Notice of Public Review and Request for Comments

RE: Santa Barbara Historical Museum Contaminated Soil Cleanup Project

Southern California Edison has proposed a project to clean up contaminated soil at 136 E. De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, the current site of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. The location of the project is within 1,000 feet of the property boundary of the Anacapa School and the Santa Barbara Community Academy. The project is expected to commence in late June 2006 and will last for approximately 5 months. Southern California Edison has applied to the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) for a permit for this project, and the law requires that we notify you, since you are either the parent/guardian of a student attending one of the above named schools, or are a resident or business located within 1000 feet of the site. Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project have already been completed; this notice applies to Phase 3 of the project.

A gas manufacturing plant operated at the De La Guerra Street location between 1875 and 1907. The operation of this plant left residues of coal tar, oils and lampblack in the soil. The residues contain potentially cancer-causing materials, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene and a group of compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The California Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC) identified the need for cleanup of the soil and approved the project on September 29, 2000. DTSC determined the best way to conduct the project cleanup with minimal impact on the surrounding community and will oversee the work. Additional information on this project is available from DTSC at (818) 551-2864 (Mr. Tedd Yargeau, Project Manager). A detailed five page Fact Sheet for this project was prepared by DTSC and is available for your review, click here to download (PDF file). 

The APCD has imposed conditions on the permit for this project that will minimize the release of emissions into the air during the excavation, handling, and transport of the contaminated material off site.

A copy of the draft permit document (ATC/PTO 11988) prepared for this project is available for review at the following locations: APCD offices (260 North San Antonio Rd, Suite A, Santa Barbara); and SB Public Library: Santa Barbara Branch (40 E. Anapamu, Santa Barbara.

You can also download the draft permit document (PDF file) by clicking here.

Please provide any comments to us within 30 days of the receipt of this notice to Attention Al Ronyecz, APCD, 260 North San Antonio Rd, Suite A, Santa Barbara, or contact Al Ronyecz at 961-8877 or ronyecza@sbcapcd.org. .

Sincerely,

Michael Goldman Engineering Supervisor

                                                                                                                           Mailed June 2, 2006