United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
REGION 4 SUPERFUND
Annual Report I FY 2010
THREE DECADES
OF EXCELLENCE
Responsiveness Meaningful Engagement Innovation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 4 Superfund
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CONTENTS
I Welcome
2 FY 2010: By the Numbers
3 Enhancing Public Involvement, Making a Difference:
the Community Engagement Initiative
4 The Deepwater Horizon: ]
Responding to the Largest Oil Spill in U.S. History
5 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:
Advancing Long-Term Cleanup, 2010 Updates
i
6 Strengthening Healthy Communities, Advancing Environmental Protection
7 Protecting Safer, Healthier Communities: Long-Term Cleanups
8 Working in Partnership at Federal Facilities
9 Taking Action, Addressing Emergencies
10 Preventing, Preparing and Responding: The Oil Program
I I Enforcing Superfund: Driven by the Rule of Law
I 2 Acting Strategically: Homeland Security
I 3 The Year in Review: Additional FY 2010 Highlights
14 30 Years of the Superfund Program:
Healthier Families. Cleaner Communities. A Stronger America.
16 Maximizing Environmental Outcomes
I 7 Listening and Supporting Positive Change: Environmental Justice
18 Creating Opportunities:Technical Assistance and Job Training
19 Increasing Transparency and Inclusion, Enhancing Access to Informati
20 Advancing Science, Research and Technological Innovation
21 Partnering, Consultation and Collaboration
22 FY 2010 Awards
24 The Year in Review: Additional FY 2010 Highlights
25 Looking Ahead: FY 201 I
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W Ei Li Li LI JVl Ei to the Region 4 Superfund program. In 2010, we celebrated
the 30th anniversary of the Superfund program and the 40th anniversaries of Earth Day
and the founding of EPA. For Region 4, this year has provided a valuable opportunity
to reflect on our efforts to serve the people and communities of the southeastern United
States. In turn, these reflections have informed our ongoing activities and future goals,
renewing our commitment to safe, healthy communities and environmental protection.
Since 1980, Region 4 Superfund has been advancing scientific research and technological
innovation to enhance our ability to protect human health and the environment. We
have reached out to communities to ensure their
meaningful engagement and help communities turn
Superfund sites into community assets. We have
been working with Region 4's network of dedicated
partners to address shared responsibilities and
challenges. Finally, we have pioneered methods
through our "enforcement first" policy to ensure
that our efforts to protect human health and the
environment are comprehensive and cost effective.
This report highlights Region 4
Superfund's activities in Fiscal
Year (FY) 2010. We hope that
these highlights illustrate how
the program is making a difference
in people's lives and benefiting
communities across the southeastern
United States. It is an exciting time.
The past year illustrates the program's capacities. In
2010, we responded to environmental emergencies
of national significance, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf and the
continued cleanup of the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant fly ash release in Tennessee. We
invested resources from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expedite
environmental restoration, sustain employment and improve the health of communities.
We worked for environmental justice and enabled new opportunities for vulnerable
communities through EPA's Community Engagement Initiative and related efforts.
Looking ahead to FY 2011 and beyond, 30 years after the inception of the Superfund
program, Region 4 seeks to build on three decades of experience and expertise: a
foundation of authentic community engagement, scientific and enforcement excellence,
fiscal responsibility and a robust partnership network. Through the dedication and
integrity of our staff and a commitment to innovation, we renew our mission to protect
human health and the environment.
Franklin E. Hill, Director
Superfund Division
SUPERFUND
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FY2010: By the Numbers
T
he project descriptions in this report illustrate the Region 4 Superfund program in action, making a difference
in communities across the Southeast. Our annual performance measure goals and program targets, presented
below, provide a way to measure the program's overall achievements and outcomes in FY 2010.
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Performance Accomplishments
Primary Measure
Enforcement action at 95 percent of Superfund sites prior to Remedial Action Start
Statute-of-limitation (SOL) cases > $200,000 addressed
Responsible Party-lead removal completions with or without an enforcement action
Superfund-lead removal completions
Final Assessment Decisions
Superfund construction completions
Number of Superfund hazardous waste sites with human exposures under control
Number of Superfund hazardous waste sites with ground water migration under control
Site-wide ready for anticipated use
Financial assurance provided
Inspections/exercises conducted at oil storage facilities with Facility Response Plans (FRPs)
Facilities subject to FRP requirements in compliance
Facilities subject to Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations in
compliance
Core national approach to response assessment score
Accomplishment
90 percent
100 percent
36
33
41
2
3
6
9
$19.7 million
34
52 percent
56 percent
98 percent
Superfund Program Measures Accomplished
Target Achieved
RI/FS Starts 29
Decision Documents 52
Remedial Design / Remedial Action (RD/RA)
Negotiation Starts
RD/RA Negotiation Completions 4
Remedial Design Starts 8
Remedial Design Completions 10
Remedial Action Starts 11
Remedial Action Completions 7
Five-Year Reviews 31
Deletions 0
Emergency Response Exercises 3
Sites Final on the National Priorities List 5
Final Superfund Alternative Approach Sites 6
Community Engagement Activities 86
FRP and SPCC Inspections 62
Nationally, Region 4 Superfund was responsible for
25 percent of all remedial investigations/feasibility
studies (RI/FSs), 15 percent of all Records of Decision
and 19 percent of all remedial action starts.
Progress at Federal Facilities was also impressive,
accounting for 38 percent of all RI/FSs, 22 percent
of all Records of Decision, 24 percent of all remedial
action completions and 25 percent of all construction
completions achieved at Federal Facilities nationwide.
