The cleanup of the HRBD has been the subject of extensive public controversy. As a result, the cleanup stalled for more than 10 years. During this time, the City of Chico was taking the lead to cleanup the site. In late 2003, unwilling to proceed with the cleanup because of public opposition, the City of Chico informed adjacent landowners the City would not proceed with the cleanup on properties adjacent to the main burn dump. This decision left the adjacent landowners in violation of a Cleanup and Abatement Order issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB).

VESTRA was retained by one of the private property owners in February 2004 to “get the project done.” The final project included consolidation of about 180,000 cubic yards of burn ash and waste material spread over 32 acres into an 8-acre cell constructed in accordance with Title 27. Nearly 40,000 cubic yards were consolidated and capped with an interim clean-soil cover during the 2004 construction season, and the remaining 140,000 cubic yards of material were consolidated and capped with a final cover during the 2005 construction season. Prior to moving any dirt, however, VESTRA was required to:

• Coordinate with cooperating agencies under California Assembly Bill 2061, with the RWQCB designated as the administering agency. Participating agencies included California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), Butte County Air Management District, and the City of Chico.
• Facilitate agreements with three additional private property owners to participate in the cleanup as DTSC said it would not approve a cleanup that did not include all of the adjacent landowners.
• Complete a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The project stalled under City leadership due to public opposition. A full EIR was prepared to minimize the possibility that a court injunction would delay the project in mid-course.
• Address and mitigate jurisdictional wetlands, Butte County Meadow Foam, elderberry bushes, and nesting raptors.
• Complete construction activities in accordance with constraints imposed by the Air Quality Management District including: (1) no visible dust or track-off as determined by a fulltime inspector provided by the District, (2) complete all construction activities when school was out of session, (3) implement an extensive airborne dust and lead sampling program, and (4) upload analytical data for public access.

VESTRA completed the permitting, design, and first construction phase in less than six months. Permits obtained included Waste Discharge Requirements, 404 Water Quality, Section 7 consultation, Clean Water Act 401, California Department of Fish and Game 1603, City of Chico grading permit, and an Authority to Construct from the Butte County Air Quality Management District. Design plans included a Remedial Action Plan, Remedial Design Implementation Plan, Draft Environmental Impact Report, and Final Environmental Impact Report.