October 2023
PROJECT UPDATE: ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION
FORMER BERK OIL AND PACIFIC METAL CRAFT
5600-5636 SHULL STREET, BELL GARDENS, CALIFORNIA 90201
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Los Angeles Water Board) is
providing this update on the status of investigation at the Former Berk Oil and Pacific Metal
Craft site (Site) located at 5600 – 5636 Shull Street, Bell Gardens.
Site Background
The Former Berk Oil and Pacific Metal Craft Site is a 4.3-acre vacant lot, currently owned
by the City of Bell Gardens. The Site has been undeveloped for approximately 30 years.
Historical industrial operations included asphalt mixing, oil distribution, and fabrication of metal and plastic components. The Site also stored diesel, waste oil, degreasers, and
asphalt in above-ground storage tanks (ASTs) and under-ground storage tanks (USTs).
Figure 1: Map of Site and vicinity
Environmental Investigations
Recent assessment of soil, soil vapor and groundwater were conducted at the Site
through the following activities:
• Installation of five (5) groundwater monitoring wells to approximate depths of 67
feet below ground surface (bgs).
• Installation of eight (8) soil vapor probes with approximate screening depths of 15,
30, 45, and 60 feet bgs.
• Collection of 72 soil samples for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), total
petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), metals, and
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) analyses.
• Collection of groundwater samples, soil vapor samples for VOCs, TPH, and
metals.
Next Steps:
On August 29th, 2023, the City of Bell Gardens submitted a Draft Removal Action Work
Plan (Draft RAW). The Draft RAW proposes the removal of Benzo(a)pyrene and lead-
impacted soil at the Site via excavation. The estimated volume of impacted soil for
removal is 5,000 cubic yards. Excavated soil will be transported and disposed of off-Site.
Appropriate mitigation measures will be taken during excavation, and confirmation soil
samples will be collected. Implementation of the Draft RAW will require compliance with
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
On September 22, 2023, the Los Angeles Water Board sent a Formal Notification of
Decision to Undertake a Project and Notification of Consultation Opportunity, pursuant to
Public Resources Code § 21080.3.1(D), to California Native Tribes that had previously
requested notification of CEQA projects. The letter requests that California Native Tribes
seeking to engage in formal consultation notify the Los Angeles Water Board within 30
days from the receipt of the letter.
Information Repositories and Contacts
The Los Angeles Water Board invites you to learn more about the referenced Site. All
project-related documents and reports, including technical reports on environmental
investigations, are available for public review on GeoTracker, the State Water Resources
Control Board database: https://bit.ly/GeoTrackerBerk
For more information, or if you have questions about this Site, please contact the
Los Angeles Water Board:
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
320 West 4th Street, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Jeremy Barela, Project Manager
Jeremy.Barela@waterboards.ca.gov or (213) 576-6734
Susana Lagudis, Public Participation, Environmental Justice and Tribal Coordinator
(hispanohablante)
Susana.Lagudis@waterboards.ca.gov or (213) 576-6694
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