Region 4
Superfund Site Universe, 2010
233 National Priorities List (NPL) sites
31 sites with Superfund Alternative Agreements
84 Removal Action sites
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Enhancing Public Involvement, Making a Difference:
the Community Engagement Initiative
In FY 2010, Region 4's historical leadership role at the forefront
of EPA's efforts to reach out to local stakeholders and vulnerable
communities was strengthened by coordination with EPA's
national Community Engagement Initiative.
Region 4 has long recognized that protecting the health of our
communities and the environment is the work of many hands
and minds. Region 4 Superfund cannot fulfill its mission without
authentic community engagement and public outreach as core
components of the program's activities.
Region 4's Office of Superfund Public Affairs and Outreach (OSPAO)
developed an Action Plan for the initiative in 2010. The Plan builds
on Region 4's robust public affairs and outreach program to work
closely with the diverse voices in each community to ensure that
they have the resources needed to participate early and meaningfully
in the Superfund decision-making process. Region 4 recognizes that
the needs of each community are unique and tailors its approaches
to best meet those needs.
As part of the initiative, Region 4 will continue to work closely
with its partners to ensure transparent and accessible decision-
making processes, to deliver information that communities can use
to participate meaningfully, to strengthen EPA responsiveness to
community perspectives, and to ensure timely cleanup decisions.
The Community
Engagement Initiative
Introduced by EPA's Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response
(OSWER) in December 2009, the
initiative is designed to enhance
EPA's engagement with communities
and stakeholders so that they may
meaningfully participate in decisions
on land cleanup, emergency response
and management of hazardous
substances and waste.
The initiative provides an opportunity
for the Agency to refocus and
renew its vision for community
engagement, build on best practices
and apply them consistently across
EPA processes.
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn and Delegate Donna M. Christensen visiting EPA's
nationally recognized job readiness program at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina in April 2010.
Region 4 and the Community Engagement Initiative - FY 2010 activities included:
Conducting more than 80 community meetings across the Southeast.
Identifying vulnerable communities and providing rapid-response community outreach and
technical assistance services at sites including the CTS Mills Gap and Horton Iron & Metal
Co. sites in North Carolina, the Cabot/Koppers site in Florida and the Kerr-McGee Chemical
(Columbus) site in Mississippi.
Partnering with the City of Jacksonville, Florida, and the Superfund Job Training Initiative to create
positive change during the cleanup process for local environmental justice communities.
Meeting with state community involvement and environmental justice liaisons to collaborate on
community engagement activities and share information and best practices.
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The Deepwater Horizon: Responding to the
Largest Oil Spill in U.S. History
On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, 41
miles southeast of the Louisiana coast. The explosion killed 11 people and released
a torrent of oil and gas into the Gulf that flowed for almost three months, until the
well was successfully capped in a coordinated effort on July 15, 2010.
By the time the well was capped, it is
estimated that the Deepwater Horizon had
released more than 4.9 million barrels of
oil into the Gulf, significantly impacting
the Gulf's communities, ecosystem and
economic activity. It is one of the worst
man-made environmental disasters in
American history. The spill caused the
closure of 88,522 square miles of federal
waters to fishing, and affected hundreds of
miles of shoreline, bayous and bays.
Throughout 2010, Region 4 provided its full
support to the U.S. Coast Guard-led federal
response to the oil spill, monitoring the air,
water and sediment along the Gulf Coast
and overseeing beach cleanup and shoreline
protection as well as waste management
operations. Region 4 assessed more than
1,000 miles of the Gulf Coast's shoreline.
Region 4 Superfund was responsible for
coordinating and leading the Region's
response.
The Big Picture
At the height of the response, over
45,000 personnel and 6,000 vessels were
involved in containment and cleanup
efforts across the Gulf Coast.
EPA's goals continue to be the protection of
public health and the environment across
the Gulf Coast through careful monitoring
of air, water and sediment and ensuring
that Gulf Coast communities are involved
and well-informed. Region 4, for example, was instrumental in developing the federal
government's data management system for the spill and using Google Earth to display the
enormous amount of data. Results and the interpretation of all data collected by EPA are
posted online at http://www.epa.gov/bpspill.
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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:
Advancing Long-Term Cleanup, 2010 Updates
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocated $7.22 billion for proj ects and programs
administered by EPA, including $600 million in new funding for Superfund site cleanup.
Region 4 Superfund has provided more than $27 million in Recovery Act funding for seven
Superfund sites, helping expedite environmental restoration and improve the health of communities.
Through FY 2010, these projects have also led to the creation or retention of more than 150 jobs.
Sigmon's Septic Tank (Statesville, North Carolina): Region 4 worked collaboratively with the
community and local and state officials to rapidly address septic wastes at the site, resulting in
the first Recovery Act-funded construction completion in the nation.
Escambia Wood Treating Company (Pensacola, Florida): Region 4 worked closely with the
community and $3.5 million in Recovery Act funding has supported the completion of the site's
soil cleanup. Seventy site acres will be ready for expedited commercial redevelopment projected
to support 1,714 local jobs.
Brunswick Wood Preserving (Brunswick, Georgia): Engaging with the community, Region
4 has implemented the remedy for this former wood treating facility. A total of $8.3 million in
Recovery Act funding significantly accelerated cleanup activities, protecting public health.
1980
President Carter
signs Superfund
law, creating
the federal
government's
program to clean
up the nation's
uncontrolled
hazardous
waste sites and
making polluters
liable for toxic
cleanups.
United Metals Inc. (Marianna, Florida): Region 4's accelerated cleanup of this former battery
reclaiming facility included site clearing, installation of an air monitoring system and treatment of contaminated
soil and sediments.
Woolfolk Chemical Works (Fort Valley, Georgia): The community's efforts to restore this former pesticide
facility are coming to fruition. Region 4 is supporting Fort Valley's efforts through the site's cleanup, which has
been accelerated by $1.8 million in Recovery Act funding.
