New announcements from the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL). Older announcements
can be found in the
SSFL News Archive.
We are now providing periodic updates about our cleanup at SSFL. This one is about our Field Sampling Plans, which we have undertaken at the direction of, and in coordination with, DTSC.
This meeting will provide updates on the results of surveys and other data NASA is gathering as it prepares its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The Draft EIS is expected to be provided to the public for review and comment in summer 2012. The
SSFL EIS Factsheet describes the current SSFL
EIS process.
The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. From 6:00 to 6:45 NASA experts will hold informal discussions at various displays that summarize the information and approach
NASA is taking to prepare its Draft EIS. From about 6:45 to 8:00 NASA experts and NASA consultants will provide an update on the EIS impact analysis and related
studies followed by Questions and Answers between NASA presenters and the public.
Note: The hotel may only be entered when heading south on Topanga Canyon Blvd (TCB).
To enter heading north, make a U-turn at Lassen St. The hotel entrance arises abruptly
as you round the corner on TCB after you pass Lassen St.
NASA Releases 2011 Year in Review
February 1, 2012
The 2011 Year in Review
summarizes the activities of a year of progress in the cleanup of 451.2 acres that NASA administers in two areas of Santa Susana
Field Laboratory (SSFL). NASA is committed to a cleanup of these areas to a level protective of public health and the environment
and to ongoing outreach to and communication with the public.
NASA NHPA Section 106 Consultation Process Has Begun
September 30, 2011
NASA is preparing for the NHPA Section 106 consultation process and is seeking interested community groups and members of the public to become consulting parties. Individuals or organizations with a demonstrated interest in the effects of the undertaking on historic properties may request to become consulting parties. For more information on this process and to request consulting party status, please see the NHPA Section 106 page on this site.
EIS Comment Period Has Closed
September 20, 2011
The official comment period to submit remarks on NASA's 'scoping' of its Environmental Impact Statement ended September 19, 2011. If you have questions on any aspect of NASA's EIS process or about NASA's cleanup of the site, or if you would like to be added to the distribution list for future electronic updates, please contact Merrilee Fellows at 818.393.0754 or by email at mfellows@nasa.gov.
Federal Register Publishes SSFL NEPA Notice of Intent
July 7, 2011
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)’s required Notice of Intent (NOI) to conduct public scoping meetings and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the NASA-administered portion of Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) has been published in the Federal Register.
Federal Register Publication: 76 FR 39443 - National Environmental Policy Act; Santa Susana Field Laboratory 
Additional information describing the EIS process and progress will be posted on this site in the near future.
News Release: NASA Announces Public “Scoping” Meetings for Environmental Impact Statement at Santa Susana Field Laboratory, California (PDF)
For more information on the NEPA process and NASA’s NEPA Program: http://www.nasa.gov/green/nepa
You may email SSFL NEPA and EIS related comments to: SSFL EIS (Note: Since the scoping period has ended, this email address has been disabled)
NASA Announces On-site Project Manager for the Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL)
May 11, 2011
NASA is pleased to announce our selection of Peter Zorba as NASA’s Remedial Project Manager for Santa Susana Field Lab. This selection reflects the need for a highly qualified full-time NASA presence at the site as we continue to move into increasingly active remediation of the site.
Prior to this position Peter was the Environmental Engineer and Compliance Officer for the City of Lancaster. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Science, with a Philosophy Minor from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and is a Registered Environmental Assessor (REA), a professional registration administered by the Department of Toxic Substances Control. He has a strong background in remediation efforts, having worked on environmental cleanup projects in California, Colorado and Russia. Zorba is a reserve officer in the Marine Corps, and served two tours in Iraq before returning to the environmental field in 2006.
“I’m very proud to be working for NASA,” Zorba says. “Public service really appeals to me and I feel this job will be a great fit, as though my previous experiences have all come together. I am excited about this new endeavor and I look forward to capitalizing on my strengths to advance cleanup at Santa Susana.”
Peter can be reached by email at peter.zorba@nasa.gov or by phone at SSFL at (818) 466-8843.
SSFL FieldNOTES – April 2011
April 22, 2011
The April edition of the SSFL FieldNOTES newsletter is now available online.
SSFL FieldNOTES - April 2011 (PDF)
NASA Releases 2010 Year in Review
January 21, 2011
NASA reviews a year of progress in the cleanup of federally-administered lands at Santa Susana Field Lab. We are
grateful for the involvement of so many local residents and we look forward to an active year of cleanup in 2011.
The Year in Review 2010 (PDF)
contains a brief summary of highlights of the past year.
NASA Signs an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with DTSC
December 8, 2010
NASA signed an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
on Dec 6, 2010. The AOC defines the process for characterization and the cleanup of soils at the Santa Susana Field
Laboratory (SSFL).
"NASA is pleased to join with the Department of Energy and the State of California in signing these agreements and
will do its part to assist with the Santa Susana cleanup,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. “We are committed
to working with these partners to address the environmental concerns at this former test site.”
NASA-DTSC Administrative Order on Consent (PDF)
NASA Completes Interim Soil Removal Action Excavation at Ash Pile/Sewage Treatment Plant
November 24, 2010
In recent months, NASA has been excavating soils on the federally-administered property known as the Ash Pile/Sewage
Treatment Plant area. The initial excavations were completed in October and confirmation samples were taken to
confirm that all soils with levels above the targeted levels (known as “soil remediation goals” or, more
colloquially, “ISRA cleanup goals”) had been removed. Those sampling
results required a few additional removals.
