905R95102
vvEPA
Residents7 Guide to
Temporary Relocation
Lorain County Pesticide Removal Project
Lorain County, Ohio
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5
July 1995
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Residents' Guide to
Temporary Relocation
Lorain County Pesticide Removal Project
Lorain County, Ohio
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5
July 1995
REGION V
EMERGENCY
RESPONSE
TEAM
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Acknowledgments
The United States Environmental Protection Agency would like to
express its appreciation to the Lorain City Health Department, the
Elyria City Health Department, the Lorain County Health Department,
the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Lorain County Emergency
Management Agency, the Ohio Department of Public Health, Lorain
County Human Services, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the
United States Army Corps of Engineers for their valuable assistance in
planning and carrying out the temporary relocation program at the
Lorain County Pesticide Removal Project and residential decontam-
ination. Special thanks is extended to the United States Coast Guard
Atlantic Strike Team and National Strike Force. Assistance from the
American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the St. Vincent De Paul
Society, and the local Catholic Services is particularly appreciated.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
1 BACKGROUND 1
2 PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE 3
3 PREPARING FOR TEMPORARY RELOCATION 4
Where will I be relocated while my home is being
decontaminated?
When will I need to move?.
How do I move to my temporary housing?
How long will I be away from my home?
What should I do with my belongings during my
temporary relocation?
What should I take with me to my temporary housing?
What items should I leave in my home?
Are there some items that I should not leave in my
home?
What about my rent, mortgage, and utility payments?
Should I make any special arrangements to handle my
money?
Are there items that I can decontaminate before I
remove them from my home?
What should I do about my pets and house plants?
What should I do with food items?
Can I leave my car or other vehicles on my property
while I am away?
What about delivery of mail during my temporary
relocation?
What about school transportation?
What about security while my home is vacant?
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SECTION PAGE
4 THE DECONTAMINATION PROCESS 14
How does U.S. EPA determine which homes need to
be decontaminated?
How will I know that decontamination has begun at
my home?
What happens to my belongings during the
decontamination?
What does the decontamination process involve?
How do the workers know that they have removed the
contamination?
Will U.S. EPA be able to decontaminate everything in
my home?
Can I go inside my home while it is being
decontaminated?
What if I need something from the belongings I left in
my home?
5 TEMPORARY RELOCATION BENEFITS 19
What temporary benefits are available to me, and how
do I apply for them?
How will my temporary relocation benefits be paid?
Which of my relocation expenses will be covered?
Which of my expenses will not be covered?
What are my responsibilities while I am receiving this
assistance?
6 OPTIONS FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING 23
What types of housing is U.S. EPA using for temporary
relocations?
Who pays for my temporary housing?
What should I know if I am relocated to a hotel or motel?
What should I know if I am relocated to an apartment?
What should I know about leaving my temporary
housing?
What if I am asked to leave my temporary housing?
IV
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SECTION PAGE
7 RETURNING TO YOUR HOME 29
How will I know when I can return to my home?
Can U.S. EPA help me move back to my home?
Will my home look different after the
decontamination?
How do I apply for money to replace items that could
not be decontaminated?
Will U.S. EPA reimburse me for all items that could
not be decontaminated?
Can I use clothes, towels, and bedding that I left
behind in my home?
Are my dishes and cookware safe to use?
What can I do to control pests in my home?
8 INFORMATION ABOUT METHYL PARATHION 34
What is methyl parathion?
Why is methyl parathion safe to use outside but not
inside?
How does methyl parathion affect my health?
Will every exposed person have symptoms?
Is there a test to tell if I have been exposed?
What should I do if I think my home has been sprayed
with methyl parathion?
I have some of the pesticide left by the exterminator.
What should I do?
9 HOW TO CONTACT U.S. EPA 36
U.S. EPA Command Post
U.S. EPA Temporary Relocation Office
Local Information Repositories
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1
BACKGROUND
The Lorain County Pesticide Removal Project consists of approximately
235 homes in the cities of Elyria and Lorain, Sheffield Township, and
in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The homes were contaminated with a
pesticide, methyl parathion, which was illegally sprayed in the homes
by an unlicensed and uncertified exterminator. Methyl parathion is a
highly toxic organophosphate pesticide that is registered for use on
several agricultural crops, but is illegal for use inside buildings
occupied by people. Contact, inhalation, or ingestion of the pesticide
can cause serious illness, even death. According to health officials,
exposure to the pesticide may pose long-term health problems.
Methyl parathion poses a documented health threat to people,
especially children, who are living, working, or playing in homes that
have been sprayed with the pesticide.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is
decontaminating homes in which the pesticide is present at hazardous
levels. The residents of each contaminated property are being asked
to relocate temporarily while U.S. EPA decontaminates their home.
U.S. EPA's decontamination of this site is authorized by a federal law,
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as "Superfund." Superfund
authorizes U.S. EPA to identify sites where hazardous substances have
been released into the environment, and directs U.S. EPA to take
action if the hazardous materials could endanger public health or the
environment. The costs of such actions are covered by a fund that
was established by the United States Congress. Most of the money in
this fund comes from taxes paid by the manufacturers and importers of
certain chemicals and petroleum.
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The initial air sampling and wipe sampling that identified the
contaminated residential properties in Lorain County was conducted
by U.S. EPA Region 5, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Elyria
City Health Department, the Lorain City Health Department, and the
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). Analytical results
from this sampling are being used to determine the schedule for
decontamination. Decontamination of affected residences began in
December 1994. As contamination is identified in additional
residential properties, U.S. EPA representatives are contacting the
owners and occupants to obtain access to the properties that require
decontamination.
The decontamination activities are being performed by employees and
authorized representatives of U.S. EPA and the United States Coast
Guard (USCG), assisted by agents, contractors, and subcontractors of
U.S. EPA. Many other government agencies and social service
organizations are also involved, including the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the Ohio Department of Public Health, the Ohio
Department of Agriculture, OEPA, the Lorain County Health
Department, the Lorain County Emergency Management Agency,
Lorain County Human Services, the Elyria City Health Department, the
Lorain City Health Department, the Salvation Army, the American Red
Cross, the St. Vincent De Paul Society, and Catholic Services.
