U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Pittsburg Zinc

All POL/SITREP's for this site Pittsburg Zinc
Pittsburg, KS - EPA Region VII
POLREP #7
Progress POLREP
Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Pittsburg Zinc - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII

Subject: POLREP #7
Progress POLREP
Pittsburg Zinc
KSD985015338
Pittsburg, KS
Latitude: 37.4108840 Longitude: -94.7049600


To:
From: Todd Campbell, OSC
Date: 1/19/2010
Reporting Period: 12/15/2009-01/19/2010

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: KSD985015338    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 9/30/2009
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 10/26/2009    Start Date: 10/27/2009
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
The incident is a CERCLA Fund Lead Removal Action.

1.1.2 Site Description

Residential lead contamination from a former zinc smelting operation.....please refer to POLREP #1 for site history and detailed description.  


1.1.2.1 Location
Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas......please refer to POLREP #1 for additional details.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Lead and lead compounds.....please refer to POLREP #1 for a detailed description of hazards associated with lead exposure.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
In March 2009, EPA began removal assessment activities at the site.  A second phase of assessment activities was conducted in November 2009.  To date approximately 73 properties have been identified with lead levels in the soil that exceed the site specific action level of 550 mg/kg.  Please refer to POLREPs 1-6 for more detail on removal assessment results.



2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
EPA R7 mobilized both START and ERRS contractors to Pittsburg, Kansas on Monday, October 26, 2009, to begin excavating contaminated soil from residential yards in Pittsburg.  The initial action was to excavate soil from 25 residential yards in the Phase I area and to conduct RSE activities within the Phase II assessment area.  Since mobilizing to the site, a third assessment area, Phase IIA, was added to look at potential lead contaminated soils in an area east to west from Locust to Michigan, and north/south between 9th and 10th streets in Pittsburg.  As a result of the preliminary Phase II assessment, an additional 45 properties have been slated for removal activities where soil lead concentrations exceeded the site specific action level of 550 ppm. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA has completed excavation at twenty-three (23) of the Phase I properties and twenty-five (25) of the Phase II properties.  All planned Phase I removal activities have been completed with the exception of the current soil staging area.  Excavated soil has been taken to the Oak Grove Landfill in Arcadia, Kansas and disposed of as a special waste with the approval of KDHE.  To date, approximately 4,500 tons of contaminated soil have been removed and 4,350 tons have been shipped for disposal.  In addition, 3,135 yards of backfill, 1,182 tons of driveway gravel, and 130,421 square feet of sod have been replaced.

Phase II/IIA assessment activities have been completed at approximately 127 properties and will continue pending receipt of additional access agreements.  Data results will be transmitted to property owners when final data is received from the laboratory.  Field screening results indicate that approximately 38% of the Phase II/IIA properties screened contain soil with lead levels that exceed the site specific action level of 550 ppm lead. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
A title search has been completed on all parcels of land either known or suspected to be part of the three former smelter sites associated with the Pittsburg Zinc Site.  Several of these parties are working with the city and the state to address contamination on their properties through a KDHE state response program.  EPA is conducting a full PRP search.
 
2.1.4 Progress Metrics

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
 Special Waste  Soil  4350.36 tons  multiple  n/a  Oak Grove Landfill
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Continue cleanup of Phase I and Phase II properties, send data transmittal letters to Phase II property owners following receipt of laboratory data from the Phase II assessment, and pursue access for additional assessment in the Phase II area and for cleanup of the Phase II properties exceeding the action level.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Continue excavation, backfill, and revegetation as weather permits.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Complete cleanup activities at the remaining Phase II properties, work to gain access for the remaining Phase II yards, and conduct assessment activities at the expanded Phase II properties. 

2.2.2 Issues
Issues include weather, consistency of backfill material, and availability of sod.


  2.3 Logistics Section
    Continue gathering access agreements from the remaining property owners that have yet to submit an access agreement for the Phase I and II removal assessment and removal activities.  Conduct assessment activities at the expanded Phase II properties. 

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
The OSC has reviewed the ERRS and START Health and Safety Plan.  The EPA R7 SHEMP has tentatively scheduled a site safety visit and the ERRS Safety Coordinator has also mentioned a site visit to the ERRS Removal Manager. 

2.6 Liaison Officer
OSC continues to coordinate site activities through the site Community Involvement Coordinator, who is coordinating information dissemination through the EPA R7 Government Liaison. 

2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator

The site PIO/CIC helped to coordinate a public availability session on Thursday, October 15th, so any concerns from the Phase I/II property owners could be addressed.  OSC Campbell, in coordination with the CIC, responded to a media inquiry on December 15, 2009, from the Pittsburg Sun. 


3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
There is currently no formal ICS structure in place; however, all vested parties and interests are being addressed with regard to planning, assessment, and removal efforts.  EPA, KDHE, and the city are participating in a weekly coordination meeting.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
US EPA R7
ATSDR
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Crawford County Health Department
City of Pittsburg, Kansas

4. Personnel On Site
  1 - EPA OSCs
1 - START Contractor
1 - RM
1 - Cost Accountant
4 - Equipment Operators
4 - Laborers
7 - Truck Drivers

2 - contracted 25 yard end-dumps and drivers

5. Definition of Terms
  n/a

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
The Administrative Record is being compiled and will be at the following repository:

Pittsburg Public Library
308 North Walnut
Pittsburg, Kansas 66762

6.2 Reporting Schedule
POLREPs will be written and posted weekly or as deemed necessary.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  n/a