The Brown & Bryant, Inc. (Arvin Plant) site sits in Arvin, California, in Kern County. It operated as an agricultural chemical mixing facility from 1960 to 1989. Accidental spills and improper disposal left soil and groundwater contaminated with several hazardous chemicals. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in October 1989, which put it on track for formal Superfund cleanup.
The main contaminants of concern are dinoseb (an herbicide banned in 1986), 1,2,3-trichloropropane, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 1,2-dibromoethane (ethylene dibromide), 1,2-dichloropropane, 1,3-dichloropropene, and chloroform. These chemicals have been found in groundwater, soil, and air across different parts of the site.
Cleanup has moved through several phases. The first phase, finished in 1999, covered contaminated soil to block direct contact and limit further groundwater impacts. A groundwater extraction system came online in 2014. In 2017, EPA added a soil vapor removal system and new wells to stop deeper contamination from spreading. A temporary on-site treatment system using carbon treatment and evaporation was completed in July 2021. The 2021 five-year review confirmed the remedy is working as intended and protecting public health and the environment. However, groundwater migration is not yet stabilized, physical construction is not complete, and the site is not yet ready for its anticipated future use. Currently, there is no known or suspected exposure to chemical contamination from the site, and human exposure is under control. In 2019, the Arvin Community Services District moved its drinking water well away from contaminated zones, removing a cross-contamination risk. EPA monitors wells annually and treatment systems monthly. Zoning restrictions are in place to limit land uses that would not be compatible with cleanup levels achieved. EPA is also studying solar panels to power the extraction system.
EPA is now conducting its sixth five-year review, due by September 30, 2026. The report will be posted online and made available at the EPA Records Center in San Francisco and the Arvin Branch Library at 201 Campus Drive in Arvin. EPA is also updating its Community Involvement Plan based on conversations with local residents. For questions about getting involved or site-specific concerns, contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager.
