Benicia Lower Arsenal: City Reaches Cleanup Agreement

BENICIA, CA — The city of Benicia has reached an agreement with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control regarding the cleanup of toxins from the lower Benicia Arsenal area. The city has been working since 2010 to have the federal government clean up hazardous chemicals on the site since the U.S. Army occupied the Arsenal. City officials said they want the area to be reused and developed economically and but contamination has hindered that effort.

The settlement announced this week requires the city to pay the Department of Toxic Substances Control $161,000 and provide a $26,000 credit on permit fees for the cleanup.

City Attorney Heather McLaughlin said in a statement Tuesday that the settlement ensures property owners will not be pitted against one another and that costly and needless litigation is avoided.

Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson said, "The protection of public health and safety has been accomplished with the city leadership.

"Our vision brought together property owners, the state of California and the federal government to find a path that protects public health from toxins. At the same time, we avoided disrupting existing economic activity. We succeeded because of the trust we earned from all parties,"
Patterson said.

The lower Benicia Arsenal on the city's southeastern area housed California's first Army weapons depot and later was the site of small arms manufacturing. It was decommissioned in 1964, and concerns about chemicals and unexploded ordnance remained.

By Bay City News Service

Image via California Department of Toxic Substances Control