U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT Nanticoke Municipal Recreation Park - Removal Polrep Initial Removal Polrep UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Region III
Subject:	POLREP #1 Nanticoke Municipal Recreation Park Nanticoke, PA
To:
From:	Kelley Chase, On-Scene Coordinator
Date:	9/17/2013
Reporting Period:	August - September 2013
1. Introduction   1.1 Background     Site Number:      Contract Number:   D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:   Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type:   Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Assessment NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit: Mobilization Date:      Start Date: 8/9/2013 Demob Date:      Completion Date:   CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID: ERNS No.:    State Notification: FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #: 1.1.1 Incident Category Removal Assessment 1.1.2 Site Description The Nanticoke Municipal Recreation Park site consists of several parcels located along the Susquehanna River in the City of Nanticoke.  The City of Nanticoke took ownership of the parcels in the 1970s following severe flooding associated with Hurricane Agnes.  Since the 1990s and until recently, portions of the site were used as a youth soccer field and associated parking area.  The site also includes a storage area used for the City's Department of Public Works.  Prior to the 1970s, the site included landfill and scrap/junk yard operations.  Soil sampling conducted in 2011 and 2012 by a consultant for the City as part of a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment identified elevated levels of metals (including lead and arsenic), polychlorinated biphenyls (also known as PCBs) and several semi-volatile organic compounds on the soccer field and surrounding area.  As a result, the City closed the soccer field.  However, the park remains accessible to the public and there is interest in reopening the field.             1.1.2.1 Location The Site includes several parcels located on Lower Broadway Street in the City of Nanticoke, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. 1.1.2.2 Description of Threat Soil sampling conducted on behalf of the City of Nanticoke identified elevated levels of metals (including lead and arsenic), PCBs and semi-volatile organic compounds.  Soil sampling conducted in May 2011 from a depth of approximately twelve inches along the center line of the soccer field identified lead at concentrations up to 1440 milligrams per killigram (mg/kg), arsenic at concentrations up to 25.5 mg/kg, and PCBs at concentrations up to 299 mg/kg.  In 2012, the City conducted additional investigations which included a geophysical assessment, test pit investigations and additional soil sampling activities.  Based on EPA’s review of the City's sampling results and observations made during a "windshield" inspection on August 5, 2013, EPA believes that further evaluation is warranted to determine whether contamination is posing a threat to public health or the environment.  EPA intends to conduct a removal site evaluation to identify the extent of contamination.  This evaluation will focus on delineating the extent of contamination on the soccer field and surrounding area.  EPA will determine the need for further action, based on the results of the removal site evaluation.  1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results 2. Current Activities   2.1 Operations Section     No information available at this time.   2.2 Planning Section     2.2.1 Anticipated Activities EPA recently contacted the City of Nanticoke requesting access to conduct a removal site evaluation to identify the extent of contamination and determine whether the contamination is posing a threat to public health or the environment.   2.2.1.1 Planned Response 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   3.1 Unified Command 3.2 Cooperating Agencies Pennsylvania Department of the Environment (PADEP) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) 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.