Tower Chemical (Clermont, Florida): Region 4's rapid response to protect local drinking water supplies and
clean up contamination at this former pesticide plant is ongoing. Recovery Act funding has enabled the off-site
disposal of contaminated soil and sediments and wetland restoration.
GMH Electronics (Roxboro, North Carolina): Region 4 has collaborated with
local and state authorities to rapidly address ground water contamination at
this former manufacturing facility. Following immediate delivery of bottled
water and filtration systems to homes with contaminated drinking water,
EPA allocated $1.5 million in Recovery Act funding and connected 50
families to the municipal drinking water system in 2010.
Additionally, three Department of Energy complexes in Region 4 have
received $2.4 billion in Recovery Act funding for cleanup projects. This
funding has created 2,388 jobs and significantly accelerated the cleanup
of these sites. Work at the Oak Ridge Reservation in Knoxville, Tennessee
has focused on building deactivation and decommissioning. Activities at
the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina and the Paducah Gaseous
Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky have focused on waste assessment and
removal and the cleanup of two nuclear reactors. Region 4 is actively monitoring
progress at these sites to ensure compliance with the Federal Facility agreements
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Strengthening Healthy Communities,
Advancing Environmental Protection
1981
First Consent
Decree in Region
4 enables
cleanup of the
Gulf Coast Lead
Company site in
Florida.
T
he Region 4 Superfund cleanup program plays a vital role in protecting human
health and the environment in communities across the southeastern United
States.
Reusing
Superfund Sites
Region 4
and Superfund Site Reuse
As part of the Superfund program, EPA supports the
redevelopment of contaminated properties and views the
revitalization of communities affected by contaminated
properties as a key component of our mission to protect
human health and the environment. Superfund site reuse
returns land to productive use and restores blighted
properties, which in turn can benefit surrounding
communities, providing job opportunities, sustaining
local economies and offering recreational and ecological
amenities. By the end of FY 2010, 39 Superfund sites in
Region 4 were determined to be ready for anticipated use.
Long-Term Cleanups
Some cleanups take place at complex, highly contaminated sites like NPL sites and
sites with Superfund Alternative Agreements. These federal and private-party sites
often require several years to fully study the problems, develop a permanent remedy
and clean up the hazardous substances. Region 4 works closely with communities
and state, tribal and federal partners to ensure the protection of human health and the
environment at these sites.
Emergency Cleanups
Protecting communities sometimes requires a rapid
response to an unexpected emergency. Whether there
is a chemical leak at a manufacturing facility, a landfill
fire, an uncontrolled oil release or a natural disaster,
EPA Region 4 will be there, coordinating closely with
local responders and other emergency officials. In FY
2010, Region 4 received 6,367 spill notifications and
provided quick evaluations and responded as needed
to these emergencies.
Site Evaluations
EPA Region 4 works with states and tribes to
assess and prioritize hazardous sites for cleanup.
Region 4's site evaluations ensure that releases of
hazardous substances are responded to appropriately
and comprehensively. For sites that are complex,
contentious or expensive for states or tribes to address,
or that are otherwise most appropriately addressed as
long-term cleanups, Region 4 proposes these sites for
listing on the NPL. Region 4 led the way nationally
in proposing and listing sites on the NPL in FY 2010.
The Oil Program
Oil spills present a significant threat to the
environment and EPA takes steps to prevent, prepare
for and respond to oil spills that occur in and around
inland waters of the United States. Region 4 monitors
and inspects oil storage facilities, conducts spill
preparation drills and other training, and conducts
removals at leaking oil wells to prevent releases. In
the event of an oil spill, Region 4 responds rapidly to
address the emergency.
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Protecting Safer, Healthier Communities:
Long-Term Cleanups
HV egion 4 Superfund is committed to helping make communities and the environment safer
r^ and healthier. The program's dedication to this effort includes a comprehensive process
-M- XJhat develops long-term solutions to attain and maintain human health and environmental
restoration in communities across the southeastern United States.
Milestone Achieved at NPL Site in Salisbury, North Carolina
In September 2010, construction of the remedy for the National Starch and Chemical Corporation
site was completed. Two active chemical manufacturing plants have operated at the site since 1970.
The site's cleanup has addressed approximately 350,000 gallons of liquid waste containing lead and
various organic chemicals placed in unlined trenches in a two-acre area, resulting in contamination
of soil, surface water and ground water. With the completed construction of the site's remedy, Region
4 has responded comprehensively to protect human health and the environment. The site is located
in a rural area that depends heavily on wells for drinking water; about 7,700 people use public and
private wells within three miles of the site.
Long-Term Cleanup Completed at
NPL Site in Saraland, Alabama
The 5.1-acre Redwing Carriers, Inc. Superfund
site is the former location of a truck cleaning
and repair facility, which led to contamination
of site soils and the build-up of tar-like
sludge. A 60-unit, 12-building U.S. Housing
and Urban Development (HUD)-subsidized
apartment complex was later built on the
site. Soon thereafter, reports from residents
of "tar seeps" forming at numerous locations
led to Region 4's involvement and the site's
cleanup. Approximately 160 residents were
permanently relocated; more than 30,000 tons
of sludge, contaminated soil and debris were
excavated and disposed of off site and 3,915
cubic yards of asphalt concrete were removed
and recycled. The site's $5.2 million cleanup,
funded by the site's responsible parties, was
completed in February 2010.
1983
The A.L.Taylor
("Valley of the
Drums") site
in Kentucky is
the first site in
Region 4 listed
on the NPL.
Gt --..-
Region 4 and Children's Health
Region 4 protects children from environmental health
threats, spills, releases and Superfund sites by using strict
public health standards, evaluating and addressing risks,
and enhancing public awareness through reports, public
meetings and one-on-one discussions with the impacted
communities.
