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On January 9, 2007, WVDEP requested that the US Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 conduct a removal assessment and possible removal action at the site
BACKGROUND:
On December 2, 2003 WVDEP inspector conducted a Compliance Schedule Evaluation (follow-up) of the former Old Athens Turnpike property in downtown Princeton, Mercer County, WV. Previous industrial waste disposal activity on the property has already been documented as the source of lead contamination of the soil in this residential area. S. S. Belcher, a salvage company, operated on adjacent property from the 1920s through 1990 on property leased from Norfolk Southern Railroad. Clean up of lead contamination on the Norfolk Southern property, resulting from S. S. Belcher's battery scrapping operation, has long been complete and the groundwater monitoring wells closed. The administrative order, however, remains open since 1) the contamination has involved both properties and originated from a single source and 2) since lead contamination in the surface soils on the Old Athens Turnpike has potential to impact the downgradient Norfolk Southern property. The inspection was to assess the current status of the property and the contamination thereon.
Sample results received on December 19, 2003 indicated both samples exceeded 1,000 mg/L (ppm) total lead and one exceeded the TCLP regulatory limit of 5.0 mg/Kg. Sample 1 contained 3,380 mg/Kg (ppm) total lead with a TCLP lead of 3.6 mg/L. Sample 2 contained 151,000 mg/Kg total lead and 780 mg/L TCLP lead.
OSC Kelly has reviewed the history and data submitted by WVDEP. The OSC has determined that further assessment must be completed at the Site. However, there is a clear case of who "owns" the property. WVDEP has documented that the West Virginia Department of Highways (WV-DOH)owns the property, but through letters and meetings with DOH, DOH denies ownership.
The OSC will seek assistance from EPA ORC and Enforcement to investigate who owns the property before proceeding with any field activity.
On February 24, 2007, the OSC and a representative from the West Virginia Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Register visited the site location.
The purpose of the visit was to meet with the residents who lived along the immediate vicinity of the contaminated road. The OSC met with those residents and provided them with a fact sheet detailing what was found adjacent to them and what were the effects of lead. Fact sheet also provided information for residents to be tested if they so desired.
The OSC requested permission from these residents to take soil samples of their yards to determine if there was any lead contamination present.
The OSC contacted the Office of Code Enforcement for the City of Princeton and informed him of his visit and his plans to sample the residents yards.
The OSC will request assistance from the Office of Regional Council to draft up written access agreements for the residents and mail them for their signature.
The OSC will task the regional START contactor to collect samples of the properties as soon as the written access agreeements are returned signed by the residents.
The OSC anticipates conducted the sampling event during the month of March while awaiting permission to access the contaminated area.
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