vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle WA 98101
Alaska
Idaho
Oregon
Washington
Superfund
Revised March 1994
The Asarco Tacoma Smelter
Superfund Projects:
A Brief Overview
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How You Can Get Involved
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Washington State Department of Ecology,
and other State and local agencies are working to protect public health and improve the environment in
contaminated areas of Ruston and Tacoma, Washington. This updated brochure provides an overview
of the various Superfund projects associated with the Asarco Tacoma Smelter.
EPA encourages Ruston and north Tacoma community members to become involved in the Asarco
Superfund cleanup process by participating in community education and involvement programs. You
can become involved in and learn more about the Asarco projects in the following ways:
Attend Community Workgroup
Meetings
All interested community members are
welcome to attend community workgroup
meetings. The meetings are held quarterly in
the McCormick Public Library, 3722 N. 26th
Street, Tacoma, Washington.
Established by EPA, the community
workgroup is a forum for learning and
expressing your ideas and opinions about the
Asarco cleanup program. The workgroup is
made up of community members and EPA staff
working on the Asarco Superfund projects. If
you would like to join the group, contact one of
the EPA representatives listed in this brochure.
Read EPA and Asarco Fact
Sheets
EPA writes and distributes fact sheets for
community members. The fact sheets offer up-
to-date information about the Asarco cleanup
activities and investigations. If you would like
your name added to EPA's Fact Sheet mailing
list, contact EPA Staff listed on the last page of
this brochure.
Asarco publishes a residential soils bulletin
which provides information on the Ruston/North
Tacoma residential cleanup to residents,
property owners, businesses and schools. New
issues will be distributed as the project
progresses and more information becomes
available.
Become Active in
Other EPA Programs
You are welcome and encouraged to attend
public information meetings, open houses, and
workshops about the Asarco cleanup projects.
You can find announcements of upcoming
activities in local newspapers, fact sheets, and
meeting notices mailed to community members.
You can also find out about upcoming
community involvement activities by contacting
the EPA's Community Relations Coordinator in
Seattle. Check the last page of this brochure
for additional information.
Cover photo: Ed Kane, Freelance Graphics
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Historical Overview
The Asarco Tacoma Smelter is located on about 67 acres along the shore of Commencement Bay
in Ruston and Tacoma, Washington. The facility is owned by ASARCO, Incorporated (Asarco). The
smelter operated from 1890 until 1986, first as a lead smelter, and later as a copper smelter that pro-
cessed ores containing high levels of arsenic. In 1985, smelting operations were discontinued, and in
1986, the facility closed permanently. During the time it operated, the Asarco Smelter used high tem-
perature furnaces to melt the metals away from raw materials. This smelting process resulted in two
main types of contaminant releases:
Sulfur Dioxide and Contaminated Dust -
The smelter stack and other parts of the plant
released sulfur dioxide (a gas) and dust par-
ticles (containing arsenic and other metals) into
the air. Much of the dust settled onto the soil
throughout Ruston and north Tacoma, and
some fell into the waters of Commencement
Bay. Most of the dust that fell on the land
remains in the soil today. However, a portion of
the contaminated soil has been and continues
to be carried by wind and rainwater into Com-
mencement Bay.
Slag - A hot, liquid residue called slag was a
waste product of the smelting process. This
slag contains lead, arsenic, copper, and other
metals. Asarco poured hot slag into Com-
mencement Bay to cool and harden, creating
an artificial shoreline. Approximately two-thirds
of the plant area at the smelter facility and the
entire yacht club peninsula are slag. Some slag
was also cooled on land, resulting in a black,
rock-like material. This material was sold to
residents and businesses in the community and
used as ornamental rock, driveways, sandblast
grit, fill, and a variety of other purposes.
How Contaminants From the
Asarco Plant Spread to the Surrounding Community
Contaminants
Tracked Inside
on Shoes
Ruston/North Tacoma
Slag was used for driveways
and ornamental rock.
Air carried, contaminants from
the Tacoma Smelter stack and
process areas to soils and
Commencement Bay.
Commencement Bay
Slag was placed in the
Bay to cool and harden.
Rainwater washed
contaminated
soils into the Bay.
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Superfund
The Asarco Tacoma Smelter Superfund Projects
In 1983, the area now known as the
Commencement Bay Nearshore/Tideflats Site
was added to EPA's list of Superfund sites.
Three projects associated with the Asarco
Smelter operations are being addressed as part
of the overall Commencement Bay Nearshore/
Tideflats Superfund Site:
The Asarco Smelter Site and
Marine Sediments
Demolition of the Smelter
Buildings
The Ruston/North Tacoma
Residential Soil Cleanup
What is Superfund?
