Former Merced manufactured gas plant

Project Overview: In June 2022, PG&E completed cleanup activities addressing contaminated soil at the site of a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) located at 560 West 15th Street in Merced, California (site). All work was performed voluntarily under the oversight of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), City of Merced, and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.


Cleanup activities included the safe removal and off-site disposal of roughly 16,400 cubic yards of contaminated soil and adding a cement mixture to solidify impacts to deeper soil in place. Workers backfilled excavations with clean, imported fill and restored the backfilled areas with gravel.


Image of Former Merced manufactured gas plant in 1899


PG&E is working with DTSC to obtain site closure and anticipates this work will be complete in mid-late 2023. PG&E will also work with the City of Merced to safely dispose of some impacted MGP material as part of the removal and replacement of a water main line near the site. We anticipate this work will occur in the summer of 2023.


Site history: The former MGP operated from 1883 to 1930 and provided a constant source of energy for the community's lighting, heating, and cooking needs prior to the arrival of natural gas. Some byproducts of the gas making process were left buried on-site as the plant was dismantled – a common practice before environmental regulations.

Find out more at DTSC Resources & Contact Information.

Site-related documents can also be found at:
Merced County Library, 2100 O Street, Merced 209-385-7643