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1970 2000

A R I Z O N A | C A L I F O R N I A | H A W A I I | N E V A D A | P A C I F I C IS L A N D S

REMEMBER THE PAST

PROTECT THE FUTURE

1999 ANNUAL REPORTU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyPacific Southwest/Region 9EPA-909-R-00-001

3 0 YE A R S O F E N V I R O N M E N T A L P R O G R E S S

EPA was born 30 years ago at a time when riverscaught fire and cities were hidden under dense cloudsof smoke. We’ve made remarkable progress since then.But we can’t rest on our success.

Our mission to protect the environment, and to protectpublic health, is a mission without end. New chal-lenges loom over the horizon as surely as the new day.

We must continue our work to ensure that with eachnew dawn, the sun shines through clear skies andupon clean waters – and all our families enjoy theblessings of good health.

CAROL M. BROWNER

EPA ADMINISTRATOR

CONTENTS4 INTRODUCTION 1999 was a

milestone year for EPAand our state, tribal andlocal government partners.

6 CLEAN AIRThere was goodnews for cleaner air from

Southern California to theGrand Canyon.

10CLEAN WATER EPA’sfocus in 1999 was

on safe drinking water,polluted runoff, andimprovement of waterquality off our beaches.

14CLEAN LAND OurSuperfund and Waste

programs helped clean uptoxic sites and dumps fromLas Vegas to Silicon Valley.

20HEALTHY COMMUNITIES Tribal programs, environmental

justice, childrens’health and sustainabledevelopment were key concerns.

24HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMSProtecting water-

sheds was at the heartof our work from Hawaiito the Central Valley.

28 HEALTHY PLANETEPA carried out

major programs onthe U.S.-Mexico border and in thePacific Islands.

32 FUTURE CHALLENGES After three decades of

effort, environmental protec-tion is becoming morecomplex and creative.

1999 ANNUAL REPORT • U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY • PACIFIC SOUTHWEST

1999 was a milestone year for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – in moreways than one. Of course, 1999 began our 30th year of protecting public health andthe environment, and we and our partners in state, tribal and local government have

HEALTHY AIR AT LAST: In one of 1999’s major highlights, EPA approved a coopera-tive plan to reduce dust storms and the worst particulate air pollution in the U.S. atOwens Valley, CA (see page 8). At the signing ceremony, from the left: Ellen Hardebeck,Great Basin Air Pollution Control District; Ruth Galanter, Los Angeles City Council;Felicia Marcus, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest; SandraJefferson-Yonge, Lone Pine-Paiute-Shoshone Tribe; David Freeman, Los AngeleDepartment of Water and Power; Larry Biland, EPA air staff.

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a lot to show for three decades of work: air pollutionand toxic releases have decreased dramatically despite

massive population and economic growth; more thanhalf of the top-priority Superfund hazardous wastesites have remedies in place; and treatment systems

have been installed on most sewage and industrialplants, yielding cleaner rivers, lakes and beaches.

1999 was also special because of major accomplish-ments across the Pacific Southwest. For example, EPA:had a banner year in enforcing environmental laws;

facilitated a landmark agreement to clean up SouthernCalifornia’s smog; required better maintenance of

Maui sewer systems to halt sewage spills that contami -nated streams and beaches; developed unique pollu-

tion prevention plans for watersheds along California’snorthern coast; joined with Nevada in cleaning uprocket fuel chemicals threatening Las Vegas and

Southern California water supplies; cleaned up a hostof Superfund sites; approved a plan to clean up OwensValley, located in eastern California and site of the

nation’s worst particulate air pollution; carried outdozens of emergency clean-ups, such as extinguishingthe massive Westley tire fire in the Central Valley; and

targeted grants to help reduce childrens’ exposure tolead, asbestos, pesticides, and asthma.

INTRODUCTION

Yet as important as these tangible accomplishmentsare, what is more significant is the change in how we

approach our work. While maintaining a strong regu-latory and enforcement presence, we have dramatical-ly enhanced our efforts to work with states, tribes,

local governments and stakeholders from environmen-tal, business, agricultural and other communities. Wehave done this within our traditional work in a num-

ber of ways: for example, by being more accessibleand responsive to community concerns in ourSuperfund program; by using the legal requirement to

set water quality standards in California’s Bay-Deltaas a focal point for CALFED, the massive engagementof government and public stakeholders that has con-

tinued since 1994; and by boosting outreach efforts inall our programs.

We have also done it through innovative and onceunthinkable collaborations – such as the GrandCanyon Visibility Transport Commission, involving

states, tribes, utilities and environmentalists, andBorder XXI where we have replaced the binationalfederal-to-federal government approach on the U.S.-

Mexico border with an historic agreement betweenboth federal governments, ten state governments andover 20 tribes on the U.S. side of the border to work

jointly to solve the pressing public health and environ-mental crises there.

With traditionally regulated entities, we have alsoengaged to solve problems together in more productiveways – such as our pollution prevention efforts like the

MERIT Partnership in Southern California with metalplaters, aerospace, refineries, even industrial laundries,or our efforts with auto shops, metal platers and

wineries. Our agriculture initiative works with farmersto support more environmentally friendly farming. And for individuals, our own Hotline (415/744-1500

with an 800 number coming soon) and website

(www.epa.gov/region0 9) and support for similarefforts (like the US Recycling Hotline at

800/CLEANUP) puts consumer and environmentalinformation into the hands of anyone concerned abouttheir community.

Throughout this report, you’ll see examples of howwe’ve partnered to solve problems and, just as impor-

tant, create new capacities to fight environmental andpublic health threats. Some partnerships are high-profile, like CALFED or Border XXI. Other ventures

are less visible, like our efforts to help build up tribalenvironmental and environmental justice programs.Yet no matter what the partnership, you’ll find they

have several things in common: patience; dedication;cooperation; an openness to all communities, but espe-cially those that have been neglected in the past, such

as tribes and communities of color; and an eagernessto combine our efforts and knowledge with anyonewho wants to protect the environment.

The toughest thing about doing this, our first annualprogress report, is that there is not enough space to

describe with any justice the work done by EPA inconcert with others. And there is certainly too littlespace to describe the more complex challenges that lie

ahead. Consider this report, then, in the spirit inwhich it is offered: as a series of examples of ourenthusiasm, commitment, and energy and as an offer

of partnership to those who would work with us tomake this a better region for all.

Yours,

Felicia MarcusRegional Administrator

EPA Pacific Southwest

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EPA PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION • 1999 ANNUAL REPORT

1947: Los Angeles Air Pollution Control District founded; nation’s first air pollution control agency. 1954: Heavy smog shuts down

“blow-by valve on new car engines to recycle crankcase gases. Cost per car: $7. 1962: Rachel Carson’s bestselling book Silent

CLEAN AIRS

Clearing the West’s magnificent vistas

ince the advent of “smog in Los Angeles in the1940s, it’s been no secret that the Pacific Southwest ishome to some of America’s most polluted air. Butfortunately, the region has been anything but compla-cent in responding to this public health hazard. Infact, for more than 50 years, California has been aglobal trend-setter in developing programs which dra-matically reduce air pollution without harming thestate’s economy. Some would argue that cleaning theair actually helps businesses from Los Angeles toPhoenix maintain a quality of life which is critical tokeeping the Pacific Southwest a superior place to liveand work.

A new era for airNormally, most city boosters like to be “number one.But Los Angeles was only too glad to relinquish itslong-standing title as America’s smoggiest city toHouston, which in 1999 had the highest peak concen-trations of smog.

This changing of the guard was symbolic of broaderbeneficial air quality trends over the last three decadesacross the Pacific Southwest – thanks to the Clean AirAct, strong working partnerships between EPA andstate and local agencies like the California AirResources Board, and tools like automobile smogchecks, cleaner burning gasoline, and tough tailpipestandards.

Consider the results: In the region’s six most populousregions (South Coast, Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley,

San Diego, Sacramento and Phoenix), peak air pollu-tion concentrations declined dramatically over the last30 years: 99% for lead; 72% for sulfur dioxide, 66%for carbon monoxide and 42% for nitrogen dioxide.Ozone, the key ingredient of smog, was cut by 52%region-wide and even more in Southern California(70% on the South Coast and 66% in San Diego).

And there’s more: toxic air emissions from majorsources (such as chrome plate finishers) have beenreduced by as much as 90 percent; sulfur dioxideemissions from copper smelters along the Nevada andArizona border are down by 94 percent; and smogalerts have been eliminated in the Los Angeles area(down from more than 100 a year in the 1970s). Allof these results occurred despite enormous growthrates, when population grew nationally by 27 percent,the economy grew by 90 percent and vehicle milestravelled jumped by 111 percent.

