This site is being addressed in several long-term remedial phases focusing on cleanup of the groundwater, identification of the sources and cleanup of volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination in soils, and cleanup of abandoned wastewater treatment lines and tanks. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990.
| City | El Toro |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| State | California |
| Coordinates | 33.67667, -117.71760 |
El Toro Marine Corps Air Station is a federal Superfund site in California. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.
Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.
EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane. Contamination has been detected in groundwater, soil.
If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.