In early 2004, DTSC determined that immediate action was necessary at the Site, as a precautionary measure, to ensure chromium-contaminated groundwater does not reach the Colorado River. Based on the need for immediate action, DTSC issued a Notice of Exemption under CEQA for the initial and the expanded Interim Measures (The CEQA Notice of Exemptions for IM2 and IM3 are available on the CEQA Documents for Interim Measures page of the Document Library).

Prior to approval and implementation of a final groundwater remedy at the Site, a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared to determine if any significant impacts might occur as a result of the proposed final remedy. The EIR provides a project-level analysis for the conceptual technical methods proposed for the final remedy to clean up contaminated groundwater at the Station. The EIR also provides a program-level analysis of the construction of physical facilities that would be necessary to implement the proposed project. When PG&E develops an implementation plan for the proposed final remedy, including specific design of remediation facilities within a discrete footprint within the project area, DTSC will review the design and determine if the environmental impacts associated with the project-level designs are generally consistent with the significance conclusions of the EIR, after implementation of mitigation. On this basis, DTSC shall determine whether the specific design for the final remedy is within the scope of the program EIR, pursuant to the provisions of Section 15168 of the CEQA Guidelines.

Due to limited soil contamination data, the extent of soil contamination at or surrounding the Site is not known in detail at this time, and thus even a preliminary determination of potential remediation needs for contaminated soils is still undetermined. Therefore, the initial EIR will analyze only the groundwater final remedy. An EIR addressing the soil remedy is expected to be prepared at a later date.

DTSC is providing opportunities for stakeholders and the public to get involved throughout the EIR preparation process. In May 2008, DTSC issued a formal Notice of Preparation (NOP) to prepare an EIR. A series of five EIR Scoping Meetings were held in May and June, 2008, to inform the public and take comments on the proposed scope of work, schedule, and methodologies to be utilized in preparation of the EIR. DTSC reviewed the written and oral comments and drafted a report. DTSC considered these comments during preparation of the Draft EIR for the groundwater remediation project.

The Draft EIR is now available for a 45-day public review and comment period, which extends through July 19, 2010. DTSC is welcoming all public comments related to the analysis and information provided in the Draft EIR. Comments can be sent directly to Aaron Yue, DTSC project manager via email, fax, or mail, and must be postmarked by July 19, 2010. A series of four open houses and public hearings will be held following the release of the Draft EIR, after which a Final EIR will be prepared. For details about the open houses and public hearings that will be held, please visit the Outreach page of this website.

DTSC will ensure that all necessary steps are taken to comply with CEQA and RCRA. DTSC will also identify any other state and federal laws applicable to the cleanup effort. For additional information on the CEQA process, please visit the California Resources Agency and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research websites.

If you have questions about the Topock EIR or other aspects of the project please contact one of DTSC's Topock Project staff listed on the Contacts page of this website.

You can view the NOP, Scoping Meeting Comments and Report, and other CEQA documents , as well as other project documents in the online Document Library, on DTSC's main website, or in the project's Information Repositories.