In 1980, Congress passed the
Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA),
which was amended in 1986 by the
Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (SARA). These two
laws, commonly known as Superfund,
provide EPA with the authority and
resources to investigate and clean up
releases, or threatened releases, of
hazardous substances.
Superfund authorizes EPA to take legal
action to ensure that parties responsible for
polluting soil or water clean up those areas.
If the responsible parties do not or cannot
clean up the sites, EPA can spend
"Superfund" money to clean up the sites.
Once a site has been identified by EPA
as needing attention under Superfund, it is
placed on the National Priorities List (NPL).
The site is then investigated and, if
The Federal Superfund Process
necessary, a cleanup program is
implemented. If a site poses an immediate
threat to public health or the environment,
EPA has the authority under Superfund to
address the situation quickly through a
"removal action" that can occur before the
overall site investigation is complete.
Every site addressed under the
Superfund program is different, and
cleanups are tailored to the specific
conditions at each site. Cleanup usually
involves treating, removing, or containing
the hazardous wastes. Through the
Superfund process (indicated in the chart
below), EPA seeks permanent solutions to
reduce the public's exposure to pollution
and to prevent the spread of pollution in the
environment. EPA publishes fact sheets
and sponsors many educational activities,
such as community meetings and
workshops, to keep the public informed and
involved in ongoing Superfund
investigations and cleanup projects.
INVESTIGATE I
THE SITE [_K
Inspect Site \
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PLACE SITE ON
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PRIORITIES LIST
If Hazards Are
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CONDUCT A REMEDIAL
Identify Nature and
Extent of Contamination:
Define Public Health Risks
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Evaluate Cleanup n/
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The Asarco Smelter Site and Marine Sediments
As a result of past operations at the Asarco
Smelter, the Asarco property contains slag, soil,
surface water, groundwater, and buildings that
are contaminated with metals (such as
antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper,
lead, nickel, and zinc) and organic compounds
(such as dimethylaniline).
The metals and organics in the soil, slag,
groundwater and surface water from the Asarco
operations have also contaminated the
sediments along the shoreline. Sediments are
materials such as sand, soil, slag, mud, and
decomposing plants and animals that have
settled to the bottom of the Bay. EPA is
concerned that marine organisms living both in
the sediments and in the Bay are being
adversely affected by the metals contamination.
Also, people consuming contaminated fish or
shellfish from this area may experience adverse
health effects.
Historically EPA has evaluated the cleanup
of the smelter facility and the off-shore
-sediments separately. Based on.the results of
these investigations, and after considering the
viable cleanup options, EPA plans to integrate
the smelter facility and slag peninsula cleanup
activities with the cleanup for the off-shore
sediments project.
Future land use will be considered by EPA
in the cleanup decisions. EPA plans to clean
up the contamination at the smelter facility, slag
peninsula and off-shore sediments in two
phases. The Phase I cleanup decision can be
expected by September 1994. Phase I will
include activities to control continuing sources
of contamination. These types of "source
control" activities will be designed to eliminate
possible exposure to contamination, and
therefore reduce site risks. Source control
activities could include:
• capping, treating or excavating contaminated
soil and slag
• abandoning production well
• surface water controls
• groundwater diversion
• institutional controls on certain property uses -
a cap maintenance and monitoring program,
and restrictions on the use of groundwater on
the site
Map of the Smelter Site Study Area
COMMENCEMENT
BAY 7"!
• shoreline armoring - placing large rocks
against the slag as a barrier to protect against
erosion
• capping or dredging sediments
• further study of groundwater and sediments
• disposal of soil and demolition debris
The second phase of cleanup would begin
once source control measures were completed
and would include any necessary cleanup
measures for groundwater at the smelter facility
and the slag peninsula.
Investigation Findings
Soil: The contaminants which are of most
concern in soil on the smelter site are metals
and organic chemicals. Although metals are
found throughout the site, the highest
concentration of arsenic is in the area adjacent
to the former arsenic kitchen, while the highest
concentration of copper is in the cooling pond
area.
Metal concentrations in the surface soil and
soil at deeper levels vary across the site.
Concentrations are lower near the former stack
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The Asarco Smelter Site and Marine Sediments
and increase down the hillside in the former
arsenic kitchen and cooling pond area. In most
cases, surface soil samples have higher metal
concentrations than subsurface soil samples at
the same location.
Slag: Approximately 15,000,000 tons of
slag were deposited along the shoreline and
used to create the yacht club slag peninsula.
Asarco used slag to extend the natural
shoreline to expand its plant area. Slag
contains high levels of metals, such as arsenic,
copper and lead.
