c/EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Participate in the cleanup
decision
If you are interested in the Jacobsville
Neighborhood Soil Contamination
site cleanup, please attend one of two
public hearings: Tuesday, June 23,
6:30 to 8:30 p.m., or Wednesday,
June 24, 10 a.m. to noon Evansville
Vanderburgh Public Library, 200 S.E.
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,
Evansville, in Browning Rooms A & B.
The proposed cleanup plan will be
discussed and attendees can comment
on the plan either orally or by
submitting their written statements.
Comments on the proposed plan can
be submitted to EPA from June 11
through July 10, 2009, in these ways:
Orally or in writing at the public
hearing.
In writing on the enclosed
comment sheet and send with
postage to the listed address.
Electronically via the Internet at
epa.gov/region5/publiccomment/.
Contact EPA
Dave Novak
Community Involvement Coordinator
Superfund Division (mail code SI-7J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
312-886-7478
novak.dave@epa.gov
Mary Tierney
Remedial Project Manager
Superfund Division (mail code SR-6J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
(continued on back page)
EPA Expands Lead
Cleanup Area
Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil Contamination Site
Evansville, Indiana June 2009
In order to clean up contaminated residential yards in 12 different Evansville
neighborhoods, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 is proposing
to expand the cleanup area and remove soil from properties containing lead
and arsenic concentrations above safe levels and replace it with clean soil.
In February 2008, EPA announced its first plan to clean up the Jacobsville
neighborhood. In this new plan, the cleanup is being expanded to cover
an area of about 4!/2 square miles located both to the north and south
of the Lloyd Expressway. The expanded area will include a number of
neighborhoods in addition to Jacobsville (see map on page 2). EPA expects
to test nearly 10,000 homes and estimates about 4,000 homes may need to
be cleaned up. The work is expected to last 10 to 15 years. Although the new
cleanup area will extend beyond the immediate Jacobsville neighborhood,
the site will still go by that name since the contamination is thought to have
originated there.
EPA has set the safety threshold for lead at the Jacobsville site at 400 parts
lead per million parts soil (parts per million is abbreviated ppm), and for
arsenic, the limit is 30 ppm. A part per million is a tiny amount, similar to one
second in 12 days, but even small amounts of hazardous substances can cause
health problems. The purpose of the cleanup is to prevent human exposure
to lead and arsenic, especially in children. Lead is considered the main
contaminant of concern because it is more widespread at the site than arsenic.
The purpose of this proposed plan fact sheet is to provide background
information about the expanded Jacobsville site, describe the various cleanup
options considered, and identify EPA's preferred cleanup alternatives Only
three cleanup options were considered: soil removal, treatment of soil
in-place, and no action. EPA's preferred alternative is the first one - soil
removal. If that option is approved, after removing the soil, yards would be
backfilled with clean dirt and seeded. Any trees or shrubs that are removed
will also be replaced. The public is encouraged to comment on this proposal.
EPA will be accepting comments from June 11 through July 10, 2009. See
the adjacent box for ways you can participate in the cleanup decision.
EPA along with state partner Indiana Department of Environmental
Management will select a final cleanup plan for the expanded Jacobsville
site. This will occur after review and consideration of information provided
by the public during the comment period and public hearing. The final
cleanup proposal will be announced with a notice in a local newspaper and
presented in an EPA document called a record of decision or ROD. It could
differ from this proposed plan depending on information EPA receives during
the public comment period.
1 Section 117(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCLA, known as the Superfund law) requires EPA to provide an opportunity for public input with a
meeting and comment period. It also requires a newspaper ad announcing the proposed cleanup plan. This
fact sheet summarizes an EPA document called a remedial investigation/feasibility study. The full study
and all other official site documents can be found at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library.
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Environmental officials have to set priorities for this
large cleanup that will last a number of years. As a result,
contaminated yards where children and pregnant women
live will be given priority in this cleanup. EPA, IDEM,
the city of Evansville and the Vanderburgh County Health
Department will ask individuals to voluntarily identify
priority properties.
The public is encouraged to review the supporting
documents for the Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil
Contamination site. The information includes the remedial
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Figure 1 - Expanded cleanup areas referred to as OU2 (Operable Unit 2) are shown along with neighborhood associations.
