Interim Cleanups
SSFL > CLEANUP > CLEANUP INTERIM
The site-wide (aka programmatic) cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Lab was supposed to be completed by 2017, but it hasn’t begun. However, there have been several “mini” (aka interim) cleanups, including the demolition of buildings (which is busy work that hasn’t lowered the risk of exposure for residents) or implementing emergency orders for severely contaminated portions of the SSFL. These mini cleanups have been generally helpful, but the contamination dangers at the SSFL remain as the majority of the site remains polluted with long-lasting chemicals, toxic metals, and radioactive waste.
CURRENT: 2025
Area I Burn Pit
The Area I Burn Pit (A1BP) was used for decades to burn toxic waste in an open-air pit. An Imminent and Substantial Endangerment (IS&E) Order was given in 2022 to clean the area up. The A1BP was one of the SSFL’s most toxic areas but the DTSC allowed the cleanup to follow less-stringent cleanup standards — using biological, instead of human health, risk calculations, resulting in contamination being left behind after the interim cleanup.
PASSFL advocated for the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to employ “gold standards” for soil classification during the Burn Pit cleanup, but the DTSC refused, saying that their standard practices were good enough. This likely resulted in radioactive soil being sent to toxic waste sites, instead of licensed low-rad waste sites, saving Boeing money while putting Environmental Justice communities at risk. The cleanup of the Area I Burn Pit is estimated to be completed before the summer of 2025.
Photo of the Area I Burn Pit creating a cloud of toxic fumes.
Photo of barrels ready to be burned in the Area I Burn pit.
Recent: 2024
SSFL Shooting Range
The employees at the SSFL used to spend their free time at the site’s firing range from 1972 - 1991. This resulted in lead contamination that polluted the Los Angeles River. The mini-cleanup finished in 2024.
PAST: 2020
Department of Energy Building Demo
In 2020, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced a Consent Order for Interim Response Action at the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility (RMHF) Complex to demolish 10 of the remaining DOE-owned buildings.
DOE demolished building 4462, a radioactive building, with explosives and no dust mitigation measures. Residents and elected officials were horrified when the DOE released footage of the Sodium Pump Test Facility’s demolition, which used explosives without dust mitigation, despite a DTSC-approved Standard Operating Procedure that specified the use of water cannons. Similarly, it appears the DOE didn’t have permits from the Ventura County Fire Department. The demolition took place during fire season, not far from where the Woolsey Fire began three years before.
Past: 2011
Area II
In October 2010, NASA began soil removal activity in Area II as part of an Interim Source Removal Action (ISRA) to protect surface water quality.
The cleanup included work around old-growth oak trees. Using more expensive and labor-intensive methods, the mini-cleanup succeeded in removing toxic soil with no damage to the environment.
“…No oak tree roots were exposed or damaged during the soil removal,” said Randy Dean, a CH2MHill contractor to NASA.
Past: 2023 & 1999
Happy Valley
The Interim Measures included:
Identify and remove suspect explosives and/or ordnance items.
Removal and restoration of soils, sediment and bedrock containing perchlorate, and in some cases, metals.
Biotreatment of the excavated soils containing perchlorate at the Building 359 Area.
The Happy Valley site was used for solid propellant research, testing and gun propellant testing between the 1950s and 1993. The primary use of perchlorate at the Happy Valley site occurred in the 1960s in support of flare research, development and production for the military, as well as for rocket propellant research and testing activities during the 1970s through 1993. Additional perchlorate use occurred in the northern portion of Happy Valley, where turbine spinners were tested in the 1950s.
PAST: 1999
Sodium Burn Pit
DTSC directed Boeing to remove soils contaminated with dioxin, PCBs, solvents, and other waste at the Former Sodium Disposal Facility (FSDF) also known as the Former Sodium Burn Pit, which operated from 1956 to 1978. The FSDF was built to treat waste sodium and NaK(a mixture of sodium and potassium). It was also used to react the sodium within various scrap test components (pumps, valves, etc.) before they were disposed of. Combustible liquid waste (oils, etc.) was also burned at the facility. Radioactive waste was also burned at the site.
In 2000, over 14,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils were to bedrock from this area. Following removal of the soils, the exposed bedrock surfaces were swept and vacuumed clean and mapped for fractures and chemical residues. A DTSC geologist collected samples to confirm that soil and bedrock were remediated to the required health-based cleanup levels prior to installation of a clay backfill cap.