FIELD DOCUMENTS AND WORK PLANS 1992-1999

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1989 and revised in 1990. The final remedial action plan was completed June 29, 1990 (1). The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is the lead agency overseeing cleanup at the site. Remedial work remaining or continuing at the site includes remediation of groundwater and soils below retort. ATSDR completed a preliminary public health assessment for the MCTC site in March 1989 (2). No community health concerns were identified in the assessment. In 1988, DTSC staff interviewed residents who lived near the site and documented their concerns in the community relations plan completed in April 1989. Community members expressed concern about the risk of adverse health effects to on-site workers, to neighboring residences, and to students in the high school adjacent to the site's western border. Specific community health concerns included the number of cases of cancer, epilepsy and diabetes in the neighborhood surrounding the facility, allergies possibly related to the level of sawdust in the air, burning scrap lumber, and stinging eyes possibly related to the smell of ammonia. The preliminary public health assessment concluded that the MCTC site was of public health concern as a result of possible exposure to contaminated groundwater, surface water, soil, and inhalation of contaminated fugitive dust. The assessment recommended additional sampling of private water supply wells, diverting canals, a well survey, and additional hydrogeological characterization of the area. CURRENT SITE CONDITIONS During the afternoon of April 30, 1992, David Borgeson, Diana Lee, and Jane Riggan from the ATSDR/CDHS cooperative agreement project toured the site with a MCTC representative and the remedial project manager from DTSC. Since the preliminary public health assessment was prepared, the remedial investigation and remedial action plan has been completed. With the exception of gathering additional demographic data, recommendations in the assessment have been addressed by recent regulatory activities described above. Remedial work remaining or continuing at the site includes remediation of groundwater and soils below retort. CURRENT ISSUES Public Health Concerns Past exposure to arsenic, chromium and copper in soil and air did occur. It cannot be determined, however, whether past exposure constituted a health hazard, without knowledge of the duration of exposure and the levels of exposure over time. Insufficient data and information are available to evaluate possible past exposures to groundwater. No current or future exposure to contaminants in groundwater at levels of health concern are expected. Groundwater extraction and treatment is underway at MCTC. Both public and 2