NORTH COAST, Calif. — Caltrans is asking for the public’s assistance following a series of illegal hazardous material dumpings along U.S. 101 in Mendocino County.

On Monday, with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, the Mendocino County Environmental Health Department, and Redwood Empire Hazmat Incident Response, 19 barrels containing hazardous waste were removed from an embankment south of Leggett near the Empire Rest Area.

The cost of the cleanup and disposal of the materials is estimated at $30,000.

“Luckily, we've avoided any major environmental hazards thus far,” said Caltrans District 1 Hazardous Materials Manager Danny Figueiredo. “At the cleanup site on Monday, the materials were only 10 feet away from dropping over a cliff with a drop of about 50 to 75 feet right into the creek. The creek has fresh running water, with fish, and that would have been disastrous.”

The string of incidents began in November with illegal dumping occurring twice in Hopland, again last month in Laytonville near the Shamrock Ranch, and most recently south of Leggett.

“The evidence collected indicates that the materials found at all four sites originated from the Bay Area, possibly from an old construction or roof insulation company in Livermore,” Figueiredo said.

He emphasized that the expense of each cleanup is substantial.

If anyone has information or has seen any suspicious activity regarding the dumping of barrels of commercial hazardous waste along U.S. 101 in Mendocino County, please contact the CHP at 707-932-6100.