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Larkspur toxic cleanup cleared by federal agency

Marin Independent Journal - 1/21/2022

Jan. 22—Federal regulators have approved the Ross Valley Sanitary District's$10 million cleanup of a former wastewater treatment plant in Larkspur, the district announced.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that district met the required PCB level of 0.24 milligrams/kilogram for soils at the property. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are a known carcinogen.

The EPA issued an approval letter to the district on Dec.14 after a yearlong audit. The approval clears officials to make plans for the 10.7-acre site at 2000 Larkspur Landing Circle.

"At this point we could say confidently this property is cleaned and suitable for any use that the city of Larkspur could approve," said Steve Moore, general manager of the sanitary district.

The district has launched a public survey at surveymonkey.com/r/LarkspurLanding for comments on the use of the property. The survey will run through March 10.

"The survey is a brief set of questions to try to create some insight for our board what preferences might be," Moore said.

The sanitary district operated the wastewater plant from 1948 to 1985. The plant was decommissioned and the district began treating water at the Central Marin Sanitation Agency plant in San Rafael.

The Larkspur plant was demolished in 1998 and 1999. PCBs were in some of the paint on the concrete administration building. After demolition, that concrete was crushed and used as backfill.

For most of the 20 years since, the lot has been used as a corporation yard for the district. The amount of contamination was unknown until a few years ago.

The EPA became aware of the contamination in 2018. In March 2019, the agency approved the site cleanup.

The cleanup project was completed in September 2020. Crews removed about 64,000 tons of soil and demolition debris to landfills and about 2,600 tons of hazardous waste. Excavated areas have been backfilled with clean soil.

Previously, the district considered a mixed-use complex at the site that would include housing, a hotel, open space and a district headquarters. Now that the district has purchased a building at 1111 Andersen Drive to use at its headquarters, that plan is off the table.

Over the past year, the district offered informational presentations that discussed its options, including declaring the property surplus and selling or leasing the land. Moore said the district could use a portion of the property in some other way, such as a storage yard.

Doug Kelly, president of the district board, said the board has not voiced a preference for the site.

"We really want to leave this open for the public's input," Kelly said. "It's their land. It's their property."

Larkspur City Manager Dan Schwarz said the city's general plan and housing element have identified the property as a potential site for housing and that there has also been talk of a possible hotel.

"As we go through our housing element and general plan update, that property will be one of several that would get a lot of discussion," Schwarz said.

"We're excited for the district for working through the process of getting their EPA clearance, which is difficult," Schwarz said. "They should be applauded for sticking with it and seeing it through."

Kelly said that once the survey results are in, the district staff will present the findings to the board at a public hearing.

"We're really, desperately hoping that folks will come participate in our meetings," Kelly said.

More information about the Larkspur Landing property is at bit.ly/3nMK0mV.

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(c)2022 The Marin Independent Journal (Novato, Calif.)

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