Site Cleanup Program

SCP Projects SCP Elements SCP Regulations Setting Clean-up Levels (ESLs) SCP Contacts List by County

SCP Regulations

SCP Elements

The five basic elements of a site investigation and cleanup are as follows:

• 1) Preliminary site assessment to confirm the discharge and the identity of the dischargers; to identify affected or threatened waters of the state and their beneficial uses; and to develop preliminary information on the nature and vertical and horizontal extent, of the discharge;
• 2) Soil and water investigation to determine the source, nature, and extent of the discharge with sufficient detail to provide the basis for decisions regarding subsequent clean-up and abatement actions, if any are determined by the Regional Water Board to be necessary;
• 3) Proposal and selection of clean-up action to evaluate feasible and effective cleanup and abatement actions and to develop preferred clean-up and abatement alternatives;
• 4) Implementation of clean-up and abatement action to implement the selected alternative and to monitor in order to verify progress; and
• 5) Monitoring to confirm short- and long-term effectiveness of cleanup and abatement.

The following additional elements also apply:
“Cleanup Complete” Determinations – The Water Board provides no further action (NFA) confirmations and no-further-active-cleanup confirmations to responsible parties when no further active cleanup is needed. For petroleum-impacted sites, the Water Board provides a case closure letter as part of the case closure summary report.

Public Participation – The Water Board will provide opportunities for public participation in the oversight process so that the public is informed and has the opportunity to comment. The level of effort is tailored to site-specific conditions, depending on site complexity and public interest. The level of public participation effort at a particular site is based on the potential threat to human health, water quality, and the environment; the degree of public concern or interest in site cleanup; and any environmental justice factors associated with the site.

Electronic Data Reporting – The State Water Board maintains a web-based geographic information system (GIS) program that provides the public and regulators with online access to environmental data. The State Water Board adopted regulations that require electronic submittal of information for groundwater cleanup programs (Title 23, CCR, Division 3, Chapter 30).

Compliance Monitoring – Monitoring reports are required periodically that describe the status of the cleanup activities and monitoring results. The Water Board will conduct site inspections to ensure the responsible party is complying with Water Board enforcement directives.

Deed Restriction - A deed restriction (land use covenant) may be required to facilitate the remediation of past environmental contamination and to protect human health and the environment by reducing the risk of exposure to residual hazardous materials. Water Code Section 13307.1 requires that deed restrictions be mandated for sites that are not cleaned up to “unrestricted use”, and that the restrictions be recorded and run with the land to prohibit sensitive uses such as homes, schools, or day care facilities. Underground storage tank (UST) sites are exempted from this requirement because of the sheer numbers and the small size of most of these sites. Site conditions are tracked in the statewide database developed by the State Water Board, GeoTracker.

Liability Relief Tools – Several tools are available to municipalities, landowners, developers and responsible parties for seeking relief from contamination liability. For specific information see our Brownfields webpage.

Setting Clean-up Levels

Dischargers may utilize screening levels during site investigation and cleanup to focus on the most significant contamination issues. These include the Water Board's Environmental Screening Levels (ESLs), Cal/EPA's California Human Health Screening Levels (CHHSLs), and USEPA's Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRGs). Dischargers may need to conduct risk assessments in the course of setting cleanup levels. The Water Board determines excess cancer risks and hazard indices following USEPA guidance (Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, Volume 1, parts A through C). The Water Board may modify the USEPA approach based on California OEHHA guidance or more current information.
For more information, explore the links to the left of the screen, or contact: Anders Lundgren at (510) 622-2385