McLaughlin Eastshore State Park Albany Plateau Gamma Survey

The project involves sub-surface investigations at McLaughlin Eastshore State Park in California to evaluate whether historical waste disposal on the Albany Plateau presents current risks to public health or the environment. A contractor will conduct a phased, data-driven assessment using the Orion Scan PlotSM system to detect and map gamma radiation across a 35-acre area. Soil sampling will be performed manually, collecting up to twelve samples from the upper six inches of soil or from hand-dug test pits to analyze potential contamination at the surface level. Groundwater quality will be evaluated by extracting samples from at least three specific locations—two along the perimeter of the site and one at a suspected hotspot—to determine if contaminants have migrated below ground. All data collected, including analytical results and observations, will be compiled into a formal report and submitted to the California Department of Parks and Recreation for review and regulatory compliance. The effort is coordinated through the Department’s District Environmental Coordinator, Diana Fong, and is part of an ongoing initiative to ensure the safety and environmental integrity of the state park.