EPA Finds Problems With PCBs at Teledyne

A recent federal inspection has turned up numerous shortcomings in the handling of PCBs, a suspected cancer-causing agent, at Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical, the large San Diego defense contractor that is contesting state charges that it contributed to PCB pollution in San Diego Bay.

The inspection report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, filed with the San Diego County Water Authority, found transformers leaking polychlorinated biphenyl oils, delays in cleaning up PCB spills, incomplete and contradictory inspection records, missing documents and questionable storage practices.

EPA’s inspection report lists a dozen “potential violations” of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the law governing the handling of wastes such as PCB. Under that law, violators can be fined up to $25,000 a day per violation and can be imprisoned for up to a year.

EPA officials in San Francisco said Monday that the case has been referred to the agency’s enforcement section. For that reason, they declined to discuss details until the agency has decided whether to charge the company with violating the law.

Written Response Submitted

Officials at Teledyne Ryan, the county’s 16th largest employer with 2,300 employees, also declined Monday to comment in detail on the EPA’s findings. They said they have given the EPA a written response and expect to meet with EPA officials in early January.

PCBs are man-made chlorinated hydrocarbons that were used for many years as insulation in electrical transformers and capacitors. Production was banned in 1978 in light of evidence that they cause cancer in animals and may have adverse human health effects.

They still exist legally in pre-1978 equipment, however. In many cases, they are being phased out.

Last July, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board blamed Teledyne Ryan at least in part for high PCB levels found in the Convair Lagoon area of the bay, next to Teledyne Ryan’s property. The levels were among the highest ever found in California coastal waters.

PCB Pollution Traced

The state agency alleged that it had traced the PCB pollution back out of the lagoon and into storm drains running from Teledyne Ryan’s property to the bay. It was unable to determine how long the PCB pollution had been in the lagoon.

The aircraft manufacturer immediately challenged the agency’s conclusions, questioning its sampling methods and data analysis. It noted that other aircraft operations and Lindbergh Field also have storm drains that feed into the lagoon.

The new EPA inspection took place between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2. Two field investigators surveyed the use, storage and disposal of PCBs, and took samples from three storm drains on the sprawling property. The results of those samples were not available Monday.

Among the 12 potential violations the investigators alleged include fluids leaking from PCB transformers, delays in cleanups, and incomplete records from the quarter-annual inspections required for equipment containing PCBs.