3960 Department of Toxic Substances Control
Program Descriptions

12 - SITE MITIGATION AND BROWNFIELDS REUSE

This program is responsible for implementing the state site cleanup laws and the federal Superfund program. The program currently oversees approximately 1,000 hazardous substances release site investigations and cleanups and monitors long-term operations and maintenance activities at approximately 200 sites where the cleanup process has been completed. Additionally, the department is responsible for ensuring compliance with the terms of the 469 land use restrictions now in place on properties throughout the state.

New sites are identified through surveillance and enforcement efforts, through emergency response activities, by examination of other previously identified potential sites, and voluntarily by public and private entities requesting departmental oversight to return the properties to productive use. These sites and projects include cleaning up federal and state superfund properties, abandoned mines, other abandoned and underutilized properties known as ''brownfields'', and open and closed military installations.

The program is responsible for overseeing environmental assessments and cleanups at proposed new or expanding school sites to prevent or reduce potential exposure of students and staff to hazardous materials. The program also is responsible for the Stringfellow Hazardous Waste Site, a former hazardous waste disposal site and federal Superfund Site.

The program works with the California Emergency Management Agency and other state agencies to assure response readiness for acts of terrorism involving the use of toxic chemicals. This program also continues to work closely with other state agencies, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and local agencies throughout the state to establish and implement viable grant and loan programs to aid in assessment and cleanup of brownfields sites.