Site Mitigation & Restoration Program

We protect and maintain California’s land and places
by setting strict standards for land restoration and cleanup

Western Environmental, Inc. Overview

Western Environmental Incorporated (WEI) is located in Mecca, which lies within the Coachella Valley near Indio, on tribal land owned by the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians (see map below). DTSC had previously determined that WEI could not legally accept and/or treat “non-RCRA hazardous waste” at their Mecca facility without a valid permit.

In May of 2012, DTSC issued an Evaluation Survey and an Evaluation of Soil Sampling. The Evaluation of Soil Sampling determined that chemical concentrations of the treated soils were below both federal and California hazardous waste limits. The Evaluation Survey outlined seventeen recommendations that would facilitate WEI’s compliance with California standards.

In April 2014, WEI notified DTSC that they are not currently accepting “materials currently regulated as California Hazardous waste”. Therefore, compliance with the seventeen recommendations outlined in DTSC’s Evaluation Survey for operation of a permitted California hazardous waste facility is not required. DTSC will continue to work with CBMI in an advisory capacity, and be available to provide support to the community. For details, please refer to the most recent Fact Sheet.

Please note that Western Environmental Services, Inc., a registered hazardous waste transporter in Glendora, California, Los Angeles County, is not affiliated with the WEI facility in Mecca, California, Riverside County.

Fact Sheets

Evaluation Survey of Facility

DTSC Internal Process Audit

Access Agreements

Information about the Waste that has Gone to WEI

Mecca-area residents have asked about the types and quantities of waste accepted by the facility. The charts and data below are intended to help residents better understand the types and amount of wastes that were taken to WEI. (Note: Two different versions of the data are provided; one that contains all columns used to track waste, and a “quick view” version that eliminates columns that contained no data. The charts show general categories of wastes that were brought to WEI over time.)

The data which is from 2009 and 2010 manifests (the two years when the amount of waste was highest) show the generator of the waste sent to WEI and the approximate tonnage delivered. Data also show the general categories of hazardous waste – the largest being contaminated dirt removed from toxic cleanup sites – hauled to the facility.

These waste codes provide a picture of the types of wastes that were sent to the facility. People seeking more specific information about wastes sent from individual sites listed in this database may search DTSC’s EnviroStor Website. EnviroStor contains documents and records detailing activity on each site.

You may also contact the agency or company that generated the waste for more information.

If you observe activities at the facility that concern you, you can report an environmental concern.

Western Environmental Links

WEI Additional Links

Tonnage of California-only hazardous waste received by WEI per year

2006 - 2011 Waste Categories Delivered to Western Environmental Incorporated Charts

2006 - 2011 Waste Categories Delivered to Western Environmental Incorporated Charts

Site Mitigation & Restoration Program Links