EPA received a request from Congressman Michael McMahon (formerly New York City Councilman) dated June 3, 2008 for a review of a property located on 2000 Richmond Terrace. The Site consists of an approximately one-acre parcel of land located at 2000-2012 Richmond Terrace, in the Borough of Staten Island, Richmond County, New York, which historically was part of a larger operation that spanned both sides of Richmond Terrace. The Site was reportedly owned by John Jewett & Sons White Lead Company since 1839 but operations may not have commenced at 2000 Richmond Terrace until later that century, around the time when National Lead Company purchased the business. Operations reportedly continued at the Site until approximately the 1920s. A major fire destroyed the plant’s main building house and storage house in 1920. Between 1949 and 1990, various businesses operated at the location including Sedutto’s Ice Cream factory. By the late 1990s, there had been several fires at the Site, which eventually led to the clearing of any remaining structures and debris in 2000.
The Site is located on the north shore of Staten Island in the Port Richmond area. The Site is bordered to the north and east by Richmond Terrace, to the south by an abandoned elevated railroad line, and to the west by Park Avenue. The area around the Site is a mix of light industrial, commercial, and residential. Barge transport and shipyard facilities are situated to the north and east of the Site adjacent to the Kill Van Kull. A millwork facility and a dry cleaner are located on Park Avenue across the street from the Site. A residential neighborhood commences just south of the elevated railroad line and one block west on Port Richmond Avenue. The nearest residence is located approximately 100 feet south of the Site.
Last year the Site was being used as a staging area for material being brought to and removed from a construction job elsewhere in Staten Island. Dump trucks were delivering dirt, stone, and other materials to the Site. The ground surface at the Site, which consists of mostly unvegetated soil with some stone near the entrance, was disturbed due to the presence of heavy machinery and the vehicular movement. The trucks leaving the Site were observed tracking soil from the Site onto the sidewalk and Park Avenue. A wind-screen fabric was subsequently placed along the entire fence line.
During the period of December 17 - 18, 2008, EPA and contractor representatives from the Removal Support Team (RST), collected soil samples from 16 test pits that were excavated to a depth of approximately four feet below grade. Off-site samples were also collected from four locations along Richmond Terrace in order to determine if contamination had migrated from the Site. Evidence of surface runoff leaving the Site was apparent along Richmond Terrace near the bus stop on December 17th during a heavy rainfall event.
The analytical results from the sampling event in December 2008 revealed the presence of elevated levels of lead throughout most of the Site, both laterally and with depth. The average lead concentration identified at the surface was 5,081 mg/kg. The highest lead concentration detected at the surface was 37,100 mg/kg, near the gate on Park Avenue. The average lead concentration in the soil samples collected at depths of 1-foot, 2-foot, and 3-foot below grade were 28,245 mg/kg, 61,201 mg/kg, and 53,398 mg/kg, respectively. The highest lead concentration detected in the subsurface was
240,000 mg/kg. Six of the test pit locations contained a lead concentration that exceeded 100,000 mg/kg. The four off-site sample locations along Richmond Terrace were found to contain lead in concentrations ranging from 383 mg/kg to 2,760 mg/kg. The sample collected on the sidewalk near a bus stop was found to contain the highest lead levels.
At the request of EPA, the New York State Department of Health, under cooperation with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, prepared a Letter of Technical Assistance for the Site on March 25, 2009. It concluded that lead detected in the on-site surface soil and the off-site road dust represents a significant public health concern if people, especially children are being exposed to them. Based on the available information, EPA determined that an interim removal action was needed to address the potential for contaminant migration from the Site and the contaminated soil that had been migrating from the Site due to the storm water runoff.
At the request of EPA, the property owner initiated an interim removal action on April 6, 2009 to establish storm water management controls, improve the condition of the existing fencing, construct a decontamination pad at the Park Avenue entrance, spread grass seed and mulch, post “lead-hazard” warning signs, and wet-sweep sediment/dirt along the sidewalk and curb adjacent to the Site on Richmond Terrace and Park Avenue. This work was completed on April 20, 2009. Vehicular traffic related to construction work at the Site has reportedly ceased.
The Public Affairs Division has been briefed of the situation. Notifications have been made to the appropriate officials. EPA has met with Congressional representatives, state and local officials, and citizen’s groups several times since late March and distributed fact sheets to nearby residents during the on-site actions.
Additional actions are being planned to address the elevated levels of lead at the Site. Off-site sampling is expected to occur in the future to determine if contaminants have migrated into the adjoining residential area. A public meeting is being planned for next month.
Due to the commercial/ industrial nature of the area along Richmond Terrace and the age of the homes in this portion of Staten Island, potential issues are expected to be encountered with other sources of lead and elevated background levels.
|