Yet for all the cleaner skies, much more remains to bedone. Metropolitan areas across the Pacific Southwestcontinue to face exploding populations, spreadingcities and increased dependence on automobiles. LosAngeles still has a serious smog problem. California’sSan Joaquin Valley, along with Las Vegas andPhoenix, continue to exceed federal standards for par-ticulate matter – fine dust particles which can severelyharm the lungs of children and the elderly.

In 1999, EPA worked at several levels to address theseproblems. Nationally, EPA worked to improve our air

Clearing the West’s magnificent vistas

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industry and schools in Los Angeles for most of October. 1959: California becomes first state to regulate auto emissions; requires

Spring published; documents widespread environmental harm resulting from use of toxic pesticides and herbicides. 1965: “Save

protection technologies. In December, EPA Administrator Carol Browner joined President Clinton in announcing strong new standards for controlling harm-ful tailpipe emissions. For the first time, sports utility vehicles, light trucks and mini-vans will meet the same low tailpipe emissions required for passenger cars. In tandem, EPA proposed new standards for cleaner gasoline.

Because of these initiatives, here’swhat Americans won't see in coming years: 50 million tons ofsmog-causing pollution; 260,000

asthma attacks in children; 4,300premature deaths and 173,000respiratory-related illnesses.

Moving to the regional level, EPAand a host of unlikely partnersmade major progress on behalf ofeveryone who breathes. InSouthern California, EPA facili -tated the landmark settlement ofa lawsuit brought by environmen-tal groups against the regional airdistrict, culminating in an aggres-sive and innovative plan to cleanup Los Angeles’ smog over thenext decade. The settlement closesout 25 years of litigation associa-

ed with Southern California’ssmog problem and enables theregion to focus on its pioneeringwork on air toxics and environ-mental justice.

Further north of Los Angeles liesthe Owens Valley. Despite itsremote location and small popula-tion, the valley and its residentssuffer the worst particulate airpollution in the United States,caused by severe dust storms. Thedust is whipped up every winterby winds along the valley floor –once a huge lakebed which wasexposed when Los Angeles divert-ed the mountain streams thatreplenished Owens Lake. Due tothe dogged determination of thelocal air district, local tribes(including the Lone Pine-Paiute/Shoshone, FortIndependence and Bishop tribes),Los Angeles officials, and EPAstaffers, an agreement wasreached that will cover thelakebed with water, vegetation,sand fences, and possibly graveland end one of the gravest public health threats in the West.

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A smog inversion layer blanketing downtown Los Angeles in 1956. Although LA stillsuffers from some of the nation’s worst smog, air pollution has been cut by more thantwo-thirds since this photo was taken.

Despite the PacificSouthwest’s gallopinggrowth over the last 30years, air pollutantsdecreased dramaticallyacross the region, from52 percent for ozone to99 percent for lead.

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San Francisco Bay movement wins passage of state law creating Bay Conservation and Development Commission to regulate

beaches with millions of gallons of oil. Los Angeles records worst smog season: 137 lung-searing smog alert days. 1970: First Earth

CLEAN AIR – CLEARING THE WEST’S MAGNIFICENT VISTAS

Outside of California, there wasalso good news. In Phoenix, EPAput in place an interim plan toreduce the dust from unpavedroads, vacant lots, and agricultur-al activities to protect publichealth. Meanwhile, state and localofficials are developing long-rangemeasures to control this “fugitivedust.

And for those who love theGrand Canyon, 1999 was anexceptional year. Midway throughthe year, a scrubber system wasfinally installed on the coal-firedNavajo Generating Station nearPage, Arizona. The result of afederal clear air plan, the $420million system will cut sulfurdioxide (SO2) emissions at theplant by 90 percent and reducethe haze which frequentlyobscures views of the canyon.

Later in 1999, EPA assisted insettlement negotiations to cleanup SO2 emissions from theMohave Power Plant, west ofthe canyon. EPA and theDepartment of Interior believethat the 85 percent reduction inthese emissions will help bring theGrand Canyon back to its fullvisual glory.

These accomplishments are agreat addition to the historicagreement of 1996, when theGrand Canyon TransportVisibility Commission – com-prised of states, tribes and federalagencies like EPA and Interior –agreed to improve visibility at thecanyon, working with publicinterest and business groups. Thework continues through theWestern Regional Air

Partnership, expanded to 10states and 10 tribes working on ahost of regional air issues.

Promising technologiesBeyond these “big fixes,tinues to help advance new technologies to help businesses andindividuals achieve the millions ofsmall fixes that will keep the air

clean, from promoting simplewater-based (rather than chemi -cal) solvents – which reducehydrocarbon emissions – toproposing far cleaner diesel fuels.EPA has played a major rolethrough our permitting and advi -sory efforts to facilitate the use ofhigh tech combined-cycle electricgenerating equipment withadvanced pollution controls atindustrial facilities.

The equipment, which combinesa gas turbine and waste heat boil -er, reduces air pollution from 50to 99 percent and cuts energyconsumption by up to 30 percent,resulting in cleaner skies and bigsavings for the operators. In thePacific Southwest alone, thisequipment is being installed atmore than 50 facilities.

Near the Grand Canyon, two coal-fired electricity generating plants are reducingtheir air emissions by 85 to 90 percent, helping to clear the haze above thisnational treasure.

Improvements in the Clean Air Actwill help prevent more than 1.7 mil -lion asthma attacks by 2010.

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Shoreline development and limit fill projects. 1969: Offshore oil drilling causes Santa Barbara Channel oil “blowout; fouls birds,

Day: April 22. Congress passes Clean Air Act. President Richard Nixon creates EPA. Pacific Southwest EPA region established;


local governments reach secondary treatment goal set by 1972 Clean Water Act. 1972: Congress passes Clean Water Act; protects

includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific Islands. 1971: Congress restricts lead-based paint in homes; bans lead paint

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CLEAN WATER The Clean Water Act, approved by Congress in1972, has a simple goal: making waterways safe forfishing and swimming. But getting there hasn’t beeneasy. In 1972, San Francisco’s Bay and beaches werefouled by raw sewage after every rainfall. Phoenix’sSalt River, normally dry most of the year, had con-stant flows of inadequately-treated sewage. Oahuwaters near sewer outfalls were a far cry fromparadise.

From the early 1970s through the 1980s, EPA grantsfinanced up to 75% of the cost to upgrade sewagetreatment facilities. By 1989, in the Pacific Southwest,EPA had invested over $6 billion in these projects.Since then, EPA has made loans available through itsState Revolving Fund, administered by the states.

The results have been dramatic. Pollution loading toSan Francisco Bay has declined by 85% since the1960s. The Reno-Sparks Treatment Plant cleaned upthe Truckee River downstream fromReno, NV. Sewage outfalls nolonger pollute Southern Californiabeaches. Rivers and streamsthroughout Indian Country flowcleaner and drinking water sourcesare far better protected.

Yet big problems remain. Recentstudies show that bacteria from pol-luted runoff entering storm drainsand creeks is making surfers and

swimmers sick. Sediment and algae still clog manywaterways, robbing oxygen that fish need to survive.Toxics like DDT and mercury persist for decades,reaching unsafe levels as they move up the food chain,and requiring fish consumption warnings to be postedat some public fishing piers.

Making beaches safeUntil last year, Imperial Beach south of San Diegowas routinely contaminated with Tijuana’s rawsewage. In 1998, the beach was closed on 161 days.But in 1999, beachgoers enjoyed an eight-month-longclosure-free season for the first time in over 20 years,thanks to the new International WastewaterTreatment Plant (IWTP), which reached full capaci -ty at advanced primary treatment levels in early 1999.Construction was funded by EPA ($230 million),California ($16 million), and Mexico ($9 million).EPA and the International Boundary WaterCommission are now working to expand the facility to

provide full secondary treatment.

At Santa Monica Bay, beach loversin 1999 benefited from Los Angeles’completion of a decade-long seriesof improvements to the city’s mas-sive Hyperion sewage treatmentplant. The upgrades, mandated by a1986 legal settlement with EPA,reduced sewage sludge discharges tothe bay by 90 percent – and fos-tered an historic partnership

on cribs and toys. EPA begins issuing sewage treatment construction grants totalling $6 billion in Pacific Southwest by 1989; helps

Keeping our water swimmable and drinkableKeeping our water swimmable and drinkable

wetlands, gives EPA authority set water quality standards, penalizes polluters. EPA bans DDT. California voters pass Coastal


between the city government andlocal environmental groups.