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2
PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE
U.S. EPA has prepared this Residents' Guide to Temporary Relocation
to answer some basic questions about the assistance you may receive
during your temporary relocation, if your home was sprayed with
methyl parathion and is being decontaminated by U.S. EPA. The
purpose of this guide is to answer questions about the who, what,
where, when, and how of the temporary relocation process.
The Residents' Guide provides a general description of, and
information about, the work at the Lorain County Pesticide Removal
Site and the temporary relocation process, but does not create right or
benefit or contain promises or guarantees by U.S. EPA.
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3
PREPARING FOR TEMPORARY
RELOCATION
This section of the Residents' Guide tells you what you will need to
do to get ready for the time that you will be away from your home.
Where will I be relocated while my home is being decontaminated?
U.S. EPA has made arrangements with several hotels, motels, and
apartment complexes which are being used as temporary housing for
families during the decontamination of their homes. For more
information, see Section 6, "Options for Temporary Housing."
When will I need to move?
In general, U.S. EPA will determine
the date of your relocation by the
progress of the decontaminations
that are currently under way, and
by the availability of temporary
housing. U.S. EPA representatives
will meet with you to determine a
date and time for your relocation.
How do I move to my temporary housing?
U.S. EPA has moving vans and drivers who can help you move your
family members and your belongings. Contact a member of the U.S.
EPA Relocation Team to arrange for these services.
After you return to your home following your temporary relocation,
you are eligible to receive a one-time allowance of $50.00 to cover
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your moving expenses. Section 5, "Temporary Relocation Benefits,"
tells you how to apply for this allowance.
How
long will I be away from my home?
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You will be away from your home for about six to eight weeks, which
is the amount of time it takes to decontaminate each home. If your
home is large, if it was sprayed in
many areas, or if workers must
decontaminate many areas, the work
could take somewhat longer.
You will be able to return to your
home when 1) U.S. EPA's sampling
results show that the decontamination
process has reduced the pesticide in
your home to levels that are acceptable, and 2) the local health
department has inspected your home and has declared that it is safe
for reoccupation.
What should I do with my belongings during my temporary
relocation?
First, make a list of all your belongings. Keep this list with you, along
with all of the papers that involve your relocation. The list will provide
a record of your belongings. For its own
records, U.S. EPA is also photographing and
videotaping each room of your home at the
beginning of the decontamination. Next, you
will need to decide which items to take with
you, which items to leave in your home, and
whether to store some items at another loca-
tion while you are away from your home.
What should I take with me to my temporary housing?
In general, you should take with you all of the items that you will
need for normal day-to-day living during the six to eight weeks that
you will be living in your temporary housing, plus any personal papers
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that you might need to refer to, including papers and forms related to
your temporary relocation. Items to bring include the following:
• Clothes and accessories (casual, work, night, sport);
• Personal care items and toiletries (health and beauty aids, hair
dryer, medications, sewing kit);
• Emergency and safety items (spare
keys, first aid kit, flashlight);
• Personal papers and items related
to personal business (insurance,
automobile, finance, address book,
checkbook, telephone numbers,
medical and legal documents,
stationery, postage stamps); and
• Special items such as photo
albums, pictures.
If your temporary housing is an apartment, you will need to bring the
items listed above, plus additional items for use in the apartment
during your temporary relocation. Follow the laundry procedures on
page 10 to decontaminate all cloth items. Section 6, "Options for
Temporary Housing," tells you how to pack the items that you take to
apartment housing. The additional items to bring to apartment
housing include:
• Bed linens (sheets, pillow cases, blankets);
• Towels and wash cloths (kitchen and bathroom);
• Nonperishable foods that were not in your home when it was
sprayed (such as flour, sugar, spices, canned foods);
• Small kitchen appliances that you use frequently (for example,
microwave oven, can opener, blender);
• Electronic items (television, radio, stereo, clock);
• Cleaning items (vacuum cleaner, dish soap);
• Laundry supplies (clothes basket, soap, fabric softener); and
• House plants.
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What items should I leave in my home?
Items that were not sprayed with the
pesticide should be packed in boxes.
U.S. EPA will provide you with packing
materials, including boxes, bags, and
tape, and cushioning material to use
in packing any breakable items. Pack
your belongings securely, and seal all
boxes closed with tape. Write "FRAGILE"
on any box that contains breakable items.
If you need more packing materials,
contact the U.S. EPA Relocation Team.
Items of clothing in dresser drawers should be removed and packed in
boxes or bags. Clothing in closets can be left on the hangers and
placed in large bags. Tape the bags closed.
The following items may have been contaminated with the pesticide
spray, and should be left unpacked in your home:
• Large items such as furniture and appliances;
• Dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, cookware, food storage
containers (may be left in drawers and cupboards);
• Curtains, drapes, blinds, and other window dressings;
• Rugs that may have come in contact with sprayed areas;
• All children's toys; and
• Infant and child items (cribs, baby mattresses, high chairs,
strollers, play pens, car seats, bottles, baby formula).
You should be aware that some of these items may have absorbed the
pesticide and cannot be properly decontaminated. These items will
be disposed of (see Section 4, "The Decontamination Process").
Are there some items that I should not leave in my home?
Yes. Any valuable items which could be stolen should not be left in
your home during your temporary relocation. These include items
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such as jewelry, cameras, and computers or other electronic equip-
ment. U.S. EPA advises you to ask friends or relatives to store
valuable items for you during your temporary relocation.
Also, because hotel rooms provide
limited storage space, you may want to
find temporary storage for other items
during the time that you will be
relocated, such as items which you
need to have access to (for example,
suitcases, certain sports equipment,
hobby supplies, car maintenance
items, tools, out-of-season clothing, electric blanket). Before you
remove these items from your home, follow the procedures on pages
9 and 10 to decontaminate them.
