Cleanup Activities

As we engage with our neighbors to complete the remedial work, the health and safety of the Huntington Beach community is our highest priority.

Ascon team members reviewing soil sampling data.

What’s Been Done

Over the past 18 years, the Ascon team has made significant progress on cleanup efforts. Multiple cleanup actions were completed at the Ascon Landfill Site from 2005 to 2022. Together, the following actions included the removal of approximately 130,000 cubic yards of waste materials.

2019 – 2022

The final cleanup field work was initiated, including excavation and relocation of waste material, an emergency repair of the Northwest berm, borings and sampling for a technical sitewide odor analysis, and the tented excavation and removal of Pit F.

2017 – 2019

Fieldwork was conducted to solidify much of the Lagoon 5 area to enable closure of long-inactive, buried oil wells dating from the 1920s, as preparation for the final cleanup.

2007 – 2017

Extensive field investigations leading to analysis, preparation and public review, community meetings, and public input on the environmental documents that determine the cleanup plan. The Remedial Action Plan was approved by DTSC in 2015.

2005 – 2006

An emergency action was conducted to remove materials that were creating weight against a decades-old earthen berm, reinforce earthen berm areas, and conduct extensive stormwater management actions following a 200-year rain event.

Current Cleanup Plan

In 2015, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) approved a Final Remedial Action Plan (RAP) outlining cleanup activities for the Ascon Site. The cleanup plan was approved following a rigorous, multi-year public review and a formal Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Since work began in January 2019 on the activities outlined in the RAP, approximately a third of the excavation work has been completed.

The cleanup plan includes the removal and offsite disposal of impacted soils from the former Pit F, which was completed in 2021. Learn more about the Pit F work and telemetry air monitoring here. The remaining waste and soils will be excavated, graded, and covered in an engineered containment area that will be underneath a multi-layered environmental cap. After the final excavation and grading is complete, the environmental cap is constructed with geomembrane barriers and clean soils, and planted with native, drought-tolerant plants. The property will continue to be inspected and maintained long-term as secured open space with residential-style perimeter fencing. See what Ascon will look like at Future of the Site.

Ascon team hosting a safety tailgate meeting.

Ascon team member using a handheld device to sample air quality.

Current Cleanup Status

Work on the cleanup was paused in June 2019 at DTSC’s direction to address community concerns about dust and odor. Since then, the Ascon team has introduced additional health and safety enhancements to protect the community. Work conducted since the pause was directed by DTSC. Once the full remediation resumes, it is anticipated the remaining cleanup will take approximately 18 months to complete.

Learn more about the Pit F excavation work here.

Check out Site Updates to find out what our team is doing this week on Site and in the community.

Investigations Guide Cleanup Actions

Numerous Site investigations have taken place over more than 30 years, including soil sampling, groundwater monitoring and air monitoring. What we learned from the following ongoing investigations are guiding our cleanup approach:

View the Revised Feasibility Study approved by DTSC in September 2007 to learn more.
Sampling and investigations conducted since 2002 found the impacts to shallow groundwater are contained within the Site boundaries.
Air monitoring is used to ensure air quality meets health-protective screening levels. Click here to learn more about air monitoring at the Site.

Frequently Asked Question

If work is paused, why are there still workers and materials onsite?

Our team is maintaining the Site, conducting air and groundwater monitoring, performing health and safety enhancements to control dust and odors, and providing Site security. These actions do not involve any remediation work.