Regarding the environmental investigation of the Georgia Pacific (GP) land site, NCA was told by a GP representative that Phase I was completed in the first week of February 2003. Georgia Pacific Lumber contracted the environmental investigation to a company in Concord, California who has subcontracted to a company in Alameda, California. They have used this combination in the close-up of at least one other of their lumber mills.
Phase I mostly involves searching historical records and Sanborn maps for information. The latter are historical fire maps for insurance purposes which illustrate structures, structural features and historical use patterns. This should include going back to Union Lumber (1893-1969), Boise Cascade (1969-1973), Georgia Pacific Lumber (1973-2002) and hopefully back to the earlier Fort Bragg Redwood Company (1885-1893) and the Fort Bragg Military base before that.
Phase II of the environmental investigation, we were told, would begin in February 2003 and would not involve core samples which are sometimes used, but would involve samples retrieved from trenching. Since those initial contacts in January, we have not had any further contact with GP, so we have no current direct information. We hope to gather more information and updates and post it on this website in the future and to have a more detailed environmental information update at our Fort Bragg Town Hall Meeting on April 8th, 2003 which will begin at 7:00 p.m.
We have been informed that Phase I and Phase II are always done before an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
David L. Berry, Ph.D., Senior Toxicologist of the DTSC has reported the following information to NCA concerning the GP site.. " The site has not been officially entered into active status with either the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) or the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). The person who would be "in charge" is the Agency Project Manager assigned to the site.Once the site enters into an agreement with the state (which is voluntary on the part of GP), the lead regulatory agency (DTSC or RWQCB) will assign staff for that project. The Agency staff will work with GP to design and execute a course of regulatory action for the site. After a thorough investigation and characterization of the site, a human health risk assessment may be required for the facility. This document would be prepared by GP (or their consultant) and submitted to the Agency as part of the course of regulatory action for the site. The Human Health Risk Assessment would be submitted to the Agency for its review and concordance. The group that I manage would be assigned to review and comment on that document for DTSC and/or the RWQCB.Our comments would be provided to the Agency Project Manager, who would pass the information onto GP. In most instances, the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment supports the remedial action required at the site (or lack of a need for remedial action)".
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