• Immediately schedule scoping meetings with the DTSC – the state agency that oversees the PEA, as outlined in the California Education Code - and continue to work closely with them throughout the process.
• If only lead paint or PCBs from electrical transformers are suspected on the site, sample soil during the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment – the precursor to the PEA - or as a Phase 1 addendum. This eliminates the need for an entire PEA, but can only be done if sampling shows no other types of contamination.
• Prepare CEQA documents and the Phase 1/PEA concurrently.
• If significant contamination is suspected, jump right into the PEA without doing a Phase 1.
• If multiple sites are being investigated but only one is contaminated, request that construction be allowed on the non-contaminated sites while the contaminated site is cleaned up.

Chula Vista High School in the Sweetwater Union High School District wanted to complete its new wing in time for the upcoming school year, but DTSC required a PEA.

“Due to the unlikely possibility of contamination at the site, we decided to try to expedite the process so construction could begin on time,” said Nicole Peacock of Dudek. To do this, Dudek immediately scheduled scoping meetings with DTSC, limited sampling to only the area of new construction, and processed reports quickly.

Peacock said that additional environmental review has been imposed on California school districts recently due to legislation and case law, and as a result, it has been increasingly difficult for schools to receive environmental clearances. The schools have to go through DTSC as well as abide by other requirements that are spelled out in the California Code of Regulations, Title 5. By integrating these requirements into one document, the whole environmental review process is streamlined, she said.

“By carefully coordinating the PEA investigation and review, the project stayed on track,” said Gene Directo, area project manager of the Sweetwater Union High School District Planning and Construction. “All in all, the process moved pretty smoothly.”