University of California, Riverside, Pesticide Waste Pits records, circa 1933-2022

Summary

Abstract:

This collection contains records and materials related to pesticide waste pits operated at the University of California, Riverside during the twentieth century.

Extent:

12.13 linear feet (30 boxes, 2 flat file folders)

Language:

The collection is in English .

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [date if possible]. University of California, Riverside, Pesticide Waste Pits records (UA 129). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains facsimiles of field books, records, reports and other materials related to pesticide waste pits operated at the University of California, Riverside. The pits served as disposal sites for experimental herbicides, pesticides, and other hazardous chemicals tested and utilized at UC Riverside during the twentieth century. Series I contains information on the pesticide waste pits operations. Series II has materials related to the remediation project. Series III is a collection of analyses and reports on the Pesticide Waste Pits site.

Biographical / historical:

The UCR former Pesticide Waste Pits site encompasses an area of approximately 3.25 acres located within the UCR Citrus Research Center and Agricultural Experiment Station. Agricultural research has been conducted at the university laboratories, greenhouses, and small field plots since the 1940s. Prior to 1972, some of the waste generated during research was discarded in pits excavated at the Site. Disposal activities reportedly consisted of the excavation and filling of various pits and trenches with a variety of organic and inorganic wastes, including agricultural plant wastes, plant containers, pesticides, chemical containers, and miscellaneous equipment.

Site investigation activities were conducted between 1988 and 1998, on-Site remedial excavation and soil treatment activities were conducted between June 2000 and February 2002, and groundwater monitoring activities were conducted from 1991 until 2017 to assess pre- and post-remediation groundwater quality. Constituents of concern identified in soil during the site investigations included volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, chlorinated pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides, chlorinated herbicides, carbamate and urea pesticides, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

The Site was cleaned up so that remaining on-Site soil, including the backfilled soil, is health protective for current and future Site users and would not adversely affect groundwater quality. Groundwater monitoring conducted from 1991 until 2017 indicates that groundwater beneath the Site meets California drinking water criteria.

This historical note was contributed by Environmental Programs Manager Amanda Grey, UCR Environmental Health and Safety.

Acquisition information:

Provenance unknown

Processing information:

Processed by Andrew Lippert, Special Collections Processing Archivist, 2018

Arrangement:

The collection materials are arranged into three series based on subject matter. The series are arranged in chronological order.

Series Order

• Series 1. Field books, 1933-1974
• Series 2. Waste pits remediation documents, 1981-2005
• Series 3. Pesticide waste pits reports, 1988-2011

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Separated material:

There are 16 bound volumes of related materials that are cataloged and housed in the Orbach Science Library. Titles and call numbers are listed below:

1. Health and Safety Plan Amendment: UC Riverside Pesticide Pit Remediation Project
2. Site remediation Work Plan: UC Riverside Pesticide Pit Remediation Project (2 vols)
3. Remedial Alternatives and Cost evaluation pesticide waste pits, UC Riverside
4. Quality Assurance Project Plan Pesticide Waste Pits (TD 1066 P47 G464 2000)
5. Groundwater Investigation University of California Riverside, Pesticide Waste Pits Semi-Annual Analytical Report (TD 1066 P47 G77 1st ed. 1994)
6. Groundwater Investigation University of California Riverside, Pesticide Waste Pits Semi-Annual Analytical Report (TD 1066 P47 G77 2nd ed. 1994)
7. Groundwater Investigation University of California Riverside, Pesticide Waste Pits Semi-Annual Analytical Report (TD 1066 P47 G77 3rd ed. 1995)
8. Groundwater Investigation University of California Riverside, Pesticide Waste Pits Semi-Annual Analytical Report (TD 1066 P47 G77 4th ed. 1995)
9. University of California, Riverside: Pesticide Waste Pits, Preliminary Site Investigation Work Plan (TD 1066 P47 H64 1987)
10. University of California, Riverside: Pesticide Waste Pits, Preliminary Site Investigation (TD 1066 P47 H664 1987)
11. University of California, Riverside: Preliminary Pesticide Waste Pits Investigation (TD 1066 P47 H667 1988)
12. University of California, Riverside: Preliminary Pesticide Waste Pits Investigation (TD 1066 P47 H667 1988 Appendix B and C)
13. Piezometer Installation at the UCR Agricultural Operations Yard
14. University of California, Riverside, Pesticide Waste Pits Investigation Stage II
15. Pesticide Contaminated Hazardous Waste Sites (TD 1066 P47 P444 1996)

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Hazardous waste sites -- California
Hazardous wastes
Herbicides
Pesticides
DDT (Insecticide)
Administrative records

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [date if possible]. University of California, Riverside, Pesticide Waste Pits records (UA 129). Special Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.

Location of this collection:

UC Riverside, University Archives

University of California, Riverside - Special Collections and University Archives

P.O. Box 5900

Riverside, CA 92517-5900, US

Contact:

(951) 827-3233

specialcollections@ucr.edu

Website