San Fernando Valley (Area 3) covers 4,400 acres of contaminated groundwater in Glendale, California, in Los Angeles County. The site goes by several other names, including the Glorietta Wellfield Area, La Crescenta Operable Unit, San Fernando Valley Basin, and Verdugo Site. It was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in June 1986 after being proposed in October 1984.
The contamination involves volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwater. The main chemicals of concern are trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE). Numerous potentially responsible parties contributed to this contamination. The primary cleanup focus was the Verdugo operable unit (OU 02), which was studied through a remedial investigation that ran from 1985 to 1992, followed by a combined remedial investigation and feasibility study that concluded in 2004.
After thorough investigation, EPA and the State of California determined that VOC contamination did not pose a threat to public health or the environment. On February 24, 2004, EPA issued a Record of Decision selecting "no further action" as the long-term remedy. Construction was formally completed on May 20, 2004, and the site was deleted from the NPL on October 12, 2004. The site reached sitewide ready-for-anticipated-reuse status on August 2, 2018, meaning all cleanup goals for current and expected future land uses have been met and all required land-use controls are in place.
Today, contaminants at the site do not pose a risk to human health or the environment. Human exposure pathways are under control across the entire site, and contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The Superfund Redevelopment Program continues to work with the community to support the site's return to productive use.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator.
