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Significant Developments and Activities Report
LAND AND CHEMICALS DIVISION
Weekly Significant Developments and Activities Report
August 29, 2008
Targeted Lead Grantees Conference Call with Social Marketing Presentation
On August 20th, 2008, the Toxics Section in the Chemicals Management Branch held a conference call with a web based presentation on social marketing for the Targeted Lead Grantees. In 2007, EPA awarded the grants to thirteen organizations to address lead issues in vulnerable populations throughout Region 5. The grantees projects consist of performing lead poisoning prevention outreach and education, screening for lead poisoning in children, and providing training of lead safe work practices. The social marketing presentation was given to assist grantees with marketing their projects. Sheila Batka of the air program gave the presentation. The presentation described ways to influence human behavior on a large scale using various marketing principles.
Contact: Tammy Moore, 312-886-6181
Greener Cleanups Presentation by Illinois EPA
Representatives from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) traveled to Chicago on August 26, 2008 to provide a presentation titled "Greener Cleanups". Greener Cleanups involves a process of decision-making that considers the sustainability trade-offs among remediation and reuse choices. IEPA is in the early stages of developing a program which they hope someday will include a recognition program for responsible parties who choose sustainable practices that can be applied to site assessment, planning and design, and cleanup. This presentation focused on Leaking Underground Storage Tanks cleanup but the same model could apply to CERCLA, RCRA or voluntary cleanup programs. Representatives from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Office of Underground Storage Tanks participated in the presentation via teleconference.
Contact: Dale Meyer, 312-886-7561
Pfizer PCB Cleanup – Public Availability Session
On Wednesday, August 27th, IDEM held a public availability session for residents affected by a release of PCB impacted sediments from a Pfizer wastewater treatment pond in Terre Haute, Indiana. The intent was to provide a forum for affected residents to speak with representatives from IDEM, EPA, the Indiana State Department of Health and Pfizer on sampling data, health concerns, and cleanup plans. Approximately 20 residents were present and questions answered. Media representatives were also in attendance. IDEM and Pfizer indicated that a draft cleanup plan would be presented to the Agencies during the week of September 1st and that additional information sessions would be held prior to cleanup work beginning.
Contact: Peter Ramanauskas, 312-886-7890
EPA, Region 5 Leads a Joint Federal, State and Local Initial Site Assessment Evaluation of Milwaukee Die Casting Co. Inc.
On August 22, 2008, EPA, Region 5, Toxics Section (TS) Program Staff, held a meeting with the MMSD and the City of Milwaukee at the WDNR Southeast Wisconsin office to discuss the treatment of TSCA-PCB remediation waste and RCRA hazardous and solid waste found as broken or permanently contaminated equipment, buildings and debris within the Milwaukee Die Casting (MDC) facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The focus of the meeting included contacts for State or Federal assistance, general PCB information and guidance and other issues that are encountered during a general site sampling or clean-up in which PCBs, hazardous or solid waste are found on-site. EPA, Region 5 and WDNR focused on TSCA-PCB remediation and RCRA hazardous and solid waste issues affecting the exterior and immediately accessible areas of the MDC property, MMSD focused on sewerage, storm water and sump pit integrity at MDC and the City of Milwaukee assessed potable water, habitability and human exposure issues within and around the MDC building.
After the meeting, the group performed a joint site visit of the facility. The site assessment was part of an on-going project with EPA Region 5, WDNR, MMSD, the City of Milwaukee and MDC staff to coordinate a clean-up of the MDC parcel and eliminate current and potential PCB contamination to the City of Milwaukee and MMSD stormwater and sewerage systems. A report of the site visit is being prepared.
Contact: Bradley Grams, 312-886-7747
EPA, Region 5 Pesticides and Toxics Compliance Section Personnel Performed a Pesticide Import Inspection
A Pesticides and Toxics Compliance Section inspector performed an import inspection at Channel Distribution Corporation in Itasca, Illinois. The "for cause inspection" was performed in order to insure compliance with Sections 3 and 17 of FIFRA and the implementing regulations at 40 C.F.R. The pesticide product inspected was "Abamectin Technical II," EPA Reg. No. 100-1259, being imported by Syngenta Crop Protection, located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The violation suspected was misbranding. The information supplied to the EPA on the Notice of Arrival did not correspond to the information contained on the submitted product label.
