United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The former American Lead facility is located at 2102 Hillside Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana. American Lead operated a lead smelter at this location from 1946 to 1965. In 1965, National Lead Industries, Inc. (NL Industries) acquired the property and operated a lead reclamation facility. A fire reportedly damaged the smelter building in 1970 and NL Industries removed several buildings and slag piles in 1971. After several different owners, Irving Materials, Inc., (IMI) acquired the facility in 1990. The southeastern part of the facility was formerly leased to DuraCrete and is currently leased to Adjustable Forms, Inc., a manufacturer of building products (ESE 1999).

The facility is located in a mixed residential and industrial area. During the period of lead smelting operations, lead fumes and dust would have been released from the facility as point and fugitive sources and may have contributed to lead contamination at the facility and the surrounding areas. Investigations performed by the facility contractor and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) found lead contamination in residential and non-residential soils surrounding the facility. On March 13, 2003, IDEM requested assistance from U.S. EPA Region 5 Emergency Response Branch for a removal assessment because of failed negotiations with the PRP to reach a compromise on the remedial aspect of the project. U.S. EPA’s negotiations with the PRP resulted in an administrative order that required the  PRP to characterize lead contamination in the surrounding areas of the facility (off-site) and remediate lead contaminated soil.

• EPA is addressing access at properties where AGC is unable to contact resident. Eighteen properties still need access agreements signed.  
• AGC currently has signed access agreements for 218 properties and all have been sampled. Of those 218, 12 had XRF lead readings below the cleanup action level of 400 ppm.  206 properties would have to be partially or completed remediated.
• ENTACT has excavated 55 vacant properties, 6 churches, and 52 residential properties to date, 4 vacant lots and 5 residential properties were excavated during the reporting period.
• ENTACT had disposed of 18,200 tons of non-hazardous lead-contaminated soil during 2005 activities. ENTACT disposed of 784 tons of non-hazardous lead-contaminated soil during the reporting period.
• ENTACT collected 2 vacant lot and 1 residential post-excavation confirmation samples during the reporting period.
• ENTACT has backfilled 51 vacant lots, 6 churches, and 47 residential properties to date, 1 vacant lot  during the reporting period.
• ENTACT has placed sod/seed on 50 vacant/side lots, 6 churches and 44 residential properties to date, 6 vacant lots and 5 residential properties had sod/seed placed during this reporting period.
• ENTACT conducted daily air monitoring near residential entrance (if applicable) and up and down wind of every excavation area. Exceedances have been reported with corrective actions taken.

1) EPA to work on access agreements to properties were owners can not be contacted.
2) PRP to continue to sample properties where access agreements have been signed.
3) Continue excavation of those properties that have had XRF screenings above 400 ppm.
4) Continue backfilling excavated properties after confirmation sampling has been completed.
5) Treatment, if needed, and disposal of lead-contaminated soil to the Clinton County Landfill.

1) Continue gaining access and sampling residential properties.
2) Continue excavation, and backfilling of residential properties that have results above 400 ppm.
3) Continue placing sod or grass seed on backfilled properties.
4) Continue transportation and disposal of non-hazardous lead-contaminated soil.

Attempting to get access to remaining properties.

To date approximately 18,200 tons of non-hazardous lead-contaminated soil was disposed of to the Clinton County Landfill during 2005 activities. Approximately 6,095 tons of non-hazardous lead-contaminated soil has been disposed of to the Clinton County Landfill during 2006 activities.