FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Dominguez Channel Environmental Investigation–April 13, 2024
Who is Resource Environmental LLC?
Resource Environmental LLC (RELLC) is an independent organization formed by several major oil companies for the purpose of responding to and managing the clean-up of certain releases of petroleum fuels into the ground from retail sites, pipelines, terminals and other petroleum fuel related facilities. It has been in operation for 20 years.
Who is overseeing the Dominguez Channel environmental assessment?
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) is overseeing the environmental assessment of the site. The LARWQCB is assisted by a number of other governmental agencies, including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW), Los Angeles County Flood Control District, California Environmental Protection Agency, the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the City of Carson.
What is RELLC’s role in the LARWQCB’s environmental investigation?
RELLC and its subcontractors are conducting the environmental assessment. All testing results are being shared by RELLC with the LARWQCB and the public. Findings are also posted at the following website: www.DominguezChannel.com. RELLC will continue to communicate with the City of Carson concerning this environmental assessment work and the testing results to ensure that city and community leaders are fully informed about this environmental assessment.
What should I know about the Dominguez Channel environmental assessment?
Through its extensive assessment work, RELLC has identified the most probable source of the light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) that has occasionally caused the appearance of a sheen on the surface of the water, or sheening. In the 1950s and 1960s, one or more of the petroleum related pipelines located adjacent to the channel likely leaked at various times and in various quantities. At the time, the regional aquifers, including the near surface aquifer, were very deep due to over pumping of the aquifers. At that time, the leaks from the pipelines weren’t apparent and no one knew that leaks had occurred. However, since the early 1970s, the water table has risen over 100 feet, as a result of clean water being injected into the aquifers for the Dominguez Gap Barrier project to prevent seawater intrusion. It has only been recently that the aquifers have risen (thereby raising the level of the floating hydrocarbons) to the point where the groundwater elevation is higher than the clay bottom of Dominguez Channel. As a result, it finally became apparent that there had been historical leaks of petroleum hydrocarbons from the abandoned pipelines. In other words, the channel is a gathering water body, so water from the aquifer (which hydrocarbons float on top of) pushes up into the bottom of the channel resulting in a surface sheen to be observable on the channel.
The only permanent solution is to extract the residual LNAPL from under the channel and remove areas of the clay channel bottom, ideally done in conjunction with the future plans of Los Angeles County to widen and deepen the channel. For now, RELLC has minimized impacts by removing LNAPL from the subsurface using recovery wells in order to reduce pressure beneath the channel bottom and to reduce sheening.
Under the purview of the LARWQCB, investigations and evaluations have indicated that there are no identifiable human health effects presented by this situation. Besides the evaluation within the channel, all areas adjacent to the channel have been adequately assessed for any impacts from these historic pipeline leaks. There is evidence of impacted soils in several industrial areas and beneath the streets which were the corridors on these old pipelines, but these minimal impacts present no health concerns based on current activity and use. However, out of an abundance of caution, in 2024, RELLC will be conducting additional assessment at residential boundaries which are east of pipeline corridors where historic leaks may have occurred and in certain residential areas just to the east of the boundaries (that is, east of the former Active RV site).
Conclusions: The problem of sheening on the channel is most likely from historic pipeline leaks; there have been no known leaks from these pipelines for several decades. We don’t know and cannot determine the exact pipeline source or precise location of the old pipeline leaks that impacted the channel. Eventually, the bottom of the channel will have to be dug up to solve the problem. To minimize disruption in the community with the required construction activities, this work will be best completed in coordination with possible general widening/deepening of the channel with the Corps of Engineers and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Until then, RELLC will remain diligent with its ongoing remedial activities.
What environmental assessment work is being performed?
Ongoing environmental assessment activities include:
- Semiannual groundwater monitoring
- Product Recovery
- Management of absorbent socks to remove product
- Deployment and management of absorbent booms on the Channel when sheening occurs
- Ongoing monitoring of potential nuisance odors to include air sampling for detailed chemical analysis.
What time of day does testing take place?
All activities are performed Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., as approved by the LARWQCB.
Is my drinking water safe?
Yes. The Dominguez Channel is a flood control channel, not a source of drinking water. Drinking water sources are tested to ensure they meet rigorous state and federal drinking water standards before being delivered to the City of Carson.
How do I get more information?
If you have any questions or concerns about this environmental assessment, feel free to contact Majd Nima, LARWQCB Project Manager, at 213-576-6707 or by email at Majd.Nima@waterboards.ca.gov.
If you would like more information about RELLC or RELLC’s approved environmental assessment activities, you may contact Greg Vogelpohl, Vice President and General Manager of RELLC, at 310-857-2334 (Local), 800-461-9960 (Toll Free) or Dominguez-info@rellc.net. Again, all findings will also be posted at the following website: www.DominguezChannel.com.
Finally, if you have any questions about the operation of the Dominguez Channel, you may contact Christopher Palmer, Planning Manager for the City of Carson at 310-952-1761 or CPalmer@carsonca.gov.