Politics & Government

Toxic Clean-Up to Start at Fair-Anselm

Department of Toxic Substance Control releases work plans for PCE spill.

Following an , the .

You can see the details of the plan at right or get more information on DTSC's investigation on their site.

Residents in the surrounding neighborhoods should have recieved a notifcation (at right) letting them know about the situation and clean-up plans. .

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The problem dates back to 2000 when the previous dry-cleaner (in the same spot as the current , but operated by a different owner) had a spill of perchloroethylene, known as PCE -- a common dry-cleaning solvent. Though the spill was cleaned-up following standard procedure and the clean-up was signed off on by the county health department, concerns arose in 2009.

The owner of the now-closed Broadway Video store, George Bianchini, brought the issue to the town council and to DTSC after having completed his own testing that showed elevated levels of PCE in the air.

Find out what's happening in San Anselmo-Fairfaxwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

DTSC conducted an investigation and testing and concluded that although there is no immediate health dangers, further clean-up was necessary.

"DTSC believes that there is no immediate public health risk at the site. However, the elevated PCE levels below the building pose a problem that should be addressed in the short term, as long-term exposure to the contaminants at the site at elevated levels may cause negative health impacts," stated the most-recent notification letter sent to residents.

In the coming weeks, a gas collection system will be installed underneath Fair-Anselm - paid for by the previous owners, the Friedmans, who sold the shopping center last year. The sub-slab gas collection and monitoring system will collect the gas vapors underneath the building and capture them through carbon chambers. Those collected vapors will be disposed of properly; only clean air will be submitted by the exhaust.

See the plans at full at right.

Keep up to date on DTSC's plan for Fair-Anselm at the DTSC reporting site.


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