Westmorland Chemical Waste Facility, California

One of only a handful of fully permitted Class 1 hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities in California. Among other hazardous materials, the site accepts contaminated soils, filter cake, heavy metals, both EPA and California-regulated waste materials, as well as naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) generated by both geothermal and oil/gas production. The material is placed in plastic-lined pits, or "cells," and covered with soil. When it is filled, a cell is visible as a raised rectangular mound. It is one of 7 landfills in the United States operated by CleanHarbors, said to be the largest hazardous waste disposal company in North America. Westmorland is one of four similar facilities in the southern half of California (the others are Kettleman Hills, McKittrick, and Buttonwillow, all of which are in the southern San Joaquin Valley).