What about my rent, mortgage, and utility payments?
You will have to continue to pay the rent or make the mortgage
payments on your home during your temporary relocation, even
though you will not be living there. Continue to pay your telephone
bills while you are away from your home, if
you wish to maintain telephone service at your
: vhen you return from your relocation.
Also continue to pay your utility bills, making
sure to save all of your receipts. Because U.S.
EPA crews will be using your utilities as they
decontaminate your home, you will be
reimbursed for the cost of your utilities
during your relocation. Section 5,
"Temporary Relocation Benefits," tells
you how to apply for reimbursement of
your utility bills.
Should I make any special arrangements to handle my money?
For your convenience, you may wish to make special arrangements to
handle your money during the period of time that you are relocated.
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U.S. EPA recommends that
you set up an account at
a bank that is convenient
to your temporary housing.
When U.S. EPA informs you
where you will be relocated,
you may wish to look for a
nearby bank and arrange to
open an account. A member of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team will
notify you as soon as possible about the location of your temporary
housing.
A bank account is also recommended for safety reasons. If you are
temporarily relocated as part of the U.S. EPA decontamination, you
may be eligible for Temporary Benefits and Relocation Assistance for
Superfund Sites (see Section 5, "Temporary Relocation Benefits").
This assistance is in the form of U.S. Treasury Department checks,
which you can expect to receive every two weeks during the time that
you are in temporary housing. If your assistance money is lost or
stolen, U.S. EPA cannot issue a replacement. Having an account at a
nearby bank will make it easier for you to deposit your assistance
checks, as well as checks from your other sources of income, and you
can then draw out only as much money as you need.
Are there items that I can decontaminate before I remove them from
- my home?
Yes. Electronic equipment (such as stereos or radios) and fabric items
(clothes, linens, towels) can be decontaminated to ensure that you do
not take contaminated items to your temporary housing.
If you have electronic equipment that
was in an area of your home that was
sprayed with the pesticide, you may
decontaminate it with a mild bleach
solution or a concentrated solution of
Windex window cleaner. (Hardware
stores sell this cleaner in the
concentrated form.) Put a small
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amount of the bleach solution or cleaner on a cloth and wipe down
the surfaces of the equipment to decontaminate it.
Clothes and other fabric items that have been exposed to the pesticide
spray may show yellow streaks. Do not dry clean the items; they may
become recontaminated through the dry cleaning process. Follow the
laundering instructions below to decontaminate clothes and other
fabric items:
• Do not wash contaminated items with uncontaminated items.
• Wash a few contaminated clothes at a time in an ordinary
washing machine. Do not overload the machine.
• Use a heavy-duty liquid detergent, and use more detergent
than the product label recommends. Do not use additives
such as bleach.
• Fill the washing machine with warm
water for the fabric that you are
washing.
• Set the washing machine for the
"full load" cycle.
• Set the wash cycle for normal
washing (12 minutes).
• Re-wash the contaminated clothing two or three times.
• Line dry the clothing after washing, if possible, although you
may machine dry them if you prefer.
• If fabric items remain contaminated after three washings, U.S.
EPA recommends that you throw them away in plastic bags.
Clothing items made of leather or rubber (such as jackets, shoes,
boots) that were sprayed with the pesticide cannot be decontaminated,
because these materials tend to absorb the pesticide. You should
place these items in plastic bags, label them "TRASH" or "GARBAGE,"
and leave them in your home. The decontamination crew will
dispose of them for you. Please note, however, that if you do throw
out these items, U.S. EPA will not reimburse you for your loss.
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What should I do about my pets and house plants?
Pets (for instance, dogs, cats, tropical fish) and house plants cannot
remain in your home while it is being decontaminated. You will need
to make arrangements for your pets
and for your house plants. Speak with
your neighbors, friends, or relatives,
who may be able to care for your pets
or plants during your temporary
relocation. If this option is not
available to you, a member of the U.S.
EPA Relocation Team can help you
arrange to place your pets (except fish)
in a kennel. U.S. EPA will pay the
kennel costs. Please note, however,
that pets must have received the
required immunization shots before they can be placed in a kennel.
Speak with a member of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team to make
kennel arrangements.
Kennel facilities are not equipped to
care for fish in tanks or aquariums,
however. If you have fish tanks or
aquariums, you may be able to take
them with you to your temporary
housing. Contact a member of the
U.S. EPA Relocation Team about the
requirements at your temporary
housing.
What should I do with food items?
Leave in your home any food that may have been in your kitchen
cupboards or cabinets at the time that your home was sprayed with
the pesticide. These items could include canned food or boxed food
(for example, cereals, cake mix, rice, spaghetti, spices). These items
are considered contaminated, and U.S. EPA workers will dispose of
them for you.
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If you have canned or boxed food
items that you bought after your home
was sprayed, you can pack them into
boxes and leave them in your home
with your other packed belongings.
Seal these boxes securely with tape,
and place them with boxes containing
your other belongings. Do not label
the contents of boxes in which you have packed food items. The
local health department has instructed U.S. EPA decontamination
crews to dispose of all food, including food in deep freezers, and will
dispose of any boxes that are labelled as containing food. You could
therefore lose any other items that you packed with the food items.
Try to use other food items that are not contaminated (such as dairy
products and other perishables, and frozen food) before you leave
your home, or give them to neighbors, friends, or relatives.
Also, before you leave your home, be sure to empty all garbage and
trash containers. However, please do not put any items that may be
contaminated into containers with your household garbage. Instead,
place these items in plastic bags, label them "TRASH" or "GARBAGE",
and leave them in your home. U.S. EPA crews will dispose of them
along with other contaminated items.
Can I leave my car or other vehicles on my property while I am
away?
No. During the decontamination of your home, U.S. EPA workers will
need work space outside your home to set up trailers and equipment.
