The Site is located on three vacant lots on Lancashire Street in Providence, Rhode Island at 41degrees 50' 59.7" north latitude by 71degrees 25' 49.3" west longitude. The Site is bordered to the north by residential property and Glasgow Street; to the east by residential property and Columbus Street; to the south by residential property and Douglas Avenue; and to the west by Lancashire Street.
At the request of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), EPA initiated a Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI) consisting of a detailed file review, an "open fields" assessment to check site conditions, and a sampling event on May 17-19, 2004. The sampling event included setting up a sampling grid, taking approximately 200 samples, and having them analyzed by the New England Regional Mobile Laboratory for lead and PCBs. The results yielded levels of lead and PCBs above the RIDEM accepted standard for residential areas of 150 ppm and 10 ppm , respectively. The sampling locations with PCB contamination are on the perimeter of the vacant lots, indicating that there may be a need for further investigation on the neighboring residential areas. The analytical data was then used to conduct a health assessment by Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The site investigation was closed on September 16, 2004 with the recommendation that a time critical removal action be conducted.
On June 2, 2005, EPA initiated the extent of contamination investigation in the Lancashire Street neighborhood. The investigation began by sampling the residential properties abutting the vacant lots. These properties consisted of 51-53, 69-73 on Lancashire Street and 60, 66 on Columbus Street. The investigation process consisted of obtaining permission to access each of the residential properties, setting up a sampling grid with approximately 14 to 20 sampling points, and having the samples analyzed at a private laboratory for lead and PCBs. The results yielded levels of lead and PCBs above the RIDEM accepted standard for residential areas of 150 ppm and 10 ppm, respectively.
The extent of contamination investigation will continue to progress to the residential properties abutting the aforementioned sampled properties. The sampling will continue until the extent of contamination is defined. All of the residential properties will be addressed in the same manner as the initial set of sampled properties.
EPA and the ERRS contractor conducted a site walk on June 10, 2005 to review site conditions and discuss planned removal activities. EPA and its contractors, including the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) and the Emergency Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractors, are preparing to mobilize the personnel, equipment, and supplies needed to conduct the cleanup. The START contractor has developed the Health & Safety Plan and is in the process of generating the Administrative Record for this removal action. The ERRS contractor has performed a bid walk with designated subcontractors to perform clearing and grubbing activities on the site. These activities are scheduled to start June 28, 2005.
The vacant lots will be cleared of debris and brush to prepare for excavation activities. An area will be designated and prepared for the staging of excavated soil. The soil will be staged until transportation and disposal can be scheduled. Any excavated soil will be kept moist during site activities to prevent dust during excavation. The pile will remain covered when site activities do not involve excavation and during non-work hours.
EPA will meet with each of the residential properties owners to discuss the sampling results for their property. The residents whose properties meet the criteria for a removal action will be offered the opportunity to have their property be included in the removal action process. A full explaination of the intended work and desired end result will be reviewed. The property owners will be asked to sign an access agreement for the removal action activities. The Lancashire Street site boundaries will be redefined through an Addendum to the Action Memo.
There are no key issues at this time.
|