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investigation report, feasibility study, and the human health
and ecological risk assessment. The remedial investigation
studies the nature and extent of contamination at the site,
while the feasibility study evaluates different cleanup
options. The risk assessment looks at potential health
risks to people and the environment from contamination
at the site. You can review these reports at the information
repository near the site: Evansville Vanderburgh Public
Library - Central Branch.
About the Jacobsville site
The Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil Contamination site is
located in Evansville, Ind., in Vanderburgh County. The
February 2008 record of decision outlined the selected
cleanup plan for the initial study area, which is referred to
as Operable Unit 1 or OU1. OU1 covers about 141 acres
and 500 residential properties and is bounded by Mary
Street to the west, Iowa Street to the north, Elliot Street
to the east, and Division and Illinois streets to the south.
This initial area will be cleaned up in 2009, 2010, and
2011. Later studies by EPA showed the lead and arsenic
contamination covered a larger area (see map on page 2).
The focus of this proposed plan is this larger area, referred
to as Operable Unit 2. OU2 covers about 4!/2 square miles
and about 10,000 residential properties. EPA estimates
about 4,000 of these 10,000 properties will require
cleanup. Cleanup of OU2 properties may not begin until
2012 and will last a number of years. Both areas, OU1 and
OU2, are primarily residential with some commercial and
industrial properties.
In 1990 and again in 2003 EPA conducted an emergency
cleanup at the Evansville Plating Works, an abandoned
electroplating and metal refinishing facility, by removing
all liquids and hazardous materials, demolishing
the building and disposing of contaminated soils. In
2000, however, lead contamination in the Jacobsville
neighborhood was discovered when IDEM tested soil
in nearby yards. Analysis of the samples showed some
lead "hot spots," with levels more than 6,000 ppm. The
site-specific acceptable health limit is 400 ppm. IDEM
began looking for facilities other than Evansville Plating
Works that could have contributed to the high levels of
lead in the area. Four former plants - all closed for at least
50 years - were identified as possible contributors to the
lead contamination - Blount Plow Works, Advance Stove
Works, Newton-Kelsay, and Sharpes Shot Works. It is
possible that a number of other plants and foundries could
have contributed to the contamination also.
Blount Plow Works operated from the 1880s to the 1940s
as a manufacturer of horse-driven plows. The facility
operated a foundry where metal castings were produced.
Advance Stove Works operated from the turn of the
last century to the 1950s as a manufacturer of stoves
and a foundry.
Newton-Kelsay operated from around the early
1900s to the 1950s. That site manufactured harness
parts for animals.
Sharpes Shot Works operated from 1878 to an
unknown date and manufactured lead shot for guns.
It is believed that airborne dust, soot and smoke from
plant operations deposited lead on neighborhood soil.
Arsenic may have been deposited by airborne dust from
foundries, the burning of coal, and from other industrial
processes. Because these companies have long been out
of business, EPA and IDEM will pay for cleaning up
the site. The Jacobsville site was placed on the National
Priorities List in 2004. The NPL is a roster of the nation's
most hazardous waste sites that are eligible for cleanup
under EPA's Superfund program. EPA has done several
rounds of soil testing to determine the boundaries of the
contamination. The Agency also has studied cleanup
options and developed cost estimates.
Public outreach
To keep the public informed of activities at the site and
the danger of lead and arsenic contamination, EPA has
held informal information sessions, made presentations
at Jacobsville neighborhood meetings, mailed fact sheets
to residents and talked to many people in the area while
sampling yards. EPA and its other federal, state and local
partners such as the federal Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry (ATSDR), IDEM, city of Evansville
and Vanderburgh County will be cooperating to develop
an education campaign about lead and arsenic poisoning.
All about lead
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal but was also
deposited on soil through vehicle exhaust when leaded
gasoline was used and by industrial activity. Lead can be
found in the air, water, food and dust in cities because of
the widespread use of lead in manufactured products and
heavy traffic volumes.
The federal government regulates the amount of lead
in the air, water and soil. Lead is highly toxic and can
cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems
and learning disabilities to seizures and death. Children
6 years old and younger and unborn children are most
at risk because their bodies are growing quickly and the
effects of the lead can cause problems. Children often
have higher levels of exposure because they play in dirt
and may put dirty hands in their mouths. Also, children
who lack proper nutrition may absorb more lead and
suffer more harmful effects. To learn more about lead visit
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfactsl3.html.
