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<br />Chapter 4
<br />Environmental Setting, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures
<br />G. Hazards and Hazardous Materials
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<br />a. Hazardous Materials Regulations
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<br />The use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials,17 including the management of
<br />contaminated soil and groundwater, are regulated by federal, state, and local laws and
<br />regulations, On the federal level, the U,S, Environmental Protection Agency is responsible
<br />for implementation and enforcement of Federal laws and regulations pertaining to hazard-
<br />ous materials, On the state level, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control
<br />(DTSC) , California Air Resources Board, and the State Water Resources Control Board are
<br />the agencies charged with enforcing the laws and regulations for environmental protection
<br />as they relate to hazardous materials and hazardous materials releases, On the regional and
<br />local levels, the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB for the San Francisco
<br />Region), Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (Zone 7), Alameda
<br />County Department of Environmental Health, and Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department
<br />(LPFD) are charged with hazardous materials inventorying and the oversight ofinvestigation
<br />and remediation of contaminated sites,
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<br />b. Potential Soil and Groundwater Contamination at or Near the Project Site
<br />
<br />In the Bernal Property Phase I Specific Plan EIR, previous contamination at and in the
<br />vicinity of the Plan Area was identified, A summary and update of the information provided
<br />in the previous EIR is presented below,
<br />
<br />Identified former land uses within the Plan Area included agricultural uses and former
<br />wastewater treatment operations (e,g, spray irrigation and evaporation ponds), A list of
<br />pesticides used on crops was provided which included 2,4-D and MCPA (for grain); furadan
<br />(alfalfa); Ian nate, monitor, and sustox (for cauliflower); endrin (sugar beets); and phostrine
<br />(cucumbers). Metals were identified above laboratory reporting limits in two sludge sam-
<br />ples collected in the former sludge drying bed (located in the Phase I portion of the Western
<br />Area, shown in Figure 3, p, 7), but were reportedly below hazardous waste levels,
<br />
<br />An accidental release occurred in 1981 from Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation
<br />(southeast of the Eastern Area; see Figure 15) resulting in discharge of polychlorinated
<br />biphenyls (PCBs) to a pond ("North Lake") connected to the Plan Area via an overfow duct.
<br />Prior to cleanup of the lake, the water levels rose overfowing into the Plan Area and contam-
<br />inating the "cow contamination pond" shown in Figure 15,
<br />
<br />The area where the pond is located is proposed for open space, parks, recreation, and trails
<br />under proposed project, The spill was reported to the appropriate agencies, remediation
<br />was completed, and the RWQCB reportedly issued a "no further action" letter in 1986 after
<br />
<br />17 The California Health and Safety Code (Section 25501) defines a hazardous material as "...any material that,
<br />because of its quantity, concentration or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or
<br />potential hazard to human health and safety, or the environment. Hazardous materials include, but are not
<br />limited to, hazardous substances, hazardous waste, radioactive materials and any material which a handler
<br />or the administering agency has a reasonable basis for believing that it would be injurious to the health and
<br />safety or person or harmful to the environment jf released into the workplace or the environment."
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