Project Update

March 2025

PROJECT UPDATE

The Berk oil site occupies approximately 4.3 acres in a mixed commercial/industrial and residential area of the city, bordered by Shull Street, the 710 Freeway, Union Pacific Railroad, and a mixed commercial/residential area. This site was previously used for industrial activities, which had been identified as having hazardous substances, which is the primary reason for conducting this project.  The scope of the Berk Oil Site Remediation includes removal of contaminated soils, based on the current environmental regulations for anticipated future development use.    

In June of 2024, the City Council awarded a contract to Resource Environmental, Inc., who provided the City with the lowest responsive bid for remediation and cleaning up the site.  The project commenced in August of 2024 and is slated to be completed by end of March 2025.  The remediation project involves excavation and disposal of impacted soil, categorized as follows, non-hazardous soil, hazardous soil, concrete paving, asphalt paving.

The goal of this project is to remediate soils impacted by PAHs and lead at the site, ensuring that contaminant levels meet regulatory standards and allowing the property to be safely redeveloped or repurposed. This remediation will be conducted in strict accordance with the all relevant local, state, and federal regulations. The project will involve the following critical components:

Preparation and Submission of Pre-Construction Documents: These include the Health and Safety Plan (HASP), Soil Management Plan (SMP), Transportation Plan (TP), Dust Control and Monitoring Plan (DCMP), and Decontamination Plan (DP). Each document outlines specific protocols and procedures tailored to the unique challenges presented by the contamination at the site.

Removal and Disposal of Surface Debris: This will involve the careful dismantling and removal of existing structures, such as asphalt and concrete pads, which may have absorbed contaminants over time. In compliance with SCAQMD Rule 1403 and NESHAP, REI will notify SCAQMD of the demolition activities since the pads once supported structures. Special care will be taken to avoid disturbing underlying contaminated soils during this phase.

Site Preparation: Installation of fencing and environmental controls will secure the site and prevent unauthorized access. These controls will also mitigate the spread of dust and other potential airborne contaminants during excavation, following the guidelines set forth in the Dust Control Plan (DP).

Excavation and Disposal of Contaminated Soils: The site will be divided into grids for systematic excavation. RCRA-hazardous, Cal-hazardous, and non-hazardous soils will be separated and transported to approved disposal facilities. RCRA and Cal-hazardous soils

will be transported by licensed hazardous waste haulers, while non-hazardous soils will be handled by any licensed hauler. Real-time air monitoring will ensure that dust control measures are effective, with additional measures implemented as needed.

Confirmation Sampling: After excavation, samples from the bottom and sides of the excavation areas will be collected and analyzed to ensure that remediation goals are met.

If contaminants exceed thresholds, additional excavation will be performed. Soil excavation activities will include notifications and reporting to SCAQMD in compliance with Rule 1466.

Backfilling and Compaction: Clean backfill will be imported, placed, and compacted to restore the site to a stable condition. The imported material will be sourced from certified clean fill providers and will meet stringent environmental standards as per the approved specifications.

Site Restoration: Once excavation and backfilling are complete, the site will be graded and surfaced with gravel to prepare the area for potential future use while minimizing erosion and runoff.

Surveying: Throughout the project, surveying will ensure that excavation depths and backfilling are conducted according to plan. A final survey will document the site’s postremediation conditions, providing a detailed record for regulatory agencies.

The project will adhere to all the key applicable Federal, State, and local rules and environments regulations listed below: 

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

• Department of Transportation (DOT) 

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 

• California Hazardous Waste Control Law (HWCL)

• Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations

• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA

• South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) 

• City of Bell Gardens Municipal Code: Ensures local compliance with zoning,

• noise, and environmental health standards.

The project was divided into 3 major zones, for demolition, excavation, site restoration and final grading.  As of this week, all the contaminated soils have been removed, and REI is getting ready to start mobilizing on receiving clean soil to restore back the site to the original condition.  The project is slated to be 100% complete by end of March 2025.