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In addition, the Vanderburgh County Health Department
provides free blood lead testing and some indoor lead
testing. During public meetings, EPA has encouraged
residents to go in for lead testing.
Environmental officials want to alert parents to the fact
that children can be exposed to lead from many sources
besides soil, such as drinking water from old lead pipes
and swallowing interior or exterior lead-based paint chips
and dust. Lead in paint was banned in 1978 but homes
built before that may still contain leaded paint. EPA will
be partnering with other agencies to develop an outreach
program to educate residents about the dangers of lead and
arsenic and how to avoid them.
Summary of site risks
A study of potential risks to public health, wildlife and
the environment was conducted for the Jacobsville site.
Coming into contact with lead- and arsenic-contaminated
soil in their yards was found to be the greatest health risk
to people. Other types of properties where exposure may
occur also were considered, including ball fields, parks,
day cares and similar properties. Small children are the
most sensitive to lead exposure. The risk to wildlife was
found to be much less than humans.
All soil in the highly industrialized United States contains
chemicals of various kinds and concentrations. Lead
commonly occurs in soil throughout the country, even in
rural areas, because leaded gasoline was widely used until
the 1980s. The safe level for lead at the Jacobsville site
was set by predicting the concentrations that would result
in a no more than 5 percent risk of children having a blood
level greater than the point where harmful effects from
lead may start to occur. Although not nearly as widespread
as lead, arsenic was also found in the study area at levels
above normal concentrations. Based on levels that will
protect human health, EPA selected 400 ppm as the
cleanup goal for lead and 30 ppm as the cleanup goal
for arsenic. The risk assessment found the cleanup goals
of 400 ppm for lead and 30 ppm for arsenic will protect
people's health and the environment.
Cleanup options
EPA considered three options for cleaning up
Operable Unit 2 in the Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil
Contamination site. Each was evaluated against nine
criteria required by the Superfund law (see criteria
explanation in the box below). The three options are
summarized below. Full details are available in the
technical documents on file in the Evansville Vanderburgh
Public Library - Central Branch.
Option 1 No further action
EPA includes a "no action" alternative as a basis for
comparison with other cleanup options. Since no action
Cleanup criteria
EPA uses nine criteria to evaluate and compare cleanup options. See the table on Page 5 comparing the alternatives
against these criteria.
1. Overall protection of human health and the environment addresses whether an option adequately protects human
health and the environment. This criterion can be met by reducing or eliminating contaminants or by reducing people's
exposure to them.
2. Compliance with applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements, referred to as ARARs, ensures that
each cleanup option complies with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
3. Long-term effectiveness and permanence evaluates how well a cleanup option will work in the long term,
including how safely remaining contaminants can be managed.
4. Reduction of toxicity, mobility, or volume through treatment addresses how well the cleanup option reduces the
harmful effects, movement, and amount of contaminants.
5. Short-term effectiveness compares how quickly the cleanup can be completed and the health risks posed to cleanup
workers and nearby residents while the alternative is under construction.
6. Implementability assesses how difficult the cleanup option will be to construct and operate, and whether
technology, materials and services are readily available.
7. Cost compares the expense of each option over time in a financial calculation called present worth. Cost includes capital
expenditures plus operation and maintenance costs. Present worth is the total cost of an alternative over time in terms of
today's dollar value. A cleanup is considered cost effective if its costs are proportionate to its overall effectiveness.
8. State acceptance is whether the state environmental agency, in this case IDEM, agrees with EPA's recommended
option. EPA evaluates state acceptance after it receives comments on its preferred option.
9. Community acceptance evaluates how well the community near the site accepts the option. EPA and IDEM will
evaluate community acceptance after the public comment period.
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would be taken, this option would increase the potential
for human and animal contact with the lead- and arsenic-
contaminated soil in the area of the Jacobsville site.
Cost--$0
Option 2 Soil excavation disposal,
backfill, restoration (EPAs
cleanup alternative)
This choice consists of digging up soil with lead and
arsenic levels exceeding the site-specific cleanup levels
of 400 ppm and 30 ppm. The contaminated soil will then
be hauled by truck for off-site disposal at an approved
landfill. Clean soil will then be used to backfill the yards,
and the properties will be restored as closely as possible to
their original condition.
