Toxic Soil Removal Begins In Emeryville

EMERYVILLE, CA — Excavation to remove toxic contamination at a former paint factory slated for a new residential project will begin on Monday, the City of Emeryville announced.

The former Sherwin-Williams facility at 1450 Sherwin St. and an adjacent parcel cover more than 10 acres. The city has approved a project for 500 residential units plus office and retail space in four buildings to be built by developer Lennar Multifamily Communities.

From 1919 to 2006 the site was a Sherwin-Williams manufacturing plant that made paints and coatings. The factory, famous for its animated neon sign visible from the Eastshore Freeway, also made pesticides from the 1920s until the late 1940s, according to the city website, and the overall
operation left contaminated soil and groundwater.

"Based on the results of soil sampling work conducted in 2017, the Department of Toxic Substances Control is requiring excavation of two hot spots of soil contaminated with arsenic, lead, and naphthalene" that will be conducted by the developer, according to DTSC.

Work is to be done from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and will also include removal of a concrete pad and relocation of groundwater monitoring wells, with steps taken to contain contaminated soil.

It is estimated that about 200 cubic yards (equivalent to 14 truckloads) of contaminated soil will be excavated and taken to a permitted disposal facility, according to DTSC.

Removal of the concrete slab will require about 100 more truckloads, to be taken to a permitted recycling or disposal facility.

The site will then be reevaluated to determine if there is more contaminated soil requiring excavation. — Bay City News

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