DID YOU KNOW

DTSC representatives are onsite daily to observe active Pit F work. You can find their Site field reports on the DTSC online database EnviroStor here, under “Updates and Information.” These field reports include notes, images, onsite and offsite observations, and DTSC’s independent air quality monitoring results.

emergency response planning

SITEWIDE ACTIVITIES

  • MAINTENANCE: Regular maintenance will be conducted within the Site and around the perimeter fence areas, including gated areas.

  • PIT F EXCAVATION WORK: Workers inside and around the large white tent on the east side of Ascon near Magnolia Street are conducting Pit F excavation work. The air treatment system is currently operating 24/7 during excavation.

    You may see: Workers arriving before 7 a.m. for safety briefings. Workers, materials, and large equipment, like manlifts, small cranes, water trucks, forklifts, material hauling trucks, and waste hauling trucks, may be arriving and leaving the Site. Members of the project team making routine observations in the neighborhoods near Ascon making sound, odor, and traffic checks.

    Haul trucks depart the Magnolia Street exit gate turning right to Pacific Coast Highway per the approved waste haul route, after being cleared by gate monitors.

    Workers in other vehicles that are not transporting waste, such as cars or trucks, may also leave the Magnolia Street exit gate after being cleared by the gate monitors, and may turn right or left per regular work practice.

    You may hear: A low-level hum from the air treatment system, which has been mitigated with 20-foot and 8-foot sound panels and sound blanketing, in addition to the 16-foot sound wall along Magnolia Street. Acoustical engineers have conducted sound metering in multiple neighborhood locations to confirm compliance with local ordinances for residential areas. This system is required to operate 24/7 during the duration of Pit F work to maintain a vacuum environment and treat air inside the tent for workers and our neighbors. The project continues to monitor sound during Pit F work to ensure compliance with local ordinances.

    Construction sounds during work hours, like vehicle backup signaling required for worker safety and noises from equipment, such as the grout plant, which supports excavation within the tent. Workers will minimize backing up vehicles when possible and when it is safe for workers and equipment.

  • SECURITY: 24-hour onsite security continues. Security is not always visible at the entrance gates. In addition to 24/7 onsite security, there are regular visits by air quality technicians, Site inspectors, and Site maintenance personnel. During Pit F active work, there is overnight equipment monitoring personnel onsite.

    You may see: You may see flashlights or headlights from a limited number of vehicles at night conducting inspections and providing security at the 38-acre Site.

  • INSPECTIONS:

    • DTSC continues its ongoing weekly inspections of Ascon. DTSC plans to be present for key Pit F mobilization activities and daily during Pit F excavation work.
    • City of Huntington Beach continues its regular stormwater inspections of Ascon.
    • Regular inspection of the “Pit F” tent will be conducted.
    • Regular inspections are conducted by the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District of the onsite detention basins and other areas of the Ascon Site where water may be detained.
  • NEARBY ACTIVITIES: Please note there are automobile storage activities that may generate noise or dust unrelated to Ascon at the former tank farm property, south of Ascon and adjacent to Magnolia Street. There is planned renovation work occurring at Eader Elementary School this summer, which includes construction and painting.

AIR MONITORING

Air monitoring continues both on the Ascon Site and at community locations, which includes dust data at upwind (offsite sources) and downwind stations on the Ascon Site documenting effective dust control measures.

Where to find Pit F telemetry air monitoring data: Near real-time air monitoring data during working hours from the Pit F area is being shared during mobilization and excavation phases on the Pit F Telemetry Air Monitoring webpage.

Where to find 24/7 air monitoring data and live stream weather: Sitewide and neighborhood air monitoring data and live streaming weather conditions from the Ascon site are found on the Actively Monitoring Air Quality page on asconhb.com. Data are submitted to DTSC and shared on their online document archive, Envirostor. To view archived air monitoring results posted by DTSC on Envirostor, click on “Community Involvement Documents” and scroll to “Updates and Information.”

SAFETY MESSAGE

DRONES: The community is asked to not fly drones over the Ascon Site and over the Pit F tent during this work. This could create worker and Site hazards, equipment damage, and safety issues. We appreciate the community’s assistance by preventing drone flights over the occupied tent structure, sensitive equipment onsite, and moving vehicles and workers conducting work onsite, as well as the power lines along the perimeter of Ascon.

ENTRANCE AND EXIT GATES: The community is asked to keep a safe distance from both entrance and exit gates at Ascon to avoid creating worker hazards and public safety concerns. No parking or standing is allowed near gate areas with the exception of project workers. The exit gate on Magnolia Street may open unexpectedly for departing vehicles during Pit F work. There will be a flag person at the gate when vehicles are departing, as a public safety practice.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING: Work at Ascon is being conducted under Site safety protocols regarding COVID-19 and ongoing protocols and procedures to maintain job safety. These practices apply to air quality professionals and other team members who may be outside the fence conducting work. We ask for the community’s support of these safety practices by maintaining physical distancing to allow these professionals to focus on their work and stay safe.

Recent Posts

SEE ALL UPDATES