Parking space will be available at your temporary housing. You should
make arrangements to move all
vehicles from your property
during your temporary
relocation.
When you met with U.S. EPA
representatives to discuss the
decontamination of your home,
you were given a form to sign
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which stated that you agree to remove all vehicles from your property
before you leave your home and before the U.S. EPA decontamination
begins. You were advised that any vehicles found on the property
which would restrict decontamination activities would be removed by
U.S. EPA. Any vehicles that are removed from your property will be
stored in a secure lot until the decontamination of your home has
been completed.
What about delivery of mail during my temporary relocation?
The post office will still be able to deliver mail
to your home. U.S. EPA can set up a
temporary mail box at the curb in front of your
home where you may come to pick up your
mail. If you are currently receiving forms of
assistance such as Aid to Families with
Dependent Children (AFDC), it is extremely
important that you do not change the address
at which you receive your mail, and that you
pick up your mail on a regular basis.
What about school transportation?
U.S. EPA has vans and drivers that
are available to take children to
and from school. Speak with a
member of the U.S. EPA Reloca-
tion Team if your children will
be needing this service. There
is no cost for the service.
What about security while my home is vacant?
During your temporary relocation, U.S. EPA will have security guards
patrolling your property.
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4
THE DECONTAMINATION PROCESS
This section of the Residents' Guide tells you what will happen inside
your home while you are away.
How does U.S. EPA determine which homes need to be
decontaminated?
The Ohio Department of Agriculture and local health departments
have been collecting air samples and wipe samples in all homes that
are known to have been sprayed with the pesticide. Laboratory results
of these samples show the level of contamination in each home. U.S.
EPA and several health agencies have determined the degree of hazard
that is presented by various levels of contamination. If the levels in
your home are very high, U.S. EPA will relocate you and your family
and decontaminate your home as soon as possible.
How will I know that decontamination has begun at my home?
U.S. EPA currently has five crews, with a total of more than 100
workers, who are performing the work that is necessary to
decontaminate your home. One of these crews will bring its trailers
and equipment to your property and park them outside your home. A
fence will be temporarily installed around the working area, and a
security guard will be on-site after working hours. The decontamination
crew will work from about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday
and some Saturdays.
U.S. EPA will hand out information packets to residents of your
neighborhood so that they are informed about the type of work that is
being done in your home.
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What happens to my belongings during the decontamination?
Before the workers begin the decontamination of your home, they will
videotape each room and photograph the items that you left in your
home. The videos and photos provide
U.S. EPA with a record of the items that
were present, and the condition of those
items, at the time that the decontamina-
tion workers entered your home to pre-
pare it for the decontamination process.
Workers will then collect the boxes and
bags in which you packed your belongings
and lock them in a storage van or a metal storage box. U.S. EPA is
maintaining a secure parking lot for the vans. Storage boxes are being
placed outside homes during the decontamination process.
What does the decontamination process involve?
Workers who are trained and experienced
in hazardous materials decontamination
will be performing the decontamination
of your home. Because the workers
who enter your home will come in
close contact with the pesticide,
they will wear special suits and
breathing equipment to protect
them as they work.
First, the workers spray a decontamination solution onto all surfaces in
your home (floors, ceilings, walls, counters, cabinets). They will pay
special attention to areas where the pesticide was most likely to have
been applied. Workers scrub these areas with the decontamination
solution, using brushes. Then they rinse all surfaces with water.
Upholstered furniture, such as couches and armchairs, is steam-cleaned
with the decontamination solution. Throughout the decontamination
process, a room temperature of 70 to 80 degrees is maintained.
After the workers have finished applying the decontamination solution
throughout your home, they perform a fogging procedure. The
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fogging is an additional safeguard to reduce the levels of the pesticide.
Next, the workers apply a vinegar and water solution to all surfaces
and rinse them with water. The decontamination solution may leave a
powdery material on some surfaces, so a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner
is used to remove as much of this material as possible.
How do the workers know that they have removed the
contamination?
The final step in the decontamination process is to collect air samples
and wipe samples throughout your home. If the sampling shows any
areas where contamination levels remain too high, the decontamination
process will be repeated in those areas. U.S. EPA will then collect
another set of samples to confirm that the additional decontamination
work has reduced the contamination to acceptable levels.
Will U.S. EPA be able to decontaminate everything in my home?
No. A number of items in your home cannot be decontaminated if
they were sprayed, such as window dressings (curtains, drapes, blinds),
carpets, area rugs, furnace filters, food products (including canned
goods and deep-freezer items), cleaning products that you keep under
your kitchen sink, and toiletries that
you store in your bathroom. Items that
cannot be decontaminated also include
high chairs, strollers, baby cribs and
mattresses, car seats, and all of your
children's toys. At the local health
department's recommendation, U.S.
EPA is disposing of all of these items,
to safeguard the health of babies and
children.
Some parts of your home may have been heavily sprayed, and are so
contaminated that they cannot be effectively decontaminated. These
areas may include the kitchen cabinets and countertops, as well as the
baseboards, floor coverings (tile, linoleum, hardwood flooring, carpeting),
and portions of the walls throughout your home. In these areas,
workers may need to remove these items and properly dispose of them.
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In addition, some of your belongings may have been sprayed directly
with the pesticide, or may have come in contact with surfaces that
were sprayed. If these items are made of wood, plastic, fiber or cloth,
it may not be possible to decontaminate them, because these materials
tend to absorb the pesticide. In your household, the items that cannot
be decontaminated could include some of your dishes and cooking
utensils, bedding, mattresses, and furniture. Workers are required to
dispose of these items if they are found to be contaminated.
Remember that the disposal of these items is necessary to complete
the decontamination of your home. U.S. EPA is keeping records of all
items that are disposed of. Before you return to your home, a member
of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team will meet with you to discuss the
replacement of some of these items. Section 7, "Returning to Your
Home," tells you more about these replacement issues.
