State Reviews Proposed Cleanup of Former Torrance Industrial Site

A former industrial property in Torrance is moving through California's environmental cleanup review process, with regulators evaluating a proposed plan to address contamination in soil, groundwater, and underground vapor.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is reviewing a Remedial Action Plan for the Former Freeman Products Facility, a property covering approximately 2.3 acres.

The proposal identifies contamination concerns in subsurface soil vapor, soil, and groundwater at and downgradient of the site.

The public comment period ran from September 14 through October 14, 2026, and has now closed.

What Is the Environmental Problem?

Industrial properties sometimes retain chemical contamination long after their original operations have ended.

Depending on the substances involved and surrounding environmental conditions, contamination can remain in soil, move through groundwater, or produce vapors beneath the surface.

According to the state's environmental review, the Freeman Products cleanup proposal addresses chemicals of potential concern detected in those environmental media.

The existence of contamination requiring investigation does not, by itself, establish that nearby residents have been exposed or that local drinking water is unsafe.

Those questions require specific environmental sampling, exposure assessments, and regulatory findings.

How Would the Cleanup Work?

The proposed strategy relies primarily on a treatment method known as in-situ bioremediation.

Rather than excavating all affected material, this approach treats contamination underground by promoting biological processes that can break down certain chemicals.

The state's project description identifies:

• 57 treatment locations across the project site.
• 50 proposed new locations and seven existing injection-well locations.
• Monitored natural attenuation, which involves tracking natural processes that may reduce contamination over time.
• Institutional and engineering controls intended to manage potential risks and prevent inappropriate exposure.

The proposed remedy combines active treatment with monitoring and long-term management measures.

The effectiveness of these methods depends on the contaminants involved, site conditions, and the results of ongoing testing.

What Happens After Public Comments Close?

DTSC invited public comments on the draft Feasibility Study and Remedial Action Plan between September 14 and October 14.

The agency also held a virtual community meeting on September 30 to explain the proposal and answer questions.

With the comment period now concluded, the next regulatory steps may include reviewing submitted comments, evaluating whether the proposal requires revisions, and determining whether the cleanup plan can be approved.

The expiration of the comment period does not mean the cleanup has received final approval or that remediation work has begun.

Why This Matters to Torrance Residents

Environmental remediation is often a lengthy process, but it serves an important purpose: identifying contamination, evaluating potential risks, and developing ways to protect people and the environment.

For communities near former industrial properties, the quality of the investigation and cleanup matters as much as the eventual redevelopment or reuse of the land.

The Freeman Products proposal also illustrates why groundwater and subsurface contamination can require attention even when pollution is not visible at street level.

What Should Residents Watch Next?

The most important upcoming development is DTSC's decision on the proposed cleanup plan.

Residents can follow the state's environmental records to determine whether the agency approves the proposed remedy, requires modifications, or publishes additional investigation and monitoring results.

For now, the confirmed development is that the formal public comment period has ended and the proposed plan is awaiting further regulatory action.

The long-term objective is to address contamination through a scientifically supported cleanup strategy that protects public health and the surrounding environment.

Residents can review the official California environmental review record and supporting documents for the Former Freeman Products Facility.