U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Big River Mine Tailings Site, OU1 -- Area of Response - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Initial Pollution Report
Big River Mine Tailings Site, OU1 -- Area of Response
07CR
Park Hills, MO
Latitude: 37.8625800 Longitude: -90.5087260
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To:
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From:
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Heath Smith, OSC
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Date:
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1/18/2011
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Reporting Period:
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January 14, 2011 through January 26, 2011
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
MOD981126899 |
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Contract Number: |
EP-R7-07-12 |
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D.O. Number: |
0092 |
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Action Memo Date: |
12/6/2010 |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
01 |
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Mobilization Date: |
1/14/2011 |
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Start Date: |
1/17/2011 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
MOD981126899 |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
MDNR |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) incident category: Inactive Production Facility (Mining-Metals (Pb)).
1.1.2 Site Description
1.1.2.1 Location
The Big River Mine Tailings Site, OU-1 (Site), consists of schools, child day care facilities, and properties where children less than 84 months of age, or other sensitive populations exist which exceed screening levels of 400 milligrams/kilogram (mg/kg) of lead in soils. The Site is within the boundaries of St. Francois County, Missouri. This action does not ongoing actions at the Lake Timberline Sub-Site or the Central Middle School portions of the Site.
The Site exists within an area of approximately 436 square miles and includes all of St. Francois County with the exception of the former Mine La Motte tract that extends into St. Francois County’s southern border just north of the community of Mine La Motte, Missouri. St. Francois County is the location of a former mining region known as the "Old Lead Belt". The area is still referred to as the “Mineral Area”. The population center of the area is located approximately 70 miles south of St. Louis. Six large areas of mine waste covering an area of approximately 110 square miles are present within the site. The areas included are the Bonne Terre Mine Tailings Site, the Leadwood Mine Tailings Site, the Elvins Mine Tailings Site, the Federal Mine Tailings Site, the Desloge Mine Tailings Site, the National Mine Tailings Site, and the Doe Run Mine Tailings Site. Migration of lead contaminated mine waste from these large tailings piles through human and environmental mechanisms has occurred. This response is not limited to these mine waste areas.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The primary contaminant of concern at the Site is lead and lead compounds. Lead and lead compounds are hazardous substances as defined by Section 101(14) of CERCLA, listed at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 302.4, and have been detected in the soils at the Site. EPA has documented total lead concentrations in soil at the Site at levels exceeding the residential soil screening level of 400 mg/kg. Lead is classified by EPA as a probable human carcinogen and is a cumulative toxicant. A significant amount of lead that enters the body is stored in the bone for many years and can cause irreversible health effects.
Please refer to the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry (ATSDR) Toxic Substances Portal for lead for more information: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp.asp?id=96&tid=22
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
EPA initiated a limited Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) at the Site on October 4, 2010 to assess a limited number of residential properties around the Columbia Lead Mine Sub-Site, as well as school and child day care facilities located across the “Area of Contamination” established in the 2004 Administrative Order on Consent between EPA and the Doe Run Company.
Field screening results of composite samples collected from areas of exposed soil documented that a release of a hazardous substance (lead) occurred at the Site. The initial investigation focused areas where children play. Lead was identified by field portable X-Ray Fluorescent (XRF) Spectroscopy at elevated levels, based on the residential screening level of 400 mg/kg lead, in 11 of 11 school properties, 16 of 17 child day care facilities, and 19 of 19 residential properties.
Previous assessments by the Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) also identified properties with elevated lead concentrations that have not been remediated to date. Approximately 34 residential properties have previously been identified with lead concentrations exceeding 1,200 mg/kg. Approximately 729 residential properties are known to exist at the Site with lead concentrations in the 400 to 1,199 mg/kg range.
The greatest areas of concern at the Site that require removal action are the exposed lead-contaminated soils in areas where children 84 months of age or less or other sensitive populations could be exposed.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
The Site consists of schools, child day care facilities, and residential properties in St. Francois County, Missouri. EPA discovered surface soils at the Site to have elevated concentrations of lead.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
EPA mobilized equipment and crews to the site on January 14, 2011.
