The Santa Susana Field Laboratory is located in eastern Ventura County, California and is close to the cities of Simi Valley, Chatsworth, West Hills, and Woodland Hills. The site is comprised of four distinct operational areas with two adjacent undeveloped properties.
The Department of Energy’s Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) resided in Area IV and served as a center for cutting-edge technology development that supported the U.S. nuclear and space programs during the Cold War.
Over the years, as a project was completed and there was no future need for the building, it was demolished, decontaminated and cleaned up. In 1988, DOE ended all nuclear research operations at ETEC.
DOE has been studying and remediating Area IV for over 40 years. There were once more than 270 structures in Area IV. As of October 2021, all buildings were safely demolished.
DOE has conducted years of careful study and is committed to cleaning up the site so it can be safely enjoyed.
ETEC By the Numbers infographic illustrates the cleanup progress at SSFL, which is located in the southeast corner of Ventura County, California, adjacent to Los Angeles County.
General Description
SSFL is a complex of industrial research and development facilities located on about 2,850 acres of land in an unincorporated area of Ventura County in the Simi Hills between Simi Valley and Los Angeles in Southern California.
Landowners & Tenants
In 1947, North American Aviation (NAA) bought the first parcel of what today is the roughly 2,850-acre SSFL.
Who Regulates ETEC?
Characterization and cleanup activities at SSFL, including Area IV, are governed by many regulations and various regulators.
Operations at ETEC
A broad range of energy-related research, testing and development projects have been conducted at Area IV (ETEC).
Library
DOE regularly updates this library with the latest information about Area IV at SSFL. These documents, videos and photos are important community resources on characterization and cleanup work, as well as past operations.
