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. There are approximately 60 High Access Areas (HAAs)at the Site with lead contamination greater than the established 500 ppm action level. These HAAs include the Blanche Kelso Bruce Elementary School, the Fifth Ward Multipurpose Community Center, a church, and residential areas. The school is located one block west of the MDI Site.
The EPA is currently performing an RI/FS at the Site. The purpose of the RI/FS is 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.
Crews are working on Priority One, Two, and Three properties.
Total Properties (59 Total)
- 22 properties - removal action complete and released
- 15 properties have been cleaned up and are in final document stages
- 1 property is ready for OSC inspection
- 9 properties are being restored
- 4 properties are being excavated
- 3 properties are ready for excavation
- 5 properties are in the access agreement/restoration agreement stage
The breakdown for the different priorities follows.
Priority One Properties (19 total)
- 16 properties - removal action complete and released
- 2 properties are being restored
- 1 property - access agreement pending. Being pursued with the Department of Justice.
Priority Two Properties (7 Total)
- 3 properties - removal action complete and released
- 2 properties - removal action done, final documentation stages
- 2 properties are being restored
Priority 3 Properties (33 total)
- 3 properties - removal action complete and released
- 13 properties - removal action complete, in final documentation stages
- 1 property ready for OSC inspection
- 5 properties being restored
- 4 properties being excavated
- 3 properties ready for excavation
- 4 properties in access/restoration agreement stage
Air Monitoring
- Air monitoring continues every day during excavation. Air sampling is being done about once a week.
- To date, all air sampling results have come back at either non-detect for lead or below the established action level of 1.45 mg/m3
Removal Action is expected to be completed in November.
Getting access at the remaining few residences still remains to be an issue.
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