Our third update (FieldNOTE) about cleanup at SSFL is now available. This one highlights field surveys that help us characterize the natural habitats on the site and provides information for our Environmental Impact Statement.
To undertake some Interim Source Removal Action (ISRA) activities in the Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) Service area in NASA-administered Area II before the onset of seasonal rains, NASA has begun excavation and removal of some surface soils. The area being excavated is the southwestern portion of the ELV-1C area.
This action is taken at the direction of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and with the concurrence of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Soils within this portion of the ELV-1C area have been sampled, analyzed, and compared to the ISRA cleanup goals approved by the RWQCB. Any soils with concentrations above these goals will be excavated. Additionally, waste characterization soil samples were analyzed in the ELV-1C area and, with the written approval of DTSC, these soils were screened against the Radiological Trigger Levels (RTLs) provided by EPA in December 2011. The soil sample results in the southwestern portion of the ELV-1C area yielded no radionuclide results at or above the December 2011 RTLs. The soils will be transported for disposal at the Waste Management Landfill in Lancaster, California, which accepts non-hazardous soils.
This decision reflects cooperation among NASA, DTSC and the RWQCB. The parties concluded that, because the EPA’s recommended RTLs are a more conservative screening level than the expected radiological lookup tables (to be finalized next year), and because the southwestern ELV-1C soils results are below the RTLs, NASA should begin this important ISRA work this year, in the attempt to remove approximately 600 cubic yards soil before winter rains.
NASA has received Closure Certification from the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) for three Hazardous Waste Management Units on NASA-administered property at Santa Susana Field Laboratory. The Bravo Groundwater Treatment Unit (GWTU), the Delta GWTU, and the RD-09 GWTU, including the associated pipelines between the groundwater extraction wells and the GWTUs are considered closed by DTSC under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
The previously submitted RFI reports for Groups 2, 3, 4, and 9 (which include the NASA sites at SSFL) can be found in the RFI - Soils section of the DTSC Document Library
NASA remains committed to a proposed cleanup to background that will meet the Administrative Order on Consent between DTSC and NASA.
We received comments from Senator Boxer and the Council on Environmental Quality regarding the evaluation of alternatives for the preparation of our Environmental Impact Statement. As a result, NASA has chosen to streamline its review in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and analyze only the alternatives of (a) cleanup to background and (b) the “no-action” alternative.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement can be found on the Key Documents page.
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.
Following the Q&A, informal discussions may take place.
The meeting will be in Chatsworth on March 27, 2012:
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Chatsworth
9777 Topanga Canyon Road
Chatsworth, CA 91311
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.
Large map for Radisson Hotel ChatsworthThe 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.
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.
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
For more information on the NEPA process and NASA’s NEPA Program: https://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)
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