United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VII
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The site is located in the Omaha metropolitan area and encompasses Council Bluffs, Iowa, Carter Lake, Iowa, and east Omaha. All of the site activities are centered around downtown Omaha, Nebraska.

ASARCO Incorporated (ASARCO) operated a lead refinery at 500 Douglas Street in Omaha, Nebraska, for over 100 years beginning in the 1870s.  The operation of the refinery ceased in 1997.  As a routine part of the refinery operation, lead particles were emitted into the atmosphere at the refinery.  In addition, the Gould Incorporated Lead Battery Recycling Plant was located at 555 Farnam Street in Omaha and was a secondary smelter of lead from discarded lead batteries. The blast furnace used to smelt the lead at the Gould plant emitted lead particles into the air from that refinery.  The Gould plant closed in 1982.

Several other facilities in the Omaha area used lead in their manufacturing processes.  A few of these included Carter White Lead at 21st and Locust Street which produced white lead paint bases, red lead and litharge protective coatings until 1936, Omaha Shot and Lead which later became Lawrence Shot and Lead and then became National Lead Company which manufactured lead shot by melting pig lead, Grant Storage Battery Company, Storage Battery Factory, and Exide Corporation which manufactured lead storage batteries.  

Numerous other locations in the Omaha area such as foundries, iron works, metal salvaging companies and other manufacturers also used or processed lead at their facilities.

On March 25, 2004, an Action Memorandum Amendment was signed. This amendment changed the scope of work to include daycare facilities and elevated blood levels (EBLs) that were previously addressed under the first Action Memorandum, however, still addresses highly contaminated properties with lead-soil concentrations of 1,200 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) or greater.

Continued activities are being centralized from the Missouri River Treatment Plant located at 5600 S. 10th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107-3501. The city of Omaha has partnered with the EPA to allow the use of a portion of the facility.

There were 8 properties excavated, 10 backfilled, and 10 sodded during this reporting period. So far, during this time-critical removal action (phase III), there have been a total of 225 properties excavated, 220 backfilled, and 216 sodded.  Some delays pertaining to sodding the properties has been experienced.  This has occurred semi-frequently throughout all three phases of the removal action.  Continued communication with the sod sub-contractor is on-going to emphasize timing and coordination of the work tasks.  

A test plot was constructed at the Missouri River Treatment Plant to evaluate the viability of hydro-seeding.  The test plot area was backfilled with the exact soil currently used on properties that had a removal action completed by the EPA.  An additional test plot was established in a lot at 1807 Lake Street.  Communications are on-going with possible hydro-seed, sub-contractors and the EPA in developing a long term strategy for hydro-seeding.  Slight adjustments to the test plot area have been implemented to study different hydro-seed techniques to assure the most effective application(s)concerning future use.  A report discussing the hydro-seed techniques is being prepared.    

Close coordination and co-training is being implemented with the Black and Veatch contractor personnel and the EPA's START personnel concerning property sketch drawings.

It should be noted that as an additional safeguard, the EPA sampled the sod, that is currently being applied to all properties that have had an EPA clean-up performed, for total lead.  The resulting lead levels were below any levels of concern.

There have been a sufficient list of assigned properties to take the work into November 2004.  At that time the EPA will re-issue new properties to the removal branch and work activities are expected to continue into late December 2004, completing Phase III.

Continued prioritization will be given to EBLs, day care facilities, and highly contaminated properties where children six years of age or younger live.  All of these higher priority locations received thus far, have been completed, therefore, geographic groupings of properties have been implemented to utilize resources and to create continuity in the community.

There are currently 24 EPA Emergency and Rapid Response Service (ERRS) contractors and 3 Mini-Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) personnel working extended work hours, 6 days a week.  The breakdown of personnel is comprised of two excavation crews and two backfill crews.  There is also a "punch list crew" that follows behind the other work teams to re-install fences and other needed repairs.  Then, a local sod subcontractor lays/installs new sod on the properties.  A few of the final steps include having the sod watered by the EPA for a two week period.  At that point, the property owner is provided with an instruction sheet (bilingual) that explains future care steps concerning the sod and is encouraged to take over the responsibilities of care.  After that, a final letter is sent to the property owner stating that the clean-up has been completed and a sketch of the property depicting the EPA assessment/actions is also provided to the property owner.

The Greater Omaha Area has received a significant amount of rainfall this year.  During this reporting period, there was a day and a half of suspended work activities due to rain. This has resulted in minor delays concerning the sod sub-contractor, accessing backfill source areas and some erosion that has occurred on residential yards.  Dryer weather conditions are expected in the area in the coming months, reducing future delays.

There is a list of 579 properties, with greater than 1,200 parts per million (ppm) lead, that was prioritized at the beginning of this phase of the project.  On June 26, 2004, 318 of those properties were taken off the EPA Removal Branch's list to be utilized for a pilot project operated through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete.  

On Monday, August 9, 2004, an additional grouping of 40 properties was received by the EPA Removal Branch and will be scheduled to have the lead-contaminated soils cleaned-up.  Of those additional 40 properties, 8 are EBLs and 1 is a day care.

On Friday, August 27, 2004, one additional greater than 1,200 ppm property was assigned to the EPA removal group.  

On Monday, September 20, 2004, another property was assigned to the EPA removal group that was greater than 1,200 ppm.

Any additional EBLs or day cares (affecting children), once received, are given the highest priority.  

After the prioritized properties have been cleaned up, geographic locations will be utilized to maximize available resources concerning the greater than 1,200 ppm lead-contaminated properties.  Sometimes difficulties are encountered when attempting to contact property owners concerning scheduling to remain in a general area, however, diligent efforts toward this goal are being maintained.

There will be a planned site visit by EPA Administrator Leavitt and local political figures on Tuesday, October 5, 2004.  Mr. Leavitt and others will visit one of the active removal sites and a local child care facility where removal actions have been conducted.