The Site is located on the three vacant lots on Lancashire Street in Providence, Rhode Island as well as a number of the surrounding residential properties on Lancashire Street, Sherwood Street, and Columbus Street. The vacant lot is 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.
On August 22, 2005 the extent of contamination survey resumed on the residential properties surrounding the vacant lots. The survey consisted of 20 properties on Lancashire Street, Columbus Street, and Sherwood Street. The investigation process was consistent with the initial process identified for the survey. Due to the size of these properties, the number of sample locations per property was decreased to between 8 and 10 locations.
During the week of November 14, 2005, six additional homes were sampled according to the sampling plan developed with the extent of contamination survey. These homes consisted of properties where access was not obtained during the second extent of contamination survey but are located in areas of the neighborhood that are likely to contain similar contamination as its neighbors. For example, the properties on both sides of the property to be sampled qualify for a removal action according to the results obtained in an earlier sampling event. The results of this sampling activity will be reviewed and evaluated to indicate which properties need to be added to the list of properties that qualify for a removal action.
At this time the removal action at the residential properties has begun, using the vacant lots as a staging area for the contaminated soil. Site activities consist of excavation of the contaminated soil, dust suppression activities, backfilling, and waste disposal.
As of the third sampling round, 32 residential properties qualified for a removal action. Of these properties, 12 of them were completed with excavation and backfilled at the end of the 2005 construction season.
Due to property owners not returning the access letters or not being interested in having their properties sampled, residential properties that abut some of the removal properties were not sampled and were not designated to be apart of the removal action. The extent of contamination survey was complete after the third residential property sampling round.
On April 26, 2006 a public meeting was held to provide a forum for information exchange and questions for the community. A strong concern was expressed regarding the property owners who did not grant access to EPA for sampling of their property. In an attempt to address these concerns, EPA with the support of RIDEM, has decided to make an additional attempt to contact the remaining 14 property owners. Depending on the response and the results of the preliminary assessment sampling, the number of homes being addressed under the removal action may increase to 46 properties located on Lancashire Street, Columbus Street, and Sherwood Street.
The additional round of sampling will be conducted during the second and third weeks of June 2006. The results of the sampling will determine if the number of homes being addressed in the Removal Action will increase.
Identified contaminated surface soils will be excavated, transported, and disposed of at an approved off-site landfill. Once field excavation activities are complete, EPA will take confirmatory samples where deemed necessary, in conjunction with the RIDEM, who will be taking duplicate samples. EPA’s contractors will backfill excavated areas, re-grade, and re-vegetate the residential properties in a manner consistent with pre-existing conditions. All equipment, materials, and supplies will be demobilized and the Site with be secured.
EPA and it's contractors will continue to excavate the contaminated soil on the residential properties. The residential properties that were excavated and backfilled last construction season are being prepared for restoration activities. Restoration activities will be contingent on the logistics of the Site and the weather conditions.
An issue regarding the disposal of the contaminated soil is currently being addressed by USEPA and RIDEM. A new addition to the Rhode Island state regulations imposes a hazardous waste tax on the contaminated soil leaving the site for disposal. USEPA and RIDEM are diligently working together to resolve this issue. Both agencies hope to come to a suitable compromise before the end of August 2006.
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