On January 17, 2011, crews established work zones installed erosion fence at the Central RIII School District's Central Elementary; North County School Districts Parkside Elementary Schools; Scribbles Play and Learn Center in Desloge; and Tender Care Day Care in Park Hills.
On January 18, 2011 crews began excavating soil from the four locations referenced above. The soil is being transported to the Big River mine tailings pile site repository in Desloge per an agreement with the Doe Run Company. EPA notified the City Administrators of Park Hills and Desloge that the action had begun.
A large winter storm suspended activity on Thursday January 20 through January 23rd.
Crews resumed work on January 24, 2011. Crews excavated a total 1,344 yd3. of soil. Crews completed excavation at Scribbles Play and Learn Center and at Tender Care Day Care. Crews continued work on Central RIII School District's Central Elementary and North County School Districts Parkside Elementary.
On January 25, 2011, approximately 1,446 cubic yards or approximatel 120 truck loads of soil was excavated and transported to the repository. To date, the total excavation for the job is 5,208.
On January 26, 2011, restoration were completed at Scribbles Play and Learn Center and Tender Care Day Care. Due to the large areas to be excavated at the schools, restoration began while excavation continues in other areas of the schools. Restoration activities consist of receiving clean fill into areas recently excavated for use as backfill and bringing the grade up to the level it was prior to excavation. At North County Parkside Elementary, crews have completed excavations at 6 of 36 sample areas. At Central Elementary excavations have been completed at 6 of 35 sample areas. Excavation depth is generally 12 inches below ground surface. Daily totals excavated at the schools is not yet available.
EPA will be developing a plan to maintain the access road at the repository (Big River Mine Tailings Pile), if impacted by EPA's activity. Due to winter conditions, EPA is monitoring the conditions of the roads to ensure clean soil is not being tracked from the source areas.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
EPA is currently exploring enforcement alternatives and conducting PRP search work that includes all of St. Francois County. As part of this work, EPA is researching whether there are any viable surviving companies or mining entities that operated in St. Francois County.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| Lead Contaminated Soil |
Solid |
5,208 yd3 |
N/A |
N/A |
Site Repository |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
EPA plans to complete excavations in the contaminated areas at 6 Schools, 16 Child Day Care Facilities and 1 residential property at this time. Residential properties will primarily be addressed through other contracting mechanisms. The Schools and Child Day Care Facilities include:
Schools
1.) Central Elementary, Park Hills, Missouri
2.) North County Parkside Elementary, Desloge, Missouri
3.) West Elementary, Park Hills, Missouri
4.) Special Acres State School, Park Hills, Missouri
5.) St. Joseph School, Bonne Terre, Missouri
6.) North County Primary School, Bonne Terre, Missouri
Child Day Care Facilities
1.) Scribbles Play and Learn Center, Desloge, Missouri
2.) Tender Care Day Care Center, Park Hills, Missouri
3.) Start Daycare, Park Hills, Missouri
4.) Mid St. Francois County Head Start, Park Hills, Missouri
5.) Angie Rokiski's Day Care, Park Hills, Missouri
6.) Grandma's House Child Care Center, Desloge, Missouri
7.) All Aboard Play and Learn Center, Park Hills, Missouri
8.) Little Britches Daycare and Pre-Schools, Park Hills, Missouri
9.) West Counties Happy Times Day Care, Leadwood, Missouri
10.) Becky's Day Care Center, Park Hills, Missouri
11.) A to Z Learning Tree, Bonne Terre, Missouri
12.) Kidz Connection, Desloge, Missouri
13.) Bonne Terre Head Start, Bonne Terre, Missouri
14.) Patches and Pigtails Child Care, Bonne Terre, Missouri
15.) North County Educational Center, Bonne Terre, Missouri
16.) Childrens Zone LLC, Desloge, Missouri
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Crews will continue working on the properties as provided in the previous section. Additional properties may be included should new information arise.
