State expands testing near Miraflores Senior Apartments amid contamination concerns
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is expanding environmental testing near the Miraflores Senior Apartments after discovering soil vapor and groundwater contamination linked to an industrial solvent.
A public meeting held on March 5 at King Elementary School updated residents on ongoing investigations into soil and groundwater pollution.
The site, located at South 47th Street and Wall Avenue, was previously home to plant nurseries. Although initial cleanup efforts in the 2010s removed pesticide- and petroleum-contaminated soil, recent studies detected the presence of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in soil vapor and groundwater. PCE, commonly used in dry cleaning, is known to pose health risks when it infiltrates indoor air through a process known as vapor intrusion.
Between 2020 and 2024, tests detected PCE in soil vapor and groundwater at the site near South 47th Street and Wall Avenue. The contamination’s source remains unknown, but DTSC officials said preliminary findings suggest potential off-site contributors.
DTSC is investigating potential sources of PCE to the north or northeast of the site, including the former Montgomery Wards property now Target at 4500 MacDonald Avenue and the former Omo Fabricare Dry Cleaner property at 12210 San Pablo Avenue.
“We want to find the source of the contamination and see where it has spread. We will work on a cleanup plan after we understand the extent of the contamination,” DTSC officials said.
DTSC plans additional testing in 2025, focusing on the Miraflores Senior Apartments at 150 South 45th Street.
City of Richmond representatives, environmental consultants, and community partners participated in the meeting, outlining the next steps in the remediation process. The department will continue monitoring and testing throughout 2025 and potentially into 2026 before drafting a formal cleanup strategy.
“Licensed contractors will test the air inside Miraflores Senior Apartments,” DTSC officials said. “This testing matters because PCE contamination can lead to "vapor intrusion." Vapor intrusion occurs when vapors from the soil enter buildings and pollute the indoor air.”
DTSC said the testing will show how much contamination is in the soil vapor and if PCE affects indoor air. DTSC has not found any exposure to people at the Miraflores Housing Development or nearby areas.
In a letter dated September 18, 2020, DTSC Project Manager Ian Utz outlined concerns that CVOCs, including PCE, have been detected in groundwater and soil vapor at the site, raising potential health risks for future residents. The agency emphasized that current risk assessments are based on outdated sampling methods and called for additional soil vapor testing to determine the extent of the hazard.
"Since at least 2015, DTSC has indicated that additional data collection would be necessary to properly evaluate the potential for vapor intrusion at the site," the letter states.
DTSC certified the site for residential development in 2015 but required ongoing groundwater monitoring.
In October 2024, DTSC notified Richmond officials that a vapor intrusion investigation is required at Miraflores Senior Apartments within six months, following findings of elevated volatile organic compounds near the residential complex.
A 2024 investigation detected tetrachloroethylene in shallow soil gas within 100 feet of the 80-unit apartment complex at 150 South 45th Street, raising concerns about potential indoor air contamination. The apartments, built in 2018, lack a VOC vapor barrier, making them more vulnerable to vapor intrusion.
With no clear source of the contamination identified, DTSC warned that the City of Richmond should require updated testing or implement engineering controls to mitigate potential health risks before future development moves forward.
Richmond City Councilmember Doria Robinson attended the meeting and highlighted community concerns over vapor intrusion and potential health risks. Robinson has not yet responded to Grandviews' request for comment.
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