Learn about the Hinkley Compressor Station

We’re working under the direction of the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) to clean up chromium-6 in groundwater resulting from historical operations at the Hinkley Compressor Station. We’re committed to protecting public health and safety at the plant, which is located in San Bernardino County, five miles west of Barstow, California. View information about Hinkley and other PG&E compressor stations. Visit Compressor Stations.

 

Investigation and cleanup efforts at Hinkley include cleaning up the environment, restoring water quality and working closely with the community. We continue to make progress. We’ve taken action to stop the migration of affected groundwater, and we’re operating numerous treatment systems to clean up the groundwater. Our robust network of more than 600 monitoring wells tracks the effectiveness of the cleanup.

 

 

 

 

Learn about Independent Technical Expertise

We recognize that it’s in the best interest of all community stakeholders to fully grasp the complex technical issues involved in the groundwater cleanup efforts in Hinkley. For this reason, we provided funding for the community to hire an independent technical expert. The community interviewed and hired an Independent Review Panel Manager in early 2012. This expert continues to assist the stakeholders with reviewing and understanding the ongoing remediation work.

 

To learn more about our cleanup efforts, attend a community meeting. Following is meeting information:

• Meetings are open to the public.
• Meetings are held the fourth Thursday of every quarter from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Meeting agendas are available at the independent review panel manager's office at 36236 Serra Road, Hinkley, CA 92347. Agendas are available online. Visit Hinkley Groundwater Remediation Program.

 

Learn about cleanup underway

In 2015, a new cleanup order for chromium 6 received unanimous approval from the Lahontan Water Board. Building upon the thorough environmental review and approved Environmental Impact Report (EIR) completed in 2013, the Lahontan Water Board, Hinkley residents and PG&E spent more than a year working towards a consensus based order for the cleanup. The new order consolidates and simplifies numerous past orders and edicts that streamline our processes while making them more understandable and transparent to the community and other key stakeholders. 

With the order in place and remedy construction nearly complete, PG&E remains committed to implementing a thorough and sustainable cleanup plan for Hinkley. Utilizing the remedial technologies we have built over the last decade, our long-term remedy continues to treat the highest concentrations of chromium 6 in the near-term, while sustainably treating and managing lower concentrations for the next several decades. We know that we have a lot of work to do, are committed to doing what's right for the Hinkley community, and we will be here until we finish the job. 

 

Understand drinking water standards for hexavalent chromium

The release of a drinking water standard, also known as a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), for Chromium 6 (10 ppb) by the California Department of Health (CDPH) in July 2014 represented an important milestone for the Hinkley project. We believe the issuance of this standard is an important step toward restoring the confidence of the Hinkley community in their household water supply.