The Point Vicente Interpretive Center project site consists of 26-acres located in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, in Los Angeles County. The site is bounded on the south by the historic Point Vicente Lighthouse and the Coast Guard Reservation; on the west by the Pacific Ocean and sea cliffs; on the north by a storm drain and the Oceanfront Estates community; and on the east by Palos Verdes Drive West.
A 26-acre, triangular-shaped area in the lower section of what was identified as Tract No. 8, bordering the Pacific Ocean, was used by the U. S. Army as a rifle range. The rifle range was developed as an Army Known Distance Rifle Range with firing lines at 27.7-, 100-, 200-, and 300-yards. The Army KD Rifle Range was used for small arms target practice and qualifying by active and reserve Army units stationed at Fort MacArthur and by units of the California National Guard.
The Army KD Rifle Range was deactivated in 1974, and the site was leased to Los Angeles County, which made no improvements. Before the term of the lease expired in 1979, the U.S. Army transferred the site to Los Angeles County by quitclaim deed. Los Angeles County subsequently leased the site to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. Los Angeles County conveyed the property to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes by quitclaim deed on 16 December 2003.
After opening in 1984, the PVIC became a well-known educational and recreational resource in Southern California. By 1998, city officials decided to undertake a comprehensive expansion program that would add 7,000-square feet to the exhibit building. Excavation for the expansion led to the discovery of lead-contaminated soil in late July 1999. Due to concerns for public health, the PVIC was closed to the public in August 1999.
The PVIC remained closed throughout 2002, during which time the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, managed the planning and remediation of the lead-contaminated soil. Hot spots of lead-contaminated soil were removed and replaced with clean soil. Outside the area of the hot spots the upper 1-foot of soil was replaced with clean soil.
The PVIC was reopened on a limited basis in December 2002, when the removal of lead contaminated soil was completed. The expansion of the PVIC exhibit building resumed following the cleanup. The expansion was completed in July 2006, and the PVIC was fully reopened to the public.
In 2024, the Corps completed a Remedial Investigation to characterize Site conditions, determine the current nature and extent of lead contamination following the 2002 Removal Action, and perform a human health risk assessment and baseline ecological risk assessment based on current and reasonably anticipated future land use scenarios. Based on the Remedial Investigation’s finding of no unacceptable risk to human health or the environment from lead, the Corps is proposing to take no further action at the Site.
The proposed No Further Action decision may be modified based on new information or public comments submitted during the 31-day public comment period which is tentatively scheduled to run from Aug. 31 to Oct. 2, 2024. Therefore, the public is encouraged to review and comment on the rationale presented in the Proposed Plan.