As soon as the sampling shows that the decontamination process has
brought your home to acceptable levels, another crew will begin
working on your home to restore the areas where contaminated
materials were removed. A member of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team
will contact you or the owner of the property to discuss the plans for
restoring walls or floors that were removed and for the replacement of
items that were removed (cabinets, baseboards, countertops).
Can I go inside my home while it is being decontaminated?
No. The work that is going on in your home makes it dangerous for
you, or anyone else, to enter the home during any part of the decon-
tamination or restoration work. The
decontamination process exposes
the pesticide, making the inside of
your home a potentially dangerous
place for unprotected persons.
During the restoration process,
the unfinished conditions in your
home will be similar to conditions
at the later stages of a construction
project.
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By cooperating and staying at your temporary residence throughout
the decontamination and restoration of your home, you will ensure
the safety of yourself and your family. Your cooperation will also help
the crews to complete the work on your home as soon as possible.
What if I need something from the belongings I left in my home?
U.S. EPA asks that you plan carefully,
making sure that you bring with you
all of the items that you know you will
need while you are away from your
home. Ask neighbors, friends, or
relatives to store any other items
that you might need to have access
to during your temporary relocation.
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TEMPORARY RELOCATION BENEFITS
You will have some additional expenses because of your temporary
relocation. This section of the Residents' Guide tells you which of
these expenses will be paid by U.S. EPA as temporary benefits, which
expenses will be reimbursed, and which expenses you will be
responsible for paying. Any benefits that you receive during your
temporary relocation are called Temporary Relocation Benefits and
Assistance for Superfund Sites. The following is a general description
of the types of assistance that are available.
What temporary benefits are available to me, and how do I apply for
them?
U.S. EPA is providing temporary benefits to persons who are being
temporarily relocated during the decontamination of their homes. The
U.S. EPA Relocation Team will determine who is eligible to receive
these benefits.
Before you are relocated, a member of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team
will help you fill out the necessary forms to apply for your relocation
assistance. Although the amount will vary according to individual
needs, the eligible categories of assistance include:
• Temporary housing during the period of time that U.S. EPA
has determined that you must be relocated;
• Money for incidental costs; and, if you are housed in a hotel
or motel, money for food.
When you are relocated from your home, you will receive a letter
from U.S. EPA that tells you what assistance you and your family are
eligible to receive, and the procedures for making claims and for
appealing relocation assistance determinations.
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How will my temporary relocation benefits be paid?
Your temporary relocation benefits will be in the form of a U.S.
Treasury check, made out to the person who has been designated as
the head of your household. Checks are generally in an amount to
cover a two-week period. You can expect to receive your first check
approximately one week after your arrival in your temporary housing.
Subsequent checks will be delivered every two weeks. The checks
are sent from U.S. EPA Region 5 Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.
When the checks arrive, members of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team
hand-deliver them to residents as soon as possible.
Which of my relocation expenses will be covered?
Temporary relocation benefits are not intended to cover all of the
expenses or losses associated with the contamination that was found
in your home. In general, you will be paid or be reimbursed for
reasonable costs associated with your relocation.
You can apply for money to reimburse you for certain costs which are
related to your relocation. The costs that can be reimbursed include:
• Utility costs at your home during your temporary relocation;
• The basic monthly service charge for your telephone bill; and
• An allowance of $50.00 to cover your moving expenses.
You will need to pay your utility and telephone bills, and keep all
receipts or stubs from the bills. To receive reimbursement for these
payments after you return to your home, contact a member of the U.S.
EPA Relocation Team, who will help
you fill out a claim form. Then submit
the receipts and stubs from all of these
bills at the same time, together with
your completed claim form. Please
note that you must submit your claim
form within 60 days of your return to
your home. U.S. EPA then reviews
your claim form and submits it for
processing.
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A member of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team will also help you apply
for your $50.00 allowance for moving expenses. You are eligible to
receive this allowance, regardless of the type of temporary housing to
which you are relocated. Please note that the allowance is paid as a
reimbursement, after you have returned to your home.
About six to eight weeks after you submit your claim form, you can
expect to receive a U.S. Treasury Department check, made out to the
person who is the head of your household, in an amount to cover the
utility costs and the monthly service charge for your telephone bill
during the period of your relocation, plus your moving allowance.
Which of my expenses will not be covered?
U.S. EPA will not pay your rent or the mortgage on your home during
your temporary relocation (see Section 3, "Preparing for Temporary
Relocation"). Because you would be paying these costs if you were
not relocated, these payments are not considered to be additional
costs caused by your relocation, even though you will not be living in
your home.
Other expenses for which you will not be reimbursed include but are
not limited to:
• Expenses that you incur without the approval of U.S. EPA;
• Damage caused by pets;
• Damage which you, your family, or your guests cause to your
temporary housing, its furniture, or recreation equipment;
• The cost of temporary housing beyond the date on which your
temporary relocation period ends;
• Expenses related to accidents, injuries, or illnesses that you
may experience during your temporary relocation period;
• Charges to your room if you are housed in a hotel or motel
(such as room service or other food, beverages, long distance
telephone charges, video rentals, pay-per-view television
programs);
• Legal fees or other costs for preparing a claim for relocation
payment or for representing the claimant;
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• Expenses for searching for temporary housing; and
• Duplicate benefits.
What are my responsibilities while I am receiving this assistance?
During the time that you are receiving Temporary Relocation Benefits
and Assistance for Superfund Sites, your responsibilities include but
are not limited to the following:
• Helping U.S. EPA to determine the types of assistance that you
and the other members of your household will require by
providing the information that is requested at the time that you
are interviewed by members of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team;
• Informing the U.S. EPA Relocation Team about any special
needs (for example, arrangements for pets, school
transportation for children, medical problems or disabilities of
members of your household);
• Retaining all forms, bills, and receipts associated with your
relocation;
• Complying with the rules of the housing (hotel, motel, or
apartment) where you are staying until you return to your
home;
• Complying with the terms of your reimbursement agreement;
• Making arrangements on your own for transportation to work,
to the post office, and to medical or other appointments;
• Taking due care of your temporary residence; and
• Leaving your temporary residence when you are notified that
your home is ready for you to live in again.
