Are dioxin concentrations in soils at the Fort Bragg Mill Site typical for a populated area?
Not yet, but they will be. There are three key sources of the dioxins detected in the mill site’s soils – natural and non-industrial background sources; the burning of redwood bark in the mill’s boilers; and the limited burning of municipal wood waste in 2001 and 2002. The dioxin concentrations resulting from background sources are typical for a populated area, but the higher concentrations generated by the burning of bark and municipal wood waste are not typical. The areas of the site impacted by these activities either have been addressed or are in the process of being defined, investigated, and addressed. Once this work is complete, the dioxin concentrations across the property will be in line with the dioxin background levels in Fort Bragg. Keep in mind that the background levels at Fort Bragg are consistent with background levels found in other studies of similar populated areas.
