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Fact Sheet (1993)

Lead Cleanup Sherwin-Williams Company The Sherwin-Williams Company has been manufacturing paint pigments at 1700 West Fourth Street, Coffeyville, Kansas, since 1906. As a result of these operations, areas at and around the plant have been contaminated with certain heavy metals. A permit in which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires Sherwin-Williams to investigate and eventually remediate releases from the plant was issued to the company April 16, 1991, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This permit was issued jointly by EPA and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The portion of the permit issued under KDHE authority contains requirements for the post-closure care of a hazardous waste land disposal facility.

Site Investigation

Sherwin-Williams has begun the investigation of releases from the plant. In the fall of 1992, Sherwin-Williams conducted a large-scale sampling program as required by its RCRA permit. More than 1,600 samples were taken of soils, fruits and vegetables and indoor dust in the area, to determine the extent of contamination. The results of this sampling were reported in April 1993 in an eight-volume document submitted to EPA. This report is part of the administrative record available for members of the public to review at the Coffeyville Public Library. The sampling showed that there have been releases of heavy metals. Contaminated soils in residential yards in the area around the Sherwin-Williams plant are a primary concern. The contaminant of most concern is lead. Lead is known to be particularly toxic to young children ages 6 months to 6 years. In large doses, it can cause disorders of the nervous system, including learning disabilities and poor coordination.

Recent Lead Concerns

The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) -- a public health agency -- recently determined that smaller amounts of lead than previously thought could cause adverse health effects. This raised concerns by EPA and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) -- a sister agency to CDC that advises EPA on health matters -- about the higher levels of lead found in some yards. EPA decided, after consultation with ATSDR, that corrective measures needed to be taken sooner to address the threat posed by the higher levels of lead contamination. EPA approached Sherwin-Williams with its concerns, and the company agreed to submit a conceptual plan to address the higher levels of contamination in residential soils. The conceptual plan was submitted to EPA October 4, 1993. EPA held a public meeting November 9, 1993, to describe the results of the latest sampling and invited Sherwin-Williams to present it proposal for addressing the higher levels of lead contamination. The purpose of the meeting was for EPA to get feedback from the public on the proposal.

Phase 1 Cleanup

The next course of action is to modify the permit to require Sherwin-Williams to begin the first phase of cleanup in accordance with the detailed workplan submitted to EPA. This will be Phase 1 of the cleanup. Phase 1 is directed only toward those soils that represent an obvious threat to human health. Additional investigation, and possible additional cleanup, will be required in the future. Any actions taken on contaminated soils in Phase 1, however, are intended to be the final and complete corrective measures taken for the soils at that property.

EPA Contacts

Questions about this project may be addressed to: Mark Matthews WSTM/RCRA U.S. EPA Region 7 726 Minnesota Avenue Kansas City, Kansas 66101 Phone 913-551-7635 Additional information may also be obtained by calling Dale Armstrong, Region 7 Office of Public Affairs, at 913-551-7003. Either individual may be contacted through Region 7's toll-free Environmental Action Line, 800-223-0425.

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