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.
The EPA had previously performed an RI/FS at the Site. The purpose of the RI/FS was 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.
The High Access Areas around the Site had 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 residential areas. Lead contaminated soils were removed from 56 HAAs between July 2003 and November 2003 and these properties have been restored.
EPA remobilized in May 2005 to conduct cleanup at 3 HAAa and additional cleanup at 2 more HAAs.
Cleanup had been completed at the 5 residential properties. All the 5 yards have been restored and watering operations completed.
- For 3 of these properties access was obtained in May 2005.
- For 2 of these properties cleanup was conducted in 2003 and additional cleanup was conducted at this time.
The total number of HAAs cleaned up by EPA is 59.
ERRS crew demobilized from the site on June 4, 2005. The rental equipment and ERRS Response Manager demobilized from the site on June 6, 2005. OSC Josiam did a final walkthrough of the residential yards with START personnel on June 7, 2005. START personnel video-documented the yards and the outside of the homes.
START personnel are in the process of
- Completing the video documentation of the indoor of the houses
- Obtaining the restoration agreement sign-off from the owners
- Submitting an addendum report for these 5 properties.
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