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DRY CLEANERS CONTAMINATION
Proposition 65 cites irregularities in Compton
COMPTON (MNS)—The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health received a Proposition 65 Notice from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) regarding hazardous irregularities at a local dry
cleaners.
DTSC is investigating ground contamination near Courtesy Cleaners located at 1705 E. Compton Blvd, Compton.
DTSC is the lead regulatory agency and is performing indoor air and subsurface sampling at the site under its oversight.
Courtesy Cleaners, 1705 E. Compton Blvd, Compton.
The activities at the site are under environ- mental investigation. If necessary, there will be cleanup, and/or mitigation measures to support the continued operation of Courtesy Cleaners and the other businesses located in the plaza.
Courtesy Cleaners has operated as a dry cleaner within Courtesy Plaza since the 1950s.
This dry cleaner has used tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in their dry-cleaning operations, which may have contaminated the soil and ground- water nearby. PCE in soil vapor can enter buildings through foundation cracks, potentially affecting indoor air quality in a process called vapor intrusion. In the environment, PCE naturally degrades into trichloroethylene (TCE).
Courtesy Cleaners and other dry cleaners used PCE in their operations for many decades until it was banned in 2023. According to the State of California, PCE, TCE, and some of the other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can cause cancer.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 (USEPA) has identified cancer and non-cancer hazards from PCE and TCE exposure in indoor air, posing risks to pregnant women and potential for heart defects in the fetus. Prolonged exposure may also increase cancer risk.
Pictured (left to right) are Gloria Roberts, acting director Caltrans District 7; Godson Okereke, deputy director, Caltrans District 7 maintenance; Mayor Emma Sharif, Lynette Vann, administrative deputy, Caltrans District 7; Aide Castro, senior field rep., 65th Assembly District. Photo courtesy 65th Assembly District.
COMPTON (MNS)—City of Compton, Caltrans, Compton College, and the 65th Assembly District, held their first annual "Clean California Community Days Spring into Action" Mini Job Fair, Community Clean-up, and Celebration at Compton College, March 25.
The event was overseen by Mayor Emma Sharif, and officials from Caltrans, the 65th Assembly District, and Compton College.
Festivities began after approximately 50 volunteers retrieved litter from Artesia Boulevard, Santa Fe Avenue, and Greenleaf Boulevard near the Compton College Campus.
Additionally, the city of Compton and Caltrans partnered on Saturday to provide residents with a free Dump Day event to dispose of any bulky items properly and reduce illegal dumping in our neighborhoods. More than 168 residents disposed of items with and over 600 cubic yards of trash disposed of. The Dump Day partnership between Compton and Caltrans was the third with a fourth planned in April.
The statewide 11-day event kicked off March 17, with a splash of activities occurring on March 25.
According to Mayor Sharif, "The goal is to work together to clean up our communities and spread the word about taking pride in keeping California clean."
Clean California Community Days are made possible through Gov. Gavin Newsom's Clean California initiative,
a $1.1 billion, multi-year clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and engage communities to transform public spaces.
More than 150 residents, volunteers, organizations, and families attended. The event focused on the importance of keeping Compton clean and featured over a dozen vendor booths including The Compton Initiative, Depart- ment of Public Social Services, America’s Job Center, Latino Chamber of Commerce, Department of Rehabili- tation, Republic Services, and Hub City Autism.
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Entertainment included a rousing Drumline by the Compton Unified School District, and performances by the Mamba Dance Academy, Fancy Footwork, rap artist Just Pierre, and vocalists, Out of the Blue.