Significant Developments and Activities Report

LAND AND CHEMICALS DIVISION
Weekly Significant Developments and Activities Report
December 26, 2008

Illinois EPA Green Remediation Seminar

On December 3, 2008, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency hosted the Illinois EPA Green Remediation Training in Springfield, Illinois. Cindy Dabner of the Underground Storage Tank Section along with EPA employees of the Superfund Division attended the training. During the training, green(er) remediation was defined, the Illinois Green Remediation Matrix was explained, the application of green remediation was introduced, and a Clu-in Green Remediation Seminar was coordinated. Towards the end of the training, attendees of the training participated in a cross program exercise that was followed by a discussion on recommended methods to be used to encourage greener remediation to staff, responsible parties, and consultants.
Contact: Cindy Dabner, 312-886-2842

EPA Finds Minimal Risk from Construction of Drainage System by City of Zanesville, OH

On Dec. 11, 2008, EPA responded to City of Zanesville's proposal to construct a drainage ditch through the south end of the Lear/UTC/Zanesville Wellfield Superfund site. The location of the proposed ditch is very close to several groundwater wells on the adjacent AK Steel facility property, which is being addressed under a RCRA corrective action project. A plume of fluoride contamination from the AK Steel facility is commingled with TCE and PCE in the groundwater at the Superfund site.

LCD, Superfund, and ORC staff coordinated closely on the response, and determined that the drainage project poses minimal risk from impacts due to the groundwater contamination. The City of Zanesville plans to move forward with the project, with construction anticipated in summer 2009.
Contact: Christine Mcconaghy, 312-353-2013

Lockheed Martin Airdock – CAFO Signed

The third amended Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) for the Lockheed Martin Airdock was signed and filed with the Regional Hearing Clerk on December 18, 2008. This CAFO is a precedent-setting agreement which governs the long-term use of the Airdock for the assembly and manufacture of high altitude airships, or blimps, for national security and defense purposes. The Airdock’s siding is made up of metal plates that are coated with a tar-like material that has up to 5% PCB, an unauthorized use under TSCA. However, the interior surfaces have been decontaminated and treated to reduce any ongoing exposure to PCBs during its prescribed use. The Airdock is also a very large, historically significant facility that has high local interest; a portion of the recent remediation costs were underwritten by a Brownfields redevelopment loan to the Summit County Port Authority, which holds title to the facility.

Lockheed Martin already received a PCB Approval from EPA to properly address the PCB contamination in the facility from the RPM siding. Under the EPA approval, Lockheed Martin decontaminated the floors, catwalks, and the cast iron superstructure of the Airdock, and treated the siding with a two-part coating to contain the PCBs in the siding. The EPA approval also required extensive monitoring of airborne PCBs during the remediation, and thorough verification of surface cleanup. All of the remediation specified in the approval was completed in December 2007.

The approval was based on risk calculations submitted by Lockheed Martin, and reviewed by both Region 5 and Headquarters staff. The risk assessment is also the basis for the CAFO. Lockheed Martin will begin use of the Airdock immediately. Periodic monitoring will begin on a quarterly basis, and reports concerning monitoring and inspection will be submitted annually.
Contact: Anton Martig, 312-353-2291

Presentation on Cathode Ray Tube Rule Provided at the Minnesota Electronic Waste Recycling Workshop

On December 17th, 2008, Chris Newman of the Materials Management Branch presented information on the 2006 Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Rule at a workshop for electronics recyclers held by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The Rule went into effect in January, 2007 with the intent of providing regulatory clarity regarding the management of used cathode ray tubes by providing a conditional exclusion from the federal hazardous waste management standards when CRTs or CRT glass is going to be reused or recycled. There are two parts to the rule, the domestic management requirements and the export requirements. The presentation focused on the export requirements because Minnesota has not adopted the domestic management requirements. The presentation included information on the background of the Rule, as well as when and how, to comply with the Rule by filing notifications to the Agency. Additionally, there was a demonstration of the Rule website where companies can find out if their business partners have filed notifications for reuse or recycling.
Contact: Christopher Newman, 312-353-8402

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