DID YOU KNOW?

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has approved pausing portions of Ascon’s onsite air monitoring while there is no active earthwork. This pause began Friday, February 23, 2024. Monitoring of total VOCs and PM10 dust will be conducted onsite during this inactive phase, as will weekly reporting. Both onsite and offsite sampling will resume when work restarts at the Site.

Air quality monitoring data consistently shows air quality has been safely below health-protective screening levels, including during active work. Air monitoring data collected both on and offsite is available on our Actively Monitoring Air Quality webpage. We will continue to keep the community updated as we work towards the remediation restart.

SITEWIDE ACTIVITIES

  • MAINTENANCE: Regular maintenance and stormwater management is being conducted within the Site and around the perimeter fence areas, including gate areas.

  • INSPECTIONS:

    • DTSC is the lead regulatory agency for the Ascon project and conducts regular inspections at Ascon and independent air monitoring checks in nearby neighborhoods. Their inspection reports can be found on the online DTSC database, Envirostor.
    • The City of Huntington Beach continues its regular stormwater inspections of Ascon. Ascon remains in compliance with stormwater pollution prevention requirements.
    • Regular inspections are conducted by Orange County Vector Control of the onsite detention basins and other areas of the Ascon Site where water may be detained. Active mitigation measures by Vector Control are protective of the community, as well as onsite workers, to prevent mosquitoes.
  • 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. 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 a limited number of vehicles at night conducting inspections 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.

  • NEARBY ACTIVITIES: 

    • 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.
    • Orange County Public Works has planned work on the Sheet Pile Repair Project in the Huntington Beach Channel, south and southwest of Ascon, and the Talbert Channel, east of Ascon, which is expected to be an intermittent activity.

AIR MONITORING

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. During no active earthwork, total VOCs and dust data will be posted weekly. Offsite monitoring is paused. 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

SEE SOMETHING? HAVE A QUESTION? Call our information line: 714-388-1825 or email us at [email protected]

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, 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.

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