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U.S. EPA finalizes landmark agreement, ensuring clean up protections in Davis, California

Release Date: 04/22/2008
Contact Information: Mary Simms, 415-947-4270, simms.mary@epa.gov

(2/22/2008 -- SAN FRANCISCO) While keeping the cleanup of the Frontier Fertilizer Superfund site on track, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized an agreement with Target Corporation to allow for redevelopment of land adjacent to the site.

Under this agreement, Target Corporation, with EPA oversight, will fund and perform movement of eight groundwater monitoring wells at privately-owned parcels lying to the north and west of the Frontier Fertilizer Site. EPA uses the current wells to monitor the cleanup and as part of the Target development, EPA will find locations for new wells that can take their place

“The EPA is committed to ensuring that re-development near this Superfund site will not in any way hinder our clean up process,” said Keith Takata, Superfund Division director for the U.S. EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “Modifications to the monitoring wells have been carefully planned so as to not disrupt our first priority – clean up of the Frontier Fertilizer site.”

This agreement is the first of its kind in California. Target Corporation guarantees that it has sufficient funds to complete the modification of eight groundwater monitoring wells, and agrees to pay for EPA's oversight costs to make sure the work is being done properly. It also provides protections for both the buyer performing the cleanup and future buyers who purchase portions of the property.

The Frontier Fertilizer Superfund Site is located on Second Street, near the eastern boundary of Davis, California. Soil and groundwater beneath the site were contaminated by improper disposal of pesticides during the 1970's and 1980's. Contaminated surface soil from the site was removed and treated in 1985, while groundwater has been continuously pumped and treated since 1993.

For more information on the Frontier Fertilizer Superfund site please visit:
https://yosemite.epa.gov/r9/sfund/r9sfdocw.nsf/vwsoalphabetic/Frontier+Fertilizer?OpenDocument.

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