PR0535342 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Oscrept bac Page 11 from crevices along bottom of the fire break. It was suspected that burning tires, which were buried by the construction of the embankment, had not been completely smothered and continued to smolder. It was assumed that the fire was isolated from the landfill by the deep trench that was dug between the ramp and landfill . The trench had been previously flooded, backfilled and compacted with native soil . The second fire broke out in a small side canyon where no burial of tires had been reported by the Choperena family. The side canyon was separated from the landfill by a natural ridge . August 29, 1996 The CIWMB in conjunction with EPA organized an interagency meeting at the CDF Fire Station in Mendota, CA. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the status of current removal actions and future remedial actions at the site. The meeting was attended by the EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinator, Cal-EPA Integrated Waste Management Board and their contractor, Sukut Construction, Inc . , Cal-EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Department of Fish & Game, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Fresno County Health Agency and the California Department of Water Resources . The agencies were paricularly concerned with the potential for discharge of highly contaminated runoff from the ash into Little Panoche Creek. There was some urgency due to the approach of the rainy season. A significant rainfall event in the canyon would pose a major threat to the environment, fish and wildlife. The goal during the meeting was to determine how to remediate the site within the constraints of time and resources . It was agreed that EPA, with support from CDF, would finish the fire suppression effort . The CIWMB would undertake remedial actions once the fire was out and the area had cooled. The remedial work would be conducted under the direction of EPA and in accordance with their removal authorities and the NCP. The CIWMB and EPA proposed to remediate the site by reconsolidating the contaminated soil and ash to the upper regions of the canyon, placing a compacted, low permeable soil cover over the ash, constructing drainage structures, a larger retention basin and check dam, and providing erosion control for the site . The proposed action was verbally agreed upon by all the agencies . September 12 , 1996 An Action Memo and funding increase request was approved to continue the removal action. The increase raised the total project ceiling from $200K to $340K.