OSWER/OSRTI Washington, DC 20460



## N ATIONAL 

## P RIORITIES 

## L IST 

## (NPL)

[The description of the site (re lease) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination.]

For more information about the hazardous substances ide ntified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxF AQs can be found on

the Inter net at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq s/index.asp or by telephone at 1

- 888

- 42

- ATSDR or 1

- 888

- 422

- 8737. *** Final Site*** May 2012


### JERVIS B. WEBB CO. South Gate, California Los Angeles County

 **Site Location :**  The site is located in a mixed industrial, commerci al and residential area in South Gate, California.

 **Site History:**

The J ervis B. Webb Co. conducted metal fabrication, finishing, painting and assembly operations associated with the

manufacture of industrial conv eyor belt systems from the 1950 s to early 1996 on the southeast portion of the site. In 1997, Reliable Steel, Inc. purch ased this portion of the site. The Jervis B. Webb Co mpany purchased the northwestern portion of the site in 197 5 from Spear Industries. Blake Riv et Company , which produced aluminum and st ainless steel aircraft rivets, leased th e northwestern portion o f the site until approximately 1981.

 **Site Contamination/Contaminants:**

T richloroethylene ( TCE ) has contaminated s oil a nd ground water at the site

. In 1997, TCE was detected in on site soils at levels up to 270,000 ppb, and the contaminated soil was excava ted, removed and backfille d with clean material in

1999. In 2002, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) issued a No Further Action letter for soil assessment and cleanup with the stipulation that ground water monitoring and investi gat ion needed to be

continued. TCE was detected in the ground water beneath the site at levels up to 3 5,000 pp b. The EPA’s Safe Drinking

Water Act Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for TCE in drinking water is 5 ppb.

 **Potential Impacts on Surrounding Commun ity/Environment** **:** The extent of the ground water contamination ne eds to be fully characterized. Although the drinking water supply wells immediately downg radient of the site are located in a deeper aquifer and are not currently contaminated, there is the po tential that drinking water wells may become contaminated

. There are at least 35 drinking water wells within

four miles of the site, serving approximately 226,000 people. In addition, due to the high concentrations of TCE in ground water and the relatively shallow depth to ground water (60 feet) , there is a need to evaluate the potential for vapor intrusion of TCE from the site into nearby buildings and residential areas.

 **Response Activities (to date):**
The RWQCB requested that the California D epartment o f T oxic S ubstances C ontrol (DTSC) assume the lead on the

Jervis B. Webb Co. site in 2007

. The DTSC issued an o rder to the potentially responsible parties for the Jervis B. Webb Co. site to investigate and remediate the site, but no partie s complied with th e o rder. Since 2007

, the DTSC has

been unsuccessful in compe l l ing the potentially responsible parties to conduct work at the site

. Due to the lack of

enforcement resources as we ll as the proximity of the site to the existing Cooper Drum NPL site

, the DTSC requested

that the EPA assume the lead for the site to ensure that investigation work continues and cleanup work begins.

 **Need for NPL Listing:**

The S tate of California referred th e site to the EPA. Other federal and state cleanup programs were evaluated , but are

not viable at this time

. The EPA received a l etter of support for placing this site on the NPL from the State of

California.