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PUBLIC MEETING AND PROPOSED PLAN FOR
EXCAVATION OF SOIL AND WASTE AT INSTALLATION RESTORATION PROGRAM SITE 34b
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION SEAL BEACH
DETACHMENT FALLBROOK, CALIFORNIA
September 2023
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The Department of the Navy (DON) invites you provide comments and attend a public meeting on the proposed plan to excavate and remove offsite disposal wastes, debris, and contaminated soil identified at Installation Restoration Program (IRP) Site 34b (also known as Dunnage Disposal Site 2) located at the Naval Weapons Station (NAVWPNSTA) Seal Beach Detachment (Det.) located in Fallbrook, California. The proposed plan and public meeting are part of the DON’s IRP, which was established to clean up residual hazardous substances present in the environment from former activities at military installations. The IRP adheres to requirements set forth under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA; commonly known as Superfund).
IRP Site 34b is approximately 9 acres and is located within the north-central portion of NAVWPNSTA Seal Beach Det. Fallbrook, California, and is not accessible to the public. IRP Site 34b was reportedly used as a disposal or burial area for dunnage (packing materials used for shipping products) from 1942 until 1978. The site consists of a shallow dunnage disposal trench that is approximately 3 to 5 feet wide and 505 feet long. Disposal material included dunnage and other waste such as scrap metal, wood pallets, and glass waste from the installation. Potentially impacted media at IRP Site 34b is limited to soil underlying and adjacent to the dunnage disposal trench. No evidence was found of disposed munitions at the site. The total volume of waste in the dunnage disposal trench is approximately 72 cubic yards.
A Remedial Investigation was conducted in 2016 and concluded that the human health and ecological chemicals of concern for IRP Site 34b are various metals and a dioxin compound. In 2021, a Focused Feasibility Study was conducted to evaluate three remedial alternatives for the site. Based on the results of the detailed evaluation of alternatives, the Navy recommends Alternative 3 - Excavation and Off-site Disposal. This alternative would remove historical waste and impacted soil from the target treatment zones at IRP Site 34b to achieve unrestricted military land use at the site. Alternative 3 meets the threshold criteria of effectively protecting human health and the environment, complying with applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements and satisfies the remedial action objectives for IRP Site 34b.
The public is encouraged to review and comment on the alternatives presented in the Proposed Plan. A link to download a PDF of the Proposed Plan documenting the Navy’s approach to excavate and conduct off-site disposal of wastes can be found on the installation homepage, located at: www.navfac.navy.mil/FallbrookNWS
Click here to download the Proposed Plan for Site 34b.
The Navy will accept public comments during the 30-day comment period held from September 8, 2023 through October 9, 2023. Written comments should be postmarked no later than October 9, 2023. and mailed to:
Public Affairs Officer
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
800 Seal Beach Boulevard, B-204
Seal Beach, California 90740
Emailed comments may be submitted to nwssbpao@us.navy.mil by October 9, 2023.
PUBLIC MEETING TO BE HELD ON September 20, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
A public meeting to present the Proposed Plan will be held at:
Fallbrook Community Center
341 Heald Lane
Fallbrook, CA 92028
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