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U.S. EPA settlements to provide more than $4 million for drinking water at San Gabriel Valley Superfund cleanup

Release Date: 08/25/2011
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815, Cell (213) 798-1404, arcaute.francisco@epa.gov

(8/25/11) San Francisco - The U.S Environmental Protection Agency has entered into two settlements totaling $4,407,000 to help pay for cleanup costs at the South El Monte section of the San Gabriel Valley Superfund Site in Los Angeles, Calif.

The first decree settles claims brought by EPA and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control against Aerojet-General Corporation. The second decree settles claims brought by EPA against Mammoet Western, Inc., Time Realty Investments and Tonks Properties.

“EPA has now recovered over $13 million to pay for the cleanup of contaminated groundwater and provide drinking water for thousands of families living in surrounding communities,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator of EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “These settlements reinforce EPA’s commitment to having the cleanups paid for by those responsible for the environmental damage.”

“This settlement has been long overdue, and is a crucial step towards cleaning up the pollution from responsible parties in South El Monte,” said Congresswoman Judy Chu, Democrat, 32nd District, El Monte. “I commend the EPA for their continued work to make sure the residents of the San Gabriel Valley have a reliable and safe drinking water supply for future generations to come.”

The Consent Decrees were entered in federal District Court on August 19, 2011 and resolve liabilities for contamination from industrial solvents including PCE and TCE, as well as other chemicals, including perchlorate in the groundwater.

The South El Monte Operable Unit was listed on the National Priorities List in 1984, and overlies approximately 8 square miles of groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds. The funds paid through these settlements will be used to implement the cleanup at the site.

EPA signed an interim Record of Decision with the goal of containing contaminated groundwater in 2000, and issued an Explanation of Significant Differences to address emerging contaminants in 2005. EPA has a Cooperative Agreement with the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority to implement the remedy, by funding groundwater extraction and treatment systems operated by the City of Monterey Park, San Gabriel Valley Water Company, and Golden State Water Company.

For more information on the EPA’s Superfund program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/sfund/