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6
OPTIONS FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING
This section of the Residents' Guide tells you about the types of
housing that may be available for your temporary relocation, and what
your responsibilities are while you live there.
What types of housing is U.S. EPA using for temporary relocations?
You may choose to stay with relatives or friends for the period of your
temporary relocation. If you do not have this option, a member of the
U.S. EPA Relocation Team will place you in a hotel, motel, apartment,
or other housing facility that is available at the time of your temporary
relocation. Arrangements have been made with several hotels, motels,
and apartments throughout Lorain County for the temporary relocation
of residents affected by the pesticide contamination of their homes.
A member of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team will meet with you to
discuss any special needs you may have, in an effort to determine the
most suitable housing for you and your family. Some factors that will
be considered are whether your household includes small children,
elderly persons, or pets. For example, if you are placed in a hotel or
motel, and your household includes small children or persons
requiring special medications, you may request the use a small
refrigerator during your temporary relocation.
As another option, you may try on your
own to find rental or sublet housing that
will be available for the six to eight weeks
of your temporary relocation. However,
you must have U.S. EPA's approval before
you arrange to rent or sublease housing.
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Who pays for my temporary housing?
If you are relocated to a hotel, motel, or apartment under arrange-
ments that are made by U.S. EPA, the housing costs are paid by U.S.
EPA. If you choose to rent or sublet your own temporary housing,
U.S. EPA may also pay the rent on this housing. You are reminded,
however, that you must obtain the approval of U.S. EPA before you
make any commitments to a landlord or a sublease.
What should I know if I am relocated to a hotel or motel?
If you are housed in a hotel or motel for your temporary relocation,
you should be informed of some general policies that apply to your
residence. These policies are listed below.
• Please be courteous to the other guests in the hotel. No loud
music or noise is allowed in guest rooms or in public areas.
• Please observe all "No Smoking" signs in public areas, and do
not smoke in non-smoking rooms.
• All children must be accompanied by an adult or guardian at
all times. No running or playing is permitted in the hallways
or public areas.
• You are responsible for paying the hotel for all local and long
distance telephone calls. There may be an additional charge
to have the telephone turned on in your room. Incoming calls
are free.
• No pets or animals are allowed inside the building or outside
of the hotel unless permission is given from the hotel
management.
• Cooking or food preparation is not allowed inside hotel
rooms. Hot plates, microwave ovens, or other cooking
devices are not permitted.
• Please do not track mud or dirt into hotel rooms.
• No extra furniture is allowed in hotel rooms unless you have
obtained permission from the hotel management.
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• Housekeeping service is provided in most of the hotels;
however, you are still responsible for the general condition of
your room. You must allow the housekeeping attendant to
enter the room daily to clean and to provide fresh linens.
• Please leave wet towels and dirty bed linens in your hotel
room. Do not place these items in the hallway. The hotel
housekeeping service will pick up these items daily.
• Please put litter in appropriate trash containers. Trash cans are
provided in the laundry rooms, and dumpsters are located
outside the building. If you have excess trash in your room,
leave it in the wastebasket in your room or take it to a
dumpster. Do not leave it in the hallway.
• Most of the hotels have swimming pools that may or may not
have lifeguards in attendance. Please observe the hotel rules
for use of the pool. Also check at the main desk of your hotel
or motel to see if you need to pay a fee to use the pool or
other recreational facilities.
• You are responsible for any damage that occurs in your room
during your temporary relocation, such as broken furniture and
staining of carpets or linens. If the hotel charges a
replacement fee for these items, you will be responsible for
paying it directly to the hotel.
• You may be charged for any persons staying with you in your
room who were not members of your household on the date
of your relocation. U.S. EPA will not pay this extra charge.
• U.S. EPA has hired a 24-hour security guard at some of the
hotels. To reach the security guard, please call the front desk
of the hotel.
In addition, your hotel or motel may have other rules or requirements
for its guests. You are expected to comply with these rules during
your temporary relocation.
Most of the hotels and motels that U.S. EPA is using as temporary
housing have coin-operated washers and dryers. Speak to someone at
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the main desk of your hotel about the location of these laundry
facilities and the cost of each machine.
Keep in mind that U.S. EPA is paying for your housing costs only.
You are expected to pay any additional charges that you make to your
hotel/motel room, such as charges for telephone calls, room service or
other food, beverages, video rentals, or pay-per-view television
programs.
What should I know if I am relocated to an apartment?
If U.S. EPA is temporarily relocating you to an apartment, you will
need to bring a number of household items with you to use in the
apartment, in addition to personal items such as clothing. A list of
these household items is provided in Section 3, "Preparing for
Temporary Relocation."
In addition, if you are temporarily
relocated to an apartment, you will
need to pack up your home in a
special way. Pack all items that you
are taking with you to your apartment
in one set of boxes and bags, and
clearly mark them "APARTMENT".
Put all other items into another set of
boxes and bags, and mark them "STORAGE". Please do not pack any
of your pots, pans, plates, glasses, or other cooking, food storage, or
eating utensils. Leave all of these items in your kitchen, where U.S.
EPA workers will decontaminate them and pack them in boxes for
storage until you return to your home.
U.S. EPA workers will move the boxes and bags that you labelled
"APARTMENT" to your temporary housing on the date of your
relocation. All of the boxes and bags that you labelled "STORAGE"
will be moved to temporary storage for the time of your relocation, as
discussed in Section 4, "The Decontamination Process."
If you are temporarily relocated to an apartment, U.S. EPA will
provide you with the following items:
• Kitchen kit (plates, silverware, cups, cooking pots);
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• Cleaning kit (brooms, mop, sponges, paper towels, toilet
paper, cleaning products); and
• Comfort kit (shampoo, soap, personal hygiene items).
