Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Facility, California

A chemical waste disposal and treatment site with a capacity of 5,700,000 cubic yards, operated by Chemical Waste Management, a subsidiary of waste giant WMX Technologies. The 1,600 acre site accepts waste from all over the west, but mostly serves California. One of less than 30 commercial chemical waste sites in the country, and one of less than ten sites licensed to take PCB's. Located 2.5 miles west of Interstate 5, the facility, as described in company literature, is four miles from the nearest residence, in Kettleman City. The next closest populated area, Avenal, has a population of 12,000 people (6,000 of which are in prison).