The County-directed environmental review of off-site community sampling is now complete. The Monterey County Environmental Health Bureau has compiled the available testing data, technical reports, and state agency comments for public review. 

Available Online:

• Characterization and Screening-Level Risk Evaluation Report, prepared by Terraphase Engineering, dated June 22, 2026.

• Written comments from:
  • California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC),
  • Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA),
  • Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Attachment A

What the Report Says

• Terraphase concluded that sampled off-site soil, sediment, and surface water did not show conditions expected to pose an unacceptable long-term human-health risk.
• State agency comments did not challenge that long-term human-health conclusion, but identified other technical issues, differing interpretations, and remaining data gaps.
• Terraphase did not recommend additional investigation, remediation, or other response action for the specific sampled locations and environmental media.
• These conclusions are limited to the sampled locations and environmental media evaluated in the report.

What Remains

• This report completes the County’s off-site community sampling and review effort.

• Questions remain about exposure during or immediately after the fire, broader watershed movement, long-term biological effects, and future monitoring.

• Separate Central Coast Water Board orders address groundwater, aerial deposition, watershed transport, and related pathways.

• Any further work will occur through separate regulatory, research, or policy processes. The report’s data may help inform those efforts.

Understanding the County’s Role

The EHB acted as an independent coordinator to ensure a transparent public process. Please note the following boundaries regarding our authority:

• Coordination: We organized off-site community testing and brought state agency partners together.

• No Independent Review: We did not author the report, independently verify the technical data, or officially adopt the conclusions.

• Future Actions: Any future environmental cleanup, water monitoring, or regulatory decisions will be handled directly by the state agencies holding legal authority over these matters.

Have Questions?

If you have questions about the report's data, testing methods, or conclusions, please contact the reviewing state agencies or email the County directly at EHinfo@countyofmonterey.gov.