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 71 degrees 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.
The removal action continues at the residential properties, 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.
The fourth sampling round took place in July 2006, when nine additional residential properties were sampled. All nine of these properties qualified for a removal action. The total number of residential properties at the site now stands at 39. Excavation and backfilling are now complete at 29 of these properties and ongoing at the remaining 10.
EPA continues to repair response-related damage to the affected properties including spreading loam, planting grass, replacing shrubs and trees, fences and other features removed during excavation activities.
After excavation and backfilling are completed at the 39 residential properties, the contamination on the vacant lots will be addressed in the same manor. The excavated areas will be backfilled with clean materials and contaminated materials will be removed from the site and disposed of at a permitted facility. All excavation activities are scheduled to be completed during the fall of 2006.
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.
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