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.
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.
The High Access Areas around the Site had lead contamination greater than the established 500 ppm action level. These HAAs include the Blance Kelso Bruce Elementary School, the Fifth Ward Multipurpose Community Center, a church, and residential areas. Lead contaminated soils were removed from 56 HAAs between July 2003 and November 2003 and these properties have been restored.
This phase of the removal action is complete. The ERRS and START personnel have demobilized from the site. Access to one property is still being pursued with the DOJ. When access is obtained to this property the ERRS personnel will re-mobilize to do a cleanup. Access was not granted for two properties, and hence have not been cleaned up.
Air Monitoring
- 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
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