2.2.2 Issues
The schools and child day care facilities that are being excavated at this time are active.
Winter weather and winter conditions are slowing progress.
Under Section VI.A.1. Proposed Actions and Estimated Costs of the Action Memorandum, the EPA provided a plan for sampling lead contaminated material generated on-site by the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) prior to final placement at the repository. The Action Memorandum indicates that EPA would treat soils that fail TCLP (>5mg/L Lead) with an appropriate lead stabilization chemical. Since authorization of the Action Memorandum, EPA determined that mine waste excavated on-site and placed at the on-site repository does not require waste characterization testing or treatment.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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The temporary site office is located at 100 Chamber Street, Park Hills, Missouri 63601. There is no EPA maintained site Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) phone at the site. All other logistical issues are being addressed by EPA contractors.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
On January 18, 2011 the site health and safety plan was finalized and signed by all ERRS site personnel. Work zones have been established at each site and will be maintained. Due to the dynamic nature of the work and proximity to schools, the work zones will be modified as necessary to ensure safe operation of current activity at each of the properties. START will be conducting air monitoring with a portable nephelometer (particulate air monitor). Locations for air monitoring will be established to anticipate worst case scenarios (i.e. downwind from excavations).
2.6 Liaison Officer
EPA has coordinated with the St. Francois County Central RIII School District, North St. Francois County School District, the City of Park Hills, and the City of Desloge. As the project progresses, administrators of the other schools, cities and child day care facilities that are part of this removal action will be contacted.
2.7 Information Officer
2.7.1 Public Information Officer
The EPA community involvement coordinator (CIC) for the Site has helped develop a Site Fact Sheet. The fact sheet is available in the documents section of http://www.epaosc.org/BRAOR. A public meeting was held at the Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri on Monday November 29, 2010.
2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
The Removal Action does not warrant a CIC to be present at the Site continuously.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
The limited scope of the response does not warrant a full Incident Management Team (IMT) or Unified Command. Operations, safety, logistics, planning, and finance functions are primarily being handled by contractor staff.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Cooperating and assisting agencies include:
St. Francois County Central RIII School District,
North St. Francois County School District,
The City of Park Hills,
The City of Desloge,
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources,
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
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4. Personnel On Site
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2 EPA OSCs
2 START
40 ERRS Crew Members
- 1 ERRS Response Manager
- 1 ERRS Cost Accountant
- 3 ERRS Foreman
- 35 Truck Drivers / Laborers / Operators
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5. Definition of Terms
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| AOC |
Area of Contamination / Administrative Order on Consent |
| AOR |
Area of Response |
| ATSDR |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry |
| CAMU |
Corrective Action Management Unit |
| CERCLA |
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act |
| EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency |
| ERRS |
Emergency & Rapid Response Services Contract |
| MDHSS |
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services |
| MDNR |
Missouri Department of Natural Resources |
| mg/L |
milligrams per Liter |
| mg/kg |
milligrams per kilogram |
| NCP |
National Contingency Plan |
| ng/m3 |
nanograms per cubic meter |
| NPL |
National Priorities List |
| OSC |
On-Scene Coordinator |
| OSHA |
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| OU |
Operable Unit |
| Polrep |
Pollution Report |
| PPE |
Personal Protective Equipment |
| PPM |
Part Per Million |
| PRP |
Potentially Responsible Party |
| RCRA |
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act |
| Sitrep |
Situation Report |
| START |
Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team |
| SU |
Sample Unit |
| TCLP |
Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure |
| XRF |
X-Ray Fluorescent Spectrometer |
| yd3 |
Cubic Yard |
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
For additional information, please refer to http://www.epaosc.org/BRAOR
6.2 Reporting Schedule
The Pollution Report (Polrep) serves as the OSC's record of the response actions, notifications, and decisions made to support the response action. Polreps will be completed and posted as conditions warrant and at the conclusion of site activities.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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Please refer to the documents section of http://www.epaosc.org/BRAOR for maps, data, diagrams, etc.
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