News Release from EPA Region 6

EPA Proposes to Add Acadia Parish Facility

to National Priorities List of Superfund Sites

Nine hazardous waste sites added, 10 proposed

(DALLAS – March 13, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the EVR-Wood Treating/Evangeline Refining Company site, near Jennings, Louisiana, has been proposed to be added to the National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund sites, a list of sites that pose risks to people’s health and the environment. Superfund is the federal program that investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country.

The site, off Highway 97 and one mile north of I-10 in Acadia Parish, was home to wood-treating operations as well as oil refining from the late 1930s until 1985. The refinery also received waste water from the wood-treating facility, which was held in retention lagoons. Soil samples have shown elevated concentrations of arsenic, chromium, and copper, as well as several types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. The contamination threatens nearby wetlands and commercial and recreational fisheries.

“Today we’re taking an important step toward restoring contaminated property and protecting people’s health and our environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz. “Cleaning up hazardous waste in our communities and returning properties to environmental and economic vitality are EPA priorities.”

The EPA will seek public comment on adding the EVR-Wood Treating/Evangeline Refining Company site to the NPL for 60 days. Comments will be considered as the agency completes the final decision process.

Since 1983, 1,661 sites have been listed on the NPL. Of these sites, 359 have been cleaned up resulting in 1,302 sites currently on the NPL (including the nine sites added today). There are 62 proposed sites (including the 10 announced today) awaiting final agency action.

With all NPL sites, the EPA works to identify companies or people responsible for the contamination at a site, and requires them to conduct or pay for the cleanup. For the newly listed sites without viable potentially responsible parties, the EPA will investigate the full extent of the contamination before starting significant cleanup at the site. Therefore, it may be several years before significant EPA cleanup funding is required for these sites.

More information on the Superfund NPL is available at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

EPA audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/mar2012.html

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News Release from EPA

Metro Container Corp. site added to Superfund list

PHILADELPHIA (March 13, 2012) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the addition of the Metro Container Corporation site in Trainer, Delaware County, Pa. to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL).

The NPL is a national list of sites where hazardous substances could impact human health and/or the environment. These sites first undergo a thorough investigation to determine the full nature and extent of contamination. EPA or the parties responsible for the contamination then address whatever risks the sites pose to human health and the environment.

Located about 20 miles south of Philadelphia near the Delaware River, the site has a long industrial history, which includes its use as a chemical manufacturing plant by the Stauffer Chemical Company from 1920 to 1959. The property was also used as a steel drum reconditioning facility by several companies including the Metro Container Corporation, which filed for bankruptcy in 1987. The site is currently owned by Trainer Industries, an industrial painting company that uses the property mainly for storage.

The main source of contamination on the property is a half-acre backfilled industrial waste lagoon that was used for disposal of drum contents and wastewater. The unlined lagoon was eventually filled in with soil and artificial fill materials and is no longer accessible. Additionally, site soils are contaminated. The contaminants of concern at the site are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), inorganics, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Potential impacts to the surrounding community and environment include contamination to the Delaware River and along the tidal flats of the Delaware River.

The Metro Container site is one of nine sites nationwide that EPA is adding to the NPL today. EPA is also proposing 10 other sites to the list today. 

For Federal Register notices and supporting documents for this and other sites, please visit http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm .

For information about how a site is listed on the NPL, visit: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/npl_hrs.htm  .

Cleanup Brings Milwaukee Area of Concern Closer to Restoration

News release from EPA Region 5:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               
No. 12-OPA010

Cleanup Brings Milwaukee Area of Concern Closer to Restoration, Delivers Results Under Great Lakes Initiative
  
CHICAGO (Feb. 17, 2012) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Milwaukee County today announced completion of contaminated sediment removal in Lincoln Creek and the Milwaukee River Channel.  This project brings the Milwaukee Estuary closer to being removed from a binational list of Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes.  

"The work by state, county, city and other partners over the years has helped deliver real results under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative," said Cameron Davis, Senior Advisor to the EPA Administrator.  “Thousands of cubic yards of harmful contaminated sediment were removed to help boost human, ecological and local economic health. But we can’t stop here. We’re looking for new partners to match funds to accelerate cleanups in other Areas of Concern in Wisconsin and around the Great Lakes."

The $24.6 million project under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative’s Legacy Act removed about 140,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PCBs and PAHs.  The contamination led to limits on eating fish caught in the river, as well as loss of habitat and other environmental problems. 

“The Great Lakes are the largest source of fresh water in the world.  Keeping them clean for the future is a priority,” said WDNR Secretary Cathy Stepp, “We are making major strides cleaning up the Milwaukee River Estuary.  I am pleased that we were able to fund most of the non-federal cost share for this project from state bonding, and delighted at the level of public support this project has received.  With our partners we will continue to work to bring the Milwaukee River back to provide recreational and economic benefits for the Milwaukee area." 

GLRI Legacy Act funds covered about $16 million.  WDNR contributed roughly $8.6 million.  The result was the cleanup of the largest known deposit of PCB-contaminated sediment in this Area of Concern. 

“This joint effort demonstrates the tangible benefits that can come from cooperation between all levels of federal, state and local government. By working together we are removing the impairments to our waterways that resulted from our long industrial history,” said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.  “This significant portion of the Milwaukee River and its natural resources are now cleaner, safer and more sustainable. We embrace the triumphant return of this park land to the greater use and enjoyment of our citizens.”

The Milwaukee River section of the Area of Concern extends from Cedar Creek downstream through the Outer Harbor. It includes Cedar Creek, Lincoln Creek and portions of the Menomonee, Little Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers.  In the 1980s, the U.S. and Canada identified 43 highly degraded shoreline areas along the Great Lakes.  Today there are 30 AOCs wholly in the U.S. or shared with Canada.

The Great Lakes provide 30 million Americans with drinking water and underpin a multi-billion dollar economy.  In February 2009, President Obama proposed the GLRI, the largest investment in the Great Lakes in two decades. 




The Action Plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014, was developed by a task force of 16 federal departments and agencies to implement the president’s historic initiative.  It calls for aggressive efforts to address five urgent priority focus areas:

•Cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spot areas of concern.
•Combating invasive species.
•Promoting near-shore health by protecting watersheds from polluted runoff.
•Restoring wetlands and other habitats.
•Tracking progress, education and working with strategic partners.

The plan also ensures accountability by establishing measures of progress and benchmarks for success.
For more on this project and the Legacy Act, visit www.epa.gov/glla. 

For more on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, see www.glri.us.

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