Hinkley, California
Encyclopedia
Hinkley is an unincorporated community
in the Mojave Desert
in California
, U.S.
, 14 miles (22.5 km) northwest of Barstow
, 59 miles (95 km) east of Mojave
, and 47 miles (75.6 km) north of Victorville
. It sits just north of California State Highway 58.
The United States does not define a census-designated place
called Hinkley, but it does define a ZIP Code Tabulation Area
(ZCTA), 92347. Because Hinkley is contained within this ZCTA, it is possible to obtain census data from the United States 2000 Census for the area even though data for "Hinkley" are unavailable. As of the census of 2000, the ZCTA of 92347 had a 2000 population of 1,915. Of note is the fact that there were 485 people (26.7 percent of the population) five years in age or older categorized as having a disability
, a higher than average figure when compared to the national average of about 19.3 percent.
Between the 1960s and 1980s, several miles west of Hinkley along Highway 58, the Hawes Radio Tower
(a guyed mast) was used for military communication in the LF-range
.
The postal ZIP Code
is 92347 and the community is inside telephone area code 760
.
to prevent rust in the machinery. Since the water was stored between uses in unlined ponds, it ultimately severely contaminated the groundwater in the town.
The legal case was the subject of Erin Brockovich
, a 2000 drama film. Ongoing cleanup documentation is maintained at California EPA's page regarding Hinkley.
A study released in 2010 by the California Cancer Registry showed that, despite the contamination, cancer rates in Hinkley "remained unremarkable from 1988 to 2008". An epidemiologist
involved in the study said that "the 196 cases of cancer
reported during the most recent survey of 1996 through 2008 were less than what he would expect based on demographics and the regional rate of cancer."
The study referenced by Washington Post in the article is not provided therein could not be found nor substantiated based on the California Cancer Registry which is claimed to be the source. However, based on the WashPost article, 196 cases over 12 years for a population of 1915 equates to roughly 853 cases per 100k population per year. Based on the stats at California Cancer Rates, San Bernardino County averaged 359/100k/yr over the same time period. That's 276% of the "expected value".
Average Cr-6 levels in Hinkley were recorded as 1.19 ppb with a peak of 3.09 ppb. The PG&E Topock Compressor Station averaged 7.8 ppb and peaks at 31.8 ppb based on the PG&E Background Study. Compare to the California proposed health goal of 0.06 ppb.
This is apparently a widespread problem and not isolated to Hinkley.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 14 miles (22.5 km) northwest of Barstow
Barstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
, 59 miles (95 km) east of Mojave
Mojave, California
Mojave is a census-designated place in Kern County, California, United States. Mojave is located east of Bakersfield, at an elevation of 2762 feet...
, and 47 miles (75.6 km) north of Victorville
Victorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
. It sits just north of California State Highway 58.
The United States does not define a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
called Hinkley, but it does define a ZIP Code Tabulation Area
ZIP Code Tabulation Area
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are statistical entities developed by the United States Census Bureau for tabulating summary statistics from Census 2000. This new entity was developed to overcome the difficulties in precisely defining the land area covered by each ZIP code...
(ZCTA), 92347. Because Hinkley is contained within this ZCTA, it is possible to obtain census data from the United States 2000 Census for the area even though data for "Hinkley" are unavailable. As of the census of 2000, the ZCTA of 92347 had a 2000 population of 1,915. Of note is the fact that there were 485 people (26.7 percent of the population) five years in age or older categorized as having a disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
, a higher than average figure when compared to the national average of about 19.3 percent.
Between the 1960s and 1980s, several miles west of Hinkley along Highway 58, the Hawes Radio Tower
Hawes Radio Tower
Hawes Radio Relay Facility was a United States Air Force installation built on the site of the former Hawes Airfield at Hinkley, California, USA at...
(a guyed mast) was used for military communication in the LF-range
Low frequency
Low frequency or low freq or LF refers to radio frequencies in the range of 30 kHz–300 kHz. In Europe, and parts of Northern Africa and of Asia, part of the LF spectrum is used for AM broadcasting as the longwave band. In the western hemisphere, its main use is for aircraft beacon,...
.
The postal ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
is 92347 and the community is inside telephone area code 760
Area code 760
Image:Area_code_442.svg|right|Map of California area codes in blue with 442/760 in redrect 65 82 92 100 Area code 916rect 220 242 245 256 Area code 909rect 243 274 265 287 Area code 951rect 136 323 160 338 Area code 858...
.
Groundwater contamination
The community is commonly associated with Pacific Gas & Electric since it was the location of a compressor station for PG&E's massive natural gas transmission pipelines. The natural gas has to be re-compressed approximately every 350 miles (563.3 km), and the station uses large cooling towers to cool the compressors. The water used in these cooling towers contained hexavalent chromiumHexavalent chromium
Hexavalent chromium refers to chemical compounds that contain the element chromium in the +6 oxidation state. Virtually all chromium ore is processed via hexavalent chromium, specifically the salt sodium dichromate. Approximately of hexavalent chromium were produced in 1985...
to prevent rust in the machinery. Since the water was stored between uses in unlined ponds, it ultimately severely contaminated the groundwater in the town.
The legal case was the subject of Erin Brockovich
Erin Brockovich (film)
Erin Brockovich is a 2000 biographical film directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film is a dramatization of the story of Erin Brockovich, played by Julia Roberts, who fought against the US West Coast energy corporation Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Roberts won the Academy Award, Golden Globe,...
, a 2000 drama film. Ongoing cleanup documentation is maintained at California EPA's page regarding Hinkley.
A study released in 2010 by the California Cancer Registry showed that, despite the contamination, cancer rates in Hinkley "remained unremarkable from 1988 to 2008". An epidemiologist
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
involved in the study said that "the 196 cases of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
reported during the most recent survey of 1996 through 2008 were less than what he would expect based on demographics and the regional rate of cancer."
The study referenced by Washington Post in the article is not provided therein could not be found nor substantiated based on the California Cancer Registry which is claimed to be the source. However, based on the WashPost article, 196 cases over 12 years for a population of 1915 equates to roughly 853 cases per 100k population per year. Based on the stats at California Cancer Rates, San Bernardino County averaged 359/100k/yr over the same time period. That's 276% of the "expected value".
Average Cr-6 levels in Hinkley were recorded as 1.19 ppb with a peak of 3.09 ppb. The PG&E Topock Compressor Station averaged 7.8 ppb and peaks at 31.8 ppb based on the PG&E Background Study. Compare to the California proposed health goal of 0.06 ppb.
This is apparently a widespread problem and not isolated to Hinkley.