State Department of Toxic Substances Control overseeing clean-up at site on Sixth Street

Riverside, Ca. – A state agency that is overseeing the clean-up of a former scrapyard in Riverside is holding a public meeting Thursday (9/19) to accept comments from the public on a proposed plan to remove contamination at the site so it can be developed for residential use.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control will hold the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Main Library, 3581 Mission Inn Avenue. A copy of the draft clean-up plan and other documents pertaining to the site can be found at that library location. The documents also can be viewed at https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report?global_id=60002350

The state agency, commonly referred to as DTSC, is working on a draft Remedial Action Plan for the old Riverside Scrap Iron & Metal location at 2993 Sixth Street, which is just across the railroad tracks east of downtown Riverside, between Commerce Street and Park Avenue.

The site was used as a scrap metal and metal recycling facility for more than 45 years before ceasing operations in 2015.

Environmental investigations of the site in 2011 and 2015 found lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and arsenic on the site. Contamination at the site must be cleaned up before the land can be developed for residential uses.

A proposed remediation program would remove 20,000 cubic yards of soil across about 5.5 acres of land. Another 300 cubic yards of contaminated soil would be removed from adjoining residential properties. That’s roughly 1,500 truckloads of contaminated soil that will have to be taken to a state-licensed disposal facility.

DTSC will consider comments received from the public before finalizing a clean-up program.

The public comment period continues through Oct. 8. Written comments can be sent to:

Aslam Shareef

DTSC Project Manager

5796 Corporate Ave.

Cypress, CA 90630

(714) 484-5472

Aslam.Shareef@dtsc.ca.gov