On the Hawaiian island of Maui,poor maintenance of sewagetreatment facilities in the 1990’sresulted in hundreds of sewageleaks onto land, streets andstreams, in some cases contami -nating beaches. In 1999, EPA andthe State of Hawaii reached a set-tlement with Maui County ensur-ing better maintenance to preventsewage spills. Maui also agreed toundertake a $600,000 project toexpand the use of treated waste-water for irrigation, thus extend-ing the island’s limited supply offresh water. EPA settled a similarcase with Oahu County in 1994.

Despite such improvements, bac-terial pollution shut downHuntington Beach, CA for muchof the summer. Closures like theseare now usually the result of pol-luted runoff. As EPA and thestates work to prevent pollutedrunoff, beachgoers can avoid con-

taminated areas by checkingEPA’s Beach Watch web page,www.epa.gov/ost/beaches. EPAhas worked with SouthernCalifornia environmental groups,the state, and local governmentsto achieve more frequent, consis-tent beach water sampling, andincreased monitoring of oceanwaters and marine life.

Controlling polluted runoffSources of polluted runoff includefarms, logging and constructionsites, roads and streets, yards anddriveways. A ton of cow manurehere, a gallon of crankcase oilthere, it all adds up – especiallywith millions of cows and millionsof cars. Such waste must be man-aged properly to keep it out ofwaterways.

California is the nation’s biggestproducer of dairy products, andthe state’s dairy cows generateabout 30 million tons of manureannually – nearly a ton for every

person in the state. Manure canpollute streams and groundwater,killing fish and contaminatingdrinking water sources. EPA tookenforcement actions against egre-gious polluters, but assisted dairyoperators who want to do theright thing: EPA funded theUniversity of CaliforniaExtension’s pollution preven-tion training courses for dairyoperators (in ten locationsaround the state) and evaluationsof 1,000 dairies for manure man-agement problems. EPA alsojoined the California DairyQuality Partnership, an effortby government and dairy opera-tors to ensure safe foods and cleanwater.

Everybody’s first need: safedrinking water Preventing pollution – not only ofwater, but also air and land – isthe best way to protect drinkingwater supplies. This includesproper management of hazardousand solid waste, and protection ofwetlands and watersheds that fil -ter out pollutants from runoff.

EPA’s efforts to ensure safe tapwater include: enforcing newunderground fuel tank leak pre-vention rules; requiring pollutersto clean up contaminated watersources and, in egregious cases,pay for clean replacement water;working with states, tribes, andwater suppliers to prevent pollu-tion from septic systems and cleanup tainted water; requiring allpublic water systems to annuallysend customers a report disclosingany violations of federal drinkingwater standards; and provi-ding loans to state and local

Increased monitoring of coastal waters helps protect surfers and swimmers fromharmful bacteria.

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tion is reduced by 94%. 1974: Southern California scientists publish evidence that chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) destroy earth’s

Conservation Initiative, limiting coastal development. 1973: Congress passes Endangered Species Act. EPA begins enforcement

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CLEAN WATER – KEEPING OUR WATER SWIMMABLE AND DRINKABLE

governments for drinking waterrimprovements. By early 2000,these loans totalled $153 millionin California, $32 million inArizona, $27 million in Hawaii,and $27 million in Nevada.

While nearly all public drinkingwater supplies have remainedsafe, the discovery of watersources tainted by the fuel addi -tive MTBE and perchlorate (acomponent of solid rocket fuel)have sparked public concern. EPAis working to phase out MTBEbecause it has leaked from under-ground fuel storage tanks intogroundwater, in some cases conta-minating public water supplies.MTBE contamination forcedSanta Monica, CA to shut downdrinking water wells that suppliedmost of the city's water.

EPA and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board are taking aggressive enforcement actions against theoil companies responsible

In 1997, the CaliforniaDepartment of Health Services

developed a method of detectingextremely low levels of perchlo-rate in water. Traces of perchlo-rate were found in Lake Mead,source of Las Vegas’ drinkingwater, though in such minisculeconcentrations that the tap waterremained safe. Some of the per-chlorate was tracked to a Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. facility inHenderson, NV. EPA worked withNevada and Kerr-McGee to builda water treatment system on LasVegas Wash which has, sinceNovember 1999, removed nearlyall the perchlorate attributable tothe chemical plant. EPA is coop-erating with state agencies totrack down other sources of per-chlorate and develop treatmenttechnologies.

Throughout 1999, EPA workedwith the California Department ofHealth Services and the ImperialIrrigation District to provideclean drinking water to nearly10,000 people who were gettintheir water from irrigation

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canals and ditches, which areoften contaminated with diseasepathogens. People living alongirrigation ditches in Arizona werealso drinking ditch water. EPA,California and Arizona workedwith the irrigation districts to pipein clean drinking water or providebottled water.

Tribal cooperation61 Indian tribes in the PacificSouthwest are eligible to receivefinancial, technical, and legalassistance from EPA for tribalwater programs, such as develop-ing water quality standards andpreventing polluted runoff. EPAworked closely with the WhiteMountain Apache Tribe (AZ),which adopted standards inAugust 1999, making it the 14thIndian tribe in the nation to doso. The Hoopa Valley Tribe(CA) also has an EPA-approvedwater quality standards program,and several other tribes in thePacific Southwest are developinsuch programs.

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protective stratospheric ozone layer. 1975: EPA requires new cars to have catalytic converters and use unleaded gas. Lead levels

against eight Arizona/Nevada copper smelters emitting two million tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) annually. Ultimately, SO2 pollu-

against eight Arizona/Nevada copper smelters emitting two million tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) annually. Ultimately, SO2 pollu-

Water protection is more complicated these days, as the sources of pollution fromfarms to highways to logging sites become more numerous, diverse, and spread-out.

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Billions of dollars insewage treatmentinvestments have cutwater pollutionthroughout the PacificSouthwest — forexample, by 85% inSan Francisco Bay.


aerosol cans. Toxic waste at Love Canal, N. Y., makes national headlines. 1979: Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident

in urban air drop 99% over next 20 years. 1976: Congress passes hazardous waste law which mandates phase-out of toxic PCBs

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CLEAN LANDRemoving waste and reclaiming the landRemoving waste and reclaiming the land

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EPA has spent the past 30 years pursuing a dualtrack to clean up the wastes – toxic and otherwise –which have harmed our land and threatened our com-munities. We’ve employed aggressive approaches tocleaning up toxic sites created in years past, while alsofinding new and innovative ways to reduce theamount of waste we generate as a society.

Getting it done with SuperfundDuring the last 18 years, EPA’s Superfund accom-plishments are substantial. More than 675 of thenation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned haz-ardous waste sites have been cleaned up and 85 morewill be done by the end of 2000. Responsible partieshave paid 70 percent of the cleanup costs, saving tax-payers billions of dollars. In the Pacific Southwest,EPA and our partners have begun or completed treat-ment construction at nearly three quarters of the 117Superfund sites. All the cleanups are conducted withan eye on future redevelopment.

Waste sites that took decades to create generallyrequire years to clean up. However, our emergencyresponse program works with state, tribal and localpartners to handle immediate hazards.

On September 27, 1999, a fire broke out at theWestley Tire Pile in the Central Valley. Flamesengulfed entire hillsides – where an estimated 7 mil-lion discarded tires were piled up to 20 feet deep –sending plumes of dense black smoke into the sky. Atthe time, even the most optimistic projections estimat-

ed that the blaze would take months, or years, toextinguish. Yet firefighters hired by EPA put the fireout one month after it had started by dousing theflames with foam, moving unburned tires to a safearea and diverting melted tire oil through a drainagesystem.

EPA crews made quick work of other potential envi -ronmental disasters in 1999, including abandonedplating facilities in inner-city neighborhoods. At theFrancis Plating Facility in West Oakland, fieldteams disposed of more than 200,000 gallons of caus-tic liquids and sludges that for years had been a localhealth and fire threat. EPA performed a similarremoval at the Syntrum Facility in Gardena.

The Pacific Southwest’s toxic legaciesEPA, state and local officials continue to address themyriad issues posed by abandoned mines through-out the region. In search of gold, silver or mercury,miners in the 19th and 20th centuries left behind amess: there are an estimated 62,000 inactive or aban-doned mines in Arizona, California and Nevada.

