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Waste Site Reports: California
NOAA acts on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce as a Federal trustee under CERCLA for natural resources in coastal and marine areas. NOAA trust species in California include flounder, sculpin, perch, anchovy, flying fish, sea bass, striped bass, halibut, herring, mackerel, rockfish, cod, shrimp, dungeness crab, abalone, octopus, urchin, clams, harbor seals, sea lions, whales, and dozens of other species. Species of special concern to NOAA in California because of declining abundance include: Chinook salmon (a federally endangered specie), Coho salmon, steelhead (a proposed threatened specie), sturgeon, and striped bass.
Military Sites in California
Many of NOAA's active sites in California are military bases. Military facilities pose a special concern for several reasons. First, defense facilities are unique among hazardous waste sites in that they commonly encompass large vestiges of valuable habitats. For instance, Camp Pendleton has the last four undeveloped vernal estuaries in Southern California. Fort Ord has the last major stand in the U.S. of coastal scrub oak community. These habitats are crucial to the long-term survival of dozens of species, some of which are already endangered or threatened. Second, the nature of defense-related activities has left serious cleanup problems at bases throughout the state. Ship and aircraft repair activities, for example, involve chemicals that are highly toxic and persistent in the environment. Third, many of the defense bases along the coast of California are closing and are on the fast track for cleanup. NOAA's input is needed now to ensure that those cleanups protect natural resources as well as human health. NOAA offers technical expertise and a neutral perspective that is valued by both the military and the local public.
Areas of Special Concern in California
Although NOAA is working to protect and restore natural resources throughout California, the San Francisco Bay and rivers that feed the Bay are of special concern. The watershed provides critical habitat for several runs of endangered salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout, and other species. Mining activities, oil refineries, chemical plants, military facilities, and other municipal and industrial activities throughout the watershed have contaminated enough of the Bay's water and sediments that a fish consumption advisory is in place for most species. Other areas of concern include Monterey Bay, the Farallon Islands, and the Channel Islands. These areas are National Marine Sanctuaries, congressionally recognized areas of unique value meriting special protection.
Waste Site Reports
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- CA: Fort Ord (Reviewed 1990); CERCLIS No. = CA7210020676
(Document format: PDF, size: 644.0 K)
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- CA: MGM Brakes (Reviewed 1984); CERCLIS No. = CAD000074120
(Document format: PDF, size: 355.7 K)
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Other pages in this series
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