Every cleanup is designed to protect public health and the environment. When we assess the risk from a given site, we consider possible harm that could stem from the contamination and address possible exposure routes. And we also evaluate ecological impacts that could result from the contamination and make sure to protect against those impacts.

Cleanup actions are taken to reduce risk and can include treating contamination to eliminate or reduce the presence of contamination, capping contamination to cut off pathways of exposure between people and the contamination left on-site, excavation and offsite disposal of contaminated media (e.g., soil and/or water), and other systems to protect the public.

Although DTSC has been addressing Sea Level Rise and its impacts on contaminated sites, this guidance is the first time DTSC is formalizing its approach in a guidance document.  We developed a guidance so that those interested can become familiar and engage with us as we continue considering SLR in our cleanup remedies at contaminated sites.

While DTSC has expertise in the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites to protect human health and the environment, DTSC relies on the Ocean Protection Council for the most up-to-date science on sea level rise. DTSC is collaborating with other state agencies to identify, assess and to the extent feasible, mitigate impacts of SLR. The Ocean Protection Council finalized the (California SLR Action Plan) in February 2022.  This plan established goals including:

• preparation and planning for SLR across the entire California coastline,
• SLR adaptation planning with pathways to resiliency for SLR of 3.5 feet by 2050 and 6 feet by 2100,
• integration and prioritization of equity in SLR adaptation planning and projects,
• prioritization of nature-based solutions as feasible, and
• protection and preservation of coastal habitats

DTSC’s sea level rise public website will also contain a new online mapping tool that renders a visual approximation of sea level rise and active DTSC cleanup projects. The mapping tool uses data from several state and federal agencies. The tool will always be a work in progress and is one of many useful tools that will help DTSC, responsible parties, and the public with decision-making. Note that the mapping tool does NOT conduct a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment (SLRVA) and is just one tool in our toolbox.  All active DTSC sites are included on the map. If a point representing one of the active projects from the DTSC EnviroStor database does not overlap with one of the Sea Level Rise indicator datasets, a SLRVA may still be required.  The datasets used in the mapping tool were produced for statewide or nationwide analysis and are not precise enough themselves to establish the need for a SLRVA. DTSC project teams will evaluate site-specific project information, including property boundaries, location of the contamination within the property, depth of contamination, as well as other more detailed SLR datasets to establish the level of detail a SLRVA may need to include. The mapping tool is an aid to DTSC in scoping the general volume of workload and priority areas as well as to visualize statewide SLR data with respect to DTSC project locations for the public.  Every project (still) requires a site-specific decision.

None. Our job is to make sure that land is safe for the intended use. We do not have the authority to tell local agencies how to use or regulate use of property. Only to what level it needs to be cleaned to protect public health and the environment.

DTSC plans to continue relying on experts in sea level rise, such as the Ocean Protection Council, to ensure that we are using the best available science as California law requires. Each site is evaluated individually, and our Project Managers will be following a process established in our new guidance to ensure that we use a consistent approach to our decisions, based on the most current science, while also requiring the specific measures needed at each individual site.

DTSC is prioritizing efforts in vulnerable communities through our new Cleanup in Vulnerable Communities Initiative and decision-making throughout our department. For sites that are not cleaned up to unrestricted use, State law requires that we review the protectiveness of a remedy every five years at a minimum. The five-year review provides an opportunity to assess the protectiveness of the remedy. We also require annual and even quarterly reporting and monitoring in many cases to ensure that those remedies are protective on an ongoing basis, not just every five years.   When the monitoring shows action is needed, DTSC acts to require more health-protective measures be put into place.

Sites with contamination remaining in place are subject to 5-year reviews.  As necessary, some may be subject to annual reviews.  If vulnerabilities are identified, DTSC will require adaptation measures be applied to the site to ensure continued protectiveness of the remedy to human health and the environment.

DTSC is requiring RPs/Project proponents to provide financial assurance to address this issue.

DTSC’s process is to route all SLR vulnerability assessments through our internal Engineering Services group, as well as train our PMs.  As resources allow, DTSC will update its internal electronic tools (e.g., EnviroStor) to track the SLR-related documents.  This will facilitate the development of metrics and a centralized repository for information on how SLR is addressed on projects.

DTSC is currently focusing on SLR.  However, DTSC will transition to addressing other climate change related phenomena in the future, as resources allow.

DTSC aims to prioritize the allocation of resources to address contaminated sites vulnerable to SLR in communities overburdened with pollution and contaminated sites.  However, by integrating the evaluation of SLR into regular project oversight, all active sites should be addressed through the normal regulatory processes.  This means that SLR will be considered in the development of the conceptual site model for the site remediation.  SLR will be considered in the evaluation of remedial alternatives.  SLR will be factored into the design and implementation of remedies.

For DTSC sites where SLR has a potential impact, the effects of SLR will be included in each site’s communications.  For non-site-specific updates to the guidance, DTSC encourages subscription to the Sea Level Rise Elist.  In addition, DTSC is currently developing a media and public engagement strategy to ensure we proactively provide climate change and SLR updates to the public.

DTSC is coordinating with USEPA Region 9, State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards, the California Ocean Protection Council, and several other agencies on the topic of SLR.  DTSC participates in the Interagency Resilience Workgroup, that the California Office of Planning and Research hosts to coordinate climate resilience approaches across numerous state agencies.   Through these efforts we apprise other agencies of our approach and guidance, so that we can identify potential areas of overlap and/or differing approaches, and resolve and coordinate our efforts, which are driven by best available science.