Surface Water: Surface water generally
has elevated concentrations of arsenic, copper
and other metals, along with organic
compounds. Elevated concentrations of metals
are also found in the stagnant pools of water on
the site. Sample results show a pattern of
increasing metal concentrations as water
crosses the plant site. The highest levels were
measured at the middle plant outfall. The south
outfall has been shown to also contribute
metals to groundwater.
Groundwater: Three groundwater aquifers
(water-bearing zones) have been identified on
the smelter facility. The two shallowest aquifers
show elevated levels of arsenic, copper, zinc,
and other metals. Water samples from the
deeper aquifer have fewer elevated metal
concentrations, which may have resulted from a
production well drilled into the deeper aquifer
during the smelter's operation.
Organic contamination has also been
identified on the plant site. The chemical
dimethylaniline was used in the production of
sulfuric acid. Prior to the smelter operation, a
sawmill was located in this area, and wood
debris and sawdust appear to have been mixed
into and buried below the slag. The
decomposition of the wood and sawdust has
released organic acids which caused the metals
bound to the slag to be released into the
groundwater. Groundwater flows toward the
marine shoreline where contaminant
concentrations exceed levels determined to be
protective of human health and sea life.
Air: Emissions of contaminants into the air
have been substantially reduced since the plant
closed. In order to evaluate ongoing releases
of contaminants into the air, Asarco analyzed
wind data, collected samples at various plant
site locations, and used a dust emissions model
for the plant site. Modeling predicted that the
highest dust emissions carrying contaminants
occur on the plant site itself and decrease with
distance from the smelter. The site currently
meets air quality standards.
Yacht Club Peninsula: Samples collected
during the drilling of groundwater monitoring
wells show that the peninsula is made almost
entirely of slag that contains elevated levels of
metals. It appears that groundwater
contaminant concentrations are higher in
deeper wells on the peninsula than in the
shallower wells. Most of the water found in the
wells on the slag peninsula is seawater from the
adjacent bay.
Off-Shore Sediments: Off-shore
sediments are contaminated as a result of
erosion of the slag shoreline and discharges of
surface water and groundwater contaminated
from the smelter facility. Approximately 103
acres of off-shore sediments may be cleaned
up by active measures. Some contaminated
sediments may be either too steep or too deep
for active cleanup and may require monitoring.
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The Smelter Building Demolition
In 1987 and 1988, Asarco removed many of
the most highly contaminated buildings from the
plant property. Demolition of the remaining
structures was officially underway when the 562
foot stack was imploded on January 17, 1993.
After stack demolition, the bricks were leveled,
covered with a plastic liner and soil, and the
area was planted with grass.
Most of the buildings and structures on the
southern end of the plant have been removed,
the most noticeable being the cooling tower and
the sulfur dioxide plant. Major demolition has
also taken place on the northern end of the
Smelter Site, Marine Sediments, and Residential
Study Areas
•COMMENCEMENT
BAY '.'-
LEGEND
Residential
Study Area
Boundary
.\,\ Sediment Study Area
plant with the removal of the refinery buildings.
Demolition should be complete by the end of
1994.
Before a building is torn down, it is washed
to remove surface contamination on the walls,
ceilings and floors. Once it is demolished, the
debris is placed into piles on the site and
sampled to determine where the material will
go. Cleaned scrap metal is sent off site for
recycling. Wood, concrete, and plastic
determined to be clean go to an industrial
landfill. Material that is still contaminated is
stored on site in the Fine Ore Bins building
which is the large building in
the middle of the site. This •
material will be dealt with as
part of the final Phase I
remedy for the smelter.
Once the structures are
removed from the property,
Asarco will collect samples
from where the buildings
once stood in order to
determine appropriate
cleanup measures. A
billboard at the smelter
provides information on
areas which have already
been demolished and
structures which are planned
for demolition.
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The Ruston/North Tacoma Residential Soil Cleanup
Arsenic and other metals related to the past
operations of the Asarco Smelter are present in
the soil and slag found in Ruston and north
Tacoma. EPA is concerned about potential
health effects from exposure to this
contaminated soil and slag. It is unlikely that
natural processes such as weathering or rain
will reduce the amount of contamination in the
soil. EPA developed a cleanup plan for the
residential area and is working with Asarco to
carry out the plan.
Soil Sampling
Test results confirmed that the highest
levels of arsenic and other contaminants are
generally found on properties located closest to
the smelter. The test results also indicated the
amount of contamination in soil tends to
decrease as you move farther away from the
smelter.
Soil in urban areas not affected by an
arsenic-emitting source is expected to contain
less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of arsenic.
