United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Site is located along 950-1000 Fairview Street in Bristol, Virginia.  The property is bordered by Beaver Creek to the west and south and by residential and commercial properties to the north and east.  The Site consists of approximately 12 acres, including portions of Beaver Creek.  Much of the Site is relatively flat and includes buildings currently undergoing demolition operations.  Alongside Beaver Creek, the Site includes an area containing battery casings and other debris comprising a steeply sloped embankment.  A sewer line has been installed in a narrow strip of land between the embankment and Beaver Creek.

The Site was reportedly used as a city landfill in the late 1950's or 1960's.   The property was subsequently purchased by and used by private parties in several tracts.  In or around 1995, the Raleigh Junk Company, which operated at the Site, entered into a Consent Order for Removal Action with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to excavate and properly dispose of, or treat in accordance with an EPA-approved plan, soils contaminated with lead in excess of 1,000 mg/kg as well as excavate and property dispose of, or treat in accordance with an EPA-approved plan, soils contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in excess of 25 mg/kg.  This Order was completed on February 10, 1997.

In October of 2008, EPA was requested by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate the source of elevated concentrations of PCBs detected in Beaver Creek in the vicinity of the Site.  While evaluating Site conditions with the owner, the OSC observed battery casings, transformer parts, and other debris comprising a steeply sloped embankment alongside the banks of Beaver Creek.  The OSC observed battery casings and other debris upon the sewer easement at the base of the embankment, the banks of Beaver Creek, and within Beaver Creek.  Soil gentian battery casings and debris was observed eroding into Beaver Creek.  

On December 9, 2008, a sampling assessment was subsequently initiated to evaluate concentrations of hazardous substances in soil and sediment in this area of the Site and within the surface waters adjacent to the Site.

The analysis of soil and sediment samples revealed elevated concentrations of PCBs and lead, which are hazardous substances as defined in Section 101 (14) of CERCLA, 42 U.S. C 9601 (14).  Using a screening technology (XRF) which identifies the concentrations of certain inorganic hazardous substances in soil, lead was detected at concentrations up to 172,000 mg/kg in the exposed surface soils at the Site.  The laboratory analytical results of soil and sediment samples confirm concentrations of lead in soils up to 149,000 mg/kg.  Additionally, the analytical results indicate the presence of lead in the sediment of Beaver Creek up to 677 mg/kg.  PCBs concentration up to 66 mg/kg in the soil of the Site and PCBs concentration up to approximately 2 mg/kg in the sediment of Beaver Creek.

On July 30, 2009, the OSC conducted additional screening for lead in the Site soils with XRF equipment.  This screening was used to determine the extent of contamination at the site.  A total of 22 additional locations were screened and lead concentrations were determined in concentrations up to 1,977 ppm.

The OSC determined that a removal action is warranted at the Site to address the contaminated soils.

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The OSC will draft an Action Memorandum to address the contamination at the Site.

The OSC will have the current property owner sign an access agreement for EPA to address the contamination at the Site.

The OSC will continue to coordinate Site activities with local and state officials.

Soils at the Site contain elevated concentrations of lead, up to 149,000 ppm.