Sapp Battery

• Site Profile
• Administrative Record Index (PDF): Removal # pp., 110K), OU1 (1 pp., 25K),
  ESD (4 pp., 175K), ESD4 (1 pp., 47K)
• Ready for Reuse Fact Sheet (PDF, 1 pp., 126K)
• For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office (http://www.epa.gov/region4/foiapgs/submit.htm).
• Groundwater Effectiveness Data Report 2008 (PDF, 58 pp., 1.24M)
• Data Evaluation Report 2007 (PDF, 225 pp., 26.1M)

Site Background:
The Sapp Battery site located in Jackson County, Florida is a 45 acre site which began in the early 1970's as a salvage operation to recover lead from spent automotive batteries. The operation was shutdown in early 1980. Onsite wetlands were visibly impacted by acid runoff from site operations as early as 1977. Via the groundwater pathway, the site threatens the Floridan Aquifer, the primary drinking water source for nearby residents.  Soils, sediments, and groundwater became contaminated by the battery salvage operations. 

Cleanup Progress:
In 1980, EPA conducted an early action at the site consisting of construction and modification of site berms to control runoff and the application of hydrated lime to neutralize acid-contaminated water. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) conducted several additional interim response actions in 1984 and 1985 to stabilize the site.  A final cleanup decision was reached by EPA in September of 1986. The decision consisted of solidification/stabilization for site soils (OU1), pump and treat for site groundwater (OU2), and excavation of effected wetlands/sediments (OU3).  A design to solidify/stabilize source area soils was completed by a contractor for EPA in September 1991. In January 1992, EPA signed a Consent Decree with a group of potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to implement the design. The PRPs have completed the source control remedial action by excavating, solidifying and stabilizing lead contaminated soil on-site.  RD for OU2 began on April 29, 2004.  Additional site characterization (well installations) and hydrologic studies were performed from December 2004 to March 2005.   Data gaps were identified and more wells were installed during July and August of 2006.  EPA and FDEP evaluated the data from these wells and concluded that the installation of more wells was necessary to characterize the extent of groundwater contamination.  Additional wells were installed during 2008 and 2009 and a treatability study was done to determine how the groundwater cleanup remedy should be changed.  A report with new cleanup recommendations was issued during August 2008.  A new cleanup remedy for groundwater will be selected during the summer of 2009.  This new cleanup remedy will be designed and implemented during 2010.  This site should reach construction completion by September 2010.  Remedial design activities for OU3 began at the site during July 2003.  During RD, sediment samples were collected and analyzed. This data was used to determine the extent of contamination.  EPA evaluated options for completing treatment of contaminated sediment in the wetland.  It was decided that contaminated sediments should be moved off-site instead of solidifying/stabilizing them on-site.  An Explanation of Significant Differences documents this change (September 2007).  RD for OU3 ended on March 31, 2005.  EPA received funding to start RA work for OU3 during September, 2007.  During the following few months, FDEP and EPA worked on finalizing the Work Plan for RA.  The Remedial Action field work began during February 2008 and ended during September 2008.  A Remedial Action Construction Report was finalized on June 4, 2009.