Soil sampling conducted in conjunction with a major PCB contamination removal revealed residential soil lead concentrations equal to or above the EPA Region 4 residential action level of 400 parts per million (ppm).
As a result, EPA has sampled 2,150 residential properties to access lead contamination. Soil samples with lead levels equal to or above 400 ppm have been identified for removal under this action with priority being given based on a combination of soil lead levels and presence of sensitive receptors such as children and pregnant women.
* ERRS contractor CMC, Inc., was mobilized to the site to begin residential excavation on April 22, 2002. The scope of activities includes excavating contaminated soil from residential properties, backfilling, and restoring the property.
* START-2 contractor Tetra Tech EM, Inc., continues to provide community relations support and database management.
* START-2 contractor Weston Solutions, Inc., was brought on site April 29, 2002 to provide site documentation, contractor oversight, site administration, sampling, and field screening with a portable x-ray fluoroscope (XRF).
* The weather has been sunny, and warm, with temperatures ranging from lows in the 50s to highs in the 80s. Three days of work were lost on site due to weather conditions associated with Hurricane Ivan.
* Resources on site:
Personnel:
EPA (1) Weston Solutions START-2 (1)
Tetra Tech EM, Inc., START-2 (1)
CMC, Inc., ERRS (9) Project Manager Field Clerk Truck driver Foreman Operators (3) Laborers (2) Equipment: Mini excavator Tracked uniloader Front-end loader Compactor roller Dump truck Water truck Pick up trucks (5) Office trailer Decon trailer Equipment trailer
* Residential soil removal activities continued. Only those residential properties that fall into Tier 1 or Tier 2 categories for lead removal are being addressed at this time. This includes all residential properties greater than or equal to 1,200 ppm and those that are greater than or equal to 400 ppm lead but less than 1,200 ppm lead with sensitive populations such as children 6 years old or younger or pregnant women. A total of 121 residential properties and 2 parks have been excavated, backfilled with clean soil, and sodded. To date, approximately 16,020 cubic yards of lead contaminated soil have been removed and stockpiled for transportation and disposal. A total of 13,871 tons of lead contaminated soil have been transported to Superior Cedar Hill Landfill in Ragland, Alabama.
* Residential properties that fall into the high priority category (Tier 1 and 2) as identified by the Office of Technical Support will contine to be addressed.
* Transportation and disposal will continue after a sufficient amount of soil has been excavated, stockpiled, and sampled.
* Activities will continue to secure removal access authorization from residents in the high priority categories and from residents previously engaged on the class action law suit.
* The enforcement process will continue to incorporate any PRPs into the lead removal action.
* A sampling event occured during the week of August 9, 2004 to continue assessing the soil contamination in Anniston and Hobson City. 343 properties were sampled. Results are expected at the end of October.
* The results from the June 2004 sampling event have been recieved. 28 of the 188 sampled properties were above 400 ppm lead.
The current Lead Status Report from all sampling events(2,150) is as follows:
No Results - August 2004 event = 343 No Further Action - Properties with lead data < 400 ppm = 1,474 Properties with lead data ≥ 400 ppm = 333
Breakdown of all 333 properties into tier groups:
Tier 1 = Pb ≥1,200 with child less than 7 years old or active pregnancy
Complete Remaining Total 16 0 16
Tier 2 = 400 ≤ Pb < 1,200 with child less than 7 years old or active pregnancy or >1,200 with no children or pregnancy
Complete Remaining Total 93 23 116
Tier 3 = 400≥Pb< 1,200 with no child or pregnancy
Complete Remaining Total 11 180 191
Un-known = Incomplete information regarding sensitive population.
Complete Remaining Total 3 7 10
TOTAL Complete Remaining Total 123 210 333
Notes: * Eight Tier 3 houses were completed by Habitat for Humanity with EPA oversight and cooperation. * Ten houses remain undetermined due to incomplete information regarding sensitive population. * Each residential property may change its priority periodically due to a change in the occupancy (ie: sensitive population)
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