2020 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

City of Irvine

Subsidence The relationship between climate change and subsidence is not well established. Nevertheless, it is possible that climate change could indirectly influence subsidence in Irvine. While more intense rainstorms could potentially recharge underground aquifers, adequate infrastructure would need to be available to accommodate this water, allowing for greater recharge. If this recharge could occur, it could reduce the risk of subsidence. On the other hand, more severe and prolonged periods of drought may encourage more groundwater withdrawals and increase the risk of subsidence.

Hazardous Materials Release

For the purposes of this profile, this section discusses hazardous materials release events. Two key facilities identified in this profile are the closed landfills (San Joaquin, Lane Hill) located in the northwest part of the City close to UC Irvine.

Description

Hazardous materials release refers to a hazard event whereby harmful concentrations of hazardous or toxic substances are released into the environment. This occurs when storage containers of hazardous materials leak or fail. This can happen due to industrial accidents, vehicle crashes, as a direct result of other disasters (e.g., a flood or earthquake), or as a deliberate act. The threat that hazardous materials pose to human health depends on the type of material, frequency, and duration of exposure, and whether chemicals are inhaled, penetrate the skin, or are ingested, among other factors. Exposure to hazardous materials can result in short- or long-term effects, including major damage to organs and systems in the body, or death. Hazardous waste is any material with properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Hazardous materials can also cause health risks if they contaminate soil, groundwater, and air, potentially posing a threat long after the initial release. As part of this analysis, the City also identified the potential environmental justice issues associated with hazardous materials. The mapping prepared uses the CalEnviroScreen 70 data set from the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA). This dataset helps identify California communities that are most affected by many sources of pollution, and where people are often especially vulnerable to pollution’s effects. The dataset uses environmental, health, and socioeconomic information to produce scores for every census tract in the state that are mapped using a scale based on the pollution burden of the location. The higher the percentage, the greater the burden, and the higher likelihood of environmental justice concerns.

Location and Extent

Hazardous materials and chemicals are used daily in households and businesses throughout Irvine. In addition to the locations of large industrial uses, sources of hazardous materials can originate from seemingly harmless places such as service stations, dry cleaners, medical centers, and almost any industrial business. Hazardous waste can take the form of liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludge, and can be the by-products of manufacturing processes or simply discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids and pesticides.

Made with FlippingBook HTML5