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Last Updated: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 9:36 AM

Aerially Deposited lead

ADL Variance

Aerially Deposited Lead (ADL) refers to lead deposited along highway shoulders from past leaded fuel vehicle emissions. Even though leaded fuel has been prohibited in California since the 1980's, ADL can still be found along highways that were in use prior to that time. In California, soil within Caltrans right of way that contains hazardous waste concentrations of ADL can be reused under the authority of variances issued by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to Districts 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12. Currently Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9 do not have variances and must dispose of this material in a Class 1 landfill if it is excavated for a project.

The existing Aerially Deposited Lead (ADL) variances for Caltrans Districts 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 issued by DTSC in 2000, have been extended through June 30, 2008. Negotiations with DTSC for new variances, which will include all Caltrans Districts, are underway.  The variances allow stockpiling, transporting, and reuse of soils with concentrations of lead below maximum allowable levels on Caltrans right of way when specific conditions are met.

Variance Documents

Below are all of the current Variance documents issued by DTSC listed from most recent to oldest. For many documents an example letter addressed to one district is posted.

• 2008 DTSC Lead Contaminated Soil Variance Modification Extension Letter 4 (401KB)
• 2007 DTSC Lead Contaminated Soil Variance Modification Extension Letter 3 (540KB)
• 2006 DTSC Lead Contaminated Soil Variance Modification Extension Letter 2 (71KB)
• 2005 DTSC Lead Contaminated Soil Variance Modification Extension Letter 1 (75KB)
• Variance Modification 3 Local Use (97.4KB)
• 2003 Variance Modification 2 (92.2KB)
• 2002 Variance Modification 1 (Superseded by Modification 2) (83.3KB)
• District 4 Variance (418KB)
• District 6 Variance (414KB)
• District 7 Variance (416KB)
• District 8 Variance (412KB)
• District 10 Variance (414KB)
• District 11 Variance (416KB)
• District 12 Variance (417KB)

Variance Background Information

• Invoking the Variance (21KB) Directions to properly use the Variance
• Lead Variance Powerpoint (4/2007) (2.11MB)
• ADL Soil Management Table (4/2007) (29.5KB)

ADL Specifications

Please visit the Hazardous Waste Special Provisions web page to find links to ADL standard special provisions (SSPs).

For more information please e-mail

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