Former Santa Cruz Manufactured Gas Plant

PG&E has a voluntary program, under the oversight of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), to address the environmental impacts of manufactured gas plants (MGPs) that operated between the late 1800s and early 1900s. This program includes the site of a former MGP that once operated southwest of the intersection of North Pacific Avenue and River Street in Santa Cruz, in a present-day commercial/industrial area. The project is a joint PG&E and Chevron cleanup project, as predecessors to both companies once owned the property.

The MGP operated from 1867 to about 1930, when natural gas became available in Santa Cruz and the MGP was shut down. PG&E acquired the property in 1954 and removed all MGP-related structures in the 1960s and began selling its parcels. By the end of 1970, PG&E no longer owned any portion of the property and in the 1980s three office buildings were constructed at the site.

The site has been investigated and characterized, and a Remedial Action Plan was approved by DTSC in February 2012. The cleanup plan addresses accessible parking lots and landscape planters.

Work to Cleanup the Site is Underway

From August 2012 through January 2013, PG&E/Chevron will be conducting cleanup work. The asphalt in each parking area will be removed and soil containing historic gas plant residues will be excavated from a depth of one to 10 feet in various areas of the site. Soil will be disposed of at a permitted landfill. Excavated areas will be backfilled with clean fill and at the completion of each area’s excavation work, the parking lots will be repaved.

Upon completion of all excavation work, the areas within and adjacent to the site will be landscaped. Approximately 20 trees will be planted to replace the trees that were removed and a variety of drought-tolerant, water wise plants, and hard and soft landscaping will be installed. The new landscaping has been designed to promote public safety, prevent loitering, and blend in with the downtown architecture of Santa Cruz.

Measures to Protect the Community

To ensure the protection of onsite workers, tenants, and the surrounding community, all work will take place in accordance with a site-specific Health and Safety Plan, which includes the following measures to reduce off-site impacts:

An environmental project manager will be onsite daily to monitor and approve all work;
Work will be phased to ensure the least amount of disturbance to onsite businesses and area residents;
Measures to control traffic will be implemented, as necessary;
Dust and odor suppression activities will be performed;
Measures to limit noise from construction will be taken;
Noise and airborne dust monitoring will be conducted during all excavation activities and throughout the daytime work schedule;
Onsite security will be present from dusk till dawn and throughout the weekends.

Project Schedule

Cleanup work is scheduled from August 2012 to January 2013. Pending weather conditions and other unforeseen issues, work will be completed in four phases, as follows:

Phase One - 235 River Street

• Late August to early November
• 11 to 13 weeks

Phase Two - 223 and 201/211 River Street

• Late August to early November
• 11 to 13 weeks

Phase Three - 2035 North Pacific Avenue and Planter Areas along 201/211 River Street

• Mid-October to December
• 8 to 9 weeks

Phase Four - Southern Parking Lot of 2035 North Pacific Avenue

• December to January 2013
• 3 to 4 weeks

Area residents and businesses may experience some short street closures (less than 5 minutes) to allow trucks to leave the site. We will work with neighbors to make sure our actions provide the least possible disturbance.

Trucks will enter the site from River Street and exit the site by turning left (east) onto River Street and traveling less than a half-mile to Highway 1. When trucks enter and exit the site, flagmen will ensure the safety of all involved. Trucks will not stage outside of the work area and drivers will keep idling to a minimum.

Traffic Impacts

Area residents and businesses may experience some short street closures (less than 5 minutes) to allow trucks to leave the site. We will work with neighbors to make sure our actions provide the least possible disturbance.

Trucks will enter the site from River Street and exit the site by turning left (east) onto River Street and traveling less than a half-mile to Highway 1. When trucks enter and exit the site, flagmen will ensure the safety of all involved. Trucks will not stage outside of the work area and drivers will keep idling to a minimum

All MGP Locations
Chico	Oakdale	San Rafael
Colusa	Oakland	Santa Cruz
Daly City	Oroville	Santa Rosa
Eureka	Red Bluff	Selma
Fresno - 1	Redding	St. Helena
Fresno - 2	Redwood City	Stockton
Hollister	Sacramento -1	Tracy
Lodi	Salinas	Turlock
Madera	San Francisco - Adjacent To Potrero	Vallejo
Marysville - 1	San Francisco - Beach Street	Watsonville - 1
Merced	San Francisco - Fillmore	Watsonville - 2
Modesto - 1	San Francisco - North Beach	Willows
Monterey	San Francisco - Potrero	Woodland
Napa	San Luis Obispo - 1

Additional Resources:

• Fact Sheet - January 2012
• DTSC Work Notice – September 2012 (PDF, 239 KB)
• Project Summary – Fall 2012 (PDF, 105 KB)
• Questions and Answers – Fall 2012 (PDF, 108 KB)
• Off-Site Parking Information – Fall 2012 (PDF, 58 KB)
• DTSC Resources & Contact Information

Site-related documents can also be found at:
Santa Cruz Central Library - Reference Desk, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz
(831) 427-7707 x7752