Historical Photos and Maps of Del Amo Torrance: 1940-1950

March 6, 1941

World War II Brought Industrialization to Del Amo Torrance. Like the rest of the world, Del Amo Torrance was changed forever.

March 6, 1941   Photo ID: 128 & 129

Open Boundaries:  Remnants of an Estuary 

 Contamination flowed with the surface waters and wind, later the groundwater

Future sites of:

Site A: Montrose Superfund Site 

  • Groundwater and soil contamination
  • Chlorobenzene, pCBSA, DDT
  • Vapor Intrusion Indoor Air: TCE, Chloroform, PCE, Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Mitigation slow and ineffective
  • Boys and Girls Club adjacent

Site B: Del Amo Superfund Site 

  • Groundwater, soil, indoor and ambient air contamination: Benzene and other petroleum products
  • Vapor Intrusion Indoor Air: Benzene, TCE, Chloroform, PCE, Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Toxic Waste buried in (7) unlined pits with Vapor Extraction System as remedial remedy (waste left in place must have a remedy review every five years).

Site 1: Jones Chemical 

  • Site contaminated with numerous dangerous chemicals, solvents, dry cleaning fluids, etc.
  • Focused mitigation work required/ EPA and Cal/EPA staff assigned to work on Jones exclusively
  • The property owner handles dangerous chemicals including chlorine at risk of an accident
  • Boys and Girls Club adjacent

Site 2: Boys and Girls Club

  • Site contamination uncategorized: DDT aerial dispersion, transformer stations and Jones Chemical adjacent to property 
  • Pollution in the air; Benzene, TCE, PCE, Chloroform, Carbon Tetrachloride
  • The community’s children deserve better.  There are no places for the youth to safely gather.  The “Club” must be relocated to a safe location.  The cleaned up, greened up ECI property could be perfect.

Site 6: Ecology Controls Industry

  • Montrose Superfund Site Operable Unit 6: Historical Stormwater Pathway
  • Previous Uses: Chemical storage facility, Non permitted hazardous waste hauler (20 years) 
  • Requires through site investigation (DDT, Pesticides, VOCs)
  • Nightmare for residential community sharing fence line, including property damage
  • Future land should benefit the already overburdened and underserved community

Site 7:  Armco Royal Blvd 

  • Two large lots on both sides of Royal Blvd.
  • Landfill for Armco slag and building debris
  • Potential contamination from DDT unknown
  • Capped and Fenced property dividing community (Monitored by Cal/Recycle)
  • Could be positive land use: park, greenspace, etc.

June 17th, 1947

June 17, 1947   Photo ID: 137& 138

August 30, 1947                       Photo ID:         140  

World War II Facilities Flourished in our area

Upper Right Corner: Del Amo Site 

During this Time: Many fields still being cultivated & drainage areas are still undeveloped.   The Surrounding Communities are beginning to fill in.

Visible sites of:

Site A: Montrose Superfund Site 

  • Groundwater and soil contamination
  • Chlorobenzene, pCBSA, DDT
  • Vapor Intrusion Indoor Air: TCE, Chloroform, PCE, Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Mitigation slow and ineffective
  • Boys and Girls Club adjacent

Site B: Del Amo Superfund Site 

  • Groundwater, soil, indoor and ambient air contamination: Benzene and other petroleum products
  • Vapor Intrusion Indoor Air: Benzene, TCE, Chloroform, PCE, Carbon Tetrachloride
  • Toxic Waste buried in (7) unlined pits with Vapor Extraction System as remedial remedy (waste left in place must have a remedy review every five years).

Future sites of:

Site 1: Jones Chemical 

  • Site contaminated with numerous dangerous chemicals, solvents, dry cleaning fluids, etc.
  • Focused mitigation work required/ EPA and Cal/EPA staff assigned to work on Jones 
  • The property owner handles dangerous chemicals including chlorine at risk of an accident
  • Boys and Girls Club adjacent

Site 2: Boys and Girls Club

  • Site contamination uncategorized: DDT aerial dispersion, transformer stations and Jones Chemical adjacent to property 
  • Pollution in the air; Benzene, TCE, PCE, Chloroform, Carbon Tetrachloride
  • The community’s children deserve better.  There are no places for the youth to safely gather.  The “Club” must be relocated to a safe location.  A cleaned up, greened up ECI property could be perfect.

Site 6: Ecology Controls Industry

  • Montrose Superfund Site Operable Unit 6: Historical Stormwater Pathway
  • Previous Uses: Chemical storage facility, Non permitted hazardous waste hauler (20 years) 
  • Requires through site investigation (DDT, Pesticides, VOCs)
  • Nightmare for residential community sharing fence line, including property damage
  • Future land should benefit the already overburdened and underserved community

Site 7:  Armco Royal Blvd 

  • Two large lots on both sides of Royal Blvd.
  • Landfill for Armco slag and building debris
  • Potential contamination from DDT unknown
  • Capped and Fenced property dividing community (Monitored by Cal/Recycle)
  • Could be positive land use: park, greenspace, etc.
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