What should I know about leaving my temporary housing?
U.S. EPA will provide you a two-day
advance notice of the date when you
may return to your home. This notice
will be in the form of a letter that will
be delivered to you, notifying you of
the date that your temporary relocation
will end. See Section 7 for more infor-
mation about moving back to your home.
If your temporary housing is in a hotel or motel, you are expected to
leave by 11 a.m. of the date that your temporary relocation ends.
When you leave the hotel or motel, you must check out by going to
the main desk and informing the clerk that you are checking out. At
that time, you will have to pay all bills for services other than the cost
of your room. As you leave, give the desk
clerk the keys to all rooms used by you
and members of your family.
If you do not leave your temporary
housing by the time indicated
on your notice from U.S. EPA,
you will be responsible for the
charges for the additional time
that you remained there.
What if I am asked to leave my temporary housing?
If the manager of your temporary housing determines that you or other
members of your household are not following the policies of that
housing, you may be asked to leave.
If you are asked to leave the housing that U.S. EPA arranged for you,
the U.S. EPA Relocation Team may not move you to alternative
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housing. Your relocation assistance may be terminated, and you may
have to find and pay for temporary housing on your own.
Reasons for terminating relocation assistance include but are not
limited to the following:
• Failure to take due care of your temporary housing;
• Failure to comply with hotel or motel rules or with the terms
of your lease, if you are housed in an apartment;
• Failure to pay charges for which you are liable;
• Misrepresentation or fraud;
• Change of primary residence; and
• Criminal activities.
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7
RETURNING TO YOUR HOME
This section of the Residents' Guide tells you what will happen when
your temporary relocation ends, and also tells you how to apply for
money to replace items that could not be decontaminated.
How will I know when I can return to my home?
U.S. EPA will contact you to keep you informed about the progress of
the decontamination and restoration activities at your home. As soon
as the restoration work has been completed and approved by
representatives of U.S. EPA and the local health
department, U.S. EPA will deliver a letter
telling you when you are expected to
leave your temporary housing. The
letter will also tell you the date that
your relocation benefits will end,
including payment of temporary
housing costs. A member of the
U.S. EPA Relocation Team will
contact you to arrange a date and
time for you to return to your home.
Can U.S. EPA help me move back to my home?
U.S. EPA drivers can bring a van to your temporary housing to
take you and your belongings back to your home. Contact a member
of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team to arrange for this service. Before
you return, U.S. EPA workers will also bring back into your home all
of the household items that were stored while your home was being
decontaminated.
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Will my home look different after the decontamination?
Yes. In most homes, the areas that were sprayed heavily with the
pesticide cannot be effectively decontaminated. These areas may
include floors, portions of walls, and kitchen cabinets or cupboards.
As part of the decontamination, these areas are removed. -In the
restoration stage, workers install new wallboard, new floor coverings,
and new cabinets. Walls and ceilings are then sealed and painted. In
addition, some of the items that you left in your home could not be
decontaminated. These items will have been disposed of. The U.S.
EPA Relocation Team will try to keep you informed about the changes
that you can expect in your home, and about any personal items that
had to be disposed of.
When you met with U.S. EPA representatives before the cleanup, you
signed an access agreement. You agreed to a number of
decontamination and restoration actions, including the following:
• Stabilization and disposal of contaminated furnishings and/or
fixtures which remain contaminated;
• Removal and disposal of carpets and rugs, baseboards, furnace
filters, and drapes, blinds, and other window dressings, as
recommended by health experts;
• Installation of carpet, baseboards, and furnace filters; and
• Painting of walls.
U.S. EPA also advised you that loss of property or damage to property
might occur during the decontamination of your home. Remember that
any item that you lose as a
result of the decontamination
was disposed of because it was
contaminated with the
pesticide. Removing as many
of the contaminated surfaces
and contaminated items as
possible is the only way to
make your home safe for your
family to live in.
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How.do I apply for money to replace items that could not be
decontaminated?
Before you return to your home, a member of the U.S. EPA Relocation
Team will meet with you to discuss how to apply for reimbursement
to replace items that could not be decontaminated.
The decontamination crew makes a list of all items that required
disposal because of contamination. This list is given to the U.S. EPA
Relocation Team. Using photographs
and videotapes of your belongings, an
independent appraiser determines a
fair value for the items that need to be
replaced. The assessment is then
presented to you for your approval. If
you agree with the appraisal, you will
sign off on the assessment. The U.S.
EPA Relocation Team submits the
assessment to the federal government,
which processes a U.S. Treasury Department check to reimburse you for
the assessed value. About four to six weeks from the date that you sign
off on the appraisal, you may expect to receive the check in the mail.
If you do not agree with the appraisal, you may appeal in writing.
Speak with a member of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team for further
details about the appeal procedures.
In addition, several local charities are assisting with the replacement of
some items. A member of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team can provide
you with more information about this assistance.
Will U.S. EPA reimburse me for all items that could not be
decontaminated?
No. Items that U.S. EPA cannot reimburse you for include but are not
limited to the following:
• Dishes and cookware;
• Curtains and drapes;
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Any household items that were found to be broken at the time
that the decontamination crew entered your home;
Items of clothing; and
Food that was disposed of.
Can I use clothes, towels, and bedding that I left behind in my
home?
Fabric items that you left in your home during your temporary
relocation were not decontaminated during the decontamination
process. Items that are contaminated may have yellow stains on them
or a distinct smell. Do not dry clean contaminated clothes or other
fabric items. Instead, follow the laundering instructions provided in
Section 3, "Preparing for Temporary Relocation," to decontaminate all
fabric items that you left in your home.
Any fabric items that remain contaminated after this laundering
process should be thrown out. Please note that if you do choose to
throw items away after your home has been decontaminated, U.S. EPA
cannot reimburse you for the loss of these items.
Are my dishes and cookware safe to use?