In 2010, for example, Region 4 Superfund responded to
emergencies in 12 residences, three schools and three other
locations where mercury spills occurred; the cleanups
protected the health of an estimated 2,665 children.
Children are especially sensitive to health impacts from
exposure to mercury vapors which emanate from indoor
mercury spills.
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Working in Partnership at Federal Facilities
Before: Barracks at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.
Contaminated Federal Facilities like Department of Defense (DOD) military bases and
Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear reactor, processing and research centers are
complex sites that require coordination with EPA's partners. Region 4 partners with
many groups, including governmental and non-governmental groups and local stakeholders,
to coordinate cleanup, technical assistance and restoration efforts at 30 Federal Facilities.
Region 4's responsibilities include oversight of complex cleanups at three major DOE
complexes: the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, the Oak Ridge Reservation in
Tennessee and the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky. Region 4 also implements
the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program in the
Southeast, working closely with our federal partners to facilitate
the reuse and redevelopment of Federal Facilities. Major recent
successes include the cleanup and mixed-use redevelopment of a
former U.S. Air Force base in South Carolina.
Community Celebrates Transfer of
Historic Myrtle Beach Air Force Base for
Public Use
For almost 40 years, U.S. Air Force squadrons from Myrtle Beach
Air Force Base deployed across Europe, Southeast Asia and the
Middle East, serving in the Cold War, the Vietnam War and the
Persian Gulf War. In September 2010, the final 3.5 acres of the
3,937-acre site were transferred to the community. The site's
cleanup and redevelopment has been ongoing for much of the past
decade, serving as a national example of how these activities can
be coordinated overtime.
1983
First
Administrative
Order on Consent
in Region 4
reimburses EPA
for cleanup of
the Brown's Wood
Preserving site in
Florida.
Today, new land uses include expanded facilities for the adjacent Myrtle Beach International
Airport, educational and medical facilities, housing and the Market Common, a mixed retail/
residential development. A ceremony in October celebrated the final property transfer and
recognized the dedicated service of airmen, civilians and their families. The transition from
military to commercial and residential uses means increased jobs and economic growth for
Myrtle Beach and the State of South Carolina.
After: Commercial and residential redevelopment at
the former base, 2010.
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Taking Action, Addressing Emergencies
The Region 4 Superfund cleanup program not only
provides long-term solutions to protect human health
and the environment; it responds quickly to the release,
or threatened release, of hazardous substances wherever and
whenever they occur.
Emergency Response to Fly Ash Release
in Tennessee Completed; Emory River
Reopened to the Public
The first phase of the cleanup for the Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA) Kingston site was completed in 2010. Since May 2009,
hundreds of railcars transported more than 3.6 million cubic yards
of fly ash from the site to the Perry County landfill in Alabama.
Based on this progress, EPA, in consultation with local officials,
the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
and the Tennessee Department of Health, reopened the Emory
River to the public in May 2010, determining that any coal ash
remaining in the Emory River presents minimal health risks to
recreational users. EPA also approved the TVA's cleanup plan for
the next phase of coal ash removal.
EPA continued substantial community outreach efforts in Roane
County, Tennessee and Perry County, Alabama in 2010 to ensure
that affected communities were kept well-informed and fully
aware of all activities related to site cleanup. Outreach efforts
have included educational presentations, public meetings and
assistance to the Roane County Community Advisory Group, as
well as the maintenance of a website (http://www.epakingstontva.
com) dedicated to providing real-time cleanup information.
1986
Congress passes
the Superfund
Amendments and
Reauthorization
Act (SARA),
strengthening
Superfund
program
authorities.
December 22,
2008: A Look Back
An estimated 5.4 million
cubic yards of coal fly ash was
released from an impoundment
at the TVA Kingston power
plant in Kingston, Tennessee.
The initial release of material
created a wave of water and
ash that choked the adjacent
Emory River, destroyed several
homes, disrupted electrical
power, ruptured a natural gas
line, covered a railway and local roadways,
and necessitated the evacuation of a nearby
neighborhood.
The site's long-term cleanup is now underway.
Activities include the cleanup of remaining fly
ash and surface soils and a comprehensive
ecological and human health risk assessment.
EPA anticipates that this phase of the site's
cleanup will cost approximately $268.2
million and take about four years to complete.
Throughout the site's cleanup, EPA's overall
objectives are to ensure that the cleanup
is protective of human health and the
environment, employs sound science, and is
completed as quickly and as safely as possible.
Before-and-after aerial views of the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant fly ash release, following the release (left) and during
cleanup in 2010 (right).
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Preventing, Preparing and Responding:
The Oil Program
Region 4 has one of the most comprehensive and effective oil spill prevention and
removal programs in the nation. The program's goal: to work cooperatively with the
oil industry and other government agencies to reduce the number, size and impact of
oil spills into waterways and environmentally sensitive areas.
The program and its partners are
addressing thousands of abandoned
and leaking oil wells that have been
identified as currently or potentially
impacting waterways in the
Southeast. A total of 100 oil wells,
predominantly in Kentucky, were
properly plugged and closed during
FY 2010, the largest annual total
in Region 4 history. In addition to
threatening the environment through
discharges of oil, many of these
wells emit significant quantities
of greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere. Permanently closing
these wells provides immediate
protection to surface water bodies
and results in a direct reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions.
Over the past five years, the Region
has also sustained and strengthened
strong relationships with the oil
industry and federal, state and local
New Oil Spills Web Page
As a part of our efforts to enable enhanced internal and public access to
program information, Region 4 created a new Oil Spills Web page (http://
www.epa.gov/region4/waste/sf/oilspills.html) in FY 2010. The Web page
provides regional and national emergency response and oil spill information,
including links to rules and requirements for Facility Response Plans, product
schedules, oil spill and hazardous substance release reports, and Spill
Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plans.
governmental agencies to identify
and prioritize abandoned crude oil-related production wells eligible for remediation using
EPA's Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. In FY 2010, the program conducted inspections at
more than 100 oil facilities and successfully brought more than 50 percent of non-compliant
facilities back into compliance.