Cost$134.9 million
Option 3 In-place treatment of soil
restoration
This alternative consists of mixing a safe chemical mixture
into the soil that will change the characteristics of the lead
and arsenic so they will not be absorbed by the human
body. The yards will then be restored as closely as possible
to their original condition.
Cost--.$157.8 million
do the
EPA evaluated the various cleanup options against seven
of the nine criteria required by the Superfund law (see
the comparison chart below) and selected its preferred
alternative. The last tw7o criteria, state and community
acceptance, will be evaluated after EPA receives state and
public comments. More information about the evaluation
is in the site feasibility study report contained at the
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library - Central Branch.
For cleanup of the site, EPA's proposed choice is Option 2
-soil excavation and disposal, backfill and site restoration.
If some properties cannot be cleaned up because EPA
is unable to get access to them, some restrictions on
Evaluation criteria for the
the properties, such as a notice on the deed, may be put
into place. A publicly available register of contaminated
properties may also be maintained. Contamination above
risk-based levels may remain on some properties after
cleanup is complete. If that happens EPA will review
the site at least even' five years to ensure the cleanup
continues to protect human health and the environment.
of
Option 1 -no action is not desirable because it would leave
all exposure risks from lead and arsenic in place.
Option 2 would be a permanent solution that would allow
residents to use their lawns freely without risk of exposure.
The long-term effectiveness of Option 3 is not quite as
certain as Option 2 because it is an innovative technology.
Both Options 2 and 3 would temporarily inconvenience
residents because equipment would be used on the lawns
to perform the cleanup. Option 2 would be less invasive
because it would take slightly less time. Option 2 also is
less costly than Option 3.
EPA in consultation with IDEM will evaluate public and
state response to the preferred cleanup option during the
comment period (including the public meeting) before
deciding on a final choice. Based on new information
or public comments, EPA may modify its proposed
option or select another cleanup alternative outlined
in this fact sheet. EPA encourages you to review and
comment on the cleanup choices. More technical detail
on the proposed cleanup plan is available in the official
documents on file at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public
Library - Central Branch. EPA will respond in writing to
the comments in a file called a responsiveness summary,
which will be part of the final record of decision. EPA
will announce the selected cleanup plan in a local
newspaper advertisement and will place a copy of the
ROD in the information repository.
Criterion
Overall protection of human health and the environment
Meets ARARs
Long-term effectiveness and permanence
Reduction of toxicity, mobility, or volume through treatment
Short-term effectiveness
Implementability
Cost (Present worth)
State acceptance
Public acceptance
Option 1
No Action
D
D
D
D
D
$0
Option 2
Excavation, backfill
and site restoration*
D
D
$134.9 million
Options
Soil treatment and
site restoration
D
D
Q
$157.8 million
Will be evaluated after the public comment period
Will be evaluated after the public comment period
Fully meets criteria DPartially meets criteria DDoes not meet criteria
*EPA's recommended option
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Jacobsville info toll-free:
A dedicated toll-free phone line for the Jacobsville site
has been set up. Residents with questions or concerns,
or who desire further information can call EPA Region 5
at 888-838-1304 and leave a message. This line is
operational 24-hours a day and will remain operational
for the Jacobsville site until further notice.
Get site information automatically:
Anyone can receive Jacobsville site information
automatically via the Internet by signing up. Go to:
https://lists.epa.gov/read/all_forums/ and subscribe or
send an e-mail to: subscribe-jacobsville@lists.epa.gov.
By doing this you will get information faster.
Site-related documents
Official files can be viewed at:
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library - Central Branch
- Public Comment Shelf, Second Floor, 200 S.E.
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Evansville
http://epa.gov/region5/sites/jacobsville/
EPA Region 5 Records Center, 77 W. Jackson Blvd.,
7th Floor, Chicago, 111.
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Comment Sheet
EPA is interested in your comments on the proposed cleanup plan for the Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil
Contamination site. EPA will consider public comments before selecting a final cleanup plan. Please use the space
below to write your comments, then fold and mail this form. Comments must be postmarked by July 10. If you have
general questions, contact EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Dave Novak at 800-621-8431. Ext. 67478.
Those with Internet access may submit their comments to EPA at www.epa.gov/region5/publiccomment/.
Name
Address
City State_
Zip
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Fold on Dashed Lines, Tape, Stamp, and f
Name ______________
Address ________^
City State
Zip
Dave Novak
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 5 (SI-7J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
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