Venice High School Soil Garden Cleanup

The Project entails the implementation of a cleanup plan for arsenic and lead impacted soil following the environmental soil sampling that was conducted as part of the Comprehensive Modernization project at the Campus. The soil clean-up will include excavation and disposal of impacted soil in locations shown in Figure 1. The impacted soils could not be linked to current activities or structures at the school and are regarded as non-point source contaminants. A complete copy of the report for this investigation is included in the Soil Excavation Plan (SEP). This SEP was prepared to describe the procedure for removing the soil with elevated arsenic and lead concentrations to below the DTSC background concentration. The soil will be exported to a State-permitted disposal facility and clean soil will be imported to bring the site Project area back to original grade. Upon completion of clean-up activities, the site will be restored to its current use as a community garden. The SEP also identifies best management practices designed to limit potential short-term risks (e.g., the exposure of students, staff, community members, and onsite workers to chemical of concerns during soil excavation activities) through the proper use of institutional controls, such as engineering controls, security measures, personal protective equipment (PPE), and adherence to established health and safety procedures, including the application of water spray to suppress fugitive dust emissions during the excavation, the proper handling, transportation and disposal of impacted soil, and enforcing speed limits at the Project site.2 All soil removal activities will follow generally acceptable practices, institutional controls, and State, federal, and local agency guidelines, including, but not limited to, those of the: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)/National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and Regional Water Quality Control Board. Soil removal will occur in the summer when students and staff are off campus. The Project will be implemented pursuant to all applicable State, federal, and local regulations, and all applicable LAUSD specifications, standards, and/ or guidelines, including those in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the updated Standard Conditions of Approval for District Construction, Upgrade, and Improvements Projects (SCs) as adopted by the Board of Education in December 2023.3 LAUSD's SCs, design guidelines, and best management practices are designed to be incorporated into the Project design in order to avoid or limit potential adverse impacts associated with the District's projects. The beneficiaries of this Project are the Venice HS students, faculty, staff, families, school supporters, and the community at large who may request access to the facilities and grounds of the Campus pursuant to the Civic Center Act (CA Ed. Code Sections 38130 - 38139).