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. Seventeen properties still need access agreements signed.  
•AGC currently has signed access agreements for 220 properties, and one needs to be sampled. Of those 220, 12 had XRF lead readings below the cleanup action level of 400 ppm.  208 properties would have to be partially or completed remediated.
•ENTACT has excavated 76 vacant properties, 6 churches, and 76 residential properties to date, 16 vacant lots and 21 residential properties were excavated during the reporting period.
•ENTACT disposed of 7,004 tons of non-hazardous lead-contaminated soil during the reporting period.
•ENTACT collected 15 vacant lot and 22 residential post-excavation confirmation samples during the reporting period.
•ENTACT has backfilled 68 vacant lots, 6 churches, and 68 residential properties to date, 12 vacant lots and 15 residential properties during the reporting period.
•ENTACT has placed sod/seed on 67 vacant/side lots, 6 churches and 63 residential properties to date, 16 residential and 17 vacant lot 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 were not reported during this reporting period.

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.

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 15,776 tons of non-hazardous lead-contaminated soil has been disposed of to the Clinton County Landfill during 2006 activities.