Peggy - Vallco impact - pesticide, hazardous material, groundwater contamination

From: Peggy Griffin
Date: Mon, Nov 16, 2015 at 3:40 PM
Subject: Vallco EIR Scoping Comments - impacts to be studied
To: planning@cuperitno.org
Cc: Grace Schmidt <cityclerk@cupertino.org>

SUBJECT:  Vallco EIR Scoping Comments –impacts to be studied

 

1.      Agricultural Pesticides - The Vallco Specific Plan Area and the Hills-at-Vallco project site are located on old orchard land.
Please study the content of the soil for pesticides common during that time period. 

a.      Please test all areas of the project site and at different depths, all the way down to the depth of the lowest level garage.

b.      Please test along Perimeter Road bordering the Superfund site at 19333 Vallco Pky at different depths and locations.

2.      Hazardous Building Materials – State-recognized carcinogens such as lead compounds, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) used as coolants and lubricants, Fluorescent lighting, ballasts, mercury thermometers were used during the time period the Vallco Mall was built.

Please study the impact of demolition and disposal of these building materials found in the buildings and any other hazardous building materials commonly used during that time period.


3.      Groundwater contamination on Superfund site adjacent to JCP bordering on Perimeter Road - The building right next to JCP had a wafer fab in it in the 1970s.  There was groundwater contamination from that original 4-Phase (old company no longer in business) fabrication.  Tandem Computers did some last mask processing in that building afterwards.  Tandem was later required to clean up the site.  Since Sand Hill is planning to dig down into the dirt right next to this former Superfund site for its 2 story underground parking, the possibility of groundwater contamination and hazardous materials leaking into the adjacent site must be significant.

Please study this possible groundwater contamination, possible leakage into the surrounding area and it’s possible impact on people parking underground or working above ground.

Please study the possibility of the contamination spreading to the rest of the area.

Please study the proposed monitoring methods proposed to keep people save from contamination.

Please study any and all methods proposed to seal off these contaminants from the project site.

As an ex-Superfund site adjacent to JCP, there are still land use prohibitions on the 19333 Vallco Pky. site.  In particular, they are not allowed to build residences or schools for persons under 21 on that property.  The contamination was toward the JCP side of that parcel which borders Perimeter Road. 

Please study the proposed uses related to the prohibited uses if any contaminants are found to be present along the border and at multiple distances and depths from the border of the property. 


4.      Since the project proposes to dig deep into the ground along all areas, the probability of contaminants from neighboring sites/uses should be studied.  For example, there is a Jiffy Lube and a Union 76 Gas Station located across the street.

Please make a report on all sites (past sites, too) surrounding the Vallco site, especially since the proposed project plans to dig 2 stories underground.

 

Sincerely,

Peggy Griffin

 

REFERENCE MATERIAL:

Here are the Post Closure Site Management Requirements here:

http://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/profile_report.asp?global_id=T10000000740