Pasadena Unified Details Toxic Soil Removal Plans for San Rafael Elementary School Campus

Pasadena Unified School District said new soil testing at San Rafael has confirmed the need for soil removal and replacement after City of Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) county-recommended post-Eaton Fire sampling found lead at concentrations exceeding Department of Toxic Substances Control screening levels in two Pasadena communities within district boundaries, according to information the district released Friday.

The district said the additional testing followed Los Angeles County Department of Public Health soil sampling results. Pasadena Unified conducted additional soil testing across all campuses, and initial testing at San Rafael identified areas of soil requiring additional assessment within the play field and two planter areas along the north and east boundaries of the school.

To better understand the extent of the impacted soil conditions, the district said additional “step-out” testing was also completed.

Results showed that, in parts of the field area, soil removal and replacement will be needed to a depth of up to approximately four feet.

In the two planter areas, soil removal and replacement are generally at a shallower depth, up to approximately one foot. In total, approximately 2,000 cubic yards of soil identified to date will need to be removed and replaced across the campus.

Additional soil sampling will be completed over the holiday break to fill data gaps and finalize the anticipated removal areas.

State oversight agencies require that this type of work occurs when campuses are fully unoccupied, according to the district.

Because of the depth and volume of impacted soil involved, the district said the work cannot be safely completed while students or staff are present on campus. The scope of work includes large-scale impacted soil removal and replacement, use of heavy excavation equipment, temporary open excavation areas, regrading and rebuilding the field surface, reconstruction of irrigation systems, and reseeding the field to allow grass to establish.

The district said the soil work may affect trees located near the field and planter areas, and multiple trees may be affected depending on the final excavation limits. Tree preservation is a priority wherever feasible and consistent with safety and regulatory requirements. A certified arborist is evaluating each tree to determine whether trees can be preserved in place, whether protective measures can be used to preserve the trees while meeting agency requirements, or whether removal and replacement would be necessary.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has already received the district’s testing information and supporting materials, the district said.

The agency plans to begin its required public notification and information process in January 2026, with initial community surveys expected to be released on January 5, 2026, or shortly thereafter. The district said the public process is intended to provide transparency, answer questions, and allow DTSC and the public to review work plans.

The district said it is coordinating closely with DTSC to support a transparent and efficient review process so that planning, procurement and construction can remain on schedule, allowing work to begin in early June 2026, once school is out on summer break, and be completed in time for the field to reopen by the end of August 2026.

In its information release, the district said it recognizes how important outdoor space is to students, families, and the school community, and it understands the impact of the continued closure of the field. The district said it remains committed to fully and safely restoring the San Rafael Elementary field while meeting all state requirements. It said it appreciates the community’s patience and partnership and will continue to share updates as information becomes available and key milestones are reached.