10
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Enforcing Superfund:
Driven by the Rule of Law
Superfund enforcement and cost recovery protects human health and the environment by
compelling the parties responsible for contamination at a site to clean it up or pay for the
cleanup. In turn, resources returned to the Trust Fund help make possible cleanup activities
in communities across the southeastern United States. While compliance with the nation's
environmental law is the ultimate objective, enforcement is a vital part of encouraging governments,
businesses and other parties to meet their environmental obligations.
Region 4 Superfund vigorously pursues enforcement and cost recovery activities. In FY 2010, Region
4 entered into 32 Administrative Orders and 14 Consent Decrees or judgments and conducted 45
searches for potentially responsible parties (PRPs). Access orders were enforced for 159 properties
in Alabama, Florida and North Carolina, ensuring that the communities will be better informed
regarding potential releases at the Anniston PCB, Sanford Dry Cleaners and Ore Knob Mine sites.
Early 1990s
Program reforms
designed to
make Superfund
"faster, fairer
and more
efficient" include
provisions that
encourage
redevelopment
and expand
public
involvement.
Successful Settlement
Agreement and Continued
Use in Davie, Florida
EPA Region 4 negotiated a settlement
agreement with the South Florida Water
Management District for the cleanup of the
Florida Petroleum Reprocessors Superfund
site in 2010. Under the settlement approved
by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the
party agreed to pay $190,000 to reimburse
EPA for its response costs at the site. The site
is a former waste oil processing facility; the
site's cleanup has included the removal of
debris and contaminated soils and monitoring
of the site's ground water, protecting human
health and the environment. A vehicle and
equipment storage facility has continued
to operate on the southern portion of the
site during cleanup. The entire site will be
available for reuse after completion of the
ground water remedy, anticipated for 2015.
Did You Know?
In FY 2010, EPA Region 4's Superfund program:
Entered into 12 settlements with responsible parties to conduct
$31.6 million of cleanup on 12 sites and returned $5.9 million to
the Trust Fund. These cleanups will address 722,689 cubic yards of
contaminated soils and 15.4 million cubic yards of water.
Issued approximately $15.9 million in oversight bills.
Conducted enforcement work, including write-offs of uncollectable
costs, valued at $191.5 million.
Used $2.8 million from Special Accounts to perform work at sites.
30 Years of "Enforcement First" at EPA
Over the past 30 years, Region 4 Superfund's
approach to "enforcement first" has grown
to mean that we conduct thorough, timely
investigations to identify PRPs, take all
SUPERFUND
appropriate remedial and removal enforcement actions, address
recovery of EPA's costs and ensure that PRPs conduct investigations
and cleanup under enforceable orders.
The results have been remarkable. Since the inception of the Superfund
program, Region 4 has entered into 1,239 settlements, securing $2.9
billion in work commitments and recovering $483 million in past costs.
11
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Acting Strategically: Homeland Security
As the "Lead EPA Region for Homeland Security" in
2009 and 2010, Region 4 has focused on ensuring
enhanced emergency response, prevention and
preparedness capabilities through coordinated planning
with our network of local, state, tribal and federal partners.
In 2010, Region 4 pursued expanded partnerships with state
agencies and other federal response partners who would be
called upon to play a major role in disaster planning and
response. At the state level, these organizations included
state health programs and mutual aid networks. At the
federal level, these response partners included DOE, the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of
Health and Human Services.
Region 4 also continued to serve as a national leader in
sharing the Agency's preparedness efforts and expertise
with our partners and seeking new opportunities for
enhanced communication, inter-governmental coordination
and shared research with our partnership network, as
illustrated below.
EPA and Homeland
Security
EPA plays a vital role in homeland security.
For years, EPA has been responding to oil
and chemical spills and natural disasters.
EPA's long-standing competencies in these
areas -- emergency response, hazardous
material cleanup, water quality protection,
air quality monitoring and radiation
detection - provide the Agency with a base
of expertise and the capabilities necessary
to address today's homeland security
challenges. These challenges include a
significant environmental component,
ensuring that the nation has clean air,
clean and safe water supplies, restored
lands and healthy communities.
Liberty RadEx Drill Helps Nation Prepare
for 'Dirty Bomb' Scenario
Region 4 collaborated with Regions 3 and 5, EPA's Office of Radiation
and Indoor Air, and EPA Special Teams to develop and stage the Liberty
Radiation Exercise (RadEx), held in Philadelphia in April 2010. Sponsored
and designed by EPA, the exercise was a national drill to practice and
test federal, state and local assessment and cleanup capabilities in the
aftermath of a dirty bomb, "a radiological dispersion device incident," in
an urban environment.
The scenario in the Liberty RadEx exercise was built around the likely
aftermath of a suicide attack launched from a van loaded with ammonium
nitrate mixed with diesel fuel and radioactive Cesium-137. More than
1,000 participants representing federal, state and local agencies as well
as private citizens and companies were involved. Field drills and training
exercises took place over three days in and around Philadelphia.
While most training exercises to date have focused on crisis response in
the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack, EPA researchers helped
design Liberty RadEx to provide the first major exercise for developing and
practicing the critical steps that must take place in the days and weeks
after the initial response. The drill also provided a real-world opportunity
to apply and demonstrate cleanup technologies that had previously been
tested primarily in EPA's research laboratories.
