&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Escambia Treating Company Site Remedial Action Update Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida October 2007 Remedial Action Kick-Off Through the combined efforts of community members and local, state, and federal officials, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has secured the necessary funding for implementing a long-term remedy for soil contamination associated with the Escambia Treating Company Superfund Site (ETC Site). The cleanup will protect the community from contamination and allow community members to focus on redeveloping the area. On Tuesday, October 30, 2007, officials from EPA Region 4, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), City of Pensacola, Escambia County, and the State of Florida will participate in a ground-breaking ceremony hosted by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce to officially kick off the remedial action (RA) at the ETC Site in Escambia County, Florida. Over the next 18 months, EPA's RA contractors will excavate 17 acres to a depth of 30 feet to build a containment cell at the ETC Site. The containment cell will be lined with both a high density polyethylene (HDPE) liner and a geosynthetic clay liner. The RA contractors will then move about 200,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the ETC Site and the surrounding Rosewood Terrace, Herman-Pearl, Clarinda Triangle, and Escambia Arms neighborhoods, followed by an additional 200,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil in the existing onsite stockpile known in the community as "Mount Dioxin," into the containment cell. The more highly contaminated soil, which is designated as principal threat waste, will be solidified/stabilized using cement to bind the contaminants to the soil matrix before placement in the containment cell. The containment cell will be capped using a multi-layered capping system and covered with about 6 feet of clean soil. The capping system has been designed to allow for the eventual commercial redevelopment over the capped area. The containment system envisioned by EPA and community officials is designed to provide a long- term and permanent solution for contaminated soils at the ETC Site. Site Background Information The former ETC facility covers about 26 acres on North Palafox Street in Pensacola. From 1942 until 1982, ETC treated wood products with creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP). ETC filed for bankruptcy and abandoned the site in 1991. In 1994, the ETC Site was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL). EPA nominated the ETC Site as part of the National Relocation Evaluation Pilot in 1995. That same year, the ETC Site was named a "Community Redevelopment Area" for commercial reuse. ------- The extent of the soil contamination at the ETC Site is well defined. Approximately 400,000 cubic yards of soil are targeted for action. Creosote, naphthalene, pentachlorophenol, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxin are the primary contaminants associated with the site. Soil Remedy: The Record of Decision Focus on Health and Safety During Construction The health and safety of site workers and community members is EPA's number one concern. In addition to implementing a comprehensive health and safety program for onsite construction workers, EPA will monitor site activities to ensure safe operations at all times, alert community members to road closures and openings or other traffic pattern changes, respond promptly to community questions and concerns about Site activities, and update the community on construction progress. Cleanup Actions to Date authorizing long-term soil cleanup at the ETC Site was signed in February 2006. This decision includes construction of a lined/capped containment system for storing the contaminated soil as well as the remaining residential relocations. Cost : ~ $17.6 million. •S Groundwater Remedy: EPA is currently conducting a feasibility study to assess contaminated groundwater remedies. The Record of Decision for the groundwater component of the site is expected in 2008. Estimated cost range for groundwater cleanup: $19 to 56 million. Relocation Update The EPA and the Corp of Engineers continue to work with affected families and local community groups including the current Technical Assistance Grantee, the Clarinda Triangle Association, to complete residential relocation, as stipulated in the 2006 Record of Decision for the ETC Site. To date, EPA and the ETC Site community have worked together on the following activities: S Removal: In 1991-1992, the EPA stockpiled an estimated 200,000 cubic yards of heavily contaminated soils into a lined and capped stockpile area. This stockpile has been referred to as "Mt. Dioxin" by local residents. The EPA also demolished the ETC facility buildings, disposed of chemicals, and fenced the site. Cost ~ $3.4 million. Collecting Perimeter Air Monitoring Samples Relocation: Starting in 1997, EPA began relocating residents from the Rosewood Terrace/Oak Park, Herman-Pearl Streets, and Escambia Arms neighborhoods. More than 350 families were relocated as part of this effort. Relocation of an additional 46 households in the Clarinda Triangle neighborhood is ongoing. Cost: ~ $31.9 million. ------- EPA's Goal EPA's goal is to protect the community and environment from soil contamination associated with the ETC Site by implementing a long-term remedy that also supports future commercial redevelopment. As of June 2007, EPA has spent or committed to spend $54.3 million to relocate residents and complete the soil cleanup associated with the ETC Site. What's Next > Setting up Monitoring Stations: Over the next few weeks, EPA will begin setting up the air monitoring stations around the perimeter of the site. Air monitoring will be performed whenever contaminated soil handling operations take place at the site to ensure that airborne emissions (exceeding health-based risk levels) does not migrate from the site. > Setting up Perimeter Wind Screens: EPA will place fabric wind screens on the perimeter fences to prevent airborne dust from migrating from the site. The wind screens are an added measure of protection to prevent contamination from leaving the site. > Clearing/Excavating the Site: In the next few weeks, EPA will finish setting up a site support area and begin clearing the above ground vegetation on the site in preparation for excavation activities. Excavation of contaminated soil will begin in the December 2007/January 2008 timeframe. > Road Closure/Construction: As part of the remedial action, Hickory Street will be closed beginning in February 2008 and remain closed for about one year. EPA will extend Beggs Lane to connect to Spruce Street, which will provide access to the businesses located northeast of the ETC site. > Ongoing Updates: EPA will update the community as construction milestones are met or changes occur in the general construction schedule. EPA will support a website to provide the community with continuous updates on construction progress, monitoring information, and other project activities (www.etccleanup.org) For more information, please contact... David Keefer Remedial Project Manager Superfund Division / Remedial Branch U.S. EPA Region 4 61 Forsyth Street, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30303 1 (800) 435-9234 L'Tonya Spencer Community Involvement Mgr. Superfund Division / Remedial Branch U.S. EPA Region 4 61 Forsyth Street, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30303 1 (800) 435-9234 Nancy Murchison Project Manager FL Dept. of Environmental Protection Division of Waste Management Twin Towers Office Building 2600 Blair Stone Road Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400 (850) 245-8927 Information Repositories West Florida Regional Library U.S. EPA Region 4 200 West Gregory Street Waste Management Division Pensacola, FL 32501 61 Forsyth Street, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Information on the Internet U.S. EPA Headquarters www.epa.gov U.S. EPA Region 4 Project Web Site www . epa. gov/region4 .gov www .etccleanup . org ------- |