The former Big Tex Grain Site is located on a 7.5-acre lot in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, at 328 Blue Star Road. The geographic center of the site is located at Latitude 29.405° North Longitude -98.492° West.
The Big Tex Grain Site has historically been associated with industrial activity, including operating a vermiculite exfoliation plant, grain production, and sawdust warehousing. The EPA Region 6 office performed an assessment of the subject property to determine potential impact to human health and the environment based on the transporting of vermiculite from Libby, Montana, to the W. R. Grace vermiculite exfoliation plant in San Antonio, Texas. The property has been listed in the EPA CERCLIS database since 2000.
The site consists of approximately 32 structures including the Big Tex grain elevators and warehouses on the eastern portion of the property. To the north-northwest of the site, there are numerous grain silos that were converted into office spaces. The site is bounded to the south and west by Union Pacific railroad tracks and to the north and east by the San Antonio River. The site is secured by a chain link and barbwire fence extending around the entire perimeter of the facility. Within the facility exposed soil areas are heavily vegetated, but still accessible. The Big Tex Grain Site is scheduled to be developed into a “Mixed Use” facility.
While conducting an inspection of the completion of the decontamination of building 23, START and contracted microscopist located sheet flooring in two of the down stairs rooms. A sample of the material was collected and analyzed at the Command Post by the onsite microscopist. The analysis of the flooring revealed that the material was made up of 5% chrysotile asbestos. In response to this, ERRS contracted Flagship PDG to remove all floor sheeting within building 23. In addition to the floor sheeting, the site microscopist located a substantial amount of vermiculite behind the interior wood paneling and in a gated office area. These areas will be cleaned and decontaminated.
EPA and its contractors will continue decontamination operations within Building 23. All wall panels will be removed and the remaining vermiculite will be vacuumed and/or swept. Upon completion of this decontamination, ERRS will power wash the building to insure that any airborne material is collected.
EPA will continue with daily activities in preparation for site closure.
Crews will have to seal the gaps between the area behind the wood paneling and the exterior of the building to assure that no vermiculite migrates out of the building during decontamination operations.
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