12
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The Year in Review:
Additional FY 2010 Highlights
Region 4 Responds to Flooding in Tennessee
In early May 2010, parts of central and western Tennessee
received approximately 20 inches of rain over a two-day
period, leading to extensive flooding. Forty-nine impacted
counties were declared federal disaster areas. In coordination
with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the
Tennessee Emergency Management Authority and the
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation,
Region 4 responded rapidly, setting up an Incident Command
Post to conduct oil and hazardous substance assessments and undertake recovery efforts in central
Tennessee (the City of Nashville and surrounding counties) and western Tennessee (the City of
Jackson and the City of Memphis and surrounding counties). Region 4 assessed all 49 counties
and over 118 river miles, resulting in the collection and proper disposal of over 8,300 hazardous
substance and oil-related containers.
1992
First Construction
Completion in the
nation achieved
attheWalcotte
Chemical Co.
Warehouses site
in Mississippi.
EPA, D OE and State ofTennessee Reach Resolution
on Oak Ridge Reservation Cleanup
The successful resolution of two disputes regarding cleanup
activities at the Oak Ridge Reservation's East Tennessee
Technology Park in October 2010 has led to new provisions
for site inspections and laid the groundwork for EPA, DOE and
the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
(TDEC) to work more collaboratively in pursuing a cleanup
strategy for the site. EPA assessed stipulated penalties totaling
$308,388 against DOE for two violations of the site's Federal Facilities Agreement (FFA): failure
to complete cleanup activities and failure to disclose the failure of a portion of the site's remedy.
Additionally, TDEC assessed stipulated penalties totaling $500,000 for the FFA violations. These
costs represent one of the largest penalties ever assessed against a Federal Facility nationwide.
Region 4 Responds to Train Derailment in
Northwestern South Carolina
In June 2010, EPA responded to the derailment of a Norfolk
Southern train carrying several cars of flammable and
hazardous materials in Liberty, South Carolina. The wreck
damaged a total of 24 cars, leading to an evacuation of 436
homes in a one-mile radius from the crash site. Region 4 staff
mobilized to provide technical support and oversee response
activities, including the inspection and staging of damaged
train cars and reconstruction of the rail line. EPA On-Scene Coordinators also aided in the successful
establishment of a Unified Command structure that enabled the coordination of local, state and
Norfolk Southern response activities and the cleanup and reopening of the rail line.
13
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30 YEARS OF THE
Healthier Families. Cleaner
SUPERFUND
On December 11, 1980, Congress passed the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as
"Superfund." This important legislation filled a major gap in environmental
protection. Events at Love Canal in New York and other sites around the country
had shown that wastes buried long ago - and mostly forgotten - could prove to be a
serious threat to public health and the environment.
Since then, EPA has been working hard to fulfill the program's mission to protect
human health and the environment. In the Southeast, Region 4 has relied on updated
technologies, a network of dedicated partners and innovative approaches like our
"enforcement first" policy to comprehensively and cost-effectively achieve the
program's mission. The site highlights on these pages provide snapshots of Region
4 Superfund in action over the past three decades.
New Program Responds to the "Valley of the Drums" Site in Kentucky
In 1981, EPA responded under the newly established Superfund program to a waste disposal
site discharging pollutants into a tributary of the Ohio River near Brooks, Kentucky. Region
4 discovered that ground water, surface water and soils were polluted with heavy metals,
volatile organic compounds and plastics from spills and approximately 4,000 deteriorating
and leaking waste drums. Responding on behalf of approximately 100 residents living
within a one-mile radius of the site who were at risk of exposure, drums were removed and
an interceptor trench installed, halting runoff into a nearby creek.
In 1983, EPA added the A.L. Taylor ("Valley of the Drums") site to the
NPL, the then newly-established list of sites needing priority attention.
Region 4's long-term cleanup of the site included installation of a
clay cap, a perimeter drainage treatment system and monitoring
wells. The Kentucky Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection took over responsibility for
operation and maintenance of the remedy, with the site's
responsible parties paying approximately $602,000 to cover
all site cleanup costs. In 1996, with the remedy in place and
potential exposure pathways eliminated, EPA removed the
site from the NPL.
National Superfund Outcomes
Since 1980, EPA has cleaned up 67 percent of contaminated
Superfund sites nationwide, and has helped create jobs for
more than 3,300 Americans - with an average starting
hourly wage of $14.26 - to help clean up contaminated
sites, enabling their reuse as bustling neighborhoods, parks
and commercial centers. The Agency has readied nearly
1.3 million acres of land for return to productive use, and
more than 455,800 acres are ready for anticipated use.
gnnesse
14
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SUPERFUND PROGRAM:
Communities. A Stronger America.
Rgion 4 Superfund has listened and learned from its partners and diverse
takeholders over the past three decades. The program has developed new tools
nd updated approaches that have effectively protected public health and restored
the environment while also supporting the efforts of sustainable, resilient and livable
communities to revitalize formerly contaminated, stigmatized areas. Today, Region 4's
commitment to transparent, meaningful community engagement, sound science, robust
enforcement and innovation remains at the core of our pursuit of excellence.
Cleanup and Mixed-Use Revitalization Transform Former Steel Plant in Georgia
A national model of smart growth and sustainable development is rising on 138 acres in downtown
Atlanta. During World War II, the Atlantic Steel Company was the largest employer in Georgia;
its plant produced more than 700,000 tons of steel annually. Following the plant's closure in
1998, developers, the City of Atlanta and community organizations worked closely with EPA
and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (Gerogia EPD) to integrate the site's cleanup
with revitalization efforts.
Following detailed site investigation and assessments by EPA and Georgia EPD, the site's $10
million cleanup moved forward; over 20,000 truckloads of contaminated soil were removed
from the site. Today, Atlantic Station is a mixed-use development providing approximately
5,000 residential units, six million square feet of commercial office space, two million square
feet of commercial retail space, 1,000 hotel rooms and 11 acres of public parks. The
development was designed based on smart growth and sustainable building design
principles, including compact building design, walkable neighborhood amenities and
access to public transportation.
