Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Facility facts for kids
The Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Facility is a large site in California. It handles both hazardous waste and regular trash. The facility is operated by Waste Management, Inc.. It is located about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of Kettleman City in Kings County, California.
Local community members and environmental groups have often raised concerns about the facility. They worry about possible health effects on the community. The local group 'The Town for Clean Air and Water' (El Pueblo para El Aire y Agua Limpio) and groups like Greenaction have been vocal. Waste Management, Inc. states that it provides many jobs in the area. The company also donations money to the local community, including Kettleman City Elementary School. In 2007, the facility manager, Bob Henry, noted that many federal, state, and local agencies regularly inspect the site. Maricela Mares-Alatorre, a leader of 'People for Clean Air and Water,' said in 2007, "Donations don't buy you health."
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Understanding Waste Disposal and Community Concerns
A hazardous waste facility is a special place designed to safely store and dispose of materials that can be dangerous to people or the environment. The Kettleman Hills facility is one such site. It plays a role in managing waste from many places.
However, the people living near the facility, especially in Kettleman City, have often expressed worries. They are concerned about how the facility might affect their health and the local environment. These concerns have led to ongoing discussions between the community, environmental groups, and Waste Management, Inc.
Laws Protecting Our Environment
Many important laws are in place to make sure waste is handled safely. These laws protect both people and the natural world.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was created in 1976. Its main goals are to protect health and the environment from waste. It also aims to save natural resources and reduce how much waste we create. This law requires strict permits and controls for handling hazardous waste. Facilities like Kettleman Hills must follow these rules to operate.
Another law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), also passed in 1976. It helps regulate chemicals, especially polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This law also requires permits from the EPA for handling certain chemicals. When a facility wants to expand, like Kettleman Hills did, the EPA must inform the public. They also hold public meetings to hear comments.
In 1994, Executive Order 12898 was put into action. This order focuses on environmental justice. It means that all federal agencies must work to ensure that minority and low-income communities do not face unfair environmental or health burdens. This includes making sure important documents are translated into the community's native language, which has been a key issue for groups like Greenaction.
Environmental Fairness: What is Environmental Justice?
Environmental justice is about making sure everyone has the right to a healthy environment. It means that environmental laws and protections should apply equally to all people and communities. No group should face more environmental risks just because of their background or income.
Kettleman City has a large population of Spanish-speaking residents. Many families there also have lower incomes. Studies show that communities with these characteristics are sometimes more likely to live near polluting facilities. This situation raises questions about environmental fairness.
Groups like Greenaction have worked with Kettleman City residents. They help document health concerns and advocate for environmental justice. They believe that the community's demographics highlight issues of fairness in how environmental burdens are shared.
Why do these situations happen? Sometimes, industries might choose locations where land is less expensive. This can lead to facilities being built in areas where people have lower incomes. Also, communities with fewer resources or less political power might find it harder to object to new facilities. Environmental justice aims to address these imbalances.
How the Facility Affects the Environment
In 2008, Waste Management asked for permission to expand its landfill. The goal was to store more polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigated to see if this expansion would harm the environment. Their 2009 report found that two species, the San Joaquin kit fox and the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, might be affected.
The facility has also dealt with past environmental issues. In 1984, groundwater contamination was found under two old ponds. Cleanup efforts began in 1985 and 1988. Waste Management now uses 48 monitoring wells to check the groundwater. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) also ordered the cleanup of PCB spills around a storage building. By February 2012, the DTSC reported that soil cleanup was complete, protecting health and the environment.
In 2008, an independent firm, CH2M Hill, studied the possible environmental effects of the proposed expansion. Here are some of their findings:
- Looks and Scenery: The expanded areas would not be seen from Kettleman City. So, there would be no major impact on how the area looks.
- Air Quality: The project would not exceed federal and state limits for most air pollutants. However, it would exceed limits for tiny particles (PM10) at the facility's edge. The San Joaquin Valley already has air quality challenges. This means the project would add to existing air quality issues.
