Still Searching for MTBE

Seeing trucks and drilling equipment, like those that are on Prospect Avenue and Sunset Street this week, have been commonplace around Crescenta Valley since the discovery of MTBE in well seven in August of last year. At that time Crescenta Valley Water District shut down well seven and began working with the Regional Water Board, Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Health to identify, contain and clean MTBE from the water system.

In the early 1990s the chemical compound, MTBE, was used as a fuel additive in gasoline. In 2003, the state of California was the first to discontinue the use of MTBE. Since then it has been found in ground water throughout California due primarily to the leaking of underground service station tanks.

All service stations on Foothill Boulevard in the area have been going through a series of explorations to find the true source of the contamination. Recently the Union 76 station on Foothill Boulevard and Briggs Avenue was closed down as more research continued.

"The [76 station] is one where we found MTBE in the soil," said Mark Wittenberg, executive vice president of Resource Environmental. "We are drilling three more areas near the property."

Resource Environmental is a limited liability company that works for five oil companies to discover and clean fuel spills and releases into the environment. Now that there is a possibility of MTBE in the soil, the company is in the process of determining the levels found and how to extract the contaminate.

"We [at this time] are not finding particularly high levels," Wittenberg said.

After levels of MTBE are determined, a clean up process will begin.

"It could be soil vapor extraction, or some type of mitigation depending on what we find," he explained.

Although studies are inconclusive of MTBE being a cancer causing agent, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment does regard it as a possible carcinogen. The office has set strict standards on acceptable levels of MTBE. The levels must be lowered to these qualifications before any area can be deemed contaminate free.

Wittenberg said that the levels found are low. He assures neighbors that the soil is safe for planting, however recommends those who live near a gas station should not plant edible vegetation.

Just when the contamination search and clean up will be completed is difficult to determine.

"This is a one step at a time [process]," Wittenberg said.

They will continue to drill to find where all the contamination is coming from and to make certain that it is contained and cleaned up.

The 76 service station is expected to be open next week.