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Significant Developments and Activities Report
LAND AND CHEMICALS DIVISION
Weekly Significant Developments and Activities Report
July 18, 2008
Great Lakes Legacy Act Proposal: West Branch Grand Calumet River
On July 10, 2008, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), on behalf of Indiana Natural Resource Trustees and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), provided a presentation of a project proposal to be funded under the Great Lakes Legacy Act for the West Branch of the Grand Calumet River. The presentation to the Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) and other regional staff, outlined the plan to remediate 1.3 river miles and 25 acres of riverine wetlands by removing contaminated sediment and restoring aquatic habitat, thereby reducing human and ecological health risk and improving habitat and water quality in the river. The project will dredge and dispose of approximately 270,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, install isolation barriers to prevent recontamination and cap the dredged areas with suitable materials. The cost is projected to be approximately $45 million dollars with 35% being contributed by the local sponsors including the Grand Calumet River Restoration Trust Fund, Natural Resource Damage settlements and in-kind services provided by IDEM and IDNR. If approved, design development is projected to begin before the end of 2008. Mike Mikulka and Laura Lodisio attended on behalf of LCD.
Contact: Laura Lodisio, 312-886-7090
Administrative Order on Consent for Corrective Action at Dupont (Toledo, OH) Facility
U.S. EPA Region 5 and DuPont recently entered into a streamlined Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) for cleanup at DuPont's Toledo facility. This facility currently manufactures resins to supply to other DuPont paint producing facilities. DuPont had manufactured paint at the facility from 1934 to 1994. Groundwater and soil impacts are seen around the manufacturing area and the drum storage area. The contaminants of concern are primarily solvents and metals. A nearby creek needs to be investigated for any impacts from the facility. There are also two areas of suspected land disposal activities that need to be investigated. The first report required under the AOC will be the Current Condition Report, which is due on August 31.
Contact: Christopher Black, 312-886-1451
Ohio Department of Health Seeks Input on Chemical Management Requirements for Schools Under Jarod’s Law
On July 14, 2008, Ohio Department of Health (ODH) convened a group of stakeholders to refine chemical management requirements for schools throughout Ohio. The primary goal was to reach consensus on the list of chemicals that will be prohibited in Ohio schools because their hazardous nature outweighs their educational utility. Participants included Ohio Department of Education, National Science Teachers Association, Science Education Council of Ohio, USEPA Region 5, and science teacher representatives. In addition, Dave Waddell, pioneer of King County, Seattle, WA, "Rehab the Lab" program, shared his expertise with the group. ODH's initial list was based on the list developed by Consumer Products Safety Commission and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in their "School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide," and also reflected chemicals commonly seen in School Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) disposal events, including those in Region 5.
The convened group of stakeholders agreed to a tiered approach to prohibiting chemicals. Some will be prohibited in all K-12 schools while others will be allowed in either middle or high schools with some restrictions on amount, chemical form, concentration, use in demonstration only rather than hands-on with students and/or with special permission. ODH will revise the lists based on consensus of the panel. Subsequently, the lists will undergo a public comment period and ultimately be incorporated into Jarod's Law.
The Ohio School Environmental Health and Safety Inspection Rules (OAC 3701-54), also known as "Jarod's Law," are designed to protect and improve the environmental health and safety of Ohio's primary and secondary school students and the staff working in school buildings. Jarod's Law requires sanitarians from local health departments to conduct annual inspections of the school buildings and associated grounds contained within their jurisdictions to identify health and safety concerns. The sanitarians will be able to utilize an Ohio-customized version of USEPA's Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT), www.epa.gov/schools, to conduct school facility assessments, including those pertaining to school chemical management, as required under Jarod's Law.
More on USEPA’s School Chemical Cleanout Campaign can be found at http://www.epa.gov/sc3. More information on Jarod’s Law can be found at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/eh/schooleh/sehmain.aspx.
Contact:Maryann Suero, 312-886-9077