Contact: Joseph Lukascyk, 312-886-6233
Final Decision and Corrective Action Complete Determinations for GM V8 Engine Plant in Flint, Michigan
On August 14, 2008, a Final Decision and Response to Comments as well as a Corrective Action Complete with Controls Determination were issued to General Motors for its former V8 Engine Plant in Flint, Michigan. The facility was one of two sites selected for the “Self-Certification that Corrective Action is Complete” pilot program in 2004.
The former V8 Engine Plant operated from 1953 until 1999 and was demolished in 2000. Various studies were performed at the site between 1999 and 2001 as part of site decommissioning and demolition. Based on those results, GM removed flooring material contaminated with PCBs at levels above 1 ppm; removed soil and sediment near an outfall contaminated with PCBs and PAHs above Michigan Act 451, Part 201 generic cleanup standards; installed trenches and are operating a collection system to extract, treat and achieve hydraulic control of a plume of LNAPL from migrating off-site. GM also filed a restrictive covenant in September 2006 that restricts land and groundwater use at the site.
Contact: Daniel Patulski, 312-886-0656
MMB Hosts Advisory Committee Meeting for the Chicago Building Material Reuse Center
On August 27th, Julie Gevrenov hosted a meeting organized by the Delta Institute to discuss progress on the new Building Material Reuse Center (BMRC), a center where building materials and components from the deconstruction of old buildings can be sold for reuse in building or renovation projects. Delta’s partner, The Reuse People, have already deconstructed about 13 buildings in the Chicago metro area. The materials are in temporary storage, in anticipation of the Reuse Center opening early next year. About 25 stakeholders from around the city, including EPA and City of Chicago representatives, attended to help Delta identify ways to promote deconstruction in the Chicago metro area, raise funds for the initiative, and identify appropriate warehouse space.
Contact: Julie Gevrenov, 312-886-6832
Site Visits Conducted for Vulnerable Population Grantee and Minnesota Department of Health
Chemicals Management Branch (CMB) staff conducted 2 site visits during the week of August 4th. The first visit was to the SouthWest Minnesota Housing Partnership (SWMHP) whish was awarded a vulnerable population grant of $50,000 in FY’07 to: 1) conduct outreach and education in order to encourage low and moderate income families to have their children tested for elevated blood lead levels in several Southwestern Minnesota communities; 2) conduct lead assessments on pre’78 homes in order to identify those with lead based paint hazards with those homes found to contain lead hazards becoming eligible to receive assistance for abatement thru funds received from HUD; and conduct lead supervisor and worker training.
The second site visit was to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) offices. The purpose of this midyear visit was to assure that MDH was on track to complete their goals of maintaining and enhancing administrative, accreditation, programmatic and enforcement operations for their Lead Based Paint Program. While there, CMB staff also met with non-profit and local health department representative to discuss their lead based paint hazard elimination efforts.
Both grantees were on track to successfully fulfilling the requirements of their individual grant award agreements.
Contact: Emma Avant, 312-886-7899
Targeted Lead Grantees Conference Call with Social Marketing Presentation
On August 20th, 2008, the Toxics Section in the Chemicals Management Branch held a conference call with a web based presentation on social marketing for the Targeted Lead Grantees. In 2007, EPA awarded the grants to thirteen organizations to address lead issues in vulnerable populations throughout Region 5. The grantees projects consist of performing lead poisoning prevention outreach and education, screening for lead poisoning in children, and providing training of lead safe work practices. The social marketing presentation was given to assist grantees with marketing their projects. Sheila Batka of the air program gave the presentation. The presentation described ways to influence human behavior on a large scale using various marketing principles.
Contact: Tammy Moore, 312-886-6181