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.

FMO Pesticide Site

All POL/SITREP's for this site FMO Pesticide Site
Orefield, PA - EPA Region III
POLREP #4
Removal Action
Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
FMO Pesticide Site - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region III

Subject: POLREP #4
Removal Action
FMO Pesticide Site
A3PZ
Orefield, PA
Latitude: 40.6322715 Longitude: -75.6149893


To: Gerald Heston, US EPA Region III
Jeff Bartlett, North Whitehall Township
Dennis Carney, EPA Region III
Linda Marzulli, EPA Region III

From: Ruth Scharr, Federal On-Scene Coordinator
Date: 12/1/2010
Reporting Period: 10/25/2010 - 12/2/10

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: A3PZ    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 9/1/2010
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 7/1/2010    Start Date: 9/17/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category

Time-Critical Removal




1.1.2 Site Description

The Site is characterized as a time-critical removal.  The Site includes approximately 1300 acres of land (approximately 1.5 square miles) that were formerly used for the commercial growing and harvesting of fruit from orchard trees and are currently zoned residential or public use in North Whitehall Township, PA.  Lead arsenate pesticide was historically used for several decades until its use was banned in 1988 by EPA.  Elevated levels of arsenic and lead have been detected in surface soil samples on residential parcels and in public use areas.  FMO Pesticide Action Memo was submitted by the OSC and signed on September 1, 2010 approving a Removal Action which address contamination at residential parcels.   

1.1.2.1 Location

Orefield/Schnecksville area of North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Ingestion of lead and arsenic through direct contact with contaminated soil, or ingestion of contaminants from small particles that have been aerosolized from the disturance of soil.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results



2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
   
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
        Onsite excavation activities did not begin as anticipated in POLREP 3.  Subcontracts for the soil and landscaper were not approved until Nov 5 and 19th, respectively. Additionally, it was not advised to lay sod that late in the fall season, as frost at night would damage any sod.  As a result, the OSC had decided to postpone any excavation and restoration activities until early spring.   
        EPA obtained signed access forms from 2 more property owners bringing the total to 24 of the 25 homes.  
        Due to Qaulity Assurance and Quality Control issues identified with the operation of the onsite XRF equipment, no soil samples were processed during this time period.  New standards for calibrating the equipement were received Nov 30th.
        ERRs contractors continue to prepare for upcoming site work.
        
 
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
           
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
        Complete extent of contamination sampling at those properties that have provided access for the removal action.  As of this date, 2 of the 25 properties remain to be sampled.   Continue Phase II Biased soil sampling where sampling is requested.  Once QA/QC issues are resolved the contractor will reanalyze samples from 9 properties at their own expense. Then the contractor will resume processing and onsite analysis of samples collected for both removal action and phase II evaluation.
        Three properties are receiving only raised garden beds, weather permitting contractor will begin installation of raised garden beds on December 8, 2010.      

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues


  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    No information available at this time.

3. Participating Entities
  No information available at this time.

4. Personnel On Site
  No information available at this time.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.

6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.