A report of battery casings in a residential neighborhood was referred to EPA ERRB from NC DENR. The original notification of this incident was received via email from Concord Customer Care Center. She received a report of possible illegal dumping in the rear of this property (158 Patterson Avenue, SE). The property owner stated that he just purchased the property and now that the grass has died, he has observed numerous car batteries in the rear of the property and also the adjoining properties. There may be a creek in the rear and owner is concerned that battery acid may have contaminated the creek.
The rear area of the property consists of a gradual slope to a gully. Numerous pieces of black battery cases were observed. The pieces ranged in size from very small to larger type industrial battery casing. Casing material was observed on the ground and protruding from the ground. No battery core material was observed. Land fill appeared to extend to the adjacent property to the north and back toward the house. A small stream appeared to be located at the bottom of this gully.
Two surface samples were collected from the rear of the property and submitted to the laboratory for analysis. Results indicate 2400 and 3300 mg/kg of lead.
