U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Pittsburg Zinc - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII
Subject: POLREP #4
Progress POLREP
Pittsburg Zinc
KSD985015338
Pittsburg, KS
Latitude: 37.4108840 Longitude: -94.7049600

To:
From: Todd Campbell, OSC
Date: 11/23/2009
Reporting Period: 11.16.9-11.23.9

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: KSD985015338    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 9/30/2009
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 10/26/2009    Start Date: 10/27/2009
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
The incident is a CERCLA Fund lead Removal Action.

1.1.2 Site Description

Residential lead contamination from a former zinc smelting operation.....please refer to POLREP #1 for site history and detailed description.  


1.1.2.1 Location
Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas......please refer to POLREP #1 for additional details.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Lead and lead compounds.....please refer to POLREP #1 for a detailed description of hazards associated with lead exposure.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
In March 2009, EPA began removal assessment activities at the site.  A second phase of assessment activities was conducted in November 2009.  To date approximately 60 properties have been identified with lead levels in the soil that exceed the site specific action criteria of 550 mg/kg.  Please refer to POLREPs 1-3 for more detail on removal assessment results.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
EPA R7 mobilized both START and ERRS contractors to Pittsburg, Kansas on Monday, October 26, 2009, to begin excavating contaminated soil from residential yards in Pittsburg.  The initial action is to excavate soil from 25 residential yards in the Phase I area and to conduct RSE activities within the Phase II assessment area.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA has completed excavation at twenty-one (21) of the Phase I properties and partially completed excavation work at one other.  Backfill and revegetation efforts have been completed at all excavated properties with only a semi-commercial playground restoration left to complete for those Phase I properties that have been cleaned up.    All excavated soil has been taken to the Oak Grove Landfill in Arcadia, KS and disposed of as a special waste with the approval of KDHE.  To date, 1497 tons of contaminated soil have been removed, 1136 yards of backfill have been installed, 114 tons of driveway gravel has been installed, and 32895 square feet of sod has been laid.

Phase II assessment activities have been completed at 90 properties.  Phase II assessment activities will continue pending receipt of additional access agreements.  Data results will be transmitted to property owners when final data is received from the laboratory.  Initial screening results indicate that roughly 42% of the properties screened contain soil with lead levels that exceed the action level of 550 ppm lead. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
A title search has been completed on all parcels of land either known or suspected to be part of the three former smelter sites associated with the Pittsburg Zinc Site.  Several of these parties are working with the city and the state to address contamination on their properties through a KDHE state response program.  EPA is conducting a full PRP search.
 
2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
 Special Waste  Soil  1497 tons  multiple  n/a  Oak Grove Landfill
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Continue cleanup of Phase I properties, send data transmittal letters to Phase II property owners following receipt of laboratory data from the Phase II assessment, and pursue access for additional assessment in the Phase II area and for cleanup of the Phase II properties exceeding the action level.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Continue excavation, backfill, and revegetation as weather permits.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Complete cleanup activities at the three remaining Phase I properties and work toward establishing a soil staging area for the Phase II cleanup so that larger trucks can be used to transport material to the disposal area.  Begin contacting property owners in the Phase II area to schedule cleanup of yards exceeding the action level. 

2.2.2 Issues
Issues include weather and consistency of backfill material.
  2.3 Logistics Section
    Continue gathering access agreements from the remaining property owners that have yet to submit an access agreement for the Phase I removal, as well as additional access agreements from Phase II property owners (will complete Phase II assessment when have enough additional properties to warrant mobilizing a contractor to site for sampling and field screening activities).

A Phase II removal access letter was mailed out on Friday, November 20th, so personal contact with the 38 contaminated Phase II property owners will be initiated this week.  ERRS has contacted the utility locate company to get underground line locates completed before crews return from the Thanksgiving holiday. 

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
The OSC has reviewed the ERRS and START Health and Safety Plan.  The EPA R7 SHEMP has tentatively scheduled a site safety visit in the next two to three weeks. 

2.6 Liaison Officer
OSC continues to coordinate site activities through the site Community Involvement Coordinator, who is coordinating information dissemination through the EPA R7 Government Liaison. 

2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator

The site PIO/CIC helped to coordinate a public availability session on Thursday, October 15th, so any concerns from the Phase I/II property owners could be addressed. 


3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
There is currently no formal ICS structure in place; however, all vested parties and interests are being addressed with regard to planning, assessment, and removal efforts.  EPA, KDHE, and the city are participating in a weekly coordination meeting.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
US EPA R7
ATSDR
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Crawford County Health Department
City of Pittsburg, Kansas

4. Personnel On Site
  2 - EPA OSCs
1 - START Contractor
1 - RM
1 - Cost Accountant
2 - Equipment Operators
3 - Laborers
5 - Truck Drivers

5. Definition of Terms
  n/a

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
The Administrative Record is being compiled and will be at the following repository:

Pittsburg Public Library
308 North Walnut
Pittsburg, Kansas 66762

6.2 Reporting Schedule
POLREPs will be written and posted weekly.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  n/a