Last year, EPA and the state completed a $3 millionemergency cleanup of the Gambonini Mercury Minein West Marin County. In less than a year, engineershad closed off the mine entrance and re-contoured ahillside that had been leaching hundreds of pounds ofmercury into a nearby creek that drained into Tomales Bay. One local oyster harvester, reacting to the speedy response, said: “We've known it's been up

near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. EPA bans sale of Agent Orange herbicide. 1980: President Carter signs Superfund law; requires

(polychlorinated biphenyls). 1977: Congress strengthens Clean Air Act. 1978: EPA, other agencies ban CFCs as propellants in aerosols

(polychlorinated biphenyls). 1977: Congress strengthens Clean Air Act. 1978: EPA, other agencies ban CFCs as propellants in aerosols


there, but as soon as the EPA gota hold of it, it went into hyper-space – something happened.

At the Iron Mountain Mine westof Redding, CA, EPA crews havetreated more than 460 milliongallons of acidic mine drainage,significantly reducing what hadbeen the country’s largest dis-charge of toxic metals to surfacewaters. Our ongoing work contin-

ues to protect important commer-cial fisheries, critical water sup-plies and the sensitive Bay Deltaecosystem. EPA is also cleaningup the Carson River MercurySite in Nevada and many others.And we’re still finding new sites.EPA is currently proposing forSuperfund status the LeviathanMine outside of Gardnerville, CA,where an entire mountain top waremoved – a common practice a

old mines – unleashing acidicmine tailings into the CarsonRiver watershed.

When the semiconductor industryexploded in Silicon Valley in the1970s and ‘80s, waste handlingand disposal practices weren’twhat they should have been, and,as a result, soil and groundwaterthroughout the South Bay weretainted with toxic byproductsfrom the computer industry.Silicon Valley has the highest con-centration of Superfund sites any-where in the country, with 28hazardous waste sites within a15-square mile radius. Yet 10years after discovering these hotspots, under EPA and state direc-tion, responsible parties cleanedup most of the soil contaminationand began treating groundwaterat all 28 sites. At the MEW Site inMountain View, 2,000 people nowwork in a new high-tech officecomplex on property that just adecade ago was seen as too conta-minated to develop.

When the budget axe fell on mili-tary bases in the 1990s, it fellhard in Northern California, leav-ing EPA, the state and theDepartment of Defense with50,000 acres of polluted land toclean up and return to local com-munities. This meant addressingcontaminated soil and groundwa-ter at Fort Ord, Moffett Naval AirStation, Mare Island NavalShipyard, Alameda Naval AirStation, the Presidio (in SanFrancisco) and many otherinstallations.

Aggressive approaches and team-work have translated into dozens

CA, uses Superfund law to get responsible party to finish the job. 1982: Groundwater pollution from semiconductor factory

EPA to list priority toxic sites and compel polluters to pay for cleanup; authorizes EPA to take emergency response role. 1981:

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esto

Bee

A massive tire fire in Westley fouled air in the Central Valley and the Bay Area, andcalled attention to the many environmental problems posed by discarded tires.

EPA’s quick response had the fire out a month after it started.

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CLEAN LAND – REMOVING THE WASTE AND RECLAIMING THE LAND

of successful cleanups and hugeportions of land returned to pro-ductive use. Fort Ord houses thefirst college campus in the coun-try – CSU Monterey Bay – tooccupy a federal Superfund site.At the Presidio, a $27 millionenvironmental makeover of theformer Crissy Field will create a29-acre meadow, a shorelinepromenade, an expanded beachand revitalized sand dunes. Alsoin San Francisco, at Hunter’s

Point Shipyard, EPA funded aproject to train neighborhoodyouth to participate in thecleanup and transfer of formerNavy property to the community.

Federal budget cutbacks also hada ripple effect on industries thatsupported the military. In the SanFernando Valley, EPA has beenworking for more than 10 yearsto remove solvents from ground-water – a drinking water sourcefor the Los Angeles metropolitanarea – after pollutants fromdefense and aerospace industriesleached through soil. Treatment is

underway in two groundwaterbasins, and construction of a thirdtreatment system was completedlast year. A similar effort isunderway in the San GabrielValley.

EPA continues to work with itspartners to address other note-worthy sites, including:

• At the Operating IndustriesSite in Monterey Park,CA, EPAhas worked closely with theneighboring community – 2,500people live within 1,000 feet ofthe site – by testing indoor air inhomes and continuing to involveresidents in cleanup decisions.We have stabilized slopes to pre-

vent the landfill from falling onhomes, installed ventilationsystems in many homes, controlledleachate that was moving into theneighborhood, and nearly com-pleted the landfill cover. EPA has negotiated settlements with more than 500 smaller parties to remove them from a more costly enforcement process, and part of the property is being prepared for reuse.

• EPA is remediating theCasmalia Disposal Site inSanta Barbara County, wheremore than 4.5 billion pounds ofhazardous waste – includingheavy metals, pesticides, cyanid and PCBs – were deposited. Cleanup crews have

Superfund Program cleans up first half of 17,000 drums of hazardous waste abandoned at General Disposal site, Santa Fe Springs,

Emergency response crews from EPA’s Pacific Southwest Office are on call 24hours a day to respond immediately to chemical spills, fires, explosions oaccidents.

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Superfund hascleaned up more thanhalf of the nation’smost serious toxicsites and made thepolluters pay 70 per-cent of the cleanupcosts, saving taxpay-ers billions of dollars.

in San Jose, CA found in drinking water well 1,800 feet away; similar problems in 20-mile radius make Silicon Valley the nation’s


capped one of the site’s six landfills and cosolidated morethan 70 surface treatment unitsinto a few stormwater manage-ment plans. EPA is now finaliz-ing an unprecedented settlement withover 500 parties that will provide more than $30 milliontoward the cleanup.

• In 1990, the U.S. Army beganoperating the world’s first per-mitted full-scale chemicalweapons destruction facility onJohnston Island, 800 milessouthwest of Hawaii. The Army

has safely destroyed – underclose oversight by EPA – roughly1,674 tons of chemical agents atthe facility, representing about5.5 percent of the total UnitedStates chemical agent stockpile.The job will be completed laterin 2000.

• At the Tucson Airport, EPAcrews have treated some 40 bil -lion gallons of groundwater inremoving more than 100,000pounds of toxic compounds. Tentons of toxic PCBs have alsobeen removed from soils.

Getting a handle on leaking underground storage tanksUnder a national EPA require-ment set 10 years earlier, allpetroleum underground storagetank systems were required tomeet corrosion, spill, and overflowprotection standards by the end of1998. Petroleum or hazardoussubstances from leaking under-ground storage tanks contaminategroundwater, the source of drink-ing water for nearly half of allAmericans. EPA staff mounted amajor effort to help tank ownersmeet the deadline, while workingwith state and local officials toensure a strong enforcement pro-gram was in place for scofflaws.By the end of 1999, Californiahad achieved a 99% compliancerate with the upgrade require-ments, with an overall 87% rateacross the region.

Last year, EPA staff worked withinspectors from the Navajo NationEnvironmental Protection Agencyand the Hopi Tribe WaterResources Division to investigategroundwater contamination fromleaking underground storagetanks in Tuba City, Arizona gasstations. Federal and tribal offi -cials developed a cleanup planand fined the gas station ownersfor numerous violations.

In spite of our success in eliminat-ing leaking tanks, those thatremain can cause tremendousproblems. Several western areas –including Santa Monica andLake Tahoe – have lost largedrinking water supplies after thgasoline additive MTBE leakedfrom underground storage tanks.

e

In Monterey Park outside of Los Angeles, EPA is remediating the massive, 190 acreOperating Industries Site, where 2,500 residents live within 1,000 feet of the formerlandfill.

18

India releases methyl isocyanate, killing over 2,000 people. Congress passes tougher law regulating hazardous waste disposal.

largest concentration of Superfund sites. 1983: EPA investigates groundwater contamination from aerospace industry in San

19

CLEAN LAND – REMOVING THE WASTE AND RECLAIMING THE LAND

EPA is working with state, tribaland local officials to find anyexisting tanks, and also to devisecleanup plans for groundwateralready contaminated with MTBEand other compounds. We arealso looking into reports of new,upgraded tanks failing to do thejob many had hoped.

Making sure waste isn’tan issue in the first place Thanks to innovative thinking, anemphasis on partnerships andextensive technical assistance,EPA has helped reduce waste out-put from both industry andhouseholds. Despite economic andpopulation growth, hazardouswaste from large quantity genera-tors in the United States declinedabout seven percent per year be-tween 1985 and 1997. Aggressive enforcement and

improved regulations under EPA’sResource Conservation andRecovery Act contributed to ahuge dropoff in the number ofhazardous waste incinerators andtreatment and storage facilities,while also greatly reducing therisk of catastrophic releases.