That was completed and again confirmation samples were taken. On November 22, 2010, NASA presented this most recent
ISRA confirmation sample data to the RWQCB
and DTSC. Results for NASA primary samples and
split samples analyzed by
the RWQCB were below (that is, better than) ISRA cleanup goals. Site restoration (recontouring the excavated areas
and hydroseeding) for these ISRA excavations is planned to be completed by early December.
NASA Interim Soil Removal Action Update Nov. 9, 2010
November 12, 2010
On November 9, 2010, NASA presented an update on recent and future Interim Soil Removal Action ("ISRA") actions.
The presentation, by Randy Dean, a NASA contractor with CH2M Hill, emphasized recent actions at the area known as
AP/STP (Ash Pile, Sewage Treatment Plant) which targeted dioxin removal. The work is nearly completed, awaiting
the results of confirmation samples. Should the samples indicate that minor excavation is still necessary, that
will be performed, followed again by confirmation samples. The three targeted "removal" areas each contained some
oak trees or included area below the drip lines of oak trees. In response to requests from the public, this
presentation shows the particular care that was taken to protect the oak trees as excavations were performed.
NASA Interim Soil
Removal Action Update presentation (PDF)
NASA Announces Additional Soil Cleanup at Santa Susana Field Lab
September 30, 2010
NASA Press Release SSFL10-002
announcing additional soil cleanup at Santa Susana Field Lab.
DTSC announces public meetings on the Agreements in Principle between DTSC and NASA and between DTSC and DOE
September 16, 2010
The California State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) invites public comment on the draft Agreements
in Principle (AIP) and draft Confirmation Sampling Protocol that have been negotiated with the Department of
Energy (DOE) and NASA. For more information on the upcoming public meetings on the Agreements in Principle,
please read the Notice of Public Comment Period (PDF).
Joint Settlement Framework between NASA and the State of California
September 13, 2010
A "Joint Settlement Framework Agreement in Principle between The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the State
of California Regarding Cleanup of Areas I and II of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Administered by NASA" was announced on
September 3, 2010. The elements of this framework will be implemented following development of an Administrative Order on
Consent. A copy of the framework may be viewed at the DTSC website at the link below.
DTSC Document: Joint
Settlement Framework Agreement in Principle between The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the State
of California Regarding Cleanup of Areas I and II of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Administered by NASA (PDF)
DTSC is holding a public comment period regarding this document through October 1, 2010. Comments should be addressed to
DTSC by email at: ssfl@dtsc.ca.gov.
The Final Version of the ICRMP Is Now Available
August 24, 2010
The Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan (ICRMP) for federally owned property at Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) is
NASA's mechanism for complying with historic preservation requirements set forth in the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
The final version of this ICRMP (PDF)
is now available. For further information please contact Donna Holland, (256) 544-7201.
NASA Information on Disposal of ELV Soil
May 10, 2010
The DISPOSAL of NASA ELV AREA SOILS sheet outlines the technical basis and supporting evidence for NASA's conclusion that the soils identified for cleanup and disposal adjacent to the Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) Area are hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, and that the out-of-state disposal facilities identified are appropriate for disposal of these wastes.
The following sources provide additional information (external links will open in a new browser window or tab):
Update: Additional Soil Cleanup at Santa Susana Field Lab ELV Postponed
April 20, 2010
Questions regarding waste disposal have been raised. NASA voluntarily postpones the start of cleanup.
NASA and Boeing are working with DTSC to resolve concerns and move forward.
Two profiles from US Ecology Idaho accepting waste (March 30, 2010)
NASA Announces Additional Soil Cleanup at Santa Susana Field Lab
April 14, 2010
NASA Press Release SSFL10-001
announcing additional soil cleanup at Santa Susana Field Lab.
April 14, 2010
The Group 9 Remedial Investigation (RI) report was submitted by NASA to the DTSC on November 30, 2009. The public comment period has not yet begun.
Here is the link to the Document on the DTSC webpage:
DTSC Group 9 RI Document List
Draft Cultural Resources Management Plan now available
April 7, 2010
Update: The public comment period has ended.
The Cultural Resources Management Plan (CRMP) for federally owned property at Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL)
is NASA's mechanism for complying with historic preservation requirements set forth in the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA).
A
draft version of this CRMP (PDF) is available. The public comment period ended April 2, 2010.
SSFL 2009 Year in Review is Now Available
January 11, 2010
NASA has released the
Year in Review 2009 (PDF) describing the activities related to the environmental investigation and
cleanup activities completed at SSFL in 2009.
Interim Source Removal Action Fact Sheet Now Available
November 23, 2009
Currently, NASA is implementing a short-term action used to prevent or
mitigate risks to human health or the environment before a final
remedy has been selected. NASA’s Interim Source Removal Action
(ISRA) is designed to remove potential sources of contaminants and
improve the quality of surface water discharge.
For more information, please read the NASA’s Interim Source Removal Action Fact Sheet (PDF).
This and other fact sheets are also available on the Fact Sheets page on this site.
Historic Resources Survey Fact Sheet Now Available
November 23, 2009
Federal statutes guide federal agency stewardship of historic
resources under their control and provides direction for establishing
programs to manage their historic resources.
For the fact sheet, please read the Historic Resources Survey Fact Sheet (PDF).
You also may read the entire Historic Resources Survey and Assessment (PDF, 4.8MB).
This and other fact sheets are also available on the Fact Sheets page on this site.
NASA SSFL News Archive
The
SSFL News Archive
provides access to older news items.
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