Return to Use Initiative
2009 Demonstration Project
Pemaco Maywood:
Maywood, California
THE SITE: The Pemaco Maywood Superfund site occupies a 4-acre
tract of land along the Los Angeles River in Maywood, California. The
site operated as a chemical mixing facility from the late 1940s until
1991, when the facility closed. In 1993, a fire destroyed the warehouse
and raised safety concerns regarding the 31 underground storage tanks,
six aboveground storage tanks and 400 drums that still remained on site.
An EPA investigation detected hazardous chemicals including
chlorinated and aromatic solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, and
flammable liquids present in the soil, as well as dioxin and volatile
organic compound emissions from soil and groundwater. In 1997,
measures to stabilize the site were implemented, including razing all
infrastructure and removing the remaining storage tanks. An expanded
EPA site assessment resulted in the site being added to the Superfund
National Priorities List in 1999. Three years of treating contaminated
soils with electrical resistive heating was completed in 2008. A carbon-
based treatment system for soil vapors and ground water, powered by a
solar energy system, continues to operate.
THE OPPORTUNITY: The City of Maywood and the Trust for Public
Land planned to revitalize former industrial lands along the Los Angeles
Riverfront into a community park, as part of the Los Angeles River
Greenway Project. The best situated lands for this project were eight
parcels along the river in Maywood, including the four acres containing
the Pemaco Maywood site.
THE BARRIERS: The City of Maywood acquired State assistance for
the park project and needed to complete park construction within a strict
timeframe in order to utilize the funding. Given the construction
deadline, ensuring that EPA's cleanup remedy would be incorporated
into the Park's construction proved a challenging aspect of the site's
reuse.
THE SOLUTION: The site's recreational reuse was considered in all
EPA's activities, including remedial investigation, sampling, risk
assessment, remedial design, and construction. EPA adjusted the
placement of the ground water treatment facility to best accommodate
the park. The City of Maywood, the Trust for Public Land, EPA, and
various city and state stakeholders collaborated closely to assure that the
Pemaco site during cleanup.
Barrier: Aligning redevelopment
construction timetable with cleanup
remedy completion
Solution: Close collaboration
between EPA and site stakeholders;
EPA reuse consideration throughout
cleanup activities
Pemaco Maywood Riverfront Park
Before: Vacant, former industrial
site in a densely populated community
After: Recreational park for
Maywood residents including
playgrounds and athletic facilities
Environmental Protection
.Agency
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site remedy would be in place for park completion within the scheduled deadline. EPA held bilingual
community meetings to keep residents apprised of construction at the site and progress of remediation
measures. Ongoing meetings continue to involve community members in site maintenance and address any
concerns about site safety.
THE SITE NOW: The Maywood Riverfront Park was officially opened in May 2008 and offers soccer fields,
playground equipment, handball courts, and basketball courts for area residents. The city of Maywood is
densely populated and home to a large minority community; this recreational park is one of only two such parks
available for residents of the city.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Rose Marie Caraway, Remedial Project Manager, at
(415) 972-3158 or caraway.rosemarie@epa.gov: or Gary Riley, Region 9 Superfund Redevelopment
Coordinator, at (415) 972-3003 or rilev.gary@epa.gov.
United States
Environmental Protection
.Agency
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