- Wildlife and Plants: The expansion would use 103 acres outside the current facility. Studies found that construction in undisturbed areas would not significantly harm protected wildlife species.
- History and Fossils: The area does not have important archaeological sites. However, there is a moderate to high chance of finding fossils. This means there is a similar chance of impacting these fossil resources.
- Water: The project was designed to meet state and federal rules. This ensures it would not harm groundwater or surface water.
- Noise: Noise levels from the project would stay below Kings County's limits for agricultural areas.
- Climate Impact: Emissions from vehicles transporting waste would continue. These emissions contribute to greenhouse gases. Any significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions is considered important for climate change.
In January 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked state agencies to look into a possible link between environmental issues and health problems. This was due to community concerns about health issues in babies. The Kettleman Hills facility was not found to be the single direct cause of these health issues. State agencies tested air, soil, and water in the area. They looked for pesticides, air pollutants, arsenic, lead, and other contaminants. They found higher-than-normal arsenic levels in some water. They also found low levels of lead in some wells. Benzene was found in the air near a water treatment unit. One home yard had high levels of a banned pesticide.
Community Health Concerns and Investigations
The community of Kettleman City has often worried about health problems that they suspected were caused by the waste facility.
In 2007, residents voiced concerns when the facility applied to renew its permit. This permit would allow it to keep storing and disposing of PCB waste. The EPA responded by ordering a study of PCBs. Samples of soil, plants, and air were collected around the facility. Tests showed that PCB levels were very low. They were 2,000 times below the EPA's safe limits for residential areas. The risk to health from soil, plants, and air was found to be acceptable. It was similar to other rural areas without known PCB activity. The study found no evidence that PCBs would spread off-site at harmful levels.
In 2009, the community was concerned about health issues in babies. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) investigated these concerns. However, the CDPH did not find the Kettleman Waste Facility to be the cause. The Kings County Department of Public Health stated that the health issues were most likely a random event. They believed it was not related to any unique environmental exposure in Kettleman City.
The CDPH investigated 11 children born with major health issues between 2007 and March 2010. Their mothers had lived in Kettleman City during pregnancy. The CDPH interviewed mothers and reviewed medical records. They did not find a specific cause or environmental exposure that explained the increase in health issues. Some children had multiple problems, while others had single issues. All the health issues represented different conditions. None of the mothers used tobacco, alcohol, or other substances that could cause such problems. The mothers were also in good health.
Groups like Greenaction and "El Pueblo para El Aire y Agua Limpio" disagreed with these conclusions. Bradley Angel of Greenaction argued that the investigation was not thorough enough. He noted that it did not test blood or tissue samples. He also said it did not adequately test for pesticides inside homes.
An update from the CDPH for 2009-2011 showed that the rates of health issues in babies in Kettleman City returned to lower levels in 2010 and 2011. These rates were similar to those seen before 2008. The CDPH reviewed the data again but still did not find a common cause for the health issues.
The Costs and Benefits of Waste Management
The situation in Kettleman City has led to many discussions about money. This includes effects on the county, the city, and Waste Management, Inc. The facility initially wanted to expand because its 10.7 million-cubic-yard site was almost full.
Lily Quiroa, a spokeswoman for Waste Management, Inc., stated that denying the expansion had a big impact. She said, "we have laid off more than two-thirds of our employees." This affected the company's business and the local economy. In 2012, the company paid about $312,000 in fines. This was for not reporting waste spills that had happened.
The county also benefits financially from the facility. It receives about $1.5 million each year from fees on waste truckloads. The facility's operations also contribute about $17.5 million to the county's economy.
Residents of Kettleman City were also offered financial benefits if the expansion was approved. Chemical Waste Inc. offered donations. They also offered to pay off the Kettleman City Community Services District's water system debt, estimated at $552,000. This would allow the community to get state grant money. Other offers included $150,000 to create safe pedestrian crossings on Highway 41. However, Maricela Mares-Alatorre opposed such funding. She said, "If you give me a choice between my good will and the health of the community, the health of my family, I’m going to choose the health of my family.”