EPA’s Pacific Southwest officealso reaches out to specific busi -ness sectors – such as dry clean-ers, auto repair shops, metal fin-ishers, dairies and even wineries –to encourage pollution preventionpractices. We have alreadyenjoyed early returns: A projectwith 14 western metal finishershas eliminated 200,000 pounds ofhazardous waste and 12.4 milliongallons of wastewater since 1995.

In the home, people now compostand recycle roughly one pound per person per day more than

they did in 1960. More than 8million – or 70% – of Californiahouseholds have access to curb-side collection of recyclables,compared to less than 200,000 –or just 2% – a decade ago.

In California, recycling has creat-ed 34,000 jobs and contributed$1.6 billion to the economy, savedmore than 600 million trees andconserved enough energy topower every home in Californiafor 18 months.

Since 1995, EPA grants to west-ern states have contributed to thecreation or retention of about8,000 jobs, $465 million in capi-tal investment to recycling busi-nesses and to the processing ofnearly 14 million tons of recycled materials.

The number of hazardous waste disposal facilities in EPA’s PacificcSouthwest region have plummeted overthe past 15 years due to improved regulations coupled with an aggressivetechnical assistance and outreach program.

Leaking underground storage tanks are the most common source of groundwatercontamination in the United States. New requirements in 1998 required that allpetroleum underground storage tanks meet comprehensive corrosion, spill, and overflow protection upgrades.

Num

ber

of F

acili

ties

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

1985 1992 1999

Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, CA; adds sites to Superfund list. 1984: Accident at Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal,

1985: Union Carbide plant at Institute, West Virginia releases methyl isocyanate; Congress debates potential for Bhopal-like acci-


20

production. Department of Energy picks Yucca Mountain, NV for permanent nuclear waste disposal site. 1988: Shell Oil refinery

dent in U.S. 1986: Congress passes law requiring chemical facilities to annually report toxic releases and inventories. Chernobyl

HEALTHYCOMMUNITIESBuilding community capacity for the futureBuilding community capacity for the future

21

PA is typically known as a government regulator:setting standards for environmental protection andthen enforcing them. But in addition to this importantrole, EPA devotes a large share of our budget toenabling the environmental protection work of state,tribal and local agencies and thousands of individuals,businesses and community groups.

This cooperative approach strives to achieve real com-munity-based environmental protection, with localpeople taking the lead. Here are a few examples:

Enabling Indian tribes to protect their environmentSince 1986, EPA has been autho-rized to delegate implementation offederal environmental laws to tribesas it has historically done withstates. Federal government agenciesalso have a responsibility to assisttribes and build meaningful govern-ment-to-government relations. Forthe past seven years, EPA has madeit a top priority in the Pacific South-west to fulfill these responsibilities.

In the last five years, the number oftribes developing their own environ-

mental programs in the region has increased from 19to 116, a 600 percent jump. With EPA technical andfinancial assistance, many tribes have completed sur-veys of reservation environments and are taking actionto clean up pollution.

These activities have resulted in innovative projectssuch as: the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe working tosave beautiful Pyramid Lake in Nevada; the NavajoNation joining with Superfund to survey and begincleanup of all the abandoned uranium sites across aterritory the size of West Virginia; the Hoopa Tribepreparing water quality standards for the TrinityRiver; the Washoe Tribe working to list Leviathan

Mine – one of the largest (and mosttoxic) abandoned mines in the West– as a Superfund site; the Yurokand other tribes capping opengarbage pits; and the Gila RiverIndian Community working withEPA’s emergency response team tostop a massive tire fire on the GilaRiver Reservation.

Following through for communities in needOne fundamental of healthy com-munities is to address the needs of

at Martinez, CA spills 365,000 gallons of oil in Carquinez Strait. Penalty funds used to buy 10,000 acres of bayside salt ponds for

nuclear reactor in Ukraine explodes in world’s worst nuclear accident. 1987: 24 nations agree to phase out most of world’s CFC

E

An environmental specialist at Campo Indian Reservation

our most vulnerable populations.At EPA, we pay special attentionto children, people of color, andlow income communities, whooften bear the greatest burden ofenvironmental pollution.

We have identified five risks thatare critical for children: asthma,lead, cancer, pesticides, and airtoxics. To address pesticide risk,for example, we targeted twounregistered products – an insec-ticidal chalk and moth repellents– which pose particular risks tochildren. We also support severalprojects on pesticide use andexposure among children at riskin farm communities and alongthe U.S.-Mexico border. EPA istaking a similarly aggressiveapproach to lead exposure, whichcan stunt children’s intellectualdevelopment. We tested almost40,000 kids in Tijuana and haveextensive outreach and trainingfor families there, in San Diegoand West Oakland. We haveambitious programs to addressindoor air quality, asbestos, andpesticides in schools, and helped

fund a Children’s Health Networkwebsite (www.cehn.org). In LosAngeles and on the border inNogales, AZ we support uniqueeducation campaigns for Latinochildren, their teachers and par-ents on asthma prevention.

Another priority area for EPA isour work on behalf of communi -ties of color. The environmentaljustice (EJ) movement has chal -lenged us to be fair in our deci -sion making and to prioritizeissues of concern in poor commu-nities (e.g. lead poisoning, subsis-tence fishing and asthma) and toengage them respectfully in deci -sions concerning their neighbor-hoods. Beyond extensive efforts ineach of EPA’s programs torespond to EJ issues, our PacificSouthwest office has assembledan EJ action team (and hotline at415/744-1565) to give communi -ties of color direct access toagency leaders and resources.

Beyond boosting access, we’veboosted enforcement efforts tocrack down on polluters in com-

munities of color. In 1999, for thefirst time ever and in collabora-tion with local and state agencies,EPA began carrying out an ambi -tious pilot regional enforcementstrategy for historically under-served parts of Los Angeles.

EPA is also building the capacityof communities of color to con-duct environmental monitoringand outreach. Through our EJprogram, we’ve dispensed nearly70 grants and witnessed amazingresults, including: used oil recy-cling programs for two Indiancommunities in Arizona; anassessment of fish consumptionlevels and potential health risksamong Laotians in Richmond,CA; an air monitoring programnear a geothermal plant in therural community of Pahoa, HI;and a grassroots environmentalcoalition straddling the border atNogales (in Arizona and Mexico).

A community right to knowOne of the most powerful toolsEPA has employed in the last fewyears is getting information intothe hands of people. Our commu-nity right-to-know program,known as the Toxics ReleaseInventory (TRI), helps peoplelearn about toxic releases to air,water, and land from industrialfacilities in their neighborhoods.Just publicizing the amount oftoxins that industries release tothe environment creates an incen-tive for industry, the public, andgovernment to work together toreduce harmful pollution. SinceTRI began in 1989, reported toxicreleases have plummeted in Arizona (by 75%), California (75%) andHawaii (82%).

largest sale marsh restoration on West Coast. 1989: Exxon Valdez spills 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William

treatment upgrades in Pacific Southwest alone. 1990: EPA orders two canneries in American Samoa to stop polluting Pago Pago

Through its environmental program, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe has worked tosave beautiful Pyramid Lake in Nevada.

22


23

Another way EPA helps peopleget information is throughEMPACT (EnvironmentalMonitoring for Public Accessand Community Tracking).This grants program enables com-munities to secure monitoringequipment to test their own air,water and soil. By the end of1999, EMPACT enabled: peopleliving near oil refineries inRichmond, CA to sample their airfor toxins; people in Las Vegas todevelop a blueprint for an airmonitoring system; retirementcommunity residents of GreenValley, AZ to monitor their airafter they complained about beingable to taste and smell it; childrento monitor UV radiation levelsand learn “sunwise ways to han-dle exposure to the sun; and peo-ple throughout the PacificSouthwest to check a website withreal-time maps of smog in theirarea (www.epa.gov/airnow).

Catalyzing better community developmentThe last few years have seen “smart growth movement sweepacross America, whereby towns

and cities are working to reducetheir environmental impacts andincrease their livability by plan-ning better communities and pro-tecting open space. While EPAplays no direct role in theseefforts, we provide resources tofacilitate locally driven projects.