U.S. EPA workers try to decontaminate
all of the dishes, utensils, food storage
containers, and cookware that you left
in your kitchen cabinets or cupboards.
Any items that could not be decontam-
inated were properly disposed of.
What can I do to control pests in my home?
Pesticides are poisons that have been designed to kill pests. Pesticides
are not the only way to solve pest problems in your home, however.
Because many pesticides can cause health problems in humans,
particularly in children, you should consider using the following non-
toxic measures, rather than sprays and pesticide "bombs," to control
pests in your home.
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Remember that pests survive and thrive in a home only if they have
access, food, water, and shelter. Before you use a spray or call an
exterminator, ask yourself these basic questions: How did the pests
get inside? What do they eat? Where do they hide? Common-sense
housekeeping measures can help to solve pest problems in your
home. These measures may include:
• Blocking pests' point of entry with caulk or sealant;
• Storing food in sealed containers;
• Repairing leaky faucets and broken screens; and
• Vacuuming, thoroughly and regularly, the areas where pests
live and feed.
The goal of these methods is to keep pests from entering your home,
and to minimize their access to food, water, and shelter if they do
enter your home.
For more information, contact The Safer Pest Control Project at (312)
641-5575.
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8
INFORMATION ABOUT METHYL
PARATHION
This section of the Residents' Guide provides detailed information
about methyl parathion, the pesticide that was used in the homes that
are being decontaminated by U.S. EPA during the Lorain County
Pesticide Removal Project.
What is methyl parathion?
Methyl parathion is a man-made pesticide that is allowed to be used on
open fields to control insects. It is not meant to be used inside buildings.
Why is methyl parathion safe to use outside but not inside?
In the open air, sunlight and rain change methyl parathion into
harmless by-products. The change does not happen as quickly inside
buildings.
How does methyl parathion affect my health?
Before any chemical can affect your
health, it has to get into your body.
You may be exposed to methyl
parathion by breathing, eating,
drinking, or touching anything
containing the chemical, or from skin
contact with it. Children, elderly
persons, and people who have other
illnesses are more likely to have
symptoms.
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Methyl parathion may affect the central nervous system. It can cause
dizziness, chest pains, vomiting, nausea, tremors, blurred vision,
blackouts, or difficulty in breathing.
Will every exposed person have symptoms?
No, not necessarily. When very small amounts of methyl parathion
are in the home, or if you have very limited direct contact with the
methyl parathion, then you may not have symptoms.
Is there a test to tell if I have been exposed?
Yes. There is a urine test that can tell us if you have methyl parathion
in your body. There is also a blood test that measures the effects of
methyl parathion in your body.
What should I do if I think my home has been sprayed with methyl
parathion?
Call your city or county health department if you think your home has
been sprayed with methyl parathion. If you are having symptoms,
also contact your physician.
I have some of the pesticide left by the exterminator. What should I
do?
Don't use it. Call your local health department or U.S. EPA. We will
pick it up and properly dispose of it for you.
The information in this section is from the Toxicological Profile for
Methyl Parathion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry, TP-91-21. For more information, you may call:
Elyria City Health Department (216) 323-7595
Lorain City Health Department (216) 322-6367
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (216) 323-7460
Lorain County Health Department (216) 322-6367
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9
HOW TO CONTACT U.S. EPA
This section of the Residents' Guide lists the address and telephone
numbers where you can reach the U.S. EPA representatives who are
responsible for the relocation operations for the Lorain County
Pesticide Removal Project.
U.S. EPA Command Post
U.S. EPA has set up its command post at 329 Woodland Avenue in
Elyria, in the southwest corner of the Moen Corporation parking lot.
The command post consists of office trailers from which representatives
of U.S. EPA, USCG, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and other federal agencies are
directing the decontamination, restoration, and relocation operations.
U.S. EPA works from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
U.S. EPA Temporary Relocation Office (216) 323-6980
(216) 323-8051
(216) 323-6976
(216) 323-1534
You can reach members of the U.S. EPA Relocation Team at any of
the telephone numbers listed above. The telephone numbers in bold
type are connected \<- inswering machines. After working hours, you
may call either of thebe numbers and leave a message.
The U.S. EPA Relocation Team is available to assist you in the
following ways:
• Finding suitable temporary housing for you and your family;
• Making plans for moving and storage of your belongings;
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• Coordinating activities on your moving day;
• Helping you adjust to your temporary housing;
• Arranging for the payment of certain expenses related to your
temporary relocation;
• Delivering checks;
• Taking care of any problems that may occur during your
temporary relocation;
• Keeping you informed about dates for moving and for
returning to your home; and
• Answering your questions about the progress on the
decontamination of your home.
Local Information Repositories
For additional information about the site and the decontamination,
you may visit one of the four information repositories that U.S. EPA
has set up in the Elyria/Lorain area. Each repository contains a site file
and a set of key documents relating to the site. The repositories have
been set up at the following locations:
Lorain Public Library Elyria Public Library
351 Sixth St. 320 Washington Ave.
Lorain, OH 44052 Elyria, OH 44035
Lorain Public Library Elyria Public Library
South Branch West River Branch
3008 Grove Ave. 1194 West River Rd.
Lorain, OH 44045 Elyria, OH 44035
The Administrative Record for the Lorain County Pesticide Removal
Project has been placed at the Lorain Public Library, 351 Sixth Street,
in Lorain. The Administrative Record is a compilation of documents
that U.S. EPA either considered or relied upon in selecting the actions
to be taken at a Superfund site. U.S. EPA is responsible for placing
the Administrative Record at a location near the site for reference and
review by the public.
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Reproduced on recycled paper
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LORAIN COUNTY PESTICIDE REMOVAL PROJECT
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Community and Media Inquiries (216)323-6976
Restoration and Relocation Issues (216) 323-8051
Lorain County Health Department (216) 322-6367
Elyria County Health Department (216) 323-7595
Lorain County Health Department (216) 246-6836
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