Remedial Investigation (Rl)/Feasibility Study (FS) Status (cont.)
EPA is preparing a Feasibility Study (FS) that assesses available technologies and potential remedial actions to
reduce the risk to human health and the environment posed by the site. The alternatives evaluated in the FS include
monitored natural recovery, enhanced natural recovery, and capping the area of PV Shelf with the most contaminated
sediment. Dredging was ruled out because of the depth and size of the contaminated sediment deposit. A draft of the
FS has undergone internal review. Once the Draft FS is completed, it will undergo review by the PV Shelf Technical
Information Exchange Group. The Final FS will be used to prepare the PP that selects EPAs preferred alternative.
The PP will be available for public review and comment at public meetings in the PV Shelf area.
Palos Verdes Shelf
Continental shelf
Contacts
Carmen White, SFD-7-1
Remedial Project Manager
(Remedial Investigation and
Cleanup)
(415) 972-3010
white.carmen@epa.gov
Sharon Lin, SFD-7-1
Remedial Project Manager
(Institutional Controls)
(415)972-3446
lin. sh aron@epa. gov
Jackie Lane, SFD-3
Community Involvement Coordinator
(415) 972-3236
lane.jackie@epa.gov
U.S. EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Toll Free Hotline: (800) 231-3075
Websites:
http://www.epa.gov/region09/features/pvshelf/	££ Printed on recycled paper.
http://www.pvsf!h or g
wEPA
Palos Verdes Shelf
Superfund Site
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 9
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
JUNE
Overview
The EPA Palos Verdes Shelf (PV Shelf) Superfund site is an area of contaminated sediment off the Palos Verdes
Peninsula. The contaminated sediment lies in the Pacific Ocean and fish found in the PV Shelf area contain high
concentrations of DDT and PCBs. In 1990, the State of California and the United States filed suit against Montrose and
other businesses claiming natural resource damages and response costs with respect to the PV Shelf and surrounding
environment. The final settlement was reached in 2000.
Located near Torrance, Montrose Chemical Corporation (Montrose) released DDT into the sewer system for decades
while PCBs were released by local industries. The chemicals eventually emptied into the ocean off the Palos Verdes
Peninsula, DDT and PCB are no longer used; however, they remain in the ocean sediment and have contaminated the
fish in the area. People who eat fish that were caught near the contaminated area face greater health risks because
of prolonged exposure to the chemicals. The contamination off the PV Shelf is largely a historical but residual problem.
Industrial wastewater was discharged from the facility through Los Angeles County Sanitation District (LACSD) outfalls.
The discharges ended in the early 1970s and the Montrose manufacturing plant was closed in 1983. PCB compounds
from various industrial waste sources were also discharged to PV Shelf through the same outfalls. The resulting area of
DDTs and PCBs contaminated sediment constitutes the PV Shelf site.
Santa Monica
Bay
LOS MJGELES
C®UNTY
Palos Verdes Peninsula
Los Angeles
Harbor
Palos Verdes
Shelf Study Area
S Mjgeles
CCPUNTY
Approximately 110 tons of DDT and 11 tons of PCBs have been deposited on the ocean floor, impacting ocean
sediments. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) characterized an area of 44 km2 (17 sq. miles) on PV Shelf with
elevated levels of DDT and PCBs in surface sediments. Subsequent data show
that the effluent-affected DDT and PCBs contaminated sediments cover a larger
area, and EPA has expanded the PV
Shelf study area to include sediments
from Point Fermin in the southeast
to the southern edge of the Redondo
canyon, northwest of the Palos
Verdes peninsula. EPAs evaluation of
potential cleanup actions is focusing
on the areas of highest contamination
within this study area.

