Brown and Bryant Hazardous Waste Contaminated Site in Shafter

Tuesday 27 March 2012 12:21:00 PM

Location: Brown and Bryant site, Elm and Commercial Drive along railroad tracks, Shafter, California

Categorie: Pesticides

Description:

This is an abandoned pesticide distribution site which was taken over by the City of Shafter and the Department of Toxic Substance Control. The ground at the site is contaminated with pesticides from many years ago. The site was fenced and closed over 30 years ago but judging by the grafiti that keeps appearing within the site, people have access if they want it. The area with the worst contamination was covered with asphalt many years ago. A final cleanup plan was made by DTSC, the railroad which owns the site, and the City of Shafter a few years ago. In 2010 cleanup began by removal of old tanks and some 4 ft pits were dug through the asphalt to determine the depth of pesticide contamination. Several inches of rain fell in late 2010 and filled these pits with water. In 2011 the pits were expanded and dug deeper. The pesticides?? were clearly visible in the soil as a yellow substance at depths greater than 10 feet. This March, 2012, rain has again fallen (1.5 in)and partially filled these open pits. It appears the rain may be causing the pesticide contamination to go deeper into the soil towards drinking water sources. DTSC, the BNSF railroad, and the City of Shafter all appear to be responsible for the proper cleanup of this site and it does not seem to be going very well.