Learn the Issues
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What kinds of contamination is EPA looking for when sampling in the Study Area?
EPA will look for contaminants like heavy metals including chromium, arsenic, and lead, and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as naphthalene or benzo(a)pyrene, in soil samples.
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How do you know you are not missing some areas that might be contaminated?
EPA will begin the Site Investigation by focusing on residential homes located closest to the former coke facility. This area of residential homes is known as the Study Area for the East Area Study Area. After EPA collects and analyzes the first round of soil samples from the Study…
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What questions are EPA trying to answer during the first round of sampling?
In the first round of sampling, EPA is looking to determine if there were any releases of contaminants from the former facility that could cause a public health risk to nearby residents.
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How does EPA develop a sampling plan for a site?
Generally, EPA begins to develop a sampling plan by gathering information about the site, including environmental history. Regarding the former Erie Coke Facility, EPA builds a sampling plan based on what we know about the former facility’s operations, information from PADEP’s prior investigations, and information from the community. The EPA…
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What is the difference between the investigation being conducted by PADEP at the Erie Coke facility and EPA’s Study Area?
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) continues to investigate the level and extent of potential contamination in surface water, soil, sediment, and subsurface groundwater at the Erie Coke facility. The current EPA East Avenue Study Area is focused on the soil conditions of the community and residential areas surrounding…
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Stories of Progress in Achieving Healthy Waters in Virginia
Stories of progress from EPA's Mid-Atlantic region about EPA programs helping to achieve healthy waters in the state of Virginia.
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What is the key question EPA tries to answer through a Site Investigation?
Findings of a Site Investigation determine what hazardous substances may be present, whether they may be released to the environment, and any potential threat to human health. Information about the site that is collected during the Site Investigation phase helps EPA evaluate the risks posed by the site. EPA will…
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What is a Site Investigation?
EPA conducts a Site Investigation to determine whether the potential threat or threats identified actually exist. The Site Investigation includes the collection of environmental samples from areas identified that have potential to contain hazardous substances or from areas where hazardous substances are present. The Site Investigation also determines whether hazardous…
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What is the difference between EPA’s Removal Action at the site from 2020 to 2022 and the current Study Area?
EPA’s Removal Action from 2020 to 2022 was a quick response to immediate threats from hazardous substances at the former Erie Coke facility to eliminate dangers to the public. During this time, EPA’s Removal team focused on sampling surface soils, coal, and coke residuals for hazardous substances, removing and properly…
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Links and Resources About Food Recovery in Reno
Links and resources about the sustainable management of food in Reno, Nevada. EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy prioritizes these food waste strategies from most to least preferable.
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Appendix A: Re-Powering Screened Sites Attribute Table Details
Section 6 of 7 of the Re-Powering Mapper User Guide and Data Documentation. This section provides data attribute information, a brief description of each attribute, and its data type.
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Links and Resources About Food Recovery in Los Angeles
Links and resources about the sustainable management of food in the Los Angeles Area. EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy prioritizes these food waste strategies from most to least preferable.
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NSR Regulatory Actions
Regulatory Actions associated with New Source Review (NSR) Permitting
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Could contaminants from the former coke facility leach into the groundwater from the soil?
There is low potential for drinking water contamination because no one in the surrounding community is using groundwater as a drinking water source. Drinking water intakes for the City of Erie are from Lake Erie miles out into the lake, far west of the site. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental…
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Why is EPA beginning a site investigation in 2024 when the Erie Coke facility existed for many decades in the past?
The Coke Facility was a permanent, operating facility from 1925 to 2019. The EPA Superfund Program does not investigate operating facilities. After the facility closed in 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) requested assistance from EPA's Removal Program to conduct assessment activities at the Erie Coke Site. Based…
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Is EPA focusing only on potential contamination from the former Erie Coke facility?
EPA will focus on contaminants that potentially came from historic air emissions from the former Erie Coke facility. These contaminants include Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and inorganic metals.
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What is the geographic definition of the East Avenue Study Area?
The Study Area is bordered to the north by East Bay Drive, Erie Coke facility, and Lake Erie; to the south by East 3rd Street and residential neighborhoods; to the east by Hess Avenue and residential neighborhoods; and to the west by East Bayfront Parkway. The Study Area does not…
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Final Amendments to Air Toxics Standards for the Pulp and Paper Chemical Recovery Combustion Sources: Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet for Final Amendments to Air Toxics Standards for the Pulp and Paper Chemical Recovery Combustion Sources
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Documents, Reports and Photographs for Invensys Compliance Controls Site in New Stanton, Pennsylvania
RCRA Corrective Action Invensys Compliance Controls Site , New Stanton PA, Documents and Reports
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Documents, Reports and Photographs for Homer City Automation Incorporated (Formerly: FMC Technologies Incorporated) in Homer City, Pennsylvania
RCRA Corrective Action Inc Homer City Automation Inc (Formerly: FMC Technologies Inc), Homer City PA, Documents and Reports