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U.S. EPA announces Palos Verdes Shelf proposed environmental protection plan

Release Date: 06/11/2009
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, 213 244 1815

For Immediate Release: June 11, 2009
Contact: Francisco Arcaute

(213) 244-1815, cell (213) 798-1404
arcaute.francisco@epa.gov

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host public meetings and accept public comments on its proposed Preferred Alternative plan that addresses the risks to human health and the environment at the Palos Verdes Shelf, located near Los Angeles, Calif.

The Palos Verdes Shelf site is a large area of DDT- and PCB-contaminated sediment located in the ocean off the coast of the Palos Verdes peninsula south of Los Angeles. The offshore site stretches from Point Fermin in the southeast to Redondo Canyon in the northwest, a distance of about 9 miles.

The EPA’s Preferred Alternative plan is an interim remedy that proposes institutional controls, monitored natural recovery and a containment cap. Construction is expected to take 3 years and cost an estimated $36,000,000. After the cap is in place and the EPA has a chance to conduct and evaluate a series of new studies, the EPA will propose a final Record of Decision for the Palos Verdes Shelf.

The EPA will host the following public meetings to explain the plan:

· Tuesday June 23

Open house 2:00-3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Cabrillo Beach House
3800 Stephen M. White Dr.
San Pedro, Calif.

· Wednesday, June 24

Open house 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. to 9;00 p.m.
Banning’s Landing
100 E. Water Street
Wilmington, Calif.

· Thursday, June 25

Open house 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Palos Verdes Library
701 Silver Spur Rd.
Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.

The EPA’s plan and related documents will be available at the following locations:

· Redondo Beach Public Library

303 N. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, Calif., 90277

· San Pedro Public Library

931 S. Gaffey St.
San Pedro, Calif., 90731

· National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Office of General Counsel
501 W. Ocean Blvd., #4470
Long Beach, Calif., 90802

· U.S EPA Superfund Record Center

95 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, Calif., 94105

Written comments can be sent to the EPA – no later than July 15 – to the following location:

· U.S. EPA, Region IX

75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, Calif., 94105
Attn: C.R.White (SFD-8-2)

For more information, please visit: www.epa.gov/region09/superfund/pvshelf.