Through our SustainableDevelopment Challenge Grantprogram, we funded a series ofcollaborative projects, including: asustainability plan for the Ewaand North Shore regions ofHonolulu; new planning optionsfor neighborhoods in Phoenix andScottsdale, AZ; community gar-dening and greening in San Fran-cisco, Los Angeles, and Nogales,AZ; rainforest restoration on theHamakua Coast of Hawaii;“urban village development topreserve farmland in California’sCentral Valley; sustainable devel -opment for rural communities onthe island of Maui; and rejuvena-tion plans for suburban down-towns in Southern California.

EPA has also helped communitiesby cleaning up and reinvesting in

abandoned areas through ourBrownfields Initiative – a pro-gram created by President Clintonin 1995 to work with cities, tribes, and states to clean up and transform contaminated properties into newhomes and businesses. In the Pacific Southwest alone, EPA has seeded 30 brownfields pilot projects with $200,000 each and six projectswith revolving loan funds.

The results of these investmentshave been impressive. For exam-ple, the City of Las Vegas was thefirst in the nation to use an EPArevolving fund loan and turn abrownfield (a decommissionedNational Guard armory) into acommunity asset (including asmall business incubator, culturalcenter and retail stores). Furtherwest, the cities of Los Angeles andEast Palo Alto, CA have been des-ignated as brownfield “showcasecommunities, in which EPA iscoordinating with other federalagencies and supporting ambi -tious local plans to rejuvenate siz-able old industrial parks. Thiseffort is expected to result i2,300 new jobs in LA and morethan $1 million a year in new taxrevenues for East Palo Alto.

n

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES – BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY FOR THE FUTURE

Sound; worst oil spill in U. S. history. EPA completes 18-year grant program providing $6 billion to local governments for sewage

Sound; worst oil spill in U. S. history. EPA completes 18-year grant program providing $6 billion to local governments for sewage

Through our Brownfield Initiative, EPA has helped fund the transformation of aneglected site in West Hollywood into what will be a vibrant commercial center.

EPA is paying special attention to theeffects of pesticides on children.

Harbor with fish canning waste. Canneries comply; harbor gets visibly cleaner. Congress further strengthens Clean Air Act to


24

40 miles of river above Shasta Lake. EPA Superfund Emergency Response Program cooperates with other agencies to create “air

address acid rain, air toxics, stratospheric ozone; passes law giving EPA lead role among federal agencies in environmental

HEALTHYECOSYSTEMSProtecting watersheds and biodiversityProtecting watersheds and biodiversity

25

EPA’s Pacific Southwest region – California,Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, tribal lands and numerousPacific Islands – harbors thousands of species of fish,wildlife, and plants. The region’s ecosystems rangefrom desert mountains to tropical coral reefs. Beyondproviding habitat, these ecosystems provide for humanneeds, such as clean water, fisheries, flood protection,and opportunities for recreation and scientific study.But they face a multitude of threats.

Over the past 150 years, intensive mining, water andagricultural development, and increasing human pop-ulation and urbanization have degraded or reducedmany of the region’s ecosystems, along with theirspecies. For example, California’s original wetlandshave declined to roughly 10% of their original area.Nevada’s lakes and wetlands havealso been severely reduced. InArizona, riparian forests are threat-ened by excessive groundwaterpumping. Tribal lands have beenovergrazed and eroded. In Hawaiiand the Pacific Islands, fragile coralreefs are damaged by pollutedrunoff and fill projects.

EPA efforts in 1999 to protect andrestore ecosystems in the PacificSouthwest included:

CALFED Bay/Delta: The San Francisco Bay-Deltawatershed includes the vast Sacramento/San Joaquinriver system, providing water for over 20 million Cali-fornians, all Central Valley farms, and 120 species offish and wildlife. EPA was a partner in negotiating the1994 Bay-Delta Accord, which broke the gridlockover California water policy, and set the agenda forCALFED, the consortium of state and federal agenciesworking to resolve Bay-Delta water issues. In the pastfive years, CALFED funded $250 million worth ofecological restoration projects, which comprise thenation’s most complex restoration effort. Among themany projects underway: restoration of 42 miles ofsalmon and steelhead spawning habitat on BattleCreek (near Red Bluff), which involves removal of fivelow dams and construction of fish ladders on others.

Lake Tahoe: Following the 1997Tahoe Presidential Summit, EPAhelped coordinate federal efforts toprotect the lake’s famed clarity. In1999, we funded efforts by U.C.Davis, the U. S. Geological Survey,and the Tahoe Regional PlanningAgency to develop monitoringmethods and measure the effective-ness of various pollution controlmeasures. These projects con-tributed to a comprehensive water-

education. 1991: Train derailment spills toxic metam sodium into Sacramento River near Dunsmuir, CA, killing all aquatic life in

Lake Tahoe

curtain in riverbed to dissipate the chemical before it pollutes the Lake. In Washington, D.C., grassroots groups hold national


shed assessment published inFebruary 2000. The assess-ment will be used to set prioritiefor cost-effective actions, and todevelop pollution reduction plans,including one already underwayfor Heavenly Valley Creek. EPAsupported projects to restorenative plants in eroded areas; andto map all drinking water wellsand lake water intakes aroundTahoe, so that developmentthreats to drinking water can beavoided. EPA worked with theWashoe Tribe and the LahontanRegional Water Quality ControlBoard on these efforts.

San Francisco Bay: A partner-ship of federal, state, and localagencies, environmental groupsand the business community –organized by EPA and the ArmyCorps of Engineers – finalized along-term strategy to reducedumping of dredged mud in SanFrancisco Bay by more than 75percent from 1990 levels.Dredging will continue, keeping

the Bay’s shipping channels deepenough for large ocean-goingcargo ships. But instead of dump-ing most of the mud in the shal -low Bay, which can harm migrat-ing fish, the new strategy willdeposit more mud at a designateddeep-ocean site beyond theFarallon Islands, and quadruplethe volume re-used for wetlandrestoration, levee repair, andlandfill cover. A pilot wetlandsrestoration using dredged mud,the Sonoma Baylands at thenorthwest corner of San PabloBay, is under way.

Vernal Pools: EPA won a prece-dent-setting $1.5 million judg-ment, the largest-ever court-ordered penalty for unauthorizeddestruction of wetlands. A devel -oper had destroyed seasonal ver-nal pool wetlands at BordenRanch (near Sacramento, CA) bydeep ripping, a plowing techniquethat uses bulldozers to tear apartthe impermeable clay layerunderlying the topsoil. Vernal

pool wetlands provide essentialhabitat for certain species ofnative wildflowers, endangeredspecies of fairy shrimp, andmigratory waterfowl. Cosumnes River Watershed:EPA funded an $8 million loanfrom the California State WaterResources Control Board to TheNature Conservancy (TNC) topurchase the 12,362-acre HowardRanch in Sacramento County,expanding TNC’s Cosumnes RiverPreserve to 37,000 acres. ThePreserve protects vernal pools,streams, riparian forests, floodplains and oaks along the CentralValley’s last major undammedriver. EPA also funded a $1.5 mil -lion loan to the Sacramento ValleyOpen Space Conservancy to add344 acres to the SacramentoValley Open Space conservancyto add 344 acres to the SacramentoVernal Pool Prairie Preserve, which will ultimately include 3,000 acres. These projects were the first to use EPA's State Revolving fund to ac-quire land for watershed protection.

environmental justice summit. EPA wins $86 million settlement from Hughes Aircraft to clean up contaminated groundwater at

An $8 million loan from EPA helped expand the Cosumnes River Preserve in Sacramento County, CA, which protects rare wet -lands and riparian forests.

26

hazardous waste disposal site near Santa Maria, CA; pursues responsible parties to pay for long-term remediation. EPA wins $8

27

HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS – PROTECTING WATERSHEDS AND BIODIVERSITY

Ala Wai WatershedImprovement (Oahu): EPA, stateand local governments, and busi -ness and community groups areworking to reduce water pollutionin the Ala Wai Watershed, whichincludes Honolulu’s most denselypopulated areas. The project willimprove water quality by combin-ing modern technology with theancient Hawai’ian system of landdivision from the uplands to thesea – the ahupua’a. The Projectwill serve as a model for water-shed improvement projects inHawaii, as well as for incorporat-ing Native Hawai’ian cultural andhistorical practices.

