Camp Pendleton Marine Corps BaseThis site is a Federal Facility.Updated: June 14, 2001CAMP PENDLETON MARINE CORPS BASECALIFORNIAEPA ID# CA2170023533EPA Region 9City: County: San Diego Other Names: Marine Corps Base Camp PendletonSite Responsibility:

This site is being addressed through Federal actions.NPL LISTING HISTORY

Proposed Date:07/14/1989

Final Date:11/21/1989

Deleted Date:Groundwater and soils are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), spent oils, fuels, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, metals and herbicides. Though groundwater provides drinking water to the entire installation, the current drinking water supply is within drinking water standards.Group A (OU#1): In 1990, the Marine Corps began an investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination of the soil and groundwater at six subsites where data were already available. The investigations were completed in the fall of 1993, and final cleanup measures started in mid 1996. The OU#1 Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in 1995 and included institutional controls and monitoring for Site 9. The remaining sites called for no further action.Group B (OU#2): Landfills, Surface Impoundments, and Groundwater: In 1990, the Marine Corps began an investigation of the nature and extent of contamination in the landfills, surface impoundments, and groundwater. The OU#2 ROD was completed in 1997. The surface impoundments were included as no further action sites. The groundwater sites were deferred to OU#4 and the Site 7 landfill was included as part of OU#3. The landfill is currently being capped as part the OU#3 remedial action.Group C (OU#3): Other Soils and Groundwater: In 1990, the Marine Corps began an investigation into the nature and extent of contamination of soils and groundwater on the base located in the Santa Margarita watershed, where data are not yet available. The investigation was completed in 1996, and the ROD was signed on February 11, 1999. The remedy selected was excavation and disposal at an on-base landfill that was designated as a Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU). The remedial action was initiated in June 1999 and will be completed in summer of 2000.OU#4: Remaining Areas: An investigation of the nature and extent of soil and groundwater contamination in subsites outside the Santa Margarita watershed on the base has been completed. The RI/FS is currently being reviewed. The ROD is expected in the Fall of 2000.Three Records of Decision (RODs) have been signed for the site and three removal actions have been completed. In December 1995, 14,000 cubic yards of soil containing trichloroethane (TCE) and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) was removed from a former fire-fighting drill field. The TPH contaminated soil was treated through bioremediation and the TCE contaminated soil was removed and disposed of at an off-site landfill. In January 1997, approximately 12,000 cubic yards of soil containing organochlorine pesticides (maximum of 140 ppm DDT and 1280 ppm DDD) was removed from a former pesticide disposal area--Site 3. The soil was stabilized at an on-site treatment facility and disposed of at an on-site landfill. Thirty-two 55 gallon drums of material containing pesticide and medical waste were also removed and disposed of off-site. In January 1997, approximately 25,000 cubic yards of soil containing pesticides, metals, and PAHs was removed from Site 6 and stabilized at an on-site treatment facility and disposed of at an on-site landfill.

The Marine Corps has begun construction of a landfill cap for a 28 acre class III landfill which operated from 1946 to 1970. The Marine Corps is following EPA's presumptive remedy guidelines for landfill caps with oversight from EPA under the Federal Facility Agreement (FFA). Construction began in April 1997 and will be completed by December 2000. The landfill was designated as a CAMU as part of the OU#3 ROD. Waste from the removal and remedial actions is currently being placed in the landfill. A cap will be placed on the landfill once the remedial actions are completed.The public information repositories for the site are at the following locations:

Oceanside Public Library330 North Hill StreetOceanside, CA 92054The most complete collection of documents is the official EPA site file, maintained at the following location:

Superfund Records CenterMail Stop SFD-7C95 Hawthorne Street, Room 403San Francisco, CA 94105(415) 536-2000

Enter main lobby of 75 Hawthorne street, go to 4th floor of South Wing Annex.EPA SITE MANAGER:Martin HausladenADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:(415) 744-2410E-MAIL ADDRESS:[email protected]

EPA COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COORDINATOR:Viola K. CooperADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:415-744-2188 or 1-800-231-3075E-MAIL ADDRESS:[email protected]

PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTER:(415) 947-8701E-MAIL ADDRESS:[email protected]

STATE CONTACT:ADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:PRP CONTACT:ADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:COMMUNITY CONTACT:ADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:State Environmental Protection AgencyUS Environmental Protection Agency(800) 852-7550(800) 424-8802STATE:CACONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:48EPA ORGANIZATION:SFD-8-2

Site Description and History

Maps Images

Description Environmental Data

Response Action StatusEPA SITE MANAGER:ADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:E-MAIL ADDRESS:EPA COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COORDINATOR:ADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:E-MAIL ADDRESS:PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTER:E-MAIL ADDRESS:STATE CONTACT:ADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:PRP CONTACT:ADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:COMMUNITY CONTACT:ADDRESS:PHONE NUMBER:STATE:CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:EPA ORGANIZATION:source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

see also:

Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base Environmental Pollution in California- Site: Camp Pendleton Marine Corps BaseCamp Pendleton Marine Corps Base Superfund Site Info

Castle Air Force Base (6 Areas) Environmental Pollution in California- Site: Castle Air Force Base (6 Areas)Castle Air Force Base (6 Areas) Superfund Site Info

Ca - Cz California Superfund Sites: Ca - CzCalifornia Superfund Site Info