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EPA PROPOSES CASMALIA LANDFILL AS FEDERAL SUPERFUND SITE

Release Date: 6/14/2001
Contact Information: Wendy L. Chavez, U.S. EPA, 415/744-1588

     Action kicks off public comment period

    SAN FRANCISCO   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today proposed the Casmalia Resources landfill in Central California as a federal Superfund site, which will make available federal funds, if necessary, to perform a long-term cleanup at the 252-acre facility.

     The proposal begins a 60-day public comment period, which will close on Aug. 13.  The EPA will hold a public meeting to receive comments July 11 from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Edwards Community Center, Multi-purpose room, 809 N. Fremont Street, Santa Maria, Calif.

     "This Superfund listing will give us the formal framework and regulatory authority necessary  to address a site of this size and complexity," said Keith Takata, director of the U.S. EPA's Superfund program in San Francisco.  "We look forward to hearing back from the community and others about their thoughts on this proposal."

     If finalized, the Casmalia Resources site would become the 100th Superfund site in California, and the first in Santa Barbara County.  There are about 1,300 sites nationwide listed on the NPL.

     Casmalia Resources site, located 10 miles from Santa Maria, Calif. was an active hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility from 1973 to 1989.  The site accepted approximately 5.5 billion pounds of waste from about 10,000 contributors.  Since the site is no longer operating and the enforcement process has been complex,  the EPA seeks Superfund listing to conduct its enforcement and cleanup.

     In late 1991, the site owner/operator abandoned active efforts to cleanup and close the facility, claiming financial difficulties.  In 1992, the EPA took action to control the site and address immediate health threats.   In a consent decree with the EPA, the Casmalia Steering Committee,   a group of oil, gas, and aerospace companies,  took over cleanup operations.

     The site continues to undergo investigation and cleanup work with oversight by EPA and the State of California.  

    In addition, the U.S. EPA welcomes comments submitted directly to our office.  Please send those comments to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Attn: Carolyn Douglas (SFD-5), 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, or fax 415-744-1916, or email [email protected].  All written comments must be postmarked by August 13.

     To learn more about the site, visit the EPA's information repositories at the Santa Maria Library, 420 South Broadway or the U.S. EPA Records Center, 95 Hawthorne, San Francisco.  Questions may be directed to David Cooper, Community Involvement Coordinator, at 800-231- 3075.  You can also visit www.epa.gov/region09/waste/sfund/npl/siteinfo.htm