Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Agency Program

This picture was taken by David Young
Grand Ave Housing redevelopment,
Los Angeles, 12/16/2003

This picture was taken by David Young
Grand Ave Housing redevelopment,
Los Angeles, 12/16/2003 This picture was taken by David Young
Pico Rivera Krikroian Theater/Sav-On,
Pico Rivera, 6/19/2003This picture was taken by David Young
Pico Rivera Krikroian Theater/Sav-On,
Pico Rivera, 6/19/2003 This picture was taken by David Young
Staples Center redevelopment, Los Angeles, 1/22/2004 This picture was taken by David Young
Staples Center redevelopment, Los Angeles, 1/21/2004

Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Agency Program. Groundwater Remediation Section - Site Cleanup Unit II



Introduction:

The Groundwater Remediation Section - Site Cleanup Unit II was established within the Groundwater Remediation Section of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) in February 2002, as a special task force to manage primarily the increasing numbers of Brownfields/Redevelopment Agency projects under the Site Cleanup Program (formerly Spill, Leak, Investigation, and Cleanup (SLIC)) and Redevelopment Agency (RA) oversight cost recovery program agreements or contracts.

Petroleum Underground Storage Tank (UST) sites are addressed by the Board's Underground Storage Tank Program. Many brownfields in the region have actual or suspected contamination from leaking underground storage tanks. Investigation and cleanup of these sites is undertaken under Board oversight and, in some cases, oversight by a local agency. Many UST sites, including brownfields, are eligible for reimbursement of investigation and cleanup costs through the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund.

Geotracker is a data warehouse which tracks regulatory data about underground fuel tanks, fuel pipelines, and public drinking water supplies. The public pages you can see at : http://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov


Definition:

The LARWQCB embraces the USEPA definition of Brownfields. Brownfields are abandoned, idled or underused industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.

Goals:

  • Preserve greenfields
  • Protection of ground water resources, safeguard public health, promote environmental justice
  • Streamline site assessment, cleanup, monitoring, and closure requirements/procedures
  • Expedite/Facilitate site cleanups and closures for Brownfields sites
  • Revitalize economy, job creation, and tax revenue generation

Prioritizing Criteria:

In order to continue our effort and commitment to protect the valuable groundwater resources and to safeguard the public health of the local communities, establishing criteria for prioritizing Brownfields/Redevelopment Agency cases is essential in assuring that this Regional Board properly manage the increasing workload of Brownfields projects. In general, the Brownfields Redevelopment projects currently managed by the Site Cleanup Units are prioritized and divided into the following four categories:

  • Priority 1 - Commercial/Industrial Redevelopment Projects
  • Priority 2 - Public Transportation Agency/Authority Construction/Redevelopment Projects
  • Priority 3 - Housing Redevelopment Projects
  • Priority 4 - Cases which pose no significant threat to ground water or public health

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Projected areas of focused efforts:

  1. Prioritize Brownfields/Redevelopment Agency projects according to the criteria proposed above.
  2. Continue the effort to obtain approvals form the State Board to sign up SLIC oversight cost recovery agreement with local redevelopment agencies.
  3. Streamline and expedite the process for reviewing assessments/cleanups and approvals for site closures for Brownfields/Redevelopment Agency projects to meet critical development/construction schedules.
  4. Participate in State Board's effort in establishing the statewide Brownfields/Redevelopment Agency assessment and cleanup guidelines.
  5. Participate in Brownfields public outreach and customer service programs established by State Board.
  6. Actively address environmental justice issues in the proposed Brownfields/Redevelopment Agency project areas.
  7. Closely coordinate with CalEPA-OEHHA and/or DTSC-HERD in reviewing risk assessment and public health issues.
  8. Closely monitor the progress of Brownfields/Redevelopment Agency projects and take enforcement actions when appropriate.

 

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Reference/Guidance Documents:

Brownfields Programs:

 

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Brownfields and Prospective Purchaser Agreements:
Prospective purchasers may be available to clean up and, thereafter, develop the property. In these cases, agreements between the RWQCBs, which specify the clean-up obligation and which include covenants not to sue if the terms of the agreement are carried out, may be an acceptable way to ensure the cleanup while releasing prospective purchasers from unknown clean-up liability.

 

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LARWQCB Contact Brownfields Program staff:

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List of Federal and State Brownfields Laws:


Regional Board Fact Sheets


Brownfields Targeted Site Investigation (TSI) Program (Fact Sheet)

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List of Cities/Agencies Currently Partnership with LARWQCB:

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Links to Useful Reference Website for Brownfield Programs:

Presentations:

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SITE CLEANUP CONTACTS:

Paula Rasmussen, AEO
(213) 576-6607 or paula.rasmussen@waterboards.ca.gov
Arthur Heath, Section Chief
(213) 576-6800 or arthur.heath@waterboards.ca.gov
Su Han, Unit Chief Site Cleanup I
(213) 576-6735 or su.han@waterboards.ca.gov
Jeffrey Hu, Unit Chief Site Cleanup II
(213) 576-6803 or jeffrey.hu@waterboards.ca.gov
Thizar Tintut-Williams, Unit Chief Site Cleanup III
(213) 576-6723 or thizar.williams@waterboards.ca.gov
Jillian Ly, Unit Chief Site Cleanup IV
(213) 576-6664 or jillian.ly@waterboards.ca.gov
Vacant, Unit Chief Site Cleanup V

Water Regulation

Water Code Section 13267 authorizes the Water Boards to require technical reports from suspected dischargers.

Water Code Section 13304 authorizes the Water Boards to issue "cleanup and abatement" orders requiring a discharger to cleanup and abate waste "where the discharger has caused or permitted waste to be discharged or deposited where it is or probably will be discharged into waters of the State and creates or threatens to create a condition of pollution or nuisance." Water Code Section 13304 also authorizes the Regional Water Boards to recover costs for oversight of site cleanup at these sites.

State Water Board Resolution No. 92-49, "Policies and Procedures for Investigation, Cleanup and Abatement of Discharges Under Water Code Section 13304", State Water Board Resolution No. 68-16, "Statement of Policy with Respect to Maintaining High Quality of Waters in California"; and State Water Board Resolution No. 88-63,"Sources of Drinking Water", contain the policies and procedures that all Water Boards shall follow to oversee and regulate investigations and cleanup and abatement activities resulting from all types of discharge or threat of discharge subject to Water Code Section 13304.