Reducing Polluted Runoff:Runoff from urban areas, high-ways, farms, unpaved roads, andlogging and construction sites cancarry sediment, oil, grease, toxics,pesticides, pathogens and otherpollutants into nearby waterways.In California’s forested NorthCoast watersheds, sediment-ladenrunoff from unpaved roads and

logged areas smothers fragilesalmon and trout eggs. In urbanareas, garden fertilizers and pesti -cides, motor oil, and house petwaste washes into streets and theninto streams, lakes, and theocean. Under the Clinton Admini-stration’s Clean Water ActionPlan, EPA is working with statesto develop comprehensive plans toreduce polluted runoff. In 1999,EPA approved landmark planssubmitted by Arizona andNevada; California and Hawaiiexpect to submit plans in 2000.Once EPA approves a plan, thestate or Pacific Island receives itsshare of $18.6 million in fundsallotted for reducing pollutedrunoff in the Pacific Southwest.

TMDLs: In 1999, EPA completedpollution reduction plans (official -ly known as TMDLs – TotalMaximum Daily Loads) for theNoyo, Van Duzen, and SouthFork Eel Rivers in Californias’North Coast. These plans, whichare designed to restore coho

salmon and steelhead trout habi-tat, take into account all pollutionsources in a watershed, includingpolluted runoff. The North CoastRegional Water Quality ControlBoard is putting the plans intoeffect through regulations andvoluntary efforts, including reduc-ing erosion from dirt roads andlogging, and planting trees toshade streams, keeping them coolenough for salmon and trout.

In Southern California, EPAagreed to meet mandatory dead-lines for a hundred more TMDLsfor Los Angeles and VenturaCounty watersheds, including theLos Angeles River, Ventura River,Santa Clara River, Malibu Creek,and 25 beaches in Los Angelesand Ventura counties. The effortswill benefit beachgoers as well asendangered runs of southernsteelhead trout. In settling a law-suit, EPA guaranteed that these100 plans will be completed. TheLos Angeles Regional WaterQuality Control Board will devel-op many of them. Additionalplans are being developed for sev-eral Arizona streams to reducemercury pollution, which canbuild up to toxic levels in the foodchain, poisoning fish eaters suchas eagles – and people.

Get Involved! To find out what’shappening in your area, visitEPA’s watershed web page,www.epa.gov/surf. There aremaps of every watershed in thenation, accessible by typing inyour zip code, city, county, school,or Indian tribe; plus contacts forover 5,500 local watershed pro-tection groups.

As part of a major campaign to clean up the Ala Wai Canal in Honolulu, highschool students stencil storm drains to keep pollutants out of the canal.

Tucson Airport. 1992: 178 nations take part in U. N. Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. EPA takes charge of abandoned Casmalia

million settlement from Chevron for polluting Santa Barbara Channel with oil and grease from offshore drilling. 1993: EPA reports


28

that secondhand smoke is a serious risk to non-smokers. EPA begins major groundwater cleanup in the San Fernando Valley,

mission. EPA launches Brownfields Initiative to clean up, redevelop abandoned inner-city properties. EPA signs Bay-Delta Accord,

29

HEALTHYPLANET

As we move toward a global economy, we are con-stantly reminded that environmental threats are globalproblems, requiring solutions that span oceans andcontinents. In EPA’s Pacific Southwest Office we con-front these problems in many ways: through ourambitious work along the Mexican Border; our effortsin Pacific Islands such as Guam and American Samoa;and working with environmental officials worldwideto provide cleaner air, land and water.

Breaking new ground with our neighbors to the SouthA unique part of the world is the 2,000 mile-long bor-der region between the United States and Mexico. Themost rapidly growing part of North America, the bor-der’s population has grown from 1 million in 1960 toover 11.5 million today. At the cur-rent growth rate, 25 million peoplewill live in the region by 2020.

EPA is working with the MexicanGovernment and U.S. state, tribaland local officials through theBorder XXI Program to increasecooperation between our countriesin addressing this astoundinggrowth and its enormous impactson a fragile environment. ThroughBorder XXI, EPA’s Pacific

Southwest office has awarded tens of millions of dol -lars in grants and devoted countless hours of technicalassistance to build sewage treatment plants, run airmonitoring programs, manage solid and hazardouswaste, and train environmental professionals.

The Border XXI Air Work Group recently complet-ed its third year of monitoring, which showed harmfullevels of ozone in Tijuana-Rosarito, and high levels ofozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter inMexicali. Officials are now studying strategies toreduce air pollution that for years has threatened pub-lic health in these areas. Efforts are underway toreduce motor vehicle emissions in Ambos Nogales,where a recently completed air study identified auto-mobiles as the greatest health risk. These projects –

and several others like them in bor-der communities from Texas to BajaCalifornia – constitute the first-everattempts at binational cooperationin combating air pollution along ashared U.S. border.

In December, EPA and Mexico’sNational Ecology Institute signed amajor agreement committing bothcountries to share information onexisting and proposed waste siteswithin 60 miles of the border. Never

begins process to resolve San Francisco Bay-Delta water issues. 1995: Bald Eagle upgraded from “endangered to less-critical

funded by responsible parties. 1994: President Clinton orders government agencies to make environmental justice part of their

Crossing borders for environmental protectionCrossing borders for environmental protection

Desert borderlands


before have residents of bothnations had cross-border accessto information about hazardouswaste facilities – and the oppor-tunity to affect future sitindecisions.

We are also working to handlewaste from the estimated 3,300maquiladoras operating in Mexico– foreign-owned assembly plantsthat use raw materials from theUnited States to manufactureproducts for export. In 1999,Mexico reaffirmed its policy ofreturning hazardous waste frommaquiladoras to the United Statesto ensure that hazardous wastesgenerated by these companies aremanaged appropriately.

On both sides of the border, morethan four million residents will beserved by 16 water projectsunder way or already constructedthrough investments of more than$400 million certified by theBorder Environment CooperationCommission. (See the CleanWater section for a description ofa major project, the InternationalWastewater Treatment Plant.)Other ambitious sewage systemupgrades are underway inMexicali and Nogales.

A critical goal of all border activi -ties is to bring all affected partiestogether to share information andideas. The U.S and Mexican gov-ernments achieved a major break-through last year by welcomingall border states and tribes as fullpartners in the Border XXIProgram. EPA has also spear-headed efforts to include the pub-lic in these meetings.

In 1997, EPA and Mexico’sSecretary for the Environmentcreated a comprehensive set ofenvironmental indicators forthe border that gauge the effec-tiveness of border programs andchanges to the environment overtime. The indicators, and relatedinformation, can be found atwww.epa.gov/usmexicoborder.EPA also operates an outreachoffice in San Diego to provide aforum for community input andcommunication, and help buildlocal capacity through communitygrants.

Spanning the Pacific toprotect island habitatThe reach of EPA’s PacificSouthwest Office extends fartherwest than most people realize. Asterritories of the U.S., Guam, theCommonwealth of the NorthernMariana Islands (Saipan) anAmerican Samoa are subject tsome U.S. environmental laws.

Other islands – the Republics ofPalau and the Marshall Islands,and the Federated States ofMicronesia – are independentnations to which we have treatyobligations.

EPA is working with local officialson landfill closures in Guamand Saipan that could signifi -cantly reduce public healththreats and protect sensitive localecosystems. For decades,Guamanians have broughtgarbage to the Ordot Dump, ahuge, overflowing open landfillthat catches fire regularly andendangers neighboring villages.

Roughly 120 miles to the north,Saipan residents have beendumping trash in the Puerto RicoDump, which extends into alagoon near a tourist center andnational park. EPA staff are working with local officials onboth islands to replace the old

In 1999, Mexican and U.S. officials worked together to monitor air emissions alongthe border and negotiated an unprecedented agreement to share information oncurrent and future hazardous waste sites.

30

“threatened listing, reflecting birds’ recovery since 1972 DDT ban. EPA requires incinerators to reduce toxic emissions by 90%.

protect children. EPA wins $280 million from 4,000+ responsible parties for toxic cleanup at Operating Industries Inc. landfill

31

HEALTHY PLANET – CROSSING THE BORDERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

dumps with municipal landfills toreduce future threats to land andwater quality.

EPA is also working with the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers and theCommonwealth of NorthernMariana Islands Division ofEnvironmental Quality to speedthe cleanup of toxic polychlori -nated biphenyl (PCB) contamina-tion in Tanapag Village onSaipan, where local residents haveexpressed fear and frustrationover delays in soil remediation.

The Republic of Palau is glob-ally known for its marineresources, biodiversity and rela-tively pristine nature. On theisland of Babeldoab, EPA, theDepartment of Interior, ArmyCorps of Engineers and theRepublic of Palau are ensuringthat construction of 53 miles ofnew paved road is done in anenvironmentally responsible man-ner. As mitigation for the project,the Republic of Palau has com-mitted to establish two conserva-tion areas encompassing 30,000acres of mangrove, sea grass,patch coral, fringing reefs andupland habitats.

