This Site was originally brought to the attention of EPA Remedial Project Manager (RPM) for the Price Battery Remedial Site, by the property owner, in 2012. At that time the property owner was inquiring about how to handle and/or dispose of soil containing battery fragments, as he was planning a home renovation project. The RPM relayed the property owner’s concern to EPA OSC Richardson, requesting assistance from the Removal Program in assessing areas of concern at the property.
In September, 2013, EPA, along with a START contractor, met with the homeowner at the Site property. At this time a removal assessment was conducted, confirming the reported battery fragments in the surface soil, in several locations around the property. During the removal assessment, approximately 25 randomly selected X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) screening locations on the property, were screened for lead. Fourteen of these locations revealed lead concentrations ranging from 648 to 31,600ppm (exceeding the established residential risk based screening/action level concentration of 572 ppm, used at the Price Battery, and Hamburg Lead Sites).
The Site, located on 6th St, in Hamburg, Windsor Township, Berks County, PA, is owned by a residential property owner, Mr. David Ruppert. The approximate 1.5 acre property consists of a roughly 2,000 square foot house, two car garage, gravel driveway, vegetable garden (40’x40’), children’s play area, and a firewood shed, and dog and chicken pens. The Property is adjoined by other residential properties, and a partially wooded property owned by the Hamburg Gun Club.
