SITE INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE

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PUBLIC HEALTH SERVTES SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION Karen Furst, M.D., M.P.H., Health Officer 304 East Weber Avenue, Third Floor • Stockton, CA 95202 209/468-3420 PETE MARTIN NOV 2 1 1997 SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS PO BOX 1810 STOCKTON CA 95201 Re: Intersection of Thornton Road and Walnut Grove Road Site Code: 1864-2 Thornton CA 95686 San Joaquin County Public Health Services, Environmental Health Division (PHS/EHD) has summarized observations and response actions taken recently associated with the Thornton Storm Drain Improvement Project. On October 31, 1997, I was informed by Ron Rail of San Joaquin Utilities Maintenance that gasoline contaminated soil was discovered earlier that week during trenching activities associated with a storm drain project. I was contacted by Ron Rall because he knew of my work associated with the Gardner Property underground storage tank site located at 26056 Thornton Road. I immediately contacted you to discuss waste handling, site safety, and contamination characterization issues. I was then informed that contaminated soil was removed and stockpiled by the contractor DSS Company under the supervision of Steve Dunn on Monday October 27, 1997 and that you were not sure the quantity of soil removed. Since the trench had been backfilled, a site inspection was scheduled for Wednesday November 5, 1997 during which time a trench would be excavated nearby and the site conditions characterized. On November 5, 1997, a site inspection was conducted during which time, I observed that DSS Company had placed obviously contaminated soil on private property located at the intersection of Thornton Road (Sacramento Road) and Pine Street. The evidence of contamination was based on visual and olfactory observations made by myself. The soil had a bluish discoloration and petroleum odor. The private property is designated by San Joaquin County APN 001-140-40 lot 10 and which is currently owned by Barbara J. Drake. I informed San Joaquin County Public Works representative, Hai Le, that the soil should be immediately removed from the private property, whose owner undoubtedly was unaware of the contaminated soil being placed there by DSS, and should be placed on and covered by plastic. It was surprising to me to note that there was still obvious contamination despite the fact that the soil had been aerating for over a week. Additionally, I was informed that some of the contaminated soil had been accidentally placed into the trenches formed during the project. Soil samples were collected on November 5, 1997 from two trenches excavated by DSS Company representative Rocky Fisher. Trench-1 was located immediately east and west of the trench within which was located contaminated soil. Soil contamination was observed during the trenching activities. A Division of San Joaquin County Health Care Services