Newell Maintenance Station

Newell Maintenance Station

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans to conduct hazardous waste investigations on a 15-acre excess land parcel adjacent to Caltrans' Newell Maintenance Station on Route 139 in Modoc County. The title to this 15-acre parcel will eventually be returned to the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. The property is within the boundaries of the Tule Lake Segregation Center National Historic Landmark. It also includes the Tule Lake/Newell Maintenance Station Historic District, which is eligible of the National Register of Historic Places and is contributing element of the Tule Lake Segregation Center. The National Park Service is currently responsible for the maintenance and protection of the property. Prior to returning the property to BLM, Caltrans will be responsible for identifying hazardous waste issues and implementing appropriate monitoring and/or remediation measures required by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB). A previous hazardous waste investigation by Caltrans in 2002 identified soil and/or groundwater contaminated with gasoline, diesel, motor oil, lead, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), phenol and bi (2-ethlyhexyl) phthalate. Underground anomalies were also identified using ground penetration radar. The site contamination is due in part to its historic use as a motor pool, highway maintenance yard, and burn dump. The currently proposed testing includes backhoe excavations and vertical soil boring. All work will be confined within the fenced boundary of the state facility. It is anticipated that 4 backhoe excavations 15x15 feet and 5 feet deep will be excavated to investigate anomalies identified by ground penetrating radar. The excavations will be backfilled with uncontaminated fill. Approximately 21 soil borings, 2 inches in diameter, between 5 and 20 feet deep will be made using either a hand auger or pick-up truck mounted drill rig. All holes will be backfilled with a Portland cement and bentonite slurry. A site investigation report will be prepared and submitted to the CRWQCB for review. If it is determined by the CRWQCB the monitoring and remediation is necessary, the appropriate measures will be implemented as a separate CEQA action. Caltrans performed an environmental evaluation for this action, which consisted of a review of resource records and databases, consultation and coordination with applicable agencies and individuals, and field surveys. No historic properties will be affected. No sensitive species will be affected. Based on the environmental evaluation, it has been determined that there is no potential for the action to result in a significant effect upon the environment.

Modoc