Superfund Sites
Tribal Lands
Region 4 Superfund Outcomes
Since 1980, Region 4, along with its state and tribal partners,
has assessed 7,717 sites - 16 percent of all 49,146 sites assessed
nationally by EPA's Superfund program.
Over 2,010 removal actions have been taken by Region 4 to
address immediate threats to human health and the environment.
Of the 233 NPL sites in Region 4, 152 (68 percent) have had all
cleanup construction completed. An additional 49 sites have been
deleted from the NPL.
Over 360 Five-Year Reviews have been completed to ensure the
long-term effectiveness of cleanup remedies.
Over the life of the Superfund program, the estimated value of
private party settlements in Region 4 is $2.9 billion.
15
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Maximizing Environmental Outcomes
1994
EPA's
Environmental
Justice Task
Force created to
address concerns
overthe unequal
distribution of
environmental
threats in
disadvantaged
and minority
communities.
Cleaning up a hazardous waste site uses energy,
water and other natural or material resources. As
outlined in EPA's Superfund Green Remediation
Strategy (2010), the Agency recognizes that much can
be done to conserve natural resources, minimize waste
generation and reduce energy consumption, consequently
improving the environmental performance of Superfund
activities while fulfilling Superfund's mission to protect
human health and the environment.
In February 2010, Region 4 Superfund Division Director
Franklin E. Hill signed the Clean and Green Policy (http://
www.epa.gov/region4/waste/sf/clean_green_022010.
pdf), which will improve the Region's environmental
footprint as we work to clean up and restore Superfund
sites in the southeastern United States. The policy,
modeled after EPA's Principles for Greener Cleanups,
supports a more sustainable future by promoting the use
of renewable energy and cleaner burning fuels, water
conservation, green and sustainable reuse designs for
sites after cleanup has been completed, greenhouse
gas emission reduction technologies, waste reduction
and recycling programs, and other best management
practices at sites wherever possible.
GREEN
REMEDIATION
is the practice of
considering all
environmental
effects of remedy
implementation
and incorporating
options to minimize
the environmental
footprints of cleanup
actions.
Model Public-Private Partnership
for Recycling in Gadsden, Alabama
Meets Multiple Clean and Green
Policy Objectives
In June 2010, EPA and the Harsco Corporation held a ceremony
at the former Gulf States Steel Removal site to highlight the
model public-private partnership currently underway. During
site cleanup, stockpiled slag material left behind when the
steel mill closed operations more than 10 years ago will be
processed for reuse. The removal action will recover and
recycle ferrous metals, reducing the volume of landfilled
material by more than 20 percent. More than 85 percent of
the project's total cost will be funded through the recycling
and reuse of on-site materials. A portion of the proceeds from
the sale of the recovered metals will help pay for the disposal
and containment of other hazardous wastes at the site. During
the three phases of cleanup, more than 30 jobs have been
created and an economic benefit of approximately $11 million
has been projected for the local area.
16
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Listening and Supporting Positive Change:
Environmental Justice
Recognizing that minority and low-income communities may face disproportionate
environmental risks, Region 4 has been a national leader in developing innovative ways to
protect these communities from adverse public health and environmental impacts for three
decades. Region 4's Superfund and Environmental Justice Programs collaborate closely to ensure
that these communities have opportunities for meaningful participation in environmental decision-
making. Region 4 also coordinates closely with EPA Headquarters and states to support initiatives
that provide communities with technical assistance, trainings and other services.
Jacksonville, Florida Selected as
EPA Environmental Justice Showcase Community
In April 2010, EPA selected the City of Jacksonville, Florida as one of the national models for EPA's
commitment to environmental justice efforts. The 10 selected Showcase Communities are using
collaborative, community-based approaches to improve public health and the environment. EPA has
committed $100,000 to provide seed money for projects in Jacksonville's Health Zone 1.
"The Jacksonville EJ Showcase Community pilot presents an opportunity to work closely with
residents in the city's urban core to address their priority environmental and public health issues,"
said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator for the Southeast. "By coordinating closely
with our federal, state and local partners, and better leveraging resources, we expect to achieve
measurable environmental and public health improvements."
EPAis collaborating with awide range of stakeholders, including residents, community organizations,
the City of Jacksonville, the State of Florida and other federal agencies to improve environmental
and public health outcomes in low income, minority communities in Jacksonville. Projects range
from efforts addressing water quality concerns and increasing community capacity for green jobs to
activities that improve indoor air quality in schools and reduce asthma and toxics exposure.
"Jacksonville is proud to receive the designation of an Environmental Justice Showcase Community,"
said Mayor John Peyton. "While this designation highlights our ongoing efforts to improve the
quality of life for our citizens living in areas of environmental concern, we know there is still much
to be done. We look forward to leveraging this recognition to strengthen our relationships with our
state and federal partners as we address additional challenges in our communities."
1997
EPA's Office
of Children's
Health Protection
created.
1999
EPA's Superfund
Redevelopment
Initiative
created to help
communities
turn cleaned up
Superfund sites
into productive
assets.
THE PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE uphold the
idea that all communities overburdened by pollution - particularly minority,
low-income and indigenous communities - deserve the same degree of
protection from environmental and health hazards, equal access to the
decision-making process and a healthy environment in which to live, learn
and work.
17
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Creating Opportunities:
Technical Assistance and Job Training
F*V egion 4's commitment to meaningful community outreach
r^ and engagement includes the provision of technical assistance
-K- X^and job training services for underserved citizens living in
communities affected by Superfund sites. Region 4 works closely with
EPA programs like Community Action for a Renewed Environment
(CARE), the Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC)
program and the Technical Assistance Plan (TAP) and Technical
Assistance Grant (TAG) programs to provide these education and
training opportunities.
