DID YOU KNOW
Pit F active work onsite is conducted in accordance with the Pit F Emergency Response Plan, which is submitted to DTSC. The purpose of the Pit F Emergency Response Plan is to provide information and guidance regarding the requirements, responsibilities, hazards and precautions, procedural steps, quality control and related procedures/documents regarding potential Pit F emergencies during excavation activities. Emergency response planning and onsite discussions are held with local first responders and DTSC.
The plan details responses to:
- Loss of power
- Damage from high winds
- Maximum credible earthquake event
- Equipment malfunction or other damage
- Tent fabric damage
- Tent collapse
- Fire
- Vandalism or impact (such as drones) to tent or air treatment system
- And other potential incidents
SITEWIDE ACTIVITIES
MAINTENANCE: Regular maintenance will be conducted within the Site and around the perimeter fence areas, including gate areas.
PIT F EXCAVATION WORK: Workers inside and around the large white tent 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.
You may hear: A low-level hum for 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. You may hear construction sounds during work hours, like vehicle backup signaling required for worker safety. 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. The latest inspection occurred on July 14.
- Regular inspection of the “Pit F” tent will be conducted.
- Regular inspections are conducted by 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 also is activity in Edison Park relating to construction by the City of Huntington Beach of a skate park continuing in July 2021. 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 |
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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 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, and refrain from parking or standing in these areas. 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.
Have a Question or Concern?
Please contact the Ascon community information line at 714-388-1825 or email [email protected]. 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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