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Fact Sheet
February 2007
Public Meeting for RCRA Administrative Order Announced, The Doe Run Resources Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri
INTRODUCTION
On February 15, 2007, The Doe Run Resources Corporation (Doe Run) signed an Administrative Order on Consent to implement specific work practices related to the company's handling and transportation of lead materials. The order falls under Section 7003 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Doe Run produces lead and other metals from the New Lead Belt or the Viburnum Trend in southeast Missouri. Production began in the mid-1960s and continues to this day. Ore from the mines is crushed, milled and processed to form lead and other metal concentrates. Lead concentrate commonly contains lead at levels greater than 70 percent (700,000 parts per million). This lead concentrate is trucked over public roadways to the Herculaneum smelter for processing or trucked to the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority near Cape Girardeau for shipment overseas.
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES
Since 2001, EPA, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Doe Run have entered several agreements designed to address lead contamination associated with operations at Doe Run facilities located in southeast Missouri. As a result of these agreements, Doe Run has installed air controls, cleaned up residential properties, sampled soils, and conducted investigations.
Through oversight of Doe Run's work, EPA and MDNR have collected samples from haul roads in Herculaneum and along other trucking routes which confirm high lead levels on road surfaces, road shoulders and adjacent residential yards. In response, EPA required Doe Run to develop and implement a Smelter Transportation and Materials Handling Plan to minimize the release of lead along haul routes. EPA approved Doe Run's transportation plan in July 2003.
The plan set forth, among other practices, operation of an automated undercarriage truck wash for vehicles to use prior to leaving the smelter, operation of dry street sweepers within Herculaneum and a spill response policy.
Despite these existing practices, sampling evidence indicates that lead-bearing trucks continue to contaminate roads in southeast Missouri. This order is designed to address these ongoing transportation issues.
LEAD HEATH EFFECTS
Lead concentrate that settles on roads along haul routes can be tracked beyond the roads into adjacent residential yards and homes. Exposure of young children to lead can cause adverse health effects including slowed physical growth; hearing problems; learning difficulties; behavior problems; and decreased intelligence.
REQUIRED WORK PRACTICES
Doe Run has agreed to implement specific work practices in an effort to reduce lead releases to public roads. These work practices include the following:
Vehicle Wash Stations - Doe Run will install and operate enclosed vehicle wash stations at all facilities where concentrate, ore and lead-bearing materials are transferred on or off vehicles. Every vehicle leaving a Doe Run facility after loading or unloading lead materials must first be washed and dried with an air pressure blower.
Roadway and Street Washing - Doe Run will clean 70 feet of roadway from the exit of each vehicle wash station three times a day. The company will clean the section of Main Street from Station Street to Broadway in Herculaneum a minimum of once a week as long as lead-bearing materials are being delivered to and from the smelter along this route.
All wash water generated by these practices will be collected, treated and discharged as specified within state and federal guidelines. Doe Run will continue to operate street sweepers in Herculaneum.
Enclosure of Materials during Transit - Doe Run will ensure that all trucks that transport lead materials from their facilities on public roadways will be equipped with high-density polyethylene liners, seals on tailgates and grain doors, tailgate locks and tailgate security bolts with wing nuts. All trucks transporting lead materials from Doe Run facilities will be tarped while in transit on public streets, during loading, and when they are empty, unless removed from dedicated service.
Inspection Procedures - Doe Run will implement truck inspection procedures for all trucks hauling lead materials to and from their facilities. Trucks will be inspected prior to being loaded with lead materials and shall be inspected for leakage at the receiving facility prior to being unloaded. Trucks may not transport any other materials unless the truck has been thoroughly cleaned first.
Sampling and Reports - Doe Run will periodically perform residential and street sampling and submit reports so that EPA may monitor whether these measures are working.
ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD
EPA has established an Administrative Record which includes a copy of the administrative order and other relevant documents. The Administrative Order is available for review during normal business hours at the following locations:
Herculaneum City Hall
1 Parkwood Court
Herculaneum, Missouri
Viburnum City Hall
#1 Missouri Avenue
Viburnum, Missouri
U.S. EPA Region 7
Records Center
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
EPA invites the public to comment on the Administrative Order on Consent. The 30-day public comment period opens on March 1, 2007, and ends on March 30, 2007.
Written comments, postmarked no later than March 30, 2007, should be directed to Dianna Whitaker at the address shown below. EPA will consider all comments submitted during the public comment period and determine whether it is appropriate for EPA to sign and finalize the Administrative Order on Consent.
_______________________________
Plan to Attend Public Meeting
You are invited to attend a public meeting to discuss the administrative order between EPA and Doe Run. Two meetings have been scheduled for your convenience:
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Herculaneum High School
1 Blackcat Drive
Herculaneum, Missouri
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Viburnum City Hall
#1 Missouri Avenue
Viburnum, Missouri
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
James Aycock
Environmental Scientist
RCRA Enforcement & State Programs
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7887
E-mail: aycock.jim@epa.gov
Dianna Whitaker
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of External Programs
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7003 or
Toll-free:1-800-223-0425
E-mail: whitaker.dianna@epa.gov
