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===Groundwater contamination===
===Groundwater contamination===
{{Synthesis|section|date=September 2013}}
{{External links|section|date=September 2013}}
{{Main|Hinkley groundwater contamination}}
{{Main|Hinkley groundwater contamination}}
[[Hinkley, California]], had its [[groundwater pollution|groundwater contaminated]] with [[hexavalent chromium]] starting in 1952, resulting from a [[compressor station]] for natural gas transmission pipelines. Legal action against [[Pacific Gas & Electric]] (PG&E) followed and residents of Hinkley filed a [[class action]].<ref>http://environs.law.ucdavis.edu/volumes/26/2/banks.pdf</ref>
The community is commonly associated with [[Pacific Gas & Electric]] since it was the location of a compressor station for PG&E's massive natural gas transmission pipelines. The natural gas has to be re-compressed approximately every {{convert|350|mi|km}}{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}, and the station uses large cooling towers to cool the compressors. Between [http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb6/water_issues/projects/pge/index.shtml 1952 and 1966], the water used in these cooling towers contained [[hexavalent chromium]] to prevent rust in the machinery. Since the water was stored between uses in unlined ponds, it ultimately severely contaminated the groundwater in the town, which led to a legal battle that was the subject of ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'', a 2000 drama film. Ongoing cleanup documentation is maintained at [http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb6/water_issues/projects/pge/index.shtml California EPA's] page regarding Hinkley.


In 1993, [[Erin Brockovich]], a legal clerk to lawyer [[Edward L. Masry]], investigated the apparent elevated cluster of illnesses in the community linked to hexavalent chromium.<ref>{{cite web
A study released in 2010 by the California Cancer Registry showed that, despite the contamination, cancer rates in Hinkley "remained unremarkable from 1988 to 2008".<ref name=cancer>Schwartz, Naoki (2010-12-13) [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/13/AR2010121304675.html Survey shows unremarkable cancer rate in CA town], ''[[Washington Post]]''</ref> An [[epidemiology|epidemiologist]] involved in the study said that "the 196 cases of [[cancer]] reported during the most recent survey of 1996 through 2008 were less than what he would expect based on demographics and the regional rate of cancer."<ref name=cancer/>
| url = http://oehha.ca.gov/water/phg/072911Cr6PHG.html
| title = Final Technical Support Document on Public Health Goal for Hexavalent Chromium in Drinking Water
| first = Michael
| last = Baes
| date = July 29, 2011
| work = Water
| publisher = California Environmental Protection Agency
| location = [[Oakland, California|Oakland, CA]]
| accessdate = April 23, 2012
| quote = The health-protective level is based on avoidance of potential carcinogenic effects.
}}</ref> The efforts of Brockovich and Masry, and the plight of the people of Hinkley, became widely known when the film ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'' was released in 2000.


After many arguments, the case was referred to [[arbitration]] with maximum damages of $400 million. The case was settled in 1996 for [[United States dollar|$]]333 million, the largest settlement ever paid in a [[Direct-action_lawsuit|direct-action]] lawsuit in [[United States|U.S.]] history. In 2006, PG&E agreed to pay $295 million to settle cases involving another 1,100 people statewide for hexavalent chromium-related claims.
The study referenced by ''Washington Post'' in the article is not provided therein and could not be found nor substantiated based on the [http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/ccr/Pages/default.aspx California Cancer Registry] which is claimed to be the source. However, based on the WashPost article, 196 cases over 12 years for a population of 1915 equates to roughly 853 cases per 100k population per year. Based on the stats at [http://www.cancer-rates.info/ca/index.php California Cancer Rates], San Bernardino County averaged 359/100k/yr over the same time period. That's 276% of the "expected value".


