United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region X
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

Progress at smelter site

Contaminated yard soil continues to be brought on site and placed in the consolidation pile.

Began placing the 8-mil plastic liner on September 28.  The liner is being placed over parts of the smelter with contamination as well as the consolidation area.  While the liner serves as visual marker for where contaminated soil begins, it principally will serve as a barrier to any precipitation infiltrating into the soil thus serving as additional protection to the well water.  The liner is being covered with 12 inches of 2-inch minus gravel.

An oil tank containing 750 gallons of used oil was removed from the site on September 19.  The used oil had economic value and was recycled.

Progress at residential sites

Residences completed thus far are:
1) 620 South St.
2) 311 7th St.
3) 211 Center St.
4) 418 Center St.
5) 208 1st St.
6) 203 Summit St.
7) 404 Silver Crown St.
8) 514 Silver Crown St.
9) 501 South St.
10) Lot at 10th St. and Leroy St.
11) Lot at 9th St. and Leroy St.
12) 409 Silver Crown St.
13) 602 8th St.
14) 203 Center St.
15) 506 South St.
16) 704 South St.
17) 505 Center St.
18) 621 Center St.
19)706 South St.
20) 500 South St.
21) 805 Center St.
22) Block 19 (Behind Mustang Grill)
23) 717 South St.


Properties in progress:

24) 607 Center - backfilling
25) 520 Center - backfilling
26) Block 22 (Behind the Post Office) - backfilling
27) 616 South - Will finish landscaping and sod after owner installs new septic tanks
28) 402 4th St. - excavating

Not yet started:
29) Lot at 4th and Summit

In summary, 191 properties were sampled in Phases I, II, and III.  69 properties called for no action because they were below 250 ppm, and thus meet cleanup levels set by the State of Washington under their Model Toxics Control Act.  78 properties had results greater than 250 ppm but because they were less than 1000 ppm they were not considered sufficiently high in lead concentration as to warrant emergency removal.  Instead, residences were advised to exercise exposure reduction measures.  33 properties were eligible for emergency removal works because of results greater than a 1000 ppm.  However, three of the 33 properties had results between 700 and 1000 ppm but were eligible for emergency removal work because  children lived there.

Progress on BNSF
Work was completed on October 2.  The road and parking lot were cleaned to depth.  Crushed rock was place on the road and parking lot.  Grass and soil was excavated from the lawn portion of the park and replaced with clean soil and sod.  The triangular parcel of land between the two railroad spurs and the mainline placed a visual marker followed by crushed rock.

Ambient Air Monitoring

Ambient air monitoring by Coast Guard and START show all readings below action levels.  Water trucks continue to patrol the streets and the smelter site.

Expect to be completed with all properties by Saturday October 16.
EQM will begin to demobilize on October 18 and expects to be gone by October 23.
Coast Guard will demobilize on October 9.

EPA is planning a final open house on November 18th at 7 pm in the Grange Hall.  The purpose would be to answer any remaining questions and concerns as well as discuss any future cleanup efforts in Northport.

EPA has been approached by the Northport Historical Society requesting $6,200 from EPA for constructing a roadside monument for the former smelter.  EPA needs to determine how contractually we can expend funds for a roadside monument, how much we can justify, as well as if BNSF can contribute to the project.  EPA did identify a roadside monument as a mitigation measure for demolition of the former smelter site in the National Historic Preservation Act process.


There were four properties that were eligible for removal work where work was not done.  The owners were unable to remove household goods and items, such as construction material and automobiles, in order to allow the removal work to occur.