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.

Big River Mine - Lake Timberline Area

All POL/SITREP's for this site Big River Mine - Lake Timberline Area
Bonne Terre, MO - EPA Region VII
POLREP #10
Site Progress Report
Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Big River Mine - Lake Timberline Area - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII

Subject: POLREP #10
Site Progress Report
Big River Mine - Lake Timberline Area
07CRRV01
Bonne Terre, MO
Latitude: 37.9901241 Longitude: -90.5357385


To:
From: Jeff Weatherford, OSC
Date: 8/17/2012
Reporting Period: 7/14/2012 thru 8/17/2012

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: 07CRRV01    Contract Number: EP-R7-07-12
D.O. Number: 0086    Action Memo Date: 9/24/2010
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: NPL    Operable Unit: OU1
Mobilization Date: 12/22/2010    Start Date: 12/22/2010
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID: MOD981126899    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category 

Time-Critical Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description

The Big River Mine - Lake Timberline Area is an on-going time-critical removal action at the Central Middle School Sub-Site (Site) and consists of high concentrations of lead contamination from mining and the use of mine waste as construction materials. The primary problem areas at this Site, which require action, are lead-contaminated soils in yards and gravel in driveways. 


1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located in northern St. Francois County and is a stand-alone lake development community north of the city of Bonne Terre and south of Valle Mines, Missouri. 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

According to the Incidents of Mines, Occurrences and Prospects (IMOP) database created by the state of Missouri, there was only limited mining within the current boundaries of Lake Timberline. However, the Mississippi River and Bonne Terre Railway (MR&BTR) runs through the development. This railway (now abandoned) is comprised of mine waste (chat, tailings, smelter slag, etc.) based on visual observations and sample results. Three lakes within the development are adjacent to and receive storm-water runoff from the MR&BTR. In addition, based on documented conversations with some Lake Timberline residents, it appears lead-contaminated soil and gravel has been brought in from the surrounding areas. The soil was used as fill and the gravel was used for driveways throughout the community. 

Elevated concentrations, greater than 400 parts per million (ppm), of lead have been found throughout the Site. Children playing in and around the contaminated areas have the highest potential to be exposed. 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

In September 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted screening of a portion of the MR&BTR, which runs through the development along with soil from a nearby playground and sediment from Kiddie Lake.  The screening was conducted with an X-Ray Florescence Spectrometer (XRF) and the results detected lead contamination in the pond sediments at levels ranging from 1,383 to 2,793 ppm, results from soil screened in the park ranged from 213 to 3,390 ppm, and results from screening of the abandoned railroad ballast ranged from 646 to 2,080 ppm. 

In March 2010, the EPA began a removal assessment which included soil and groundwater sampling in the Lake Timberline area. During this sampling event, the EPA contractors screened the soil at 362 residences and sampled 226 private drinking water wells. The results of this sampling effort revealed the following information:

Properties with Soil Levels greater than 400 ppm lead………….……209

Properties with Soil Levels greater than 1,200 ppm lead …..  ………104

Drinking Water Wells Exceeding 15 parts per billion lead…… ….. None


2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

The EPA remobilizes to the site on March 12, 2012 for the new construction season.  During this reporting period crews have completed excavation of contaminated soil at 13 properties.  The site crew was reduced in size due to a reduction in site funding.  Thus, property excavations will continue at a slower pace.    

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

To date, crews have completed excavation of contaminated soil at a total of 156 properties. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
 Lead         Soil       33,500 Cubic Yards      Re-Use
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Property excavations will continue at a reduced rate due to the decrease in site funding.     

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

The START contractor will continue sampling residential properties and child high use areas in the Lake Timberline area, weather and funding permitted.  The ERRS contractor will continue excavation of contaminated properties.   

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Continue sampling, excavation, and report additional findings. 

2.2.2 Issues

None identified to date.

  2.3 Logistics Section
   
All logistics are being conducted by the EPA contractors.

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer

SO functions are being conducted by the EPA contractors.

2.6 Liaison Officer

LO functions are being conducted by the OSC.

2.7 Information Officer

2.7.1 Public Information Officer

There is no need for a PIO at this time.

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator

The OSC and CIC are coordinating with private and public community leaders as needed.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command

n/a

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

MDNR
MDHSS

4. Personnel On Site
  EPA
START
ERRS

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

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

http://www.epaosc.org/

6.2 Reporting Schedule

monthly

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