Site Approval: Preliminary Endangerment Assessment

AB 972 (Calderon) became effective October 13, 2001. This bill changed the Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) public review and approval process. These changes are not yet reflected on this website. Please contact the SFPD representative assigned to your county, or the DTSC, for more information on the effects of AB 972. This website is being updated to reflect the changes made by AB 972 and AB 1367 (Wiggins). AB 1367 takes effect on January 1, 2002.

Below is some basic information about the Response Action (RA) process.

• What the Process Involves
• What Should Already Be Done
• Who to Hire
• Who Needs a Response Action
• Who Approves the Response Action
• How Long the Process Takes

What the Process Involves

Completing the RA involves:

• Obtaining contingent site approval from the School Facilities Planning Division (SFPD)
• Entering into a Voluntary Cleanup Agreement with the DTSC
• Developing the Response Action
• Coordinating the RA with CEQA
• Obtaining DTSC approval of the RA
• Performing the site cleanup specified in the RA

What Should Already Be Done

Your school district has:

• Determined its need for new facilities
• Received verification of eligibility for State funding
• Obtained approved financial hardship status, if your district is applying for financial hardship assistance
• Selected its preferred site from those reviewed by the SFPD
• Completed a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment (Phase 1)
• Completed a Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA)

Who to Hire

Your district already must have contracted with a qualified environmental assessor to prepare the previous Phase 1 and PEA.

In order to coordinate the RA with CEQA, your district may also require the services of an environmental consulting company or other firm that specializes in CEQA reviews.

Who Needs a Response Action

Your school district must complete the Response Action process only if the DTSC's review of your PEA concluded that a further action (an RA) was necessary.

If your district received a "No Further Action" letter from the DTSC in response to your PEA, your district does not need to develop an RA.

Who Approves the Response Action

The DTSC reviews and approves the RA, and oversees cleanup and long-term maintenance at the site.

How Long the Process Takes

Relatively simple cleanup of a site, such as that specified in a Removal Action Workplan (RAW) may take weeks. Cleanup of some sites, such as those with extensive groundwater contamination, may take years or even decades to achieve the goals specified in the Remedial Action Plan (RAP).