U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
FMO Pesticide Site - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region III
Subject: POLREP #6
FMO Pesticide Site
A3PZ
Orefield, PA
Latitude: 40.6322715 Longitude: -75.6149893

To: Gerald Heston, US EPA Region III
Jeff Bartlett, North Whitehall Township
Dennis Carney, EPA Region III
Linda Marzulli, EPA Region III
From: Ruth Scharr, Federal On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 4/4/2011
Reporting Period:

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: A3PZ    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 9/1/2010
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 7/1/2010    Start Date: 9/17/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category

Time-Critical Removal




1.1.2 Site Description

The Site is characterized as a time-critical removal.  The Site includes approximately 1300 acres of land (approximately 1.5 square miles) that were formerly used for the commercial growing and harvesting of fruit from orchard trees and are currently zoned residential or public use in North Whitehall Township, PA.  Lead arsenate pesticide was historically used for several decades until its use was banned in 1988 by EPA.  Elevated levels of arsenic and lead have been detected in surface soil samples on residential parcels and in public use areas.  FMO Pesticide Action Memo was submitted by the OSC and signed on September 1, 2010 approving a Removal Action which address contamination at residential parcels.   

1.1.2.1 Location

Orefield/Schnecksville area of North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Ingestion of lead and arsenic through direct contact with contaminated soil, or ingestion of contaminants from small particles that have been aerosolized from the disturance of soil.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
ERRS contractors completed the raised garden beds at three properties. 

START contractors completed reanalysis of 415 samples from 16 properties in December 2010 and January 2011.  START contractors conducted processing and analysis of 265 samples from 11 properties between January and March 2011.  
  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Continue to prepare property specific work plans for residences requiring soil excavation.  
Conduct extent of contamination sampling at two additional properties, process and analyze samples at an onsite laboratory.
Conduct Phase II soil sampling at one property.  Phase II sampling will be considered closed after April 8, 2011.  No additional sampling for Phase II will be conducted. 
Excavation of properties are expected to resume the week of April 11th.  Preparations are currently underway for these activities.


2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues
  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    No information available at this time.
3. Participating Entities
  No information available at this time.
4. Personnel On Site
  No information available at this time.
5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.