The MDI Site located in Harris County, Texas is an abandoned foundry facility located approximately 2 miles east of downtown Houston and east of the intersection of Highway 59 and Interstate Highway 10. This portion of Houston is also known as the Fifth Ward. The MDI fenced property is bounded by Hare Street to the north, National Vinegar Company and Press Street to the east, the former Texas & New Orleans Railroad right-of-way beyond the easement to the south, and Bringhurst Street to the west. There are in excess of 10,000 people within a mile of the Site, including several hundred children attending the local elementary school.
In 1998 and 1999, the Potentially Responsible Parties removed over 5000 drums containing waste materials, with the EPA's oversight. The TCEQ completed a removal and restoration in 1999 of 89 residentiqal yards to the west and north of the Site. The removal action was conducted to remove surface soil with concentrations of lead that equaled or exceeded 500 ppm, to reduce the exposure to lead.
Lead contaminated soils were removed from 56 HAAs between July 2003 and November 2003 and have been restored.
Three additional properties were identified for cleanup in 2003. However, access to these properties were not obtained until May 2005. Lead contaminated soils were removed from these 3 properties in May-June 2005. This brings the total number of properties cleaned up by EPA to 59. Two properties were identified for additional cleanup in 2005. Lead contaminated soil was removed from these 2 properties in 2003. Additional lead contaminated soils were removed from these 2 properties during May-June 2005.
