Navy planning to move toxic materials and debris from old Point Loma dump site

Naval Base Point Loma is gearing up to move toxic materials and debris from a previous dump site on the peninsula.

An announcement posted on the base’s Facebook page states the necessary funding has been secured and that the relocation of the materials will be done with covered trucks between October and January.

Edward Cartagena, public affairs officer for the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, or NAVFAC, said the refuse will be relocated to landfills in Yuma, Ariz., and Santee.

The cleanup site, a patch of land along Cabrillo Memorial Drive, was a disposal site for construction and demolition rubble between 1955 and 1965. It also was an outlet of a stormwater pipeline. The discharge from the pipeline contributed to soil erosion over the years, unearthing the buried debris and toxic materials.

According to the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, or NAVFAC, a study conducted in 1986 determined there was “no evidence of hazardous material disposal at the rubble disposal area.”

However, an assessment in 2008 detected toxic materials, namely lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and arsenic at amounts above acceptable levels.

PCBs were once widely used in electrical equipment and paints in the 20th century.

Extended investigations were recommended in 2014, and soil samples taken in 2017 and 2018 indicated asbestos-containing materials in the debris.

After examining six options for remediation, the Navy decided in 2021 to perform a “time-sensitive removal action” at the site.

“The removal action consisted of excavating approximately 5,648 cubic yards of soil and debris to depths ranging from 4 to 19 feet below ground surface from the site, followed by confirmation sampling and analysis, site restoration and stormwater control improvement,” according to NAVFAC.

In July 2023, the Navy introduced a proposal to consolidate waste to one area of the site and manage stormwater erosion as a more cost-effective remediation method.

In July 2024, the Navy and the state of California decided on “excavation and off-site disposal” of all waste and contaminated soil. The project is expected to cost $10 million and could last as long as seven years.

During the comment period on the proposed plan, “the Navy, state of California and members of the public agreed that if the additional funding could be obtained, removing all of the waste and contaminated soil and closing the site would be the preferred remedy,” according to NAVFAC.

Eric Law, a retired Navy captain and chairman of the Peninsula Community Planning Board, commended the Navy, saying it has been “responsive to and considerate of the community” regarding the project.

“The Navy let us know and has answered questions posed by community members who asked questions about hazmat management measures,” Law said. “Both the community program liaison and the base public affairs officer engaged proactively.”

Law said he confirmed that the movement of the materials will minimize potential exposure to civilians by keeping the loads covered and using non-residential routes when available.

The Navy says questions about the project can be emailed to nbpl_pao@navy.mil.