Learn the Issues
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Site Milestones
Chart of milestones for the Butte Area/Silver Bow Creek Superfund Site.
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Compliance Advisory: Failure to Comply with Certain New Safe Drinking Water Act Lead and Copper Rule Requirements May Result in Federal Enforcement
Protecting people from lead in drinking water is a longstanding priority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Accordingly, enforcing the Safe Drinking Water Act’s Lead and Copper Rule will help reduce the public’s exposure to lead.
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Superfund Site
Superfund sites are areas requiring long-term response to clean up hazardous material contaminations under CERCLA.
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How is EPA conducting sampling at the Old Norwood Dump and Norwood Landfill?
EPA took surface soil samples from areas throughout the former Dump area, in a few locations in Norwood Park and along the access road between the Dump and Norwood Landfill. EPA also took soil samples from areas of the Norwood Landfill that were previously inaccessible due to overgrown vegetation. Geoprobe…
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How are EPA’s sampling results verified for accuracy?
Samples were sent to an EPA certified laboratory for analysis. After the samples are analyzed, the data will be validated independently by chemists to verify the accuracy of the results.
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How can residents communicate with EPA about activities at the Norwood Landfill site?
This EPA website ( www.epa.gov/norwood) is dedicated to the investigations in the Norwood community. We encourage you to use the site and submit any questions you might have through the form that appears on the website. We also welcome any feedback you might have on the webpage.
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Targeted Brownfields Assessments in Region 3 - How to Apply Criteria
Region 3's Targeted Brownfields Assessment's (TBA's) explanation of application criteria.
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Hazard Ranking System (HRS)
A screening tool used to evaluate the risks to public health and the environment associated with a hazardous waste site. The HRS calculates a score on the potential or a hazardous substance spreading from the site through the air, water, or soil. EPA places sites with a HRS score of…
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Can Norwood residents be exposed to contamination if we grow and eat our own vegetables from gardens in our yards?
To date, contamination has not been found on residential properties that would pose a risk. In addition, the concentrations of the contaminants found at the Norwood Site are often found in urban communities. Studies show that exposure to contaminants via vegetable gardens is negligible. With the exception of some root…
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If EPA finds any contamination associated with the Norwood Landfill site that “exceeds” what is considered safe, will EPA clean up that contamination - even if the Agency cannot find any “pathways” for that contamination to reach humans or sensitive environments?
If the sampling data shows an exceedance of a screening level, EPA will consult with the site Toxicologist and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to conduct a human health risk screening assessment to determine any potential threat to human health. EPA will also consult with the…
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How do we know our drinking water has not been affected over the past 40+ years when the landfill was operating and after it closed since there were no regulations governing its operation or closure?
The Norwood community is serviced by a public drinking water source. The public water supply must meet federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act Standards. Public water systems are required to share annual reports that describe what, if anything, is found in the water supply.
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Vapor Intrusion
Vapor intrusion is the term used to describe the migration of volatile chemicals from contaminated groundwater and soils into the indoor air spaces of overlying buildings through openings in the building foundation. Vapors that accumulate in buildings could cause health risks or other safety concerns.
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Exposure Pathway
The way in which a person can come into contact with a hazardous substance. Three common routes of exposure are breathing (inhalation); eating or drinking (ingestion); or contact to the skin (dermal contact).
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Contamination
A physical, chemical, biological, and/or radiological substance or matter that has an adverse effect on air, water, or soil quality.
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National Priorities List (NPL)
The NPL is a list of hazardous waste sites identified by EPA as warranting further investigation into the extent of the risk they pose and whether cleanup of the site under EPA’s Superfund Remedial program is warranted. NPL listing does not promise remedial action, only detailed investigation.
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Guidance: Liability Reference Guide for Siting Renewable Energy on Contaminated Property
Reference document provides answers to renewable energy developers' common questions with liability and potentially contaminated property
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Greer Industries, Inc., Deckers Creek Limestone Co., Pikewood, Inc. Clean Water Act Settlement
This is the cwa settlement for Greer Industries, Inc., Deckers Creek Limestone Co., Pikewood, Inc.Clean Water Act Settlement
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MPRSA Dredged Material Permits
Permits and authorizations for the ocean dumping of dredged material is issued by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Information is provided about where to dispose dredged material and the process for obtaining an MPRSA permit for dredged material.
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Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
A Federal law (commonly known as “Superfund”) passed in 1980 and modified in 1986 by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). The law gives EPA the authority to investigate sites where there is a suspected threat to public health, or the environment caused by the release or potential release…
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2023 Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Offshore Oil and Gas activities in the Eastern Gulf of America and Supporting Documents
Provides the National Environmental Policy Act determination for the draft general permit.