A concentration of one part per million
corresponds to one part of arsenic per one
million parts of soil. Test results show that the
amount of arsenic in surface soil in the Ruston/
North Tacoma Study Area ranges from 2 to
3,000 ppm.
Most urban soil is expected to contain less
than 250 ppm of lead. Test results of surface
soil in the residential area indicated that the
amount of lead, a contaminant associated with
smelting operations, as well as other sources
such as leaded gasoline and paint, ranges from
7 to 2,700 ppm.
Record of Decision
On June 16,1993, EPA adopted a final
cleanup plan .for arsenic and lead contaminated
soil and slag in the Ruston/North Tacoma Study
Area. The plan, called a Record of Decision or
ROD, focuses on removing and replacing
contaminated residential soil that has arsenic
and lead concentrations exceeding EPA's action
levels (230 ppm of arsenic and 500 ppm of
lead). Soil samples will be taken from
properties in areas that EPA anticipates have
arsenic and lead concentrations above the
agency's action levels. In other areas, property
owners will be allowed to request that their
property be sampled. Where samples show
that soil contamination exceeds EPA's action
levels, the soil will be removed and replaced
with clean soil. Sampling activities began in
October 1993.
A small quantity soil disposal program is in
place for owners of property within the Study
Area that generate soil for disposal before the
final cleanup of their property can be
scheduled. To find out how you can participate
and arrange for pickup and disposal, call Karen
Pickett at the Asarco Information Center at
(206) 756-5436. Coordination of cleanup
activities with homeowners to define the extent
of work to be performed on individual properties
is ongoing.
Other elements of the cleanup plan include
excavation of slag driveways and other areas
with small slag particles and replacement with
gravel and capping of dirt alleys and parking
areas where soil exceeds action levels. The
x;aps will either be made of asphalt, or the soil
above action levels will be removed and
replaced with clean gravel. Contaminated
areas that are too steeply sloped to excavate
will be fenced in and planted with low lying
shrubs.
Development of a Community Protection
Measures (CPMs) program is also a major
element in the cleanup plan. The program
includes the following elements: measures to
control soil disturbances; soil testing, collection
and disposal program; measures to reduce
exposure and maintain the integrity of the soil
caps; development of a property specific data
base; notification to future property owners of
property conditions; and evaluations of the
effectiveness of the CPMs program.
Soil excavated prior to the end of 1994 will
be temporarily stored at the north east plant
area on the Asarco smelter property. By
December 30, 1994, EPA will make a final
decision regarding the disposal of stored soil.
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Health Concerns
How Are People Exposed to the Contaminants?
Although residential property cleanup has
begun, EPA is concerned that residents in the
Ruston and north Tacoma area are or could be
exposed to elevated levels of arsenic and lead.
Various common behaviors can result in
exposure to arsenic, lead, and other
contaminants. These behaviors generally
involve unintentionally swallowing, touching, or
breathing contaminated soil and dust. For
example, a person may ingest contaminated
soil if dirty hands are placed near or in the
mouth. Similarly, soil may be ingested if dirty
hands are used to touch food, gum, or
cigarettes that are then placed in the mouth.
Contaminated soil and dust may also be
tracked into the home where it can settle on
surfaces or objects that are contacted by
people. For example, if an object such as a cup
or a child's toy is placed in the mouth,
contaminated dust on the object may be
swallowed. A person may also be exposed by
directly breathing contaminated soil or dust
during outdoor activities such as gardening or
playing in a dry dusty area, or in the home.
Exposure of children is of particular concern
because of their more frequent hand-to-mouth
behavior (such as thumb sucking or "mouthing"
of objects). Also, a child is likely to exhibit
behavior that will lead to more frequent contact
with the contaminants, such as playing in
contaminated soil or crawling on contaminated
floors.
Less significant exposure may result from
eating homegrown fruits or vegetables that
have not been washed to remove accumulated
dust or dirt.
Arsenic and lead are the two smelter-related contaminants of primary concern for human
health in the residential area. The following is a discussion of the general types of health effects
that have been associated with these metals.
Arsenic: Exposure to arsenic has been
shown to increase a person's risk of
developing cancer. Inhaling arsenic may
increase the risk of developing lung cancer.
Ingesting or swallowing arsenic may
increase the risk of developing skin cancer
as well as cancer in other parts of the body.
Arsenic can also cause other types of
skin problems when ingested. The most
characteristic problems include dark and
light spots on the skin, and small "corns" on
the palms, soles, and trunk of the body. In
addition to skin problems, ingestion of
arsenic has caused other effects, such as
blood and nerve disorders.
