TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION 1-1
1.1 Background 1-1
1.2 Purpose and Organization of this Report 1-1

SECTION 2 – FINDINGS 2-1
2.1 Facility Description 2-1
2.2 Document Review 2-2
2.3 Site Reconnaissance 2-2
2.4 Areas of Concern 2-5

SECTION 3 – HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT 3-1

SECTION 4 – CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4-1
4.1 Abandoned Waste Storage Area 4-1
4.2 Standard Operating Procedures for Handling of Hazardous Materials 4-2
4.3 Reduction in Hazardous Materials Storage 4-2
4.4 Consolidation of Hazardous Materials 4-2
4.5 Dust 4-3
4.6 Diesel Exhaust Emissions 4-3

APPENDIX A PHOTOGRAPHS

APPENDIX B EXAMPLE FIELD NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS

APPENDIX C SCREEN MODEL OUTPUT EMISSIONS
TABLE
1 On-Road and Off-Road Diesel PM Emission Factors 2-1

FIGURE
1-1 Site Plan (PDF) 308KB

SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
The City of Berkeley Corporation Yard (Corporation Yard) is located in a mainly residential area of Berkeley, bounded by Allston Way to the north, Bancroft way to the south, Acton Street to the east and a city park to the west. The Corporation Yard was established at this location in 1913. Figure 1-1 is a plan view drawing of the Corporation Yard.

The City of Berkeley (City) is taking the initiative to address concerns raised primarily by local residents, relating to activities conducted at the Corporation Yard. The general concerns reviewed in this report include the storage and use of hazardous materials at the Corporation Yard, short-term storage of abandoned hazardous waste for disposal, and air quality related to diesel particulate matter (DPM) and dust emissions.

The Corporation Yard serves as the vehicle maintenance center for all City-owned vehicles, provides overnight parking for approximately 175 vehicles, and supports key City operations by housing vital communications equipment for City dispatch services, radio communications, and emergency response functions.

1.2 PURPOSE AND ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT
The City has retained Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to undertake a detailed review of hazardous materials stored at the Corporation Yard. This review included reviewing Corporation Yard files pertaining to the storage and use of hazardous materials and wastes (i.e., the document review), reviewing the storage of hazardous materials and wastes for compliance with best management practices and other regulatory requirements, making visual observations of fugitive dust, reviewing incidents involving hazardous materials at the Corporation Yard, conducting a screening level Health Risk Assessment, and preparing a report of the findings. Conclusions and recommendations are presented in Section 4.

EXHIBIT A
I. BACKGROUND
City of Berkeley’s Corporation Yard is a 4.8acre site located at 1326 Allston Way in central Berkeley. The facility houses 168 employees from the Department of Public Works and over 50 employees in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront. The facility also houses 175 City owned vehicles including trucks, street sweepers, and other heavy equipment. In order to service those vehicles, the facility houses a fueling station that also serves Police and Fire Department Vehicles.

The Corporation Yard is an important facility in the City of Berkeley as it serves as a vehicle maintenance center for all City-owned vehicles, supports key City operations by housing vital communications equipment for City dispatch services, radio communications, and emergency response functions. The yearlong process to receive approval for the partial demolition and installation of temporary portable buildings has brought to light many of the concerns of the neighborhood about quality of life issues, including air quality. This contract is to monitor, measure and recommend mitigation if appropriate, to environmental issues that we can impact.

III. SCOPE OF SERVICES
Task 1. ESA will undertake a detailed inventory of all hazardous materials stored on site, including quantities, estimated annual throughput, storage location (building) and storage method. This information will be collected in a database for efficient reporting and updating. ESA will request information on throughput from the City for the large quantity materials stored on-site.

Task 2. ESA will review Corporation Yard permits for storage of hazardous wastes and materials. The requirements of the permits will be reviewed against the inventory.

Task 3. ESA will review the storage of materials against Best Management Practices and other regulatory requirements. One concern will be the compatibility of materials stored in the flammable materials storage containers. ESA will review what materials are stored in common containers and whether there are incompatibilities. Through this review ESA will inquire whether employees are trained in the proper use of these storage containers, and whether additional training may be needed.

Evaluation of the safety at the service station and risk associated to storage of fuel in close proximity of residential housing. What about the security of the fueling station and potential risk to neighbors on Bancroft Street?

Task 4. ESA will make visual observations of fugitive dust at the site during all visits. ESA will also review options for covering materials and determine if air quality particulate measurements are needed.
WHAT did they decide and what “observations” were made to support the decision that was made?

Task 5. ESA will review the site’s incident log (if such exists) and will contact the fire department and discuss any of their concerns regarding the site. Neighbors have witnessed fuel spills at the fueling station, as has the fire department.

Task 6. ESA will conduct a screening level health risk assessment (using Screen 3 and the best available emission generation factors for B100) to determine the long-term risk of diesel particulate matter generated on-site to the nearby offsite receptors. Screen 3 uses worst-case assumptions to estimate levels of exposure, which in tern can be used to predict acute and long-term health consequences of exposure.

Task 7. ESA will prepare a draft report of their findings and recommended actions to increase site safety and to lower exposure of neighbors and workers to nuisance or toxic emissions. After City staff has reviewed the draft, we will incorporate comments and produce a final report. Paul Miller will serve as project manager, and direct the day to day activities of the ESA team members.