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EPA's PV Shelf Superfund Institutional Controls (ICs) Program utilizes non-
engineering controls to reduce risks associated with eating contaminated fish
related to the PV Shelf contamination. The three program components are
public outreach and education, ocean and market fish monitoring and
enforcing existing fishing regulations. Current activities include:
WHITE CROAKER KEY
f'Genyonetfius /ineatusj
CM ' ^ _
Dom the hah resemble the picture?
,
• Public outreach and education (also known as the Fish Contamination
Education Collaborative or FCEC): for the past 5 years, EPA has been
educating populations at risk - anglers at piers (focusing on the following piers:
Santa Monica, Venice, Hermosa, Redondo, Cabrillo, Pier J,
Belmont, Seal Beach, and Huntington Beach), women of child bearing
age in communities at risk, and the general population on PV Shelf fish
contamination issues and measures that may reduce human health risks.
•	Fish monitoring: (1) EPA and the Natural Resources Trustees
completed a large scale fish survey in the Southern California coastal
area (approximately 1,000 fish from 23 fish species were analyzed) in
Summer 2007. EPA utilized the survey results to form the basis of its
cleanup decision for the PV Shelf site. The State of California will use the
data to update the existing fish advisory. (2) EPA will continue to monitor
contaminant levels in ocean-caught fish as well as the fish in the market
places to monitor risks related to eating these fish.
•	Enforcement: (1) EPA is working with the State of California
Department of Fish & Game to implement enforcement of the existing
fishing regulations related to the PV Shelf site. (2) EPA has put together
inspection/outreach programs with the local health department food
inspection programs in Los Angeles County, Orange County and the
City of Long Beach. The
health inspectors will
conduct market inspection of white croaker (the most contaminated
fish in the Southern California coastal area due to the PV Shelf
contamination) at select markets and wholesalers.
The three program components work in concert to help EPA achieve
progress towards the goal of the risk reduction. Additional information
about the ICs program can be found online atwww.pvsfish.org.
Health
Cal DPH
FISH CONTAMINATION
EDUCATION
COLLABORATIVE
al EPA
DEHHA
SMBRC
Cal DFG
CBOs &
Babriilo Mari
quarium
Trustees
Note:
California Department of Fish and Game (Cal DFG)
California Department of Public Health (Cal DPH)
Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (SMBRC)
1943
1972
1983
1985
1989 1991
1996
Montrose begins
DDT discharge in
LA County sewer
systems between
1943 and 1983.
U.S. bans the
use of DDT.
Montrose
ceases
production
of DDT.
State of CA issues
interim seafood
consumption
advisory, including
"do not eat"
recommendation
for white croaker
caught in PV Shelf
area.
EPA adds
Montrose to the
Superfund
National
Priorities List
(NPL).
State issues	EPA begins
final seafood	investigation
consumption	and evaluation
advisory.	of DDT and PCE
EPA issued a Proposed Plan (PP) in 2000 that recommended implementation of Institutional Controls (ICs) for a period
of 10 years while EPA continued its investigation and evaluation of potential remedies for the PV Shelf. EPA undertook
a pilot capping project in 2000. Additional monitoring studies and investigative reports followed in 2001 and 2004. EPA
completed its Remedial Investigation Report (Rl) in 2007. The report is available online at EPA Region 9's website:
www.epa.gov/Region09/PalosVerdesShelf. The Rl summarizes the nature and extent of contamination, the transport
and fate of the contamination, and the current risk to human health and the environment from the site.
Although discharge of DDT and PCBs stopped over 30 years ago, these
persistent pollutants remain in the sediment off Palos Verdes Peninsula. The Rl
found the quantity of DDT and PCBs has dropped over the years. Some of the
contaminants have been carried off the shelf into deeper waters, some have been
diluted by mixing with cleaner sediment, and within the contaminated sediment
deposit EPA found evidence that DDT—-but not PCBs—is slowly breaking down.
The Rl report used new fish data to recalculate the risk to human health posed
by the site and found that fish, especially bottom-feeders like white croaker, still
contain levels of DDT and PCBs that warrant fish advisories. The site still poses
a threat to wildlife in the area as well, although we have seen some indications of
recovery, like bald eagles nesting on the Channel Islands.

Fish Contamination Zones
Higher
¦t>«v DDTs/PCBs
Lower
DDTs/PCBs

Santa
Monica
Bay

*	Vetl rt o*6
Short Bank
Palos Verdes Pt.
Pt. Vicente
San Pedro/White Point
Cabrillo Pier
Pier./ and Belmont Pier
Horseshoe Kelp
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2007
State sets
white
croaker
daily bag
limit.
EPA starts
outreach and
education
project - a
precursor to
FCEC.
EPA begins
pilot capping
project.
The U.S.
settles legal
claims against
Montrose and
other
defendants;
EPA
establishes ICs
program.
EPA and the
trustees
initiate the
fish in the
ocean
monitoring
program.
EPA begins
implementation
of public
outreach and
education
programs
through FCEC.
EPA
prepares
Draft RI/FS
for PV Shelf
sediments.

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