EPA Proposes Plan to Step Up Groundwater Cleanup at San Fernando Valley Superfund Site, Increasing Supply of Safe Drinking Water

EPA Proposes Plan to Step Up Groundwater Cleanup at San Fernando Valley Superfund Site, Increasing Supply of Safe Drinking Water

March 16, 2026

LOS ANGELES - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a proposed plan to address a contaminated groundwater plume at the San Fernando Valley (Area 2) Superfund site, located near the city of Glendale. The agency is seeking public input on the plan and will consider all comments before selecting a final cleanup plan.

"EPA encourages the community to learn about our proposed Area 2 cleanup plan and share their perspectives," said EPA Pacific Southwest Region Superfund and Emergency Management Director Michael Montgomery. "This proposal is an important step forward to protect groundwater and ensure safe drinking water for communities in the San Fernando Valley."

Area 2 is one of four Superfund sites in the San Fernando Valley, covering approximately 6,680 acres. Groundwater in the area has been contaminated with hazardous chemicals from former aerospace and other industrial activities. Since 2000, EPA's groundwater treatment system has made more than 58 billion gallons of groundwater safe for drinking and all water currently served to the public meets state and federal health and safety standards.

EPA's proposed plan includes:

• increasing the volume of groundwater pumped by existing extraction wells,
• installing a new groundwater well at the southern wellfield,
• adding an activated carbon treatment unit to improve operational reliability,
• reducing maintenance demands,
• and upgrading the chromium treatment unit.

These actions will further strengthen the existing cleanup that contains the groundwater plume beneath Glendale and reduce overall contamination levels.

The 30-day public comment period for the proposed plan runs from March 16, 2026, to April 14, 2026. EPA will host one in-person public meeting and one virtual public meeting to discuss the Proposed Plan:

• March 25, 2026, 5:30-7:30 p.m. - Glendale Arts & Culture Library, 222 E. Harvard Street, Glendale, CA 91205
  EPA will give an overview of the Proposed Plan and accept verbal and written comments. The meeting will be transcribed. No registration is required.
• April 1, 2026, 5:30-7:30 p.m. - Virtual meeting via Zoom.
  An overview of the site and time for questions will be provided. Comments will not be accepted.

To register for the online meeting, visit the San Fernando Valley Area 2 Superfund site webpageExit EPA's website.

Background

The San Fernando Valley Superfund site was added to EPA's National Priority List on October 15, 1984. The federal Superfund program, established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and endeavors to return them to productive use.

For more information about the San Fernando Valley (Area 2) Superfund site and to review the Proposed Plan, visit the San Fernando Valley Area 2 Superfund site webpageExit EPA's website.

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