Lead: When the amount of lead in soil or
dust is more than 500 to 1,000 ppm, the
level of lead in blood may increase above
commonly occurring levels. Increased
blood lead levels have been associated with
behavior and learning problems in children,
and increased blood pressure in adults.
Lead exposure can also cause nerve,
kidney, and blood cell damage, and may
increase the risk of cancer.
Other Metals: EPA has found other
metals associated with smelter operations
in the residential area soil, including
antimony, cadmium, copper, mercury, and
silver. These metals are present in smaller
amounts, but still exist at concentrations
greater than typical urban soil values.
While these metals are not likely to pose a
significant health risk individually, the health
effects of combined exposure are unknown.
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Pathways of Contamination
Some Ways People Can Be Exposed to Contamination
Children Can Place
Dusty Fingers or
Other Objects in
Mouth While Playing
People Can Breathe
or Swallow Dust
Particles While Digging
orWorkinainSoil
People Can Swallow
Soil When Dirty Hands
Touch Food or Cigarettes
That Are Placed in Mouth
People Can Breathe
Dust Carried in Air or
Swallow Dust That Has
Settled on Objects
Such as Dishes
Children
Can Place
Driveway Slag
in Mouth
How Can You Reduce Your Exposure to Contaminated Soil?
You can reduce your exposure to soil contaminants by paying close attention to personal hygiene
and avoiding contact with contaminated soil. Here are some suggestions:
Maintain grass in your yard to eliminate bare
dirt.
Wet soil before digging to minimize the dust
that could be generated.
Wear protective clothing such as coveralls or
a long-sleeved shirt, pants, shoes, and gloves
when you are disturbing the soil. Wash these
clothes separately from other clothing.
Wash your hands and face when you are
finished with activities that disturb the soil,
such as digging or gardening.
Pay close attention to where children play.
Exposure to arsenic and lead is reduced by
playing on grass rather than on bare dirt.
Wash children's hands and faces to remove
dirt after playing.
Remove soil from homegrown fruits and
vegetables before you eat them by washing
and peeling.
Do not consume food or beverages while you
are conducting activities that disturb the soil
to avoid incidental ingestion.
Do not smoke or chew gum or tobacco in the
area where the soil is being disturbed.
Use a wet mop or damp cloth to clean dust
and dirt tracked into the home. Wipe your
feet on a doormat or carpet and leave your
shoes at the entrance of your house to
minimize tracking dust and dirt into the house.
Be aware that pets also track in dust and dirt.
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For More Information
Visit Asarco
Information Center
The Asarco Information Center has
information on the cleanup of all the Asarco
projects. The center is located at 5311 North
Commercial in Ruston and is staffed weekdays
from 1:00 - 6:00 by Karen Pickett, (206) 756-
5436.
Contact
EPA Staff
Use the phone numbers and address listed
below to contact EPA staff, or call toll free on
weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:
1(800)424-4EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA98101
EPA Project Managers in Seattle
Asarco On-Site and Sediments Cleanup
Piper Peterson: (206) 553-4951
Demolition
Kevin Rochlin: (206) 553-2106
Ruston/North Tacoma Residential Cleanup
Mary Kay Voytilla: (206) 553-2712
EPA Community Relations
Coordinator in Seattle
Michelle Pirzadeh: (206) 553-1272
Visit
Information Repositories
You can find written information about the
Asarco cleanup projects at any of the following
ten information repositories.
Information Repositories
Tacoma Public Library, Main Branch
Northwest Room
1102 Tacoma Avenue South
Tacoma, Washington 98402
(206)591-5622
McCormick Regional Branch Library
3722 North 26th Street
Tacoma, Washington 98407
(206)591-5640
City of Tacoma Environmental Commission
747 Market Street
Suite 900
Tacoma, Washington 98402
(206)591-5310
Tacoma Pierce County Health Department
Water Resources
3629 South D Street
Tacoma, Washington 98408
(206)591-6553
Pacific Lutheran University Library
121st South and Park Avenue
Tacoma, Washington 98447
(206) 535-7500
Asarco Information Center
5311 N-Commercial
Tacoma, Washington 98407
(206) 756-5436
Citizens for a Healthy Bay
771 Broadway
Tacoma, Washington 98402
(206) 383-2429
Ruston Town Hall
5117 North Winnifred Street
Ruston, Washington 98407
(206) 759-3544
Washington Department of Ecology
Toxics Cleanup Program
4415 Woodview Drive, SE
Lacey, Washington 98503
(206)438-3017
Environmental Protection Agency
Superfund Records Center
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206)553-6512
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Federal Recycling Program 9 ^A Printed on Recycled Paper
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