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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 #15
Final POLREP
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Big River Mine - Lake Timberline Area - Removal Polrep
Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII

Subject: POLREP #15
Final POLREP
Big River Mine - Lake Timberline Area
07CRRV01
Bonne Terre, MO
Latitude: 37.9901241 Longitude: -90.5357385


To:
From: Jeff Weatherford, OSC
Date: 10/9/2014
Reporting Period: 8/1/2013 to 9/30/2014

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: 8/1/2014    Completion Date: 9/30/2014
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 was a time-critical removal action originating at the Central Middle School Subsite (Site), consisting of high concentrations of lead contamination from mining and the use of mine wastes as construction materials. The primary problem areas at this Site which required action was 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 stormwater 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 for exposure. 

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 Fluorescence 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

This removal action is complete.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

To date, crews have completed excavation of contaminated soil at a total of 235 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       51,577 Cubic Yards      Re-Use
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
    2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Known property excavations are complete.
  
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
 
Any additional areas requiring action in this area will not be be addressed under this Task Order.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

As noted above.   

2.2.2 Issues

None identified to date.

  2.3 Logistics Section
   
All logistics were 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 were conducted by the EPA contractors.

2.6 Liaison Officer

LO functions were 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 coordinated 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
 
All personnel have demobilized. If any additional actions are required in the Lake Timberline Area, they will be addressed by the broader Big River site crews using appropriate funding and taskings.

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

n/a

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