Pago Pago Harbor in AmericanSamoa has seen dramaticimprovements in water quality inthe last decade, thanks to a part-nership by EPA and the AmericanSamoa EPA. The two agenciesworked together to require thetwo harbor fish canning opera-tions to relocate their dischargeto the outer harbor, separate theirwaste streams and barge wastes toan ocean disposal site. The results

have been impressive: water qual-ity standards are now regularlymet, and new coral is returning tothe harbor. The two EPAs arenow focusing on why harbor sedi-ments remain contaminated withheavy metals and other pollu-tants.

Expanding our reach tohelp other countriesIn the same way we have workedwith Mexico and the PacificIslands, EPA has collaboratedwith dozens of environmentalprograms in other parts of theworld. Since 1990, EPA has con-ducted more than 70 environ-mental projects worldwide onissues such as air quality, control-ling hazardous waste and munici-pal trash and performing environ-mental assessments.

Our Pacific Southwest office con-tinues to draw the most interna-tional visitors of any EPA regionaloffice to share program knowl -edge and technical experience,and staff have been invitedabroad to assist countries aroundthe world who are developingenvironmental programs, includ-ing Central and Eastern Europe,Central and South America andAsia and the Pacific Rim.

From 1996 through 1999, at therequest of the Philippine govern-ment, a team of scientists fromEPA’s Pacific Southwest officedeveloped a groundbreakingwatershed management plan forthe Butuanon River on the islandof Cebu that now serves as amodel throughout Southeast Asia.

EPA is working with local officials from the Republic of Palau to American Samoato preserve unique island ecosystems that are currently threatened by pollution.

1996: Congress passes new Safe Drinking Water Act and Food Quality Protection Act, which includes pesticide limits designed to

Monterey Park, CA EPA organizes Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission to investigate air pollution’s impact on canyon


1997: EPA brokers $80 million deal to save Bolsa Chica, Southern California’s largest remaining tidal marsh. EPA Administrator

32

tank owners face deadline to upgrade tanks to prevent leaks. Superfund Emergency Response Program reports 420 emergency

33

FUTURE CHALLENGES

While this report documents major progress towardenvironmental protection during 1999, we think it’swise to end on a cautionary note: because EPA andother agencies have helped clean up many of the cen-tralized sources of pollution, we’re left with a widerarray of problems for which there is no easy solution.

Most of these problems can be characterized as dif-fuse, persistent and pervasive. For example, when itcomes to air pollution, the new enemy is rarely a sin-gle smokestack; it’s air and dust pollution producedby millions of sources – from cars to vacant lots –spread throughout vast metropolitan areas. When theissue is toxics, the enemy is not just concentratedSuperfund sites, but tenacious andmulti-sourced poisons like mercuryand dioxin. When the problem iswater pollution, the concern is nolonger a big sewage plant, but mil -lions of storm drains or loggingroads, which flush a bouillabaisse ofpollutants into fragile rivers, lakesand estuaries.

Among the top problems EPA seestoday and on the horizon in thePacific Southwest are air toxics andthe lung-damaging pollution of

diesel engines, non-point sources of water pollution,habitat and watershed destruction, tricky water conta-minants like MTBE and perchlorate (which is a com-ponent of rocket fuel), cancer-causing chemicals likedioxins and other PBTs – persistent-bioaccumlativetoxins – which can move up the food chain throughfish, fowl and people, and the large volume of pesti -cides used to produce American food. Other challengesrequiring study and science include endocrine disrup-tors and genetically altered food.

In addition to these relatively new problems, we haveplenty of work yet to do in the “traditional environ-mental protection arena – especially along the U.S.-

Mexico border, on tribal lands andin low income communities. We arecatching up with work that shouldhave been done years ago and willrequire many more years of inten-sive effort. There are Superfundsites still to be reclaimed. We haveonly begun to prepare watershedrecovery and pollution preventionplans – known as Total MaximumDaily Loads – although the CleanWater Act envisioned their imple-mentation years ago. Wetlands arestill disappearing, ecosystems are

cleanups completed since 1981 at sites posing an imminent threat to human health or the environment. 1999: Toxic releases in

Carol Browner forms Office of Children’s Health Protection. 1998: EPA announces Clean Water Action Plan. Underground fuel

Environmental protection gets more complexEnvironmental protection gets more complex

Diesel fumes and air toxics pose amajor public health challenge.

failing, and we are still strivingwith our partners to bring closureto a series of complex negotiations– such as CALFED, the process tohelp solve California’s water wars.

The same concern – the feelingthat we’re playing catch-up – alsoapplies to our enforcement work.Even though 1999 was a recordenforcement year, we know wehave only addressed the tip of theiceberg in enforcing environmen-tal laws on the books. And even ifall of these laws were enforcedperfectly, we know that significantenvironmental and public healthrisks would remain since the lawrepresents a nationally-set mini -mum level of protection, not nec-essarily the very best environmen-tal outcome.

That’s a key reason why EPA hasset up more than a score of pro-grams to help business and indus-try clean up their act and attain

superior outcomes – programslike Project XL, Waste Wi$e,Energy Star Building, and WaterAlliances for Voluntary Efficiency.It’s the reason behind EPA grantsto help California dairy operatorscontrol their waste streams beforethey ruin water supplies. It’s thereason for EPA partnerships forpollution prevention, whether it’sworking with metal platers to cuttheir use of toxic solvents or sup-porting communities in theirquest to design new developmentsthat – because they require lessdriving and have fewer pavedsurfaces – generate less air pollu-tion and polluted water run-offup front. And it’s why we’velaunched a green energy programand transformed our Richmond,CA laboratory into the first feder-al government facility using100% renewable energy.

Because as America confronts anew set of environmental chal -

lenges – from the broad-scalethreat of global warming to thepin-point toxicity of dioxin – EPAwill need all the help and ingenu-ity it can get. Our resources –combined with those of our state,tribal and local partners – pale incomparison to these challenges.

Our pledge to the residents of thePacific Southwest is that we willkeep on building bridges, keep onlooking for innovative solutions,and keep on achieving the resultsthat have made our region a bet-ter place to live.

We’ve seen what a difference 30years can make. By workingsmarter with new tools of technol -ogy and information sharing, andnew partnerships – in addition toour traditional regulatory andenforcement tools – we can makean even greater difference for theenvironment in the next 30 years.


Pacific Southwest are down 75% from a decade earlier, according to EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory. Superfund’s 650th construc-

Pacific Southwest are down 75% from a decade earlier, according to EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory. Superfund’s 650th construc-

tion completion, at MEW site in Mountain View, CA, marks halfway point for cleanup of nation’s roughly 1,300 Superfund sites.

Urban sprawl, traffic jams andincreased vehicle miles travelled arecreating new air quality and waterunoff problems.

r

EPA will need new partnerships to confront new challenges. One of our most innovative collaborations has been with metal platers, like Dan Durkiewicz of Phoenix,who have dramatically reduced the hazardous waste generated by their operations.

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34

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST CONTACTS

Public inquiries415/744-1500

Regional Web Sitewww.epa.gov/region09

OfficesEPA Pacific Southwest Headquarters75 Hawthorne StreetSan Francisco, CA 94105

EPA Pacific Island Contact Office300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 5124Honolulu, HI 96850808/541-2710

EPA San Diego Border Office610 West Ash St., Suite 703San Diego, CA 92101619/235-4765

ANNUAL REPORT PRODUCTION

Writers: Leo Kay, Felicia Marcus, JimSayer, David Schmidt. Editor; Jim Sayer.Design: Munroe Creative Partners; MaryLeigh Henneberry.

Special thanks to Steve Delaney at U.S.EPA for the use of his many excellentphotos throughout the report.

Printed on chlorine-free 100%recycled paper (100% post-consumercontent)

First Class Mai lPostage & Fees

PAIDU.S. EPA

Permi t #G-35

EPA Pacific Southwest Headquarters75 Hawthorne StreetSan Francisco, CA 94105

Official Business OnlyPenalty for Private Use $300

Forwarding & Address Correction Requested

EPA’S PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION (also

known as Region 9) encompasses: the states of

Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada; 145

Indian reservations and communities; and

Pacific Islands, such as American Samoa, Guam

and the Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S.

possessions such as Wake, Midway and

Johnston Islands. EPA also works on environ-

mental protection with three independent island

nations: the Republic of the Marshall Islands,

Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic

of Palau.

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