DID YOU KNOW?
A significant milestone at the Ascon Site is anticipated for next week: the completion of primary excavation work. With the conclusion of this work, the potential for work-related odors in the community will diminish.
Following the conclusion of primary excavation, the Ascon air monitoring program will undergo updates for the transition to the next phase of Final Remedy work: construction of the engineered cap. Clean imported soil is being used to construct the cap, and odors are not expected to result from this work.
The air monitoring program will reflect the following:
- Near real-time monitoring for dust and total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) at the six onsite perimeter air monitoring stations will continue. Results will continue to be posted to the project website each day in near real-time.
- Collection of samples for laboratory analysis of individual VOC compounds will be stopped, as the disturbance of waste material onsite will be minimal throughout the remainder of the project. Additionally, grading of imported soil is not expected to generate VOC emissions related to waste excavation.
- Offsite monitoring stations will be removed, and offsite odor monitors will no longer be present.
Ascon’s air quality monitoring since 2019 has shown air quality has consistently met health-protective screening levels and has been safe, including during active work. For more information about Ascon’s air monitoring program, please visit asconhb.com.
SITEWIDE ACTIVITIES
FIELD WORK: Excavation work will be performed this week in the western area of the Ascon Site, depending on weather and Site conditions. Grading of soils will continue in all areas of the Site.
To answer community questions, the Ascon information table will be set up in Edison Park across from the Site on days of active excavation in areas with a higher potential for odor.
During this phase of work, personnel may be onsite on Saturdays to conduct Site work and equipment maintenance from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Clean Soil Import Work
Clean soil imports are expected to continue this week, depending on availability.
Here is what you can expect to see:
- As many as 150 soil import trucks will be arriving onsite each day.
- Work may occur Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Haul trucks enter Ascon from Hamilton Avenue and exit on Magnolia Street. Import haul trucks avoid the major intersection of Hamilton and Magnolia per the project’s approved haul route plan.
- Dust mitigation and traffic control measures are in place, including continued onsite dust mitigation measures. We also conduct additional street cleaning outside the project Site entrance and exit areas during periods of import.
- Additional clean soil import work will occur during the next several months.
INSPECTIONS:
- DTSC is the lead regulatory agency for the Ascon project and conducts inspections at Ascon. Their inspection reports can be found on the online DTSC database, Envirostor.
- The City of Huntington Beach continues its regular stormwater inspections of Ascon. The last inspection was on April 23. Site staff will be at Ascon daily during extended rain events (except holidays and weekends) to monitor the Site stormwater controls currently in place. Ascon remains in compliance with stormwater pollution prevention requirements.
- Regular inspections are conducted by Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) in areas of the Ascon Site where water may be detained. Active mitigation measures are implemented by OCMVCD to protect the community, as well as onsite workers, from mosquitoes.
SECURITY: 24-hour, 7 days per week, onsite security continues during construction activities. Security is not always visible at the entrance gates. Unannounced visitors without official business or agency oversight of Ascon are not permitted to enter the Site. Trespassers will be reported to the Huntington Beach Police Department and DTSC.
You may see: You may see flashlights or headlights from vehicles after dark concluding daily activities and providing security at the 38-acre Site.
In an emergency: If you see or hear something that appears urgent, please call the Huntington Beach Police Department at 911 first, then the Ascon community information line, 714-388-1825. Calls to the Ascon information line are automatically logged and relayed by text and email to the Ascon team.
AIR MONITORING
Dust and total VOC monitoring is conducted 24/7 at upwind and downwind stations on the Ascon Site documenting effective dust control measures. This is in addition to 24/7 air monitoring at the neighborhood stations.
Where to find air monitoring data and live stream weather: Sitewide and live streaming weather conditions from the Ascon Site are found on the Actively Monitoring Air Quality page on asconhb.com. To view archived air monitoring results posted by DTSC on Envirostor – including weekly field inspections by DTSC that include air monitoring observations – click on “Community Involvement Documents” and scroll to “Updates and Information.”
| SAFETY MESSAGE |
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SEE SOMETHING? HAVE A QUESTION? Call our information line: 714-388-1825 or email us at info@asconhb.com
DRONES: Drone flights over Ascon can create worker and Site safety issues. Please don’t fly drones over sensitive onsite equipment and the power lines along the perimeter of Ascon. We appreciate the community’s assistance.
ENTRANCE AND EXIT GATES: Entering the Ascon Site is prohibited to those who are not authorized. The community is asked to keep a safe distance from both entrance and exit gates at Ascon, especially during soil importing, and refrain from parking, walking, or standing in these areas. The gates on Magnolia Street and Hamilton Avenue may open unexpectedly for workers and site inspections, as well as supply delivery and removal.
PEDESTRIANS: Your safety is important! Pedestrians have been observed walking next to Ascon along Magnolia and Hamilton streets (adjacent to the concrete fence base where there currently is no sidewalk). We encourage pedestrians to observe public pathway signage and use the sidewalks on the east side of Magnolia and the north side of Hamilton.
Have a Question or Concern?
Please contact the Ascon community information line at 714-388-1825 or email info@asconhb.com. If there is a potential emergency, please call 911. Sign up for AsconAlert, an opt-in community alert system for the Ascon project here.
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