[[Chromium VI#Air and water pollution|Chromium(VI)-contaminated water supply]] is apparently a widespread problem, and is not isolated to Hinkley.<ref>[http://static.ewg.org/reports/2010/chrome6/html/home.html Chromium-6 Is Widespread in US Tap Water], Environmental Working Group, 2010</ref>
Average Cr(VI) levels in Hinkley were recorded as 1.19 ppb with a peak of 3.09 ppb. The PG&E Topock Compressor Station averaged 7.8 ppb and peaks at 31.8 ppb based on the [http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb6/water_issues/projects/pge/docs/pge_background_study_faq2.pdf PG&E Background Study]. Compare to the California proposed health goal of [http://oehha.ca.gov/water/phg/chr6draft082009.html 0.02 ppb].

This is apparently a [http://static.ewg.org/reports/2010/chrome6/html/home.html widespread problem] and not isolated to Hinkley.


==Demographics==
==Demographics==

Revision as of 12:58, 7 February 2016

Hinkley
Unincorporated community
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySan Bernardino
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
1,915
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
92347
Area codes442/760
FIPS code06-33924
GNIS feature ID243490

Hinkley is an unincorporated community in the Mojave Desert, in San Bernardino County, California, U.S., 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Barstow, 59 miles (95 km) east of Mojave, 47 miles (76 km) north of Victorville and about 121 miles (195 km) driving distance north-northeast of Los Angeles. Just north of California State Highway 58, the residents have faced concerns over chromium-6 in their well water from the world’s largest plume of this cancer-causing chemical.[1]

The only school in Hinkley closed in June 2013.

History

Between the 1960s and 1980s, several miles west of Hinkley along Highway 58, the Hawes Radio Tower (a guyed mast) was used for military communication in the LF-range.

Groundwater contamination

Main article: Hinkley groundwater contamination

Hinkley, California, had its groundwater contaminated with hexavalent chromium starting in 1952, resulting from a compressor station for natural gas transmission pipelines. Legal action against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) followed and residents of Hinkley filed a class action.[2]

In 1993, Erin Brockovich, a legal clerk to lawyer Edward L. Masry, investigated the apparent elevated cluster of illnesses in the community linked to hexavalent chromium.[3] The efforts of Brockovich and Masry, and the plight of the people of Hinkley, became widely known when the film Erin Brockovich was released in 2000.

After many arguments, the case was referred to arbitration with maximum damages of $400 million. The case was settled in 1996 for $333 million, the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history. In 2006, PG&E agreed to pay $295 million to settle cases involving another 1,100 people statewide for hexavalent chromium-related claims.

Chromium(VI)-contaminated water supply is apparently a widespread problem, and is not isolated to Hinkley.[4]

Demographics

In early 2016, the New York Times described Hinkley as having been slowly turned into a ghost town due to the contamination of the area.[5]

The United States does not define a census-designated place called Hinkley, but it does define a ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA), 92347. Because Hinkley is contained within this ZCTA, it is possible to obtain census data from the United States 2000 Census for the area even though data for "Hinkley" are unavailable. As of the census of 2000,[6] the ZCTA of 92347 had a 2000 population of 1,915. Of note is the fact that there were 485 people (26.7 percent of the population) five years in age or older categorized as having a disability, a higher than average figure when compared to the national average of about 19.3 percent.

The postal ZIP Code is 92347 and the community is inside telephone area codes 442 and 760.

References

  1. ^ Steinberg, Jim (March 18, 2015). "Hinkley continues to shrink: Desert town set to lose only market, gas station, Post Office".
  2. ^ http://environs.law.ucdavis.edu/volumes/26/2/banks.pdf
  3. ^ Baes, Michael (July 29, 2011). "Final Technical Support Document on Public Health Goal for Hexavalent Chromium in Drinking Water". Water. Oakland, CA: California Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved April 23, 2012. The health-protective level is based on avoidance of potential carcinogenic effects.
  4. ^ Chromium-6 Is Widespread in US Tap Water, Environmental Working Group, 2010
  5. ^ Lovett, Ian (23 January 2016). "Gas Leak in Los Angeles Has Residents Looking Warily Toward Flint". New York TImes. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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