Aerojet Chino Hills – 2001 Clean Up

2000-2024 Aerojet Chino Hills Investigation Main Page

A year after our investigation first started, Aerojet began to intensify its cleanup activity which was estimated to cost $40 million by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in 2007 and now totals $46 million. In April 2001, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control sent us a series of photographs of the site cleanup, including Aerojet’s accompanying descriptions.

2016 EnviroReporter.com comments on Aerojet Rocketdyne Chino Hills cleanup

Read EnviroReporter.com’s May 1, 2009 comments to DTSC on the OB/OD closure here.

(Click thumbnail to view entire photograph)

"With operations beginning on February 6, 2001, approximately 6,000 tons of soil were removed from the site designated as the Red Water Pond."

"Testing of excavated soils demonstrated that no residual contamination exists under the Red Water Pond at levels exceeding cleanup criteria. Despite heavy rains prior to and during soil excavation, there was no significant accumulation of ground water found beneath the pond bottom."

"In addition, site topography and geology makes drainage of any surface or subsurface water from the Red Water Pond into the Chino Basin impossible." [NOTE --we cannot verify the accuracy of the last two statements.]

"Site excavation took place from January 29, 2001 to March, 2001. The soil was removed via truck to a landfill site in Kern County for proper disposal under guidance of the State of California Department of Toxic Substances Control."

"Three hundred and six truck trips were made during the remediation process. Excavated soil was placed on a tarped staging area . . ."

". . . where front loaders loaded the soil into dump trucks."

"Prior to departure, all trucks were inspected and brushed down to remove any soils that may be along the sides of the truck."

"Extra care was taken during the placement of tarps over the top of the loads to ensure that no dirt could escape."

"Tarps were secured tightly in place to prevent any soil from being blown out during transport to the Kern County landfill site."

"Exterior inspections were made to ensure the load was completely enclosed, and that exterior surfaces of the trucks were clean of loose debris."

"Truck operators were then required to go through one final inspection by Aerojet employees and the work contractor to ensure all procedures were followed before they were permitted to depart the site."

"A series of air quality monitors were installed prior to excavation operations to ensure that no particulate matter was released into the air during breezy conditions. The monitors were attended by RES during excavation operations."

"In areas where UXO remediation took place, sweeps were conducted using magnetometers to detect metal ordnance under areas where soil excavation and screening took place to ensure complete removal."

"After initial sweeps were conducted, those areas where magnetometer screening indicated a magnetic mass were examined using a schonstedt."

"When anomalies were confirmed, they were hand excavated by an Unexploded Ordnance Technician."

"An Unexploded Ordnance Technician excavates a detected shell."

"Unearthed shells are disposed in a safe manner in accordance with all State and Federal Regulations."

"In the event a shell cannot be safely removed, a Blow-in-Place (BIP) operation is required. In this case a fusing mechanism is detonated with a small amount of C4 explosive and detonating cord."