3960 Department of Toxic Substances Control
Program Descriptions

12 - SITE MITIGATION AND BROWNFIELDS REUSE

The Site Mitigation and Brownfields Reuse program implements state site cleanup laws and the federal Superfund program. The program currently oversees approximately 1,000 hazardous substance release site investigations and cleanups, and monitors long-term operations and maintenance activities at approximately 200 sites where the cleanup process is complete. Additionally, the department is responsible for ensuring compliance with the terms of 600 land use restrictions in place on properties throughout the state.

New sites are identified through surveillance and enforcement efforts, emergency response activities, examination of other previously identified potential sites, and voluntarily by public and private entities requesting departmental oversight to return the properties to productive use. These sites and projects include cleaning up federal and state superfund properties, abandoned mines, other abandoned and underutilized properties known as ''brownfields,'' and open and closed military installations.

The program oversees environmental assessments and cleans up proposed new or expanding school sites to prevent or reduce exposing students and staff to hazardous materials. The program is also responsible for the Stringfellow Hazardous Waste Site, a former hazardous waste disposal site and federal Superfund Site.

The program works closely with other state agencies, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and local agencies throughout the state to establish and implement viable grant and loan programs to aid in assessing and cleaning up brownfields sites.

The program works with the California Emergency Management Agency and other state agencies to assure response readiness for acts of terrorism involving the use of toxic chemicals. Additionally, the program mitigates off-highway hazardous waste spills and responds to hazardous waste contamination resulting from illegal drug laboratories.

13 - HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Hazardous Waste Management program regulates the generation, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of hazardous waste to minimize risks to public health and the environment. The program oversees 117 authorized facilities managing hazardous waste, approximately 900 registered businesses transporting hazardous waste, over 650 facilities/generators subject to corrective actions. Additionally, the program manages approximately $2.2 billion in financial assurance resources, and supports and oversees local agencies implementing the hazardous waste elements of the Unified Program.

The program monitors hazardous waste transfer, storage, treatment, and disposal facilities for illegal activity, including electronic manifest surveillance and monitoring registered hazardous waste transporters and enforcing hazardous waste requirement violations found through routine inspections, complaint investigations, and other focused enforcement initiatives. The program also ensures compliance with hazardous waste requirements related to electronic waste and used oil.

19 - ADMINISTRATION

The Administration program provides accounting, budgeting, revenue collection, human resource and workforce management, data processing, performance management, business services, and other administrative support to departmental programs. Administration also supports operations in Sacramento, Clovis, Berkeley, Chatsworth, Cypress, San Diego, and El Centro including two environmental chemistry laboratories located in northern and southern California.

20 - POLLUTION PREVENTION AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY

The Pollution Prevention and Green Technology program provides scientific leadership in green chemistry, pollution prevention, and hazardous waste source reduction; analytical and environmental chemistry; biomonitoring; human and ecological exposure and risk assessment; industrial hygiene and workplace safety; innovative environmental technologies development; and nanotechnology issues.

The ongoing program activities include promoting reducing toxic substances use and using safer green chemistry alternatives. The program also implements the Safer Consumer Products regulations, collects information on products and the presence of toxic chemicals, encourages independent research of safer product designs and alternatives, adopting focused business sector pollution prevention strategies, supporting local green business initiatives, evaluating and deploying new environmental technologies, and develops strategies for emerging issues. The program ensures compliance with legislative mandates restricting or eliminating certain consumer products.

21 - STATE AS CERTIFIED UNIFIED PROGRAM AGENCY

The California Environmental Protection Agency designated the Department of Toxic Substances Control as the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) in Trinity and Imperial Counties. As the CUPA, the department is responsible for implementing the six elements of the Unified Program: hazardous waste generator and onsite treatment activities; spill prevention control and countermeasure plans for owners of aboveground petroleum storage tanks; underground storage tank program; hazardous material release response plans and inventories; California Accidental Release Prevention program; and certain Uniform Fire Code requirements pertaining to hazardous material management plans and inventories.