Evaluating and Cleaning-Up School Sites

DTSC's School Property Evaluation and Cleanup Division is responsible for assessing, investigating and cleaning-up proposed school sites.  The Division ensures that selected properties are free of contamination or, if the properties were previously contaminated, that they have been cleaned-up to a level that protects the students and staff who will occupy the new school.  All proposed school sites that will receive State funding for acquisition or construction are required to go through a rigorous environmental review and cleanup process under DTSC's oversight.

School districts conduct environmental assessments to provide basic information for determining if there has been a release of hazardous material at the sites, or if there may be present a naturally-occurring hazardous material that presents a risk to human health or the environment.  Outreach activities integrated into the process allow a more active role for stakeholders in the selection process for school sites.  Through the environmental review process, DTSC ensures protection of children, staff, and the environment from the potential effects of exposure to hazardous materials.  As the only comprehensive school environmental evaluation program in the United States, the DTSC School Property Evaluation and Cleanup Division continues to set the national standard.

“To assist school districts in the assessment of school properties by ensuring that environmental conditions are expeditiously investigated, evaluated, and if necessary, remediated in order to protect public health and the environment.”

Values

The things that matter most in our organization are:

• Ensuring sites are safe for schools
• Providing high quality services
• Information and responding to stakeholders
• Making decisions that reflect competence, practicality, and consistency
• Striving for cost and time efficient operations
• Developing innovative approaches and guidance to address environmental issues

Principles

We recognize that all our actions must be guided by a set of principles:

• Protection:  Our responsibility is to promote and protect public health and the environment.
• Service:  We serve the Public as a whole, our customers who seek a product or service from us, and future generations whose interests are affected by today's actions.
• Teamwork:  Our decisions are jointly made by trained multidisciplinary staff so as to ensure balance, competence, and professionalism.
• Integrity:  We must continually earn the trust of those we serve, making an active commitment to truth, accuracy, and fairness.
• Excellence:  We are committed to career development and professional growth for our valued staff; we strive to provide high-quality services, and to achieve a standard of excellence in job performance.
• Ownership:  We accept responsibility for ensuring an effective investigation and cleanup, and are accountable for project outcomes.

School Projects or Environmental Review Process

DTSC is available to address any questions or problems that may arise during the environmental review process.  Please contact the DTSC project manager with your concerns.  If you do not know the assigned project manager or the project manager is unable to satisfactorily answer your questions, please contact:

Hamid Saebfar, Chief
School Program and Engineering/Geology Support Division
Department of Toxic Substances Control
9211 Oakdale Avenue
Chatsworth, California 91311
(818) 717-6528
hsaebfar@dtsc.ca.gov

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, Preliminary Environmental Assessment Applications and Agreements (Environmental Oversight, Voluntary Cleanup, School Cleanup)

Michele Foster
Phase I and Agreement Coordinator
School Program and Engineering/Geology Support Division
Department of Toxic Substances Control
9211 Oakdale Avenue
Chatsworth, California  91311
(818) 717-6611
mfoster@dtsc.ca.gov

Sharon Fair, Branch Chief
Chatsworth/Sacramento/Cypress Branch
School Program and Engineering/Geology Support Division
Department of Toxic Substances Control
9211 Oakdale Avenue
Chatsworth, California  91311
(818) 717-6530
sfair@dtsc.ca.gov

Rebecca Chou, Branch Chief
Cypress Branch
School Program and Engineering/Geology Support Division
Department of Toxic Substances Control
5796 Corporate Avenue
Cypress, California  90630
(714) 484-5310
rchou@dtsc.ca.gov

The Three-Step Process includes a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment,  Preliminary Environmental Assessment and Response Action.

Our school sites project documents list includes web-available information on selected DTSC schools sites. If you can't find the site you're looking for, call our Regulatory Assistance Officers at 800-728-6942 (800-72TOXIC). They can direct you to a Public Participation Specialist or suggest where you might find more information.

• New Ramona Opportunity High School - April 2007
• Burbank Elementary School and Hayward Joint Use Park - February 2007
• Jordan High School - June 2006
• Radcliff Elementary School - June 2006
• Value Charter School - June 2006
• Bear River High School Aquatic and Performing Arts Center - May 2006
• Kennedy Middle College High School - May 2006
• Lakeview Elementary School - May 2006
• Park Avenue Elementary School - May 2006
• Richard Pittman Elementary School - May 2006
• Santa Fe Springs Athletic Fields - May 2006
• Stone Ranch Elementary School - May 2006

• Environmental Oversight Agreement (Education Code Section 17213.1) Template
• Environmental Oversight Program Application
• Removal Action Workplan Template
• School Facility Planning Division (SFPD) 4.14 - California Department of Education (outside source)
• School Facility Planning Division (SFPD) 4.15 - California Department of Education (outside source)
• Supplemental Site Investigation Completion Report Template
• Supplemental Site Investigation (SSI) Scoping Document Template
• Supplemental Site Investigation (SSI) Workplan Template
• Voluntary Cleanup Program Application
  

• Environmental Review Process for Proposed New or Expanding School Sites:  Education Code, sections 17210, 17210.1, 17213.1, and 17213.2
• Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (Proposed New and Expanding School Sites):  California Code of Regulations, title 22, division 4.5, chapter 51.5, article 1
• Final Regulations:  Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (Proposed New and Expanding School Sites) effective date: 07/18/07
• Emergency Regulations:  Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (Proposed New and Expanding School Sites)  effective date:  11/27/06, superseded by Final Regulations effective 07/18/07
• Final Regulations: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Schools) - effective date: 02/10/03, superseded by Emergency Regulations effective 11/27/06 Emergency Regulations:  Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Schools) – effective date 09/03/02, superseded by Final Regulations effective 02/10/03
• Public Participation Requirements: Education Code, section 17213.1, subsection (a)(7)
• and Health and Safety Code, division 20, chapter 6.8, section 25356.1, subsection (e) and (h) and sections 25358.7 and 25358.7.1
• Response Action Requirements and Process: Education Code, section 17213.2
• Health and Safety Code Requirements: Health and Safety Code, division 20, chapter 6.8, commencing with section 25300
• DTSC Site Mitigation and Brownfields Reuse Program Policies and Procedures

Check out the frequently asked questions for more information on Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, Preliminary Environmental Assessment, Response Action, Applications and Agreements, Consultant Qualifications and Selection, and Fees and Payment.

DTSC certifies Registered Environmental Assessors (REAs) to be qualified to conduct various environmental assessment and small site cleanup activities.  Click here to find out more about the REAs...

Integrating the environment and education in the classroom through real-world experiences can improve students' academic performance, self-esteem and appreciation for the environment. Lessons, workbooks and hands-on activities, which focus on teaching children to be good stewards of the environment, are available on our education Web page.