United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VI
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Tuesday, August 5, 2003
From:
Greg Fife

To:
Debbie Dietrich, Office of Emergency Management
Ragan Broyles, EPA

Subject: 

Many Diversified Interests
3617 Baer Street, Houston, TX
Latitude: 29.7679250
Longitude: -95.3297000


POLREP No.:
2
Site #:
06FE
Reporting Period:
D.O. #:
Start Date:
7/15/2003
Response Authority:
CERCLA
Mob Date:
7/14/2003
Response Type:
Time-Critical
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
NPL
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
TX0002288082
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
 

Site Description

The MDI Site located in Harris County, Texas is an abandoned foundry facility located approximately 2 miles east of downtown Houston and east of the intersection of Highway 59 and Interstate Highway 10.  This portion of Houston is also known as the Fifth Ward.  The MDI fenced property is bounded by Hare Street to the north, National Vinegar Company and Press Street to the east, the former Texas & New Orleans Railroad right-of-way beyond the easement to the south, and Bringhurst Street to the west.  There are in excess of 10,000 people within a mile of the Site, including several hundred children attending the local elementary school.  There are approximately 33 High Access Areas (HAAs)at the Site with lead contamination greater than the established 500 ppm action level.  These HAAs include the Blance Kelso Bruce Elementary School, the Fifth Ward Multipurpose Community Center, a church, and approximately 30 residential properties.  The school is located one block west of the MDI Site.  

The EPA is currently performing an RI/FS at the Site.  The purpose of the RI/FS is to determine the nature and extent of contamination and to gather sufficient information about the Site to support an informed risk management decision regarding which remedy is the most appropriate for the Site.  


Current Activities

Restoration at an empty lot is complete.  Bruce Elementary School is in the process of being restored.  Asphalt has been laid.  Sod is being placed currently in the school.  3 other residential properties have been excavated and backfilled and are ready for restoration.  Excavation has begun in two more residential sites.


Planned Removal Actions

Originally there were twenty Priority 1 sites that were going to be cleaned up.  In addition the plan is to clean up seven more Priority 2 sites.

The planned action for the Site involves removal of soils contaminated with lead from the other HAAs at the Site.  Soil with lead contamination greater than 500 ppm will be excavated.  The areas will be backfilled to proper grade and sodded.  Sidewalks, driveways, and other such structures will be replaced with comparable structures according to local codes.  The contaminated soil will be placed at the MDI Site.


Key Issues

Getting the tenants to sign access agreements and allowing EPA to videotape the houses inside and outside for documentation purposes.

Weather is very hot and dry.  Heat index is in the 100s.


Estimated Costs *
  Budgeted Total To Date Remaining % Remaining
Extramural Costs
Intramural Costs
 
Total Site Costs $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 0.00%

* The above accounting of expenditures is an estimate based on figures known to the OSC at the time this report was written. The OSC does not necessarily receive specific figures on final payments made to any contractor(s). Other financial data which the OSC must rely upon may not be entirely up-to-date. The cost accounting provided in this report does not necessarily represent an exact monetary figure which the government may include in any claim for cost recovery.


response.epa.gov/MDI

POLREP #2 Last Updated 8/6/2003