New Superfund Job Training Initiative Program
Makes a Difference in Jacksonville, Florida
In 2010, Jacksonville SuperJTI provided career development
opportunities for 26 trainees living near the Jacksonville Ash and
Brown's Dump sites. Region 4's goal is to help the community create job
opportunities and partnerships that remain long after the site's cleanup
is completed. Through a partnership with the City of Jacksonville,
community organizations and site contractors, the program provided
local job-seekers with new skills and work experience. Trainees
completed courses in lifeskills and technical training as well as CPR
and first aid. Following graduation in May 2010, graduates were placed
into positions as environmental technicians, truck drivers and heavy
equipment operators.
Nationally Recognized Job Training Program
Continues in South Carolina (SRS SuperJTI)
SRS SuperJTI continued to provide career development opportunities
for residents living near the Savannah River Site (SRS) in south-central
South Carolina and eastern Georgia in 2010. The first Superfund
job readiness program in the nation to be conducted at a Federal
Facility, SRS SuperJTI provides local job-seekers with new skills
and work experience through a partnership with DOE, community
organizations and site contractors. The second cycle of the program
took place between March and July 2010, building on the success of
the program's first cycle, which graduated 20 trainees in 2009. Forty-
two trainees completed the second round of SRS SuperJTI. Following
graduation in July 2010, trainees were placed into permanent positions
with full benefits as radiological control inspectors and maintenance
and production operators.
Did You Know?
Region 4 currently has nine active
TAG communities; the most
recent TAG was awarded to the
Protect Gainesville Citizens, Inc.
community organization for the
Cabot/Koppers site in Gainesville,
Florida in June 2010. Cumulative
TAG funding in Region 4 exceeds
$1 million.
Region 4 Superfund also has
five active TAP communities; the
most recent TAP was awarded in
May 2010 to the Improvement
League of Plant City for the
Coronet Industries site in Plant
City, Florida.
Looking Ahead
In FY 2011, following two years
of SRS SuperJTI assistance
from EPA Headquarters under
the TASC program, Region 4 is
funding the third cycle of SRS
SuperJTI training.
The training is projected to create
approximately 40 jobs in the
Augusta, Georgia area.
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Increasing Transparency and Inclusion,
Enhancing Access to Information
With a focus on accuracy, comprehensiveness and
transparency, EPA Region 4 is constantly striving
to develop new ways to harness the power of
information. Region 4 works closely with our state, tribal and
local program partners in utilizing existing and emerging tools
to ensure that optimal information resources are accessible to all.
EPA staff members also rely on access to reliable, comprehensive
information generated during the program's environmental
restoration efforts.
Region 4 has invested substantial resources over the long term
to effectively manage and provide program information to EPA
staff and share this information with states, communities and
other interested parties. To accomplish this goal in recent years,
the Region has focused on three areas: website development,
Web conferencing and document management. In FY 2010,
Region 4 made additional enhancements to the program's
website.
Superfund Website Enhancements
Region 4 upgraded the Superfund program's website (www.epa.gov/region4/waste/sf) to continue to
ensure that information provided to the public is relevant, accurate and timely. A wide range of new
content, including videos and podcasts, was added to the website in 2010. All 260+ site summary
profile pages were standardized for enhanced readability and all remaining PDF documents were
finalized to meet EPA compliance standards. Finally, more than 500 pages of outdated content were
removed from the website.
2004
EPA achieves
900th
Construction
Completion at
theSolitron
Microwave site in
Florida.
First Document Guiding Effective
Communication of Environmental
Data Findings in the Nation
Region 4 developed a Standard Operating Procedure
(SOP) in 2010 that provides step-by-step guidance on how
project managers can communicate environmental data
findings to the public using status update letters that are
accurate, complete, clear, consistent and readable for a
general audience. The SOP's appendices provide additional
information, reference resources and sample letters. The
SOP applies to all media: ground water, soil, surface water,
sediment and air. The SOP has been presented to other
regions as a model and is under consideration for adoption
nationally.
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Advancing Science, Research
and Technological Innovation
EPA Region 4 relies on scientific excellence - thorough research, accurate data and innovative approaches -
as an integral part of the Superfund program. The program also benefits from specialized expertise in areas
including hydrogeology, human health, and radiological and ecological risk assessment. Region 4 scientists
integrate knowledge from a wide variety of sources and disciplines to provide responsive solutions to public health
and environmental challenges.
Innovative Science
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response
Region 4 provided scientific input, reviews and comments
throughout the federal response to the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill. Region 4 scientists led EPA's effort to develop screening
levels for ecological and human health exposures. Staff were
also heavily involved in the development of sampling plans for
the Gulf Coast and in all laboratory and data analyses. Finally,
Region 4 scientists led EPA's effort to understand oil dispersant
impacts, participating in multi-agency workgroups dealing with
dispersant toxicity issues and sampling methods.
Vapor Intrusion Evaluations
Vapor intrusion is a process by which chemicals volatilize
from impacted soil or ground water beneath a building and
diffuse toward regions of lower chemical concentration (e.g.,
the atmosphere, conduits, basements). Region 4 scientists are
addressing this emerging high-priority issue, assisting with
vapor intrusion evaluations for all types of contaminated sites
across the Southeast. Region 4 staff also participated in a national
meeting addressing vapor intrusion issues in 2010.
Monitored Natural Attenuation
Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) is an EPA-defined
remedy alternative that relies on natural processes to achieve
site-specific remedial objectives within an acceptable period of time. Region 4 hydrogeologists continue to provide
significant input into the development of national guidance for evaluating the progress of natural attenuation in
ground water using data collected during site characterization and long-term monitoring.
Asbestos Investigations and National Workgroup
Asbestos has once again emerged as a national public health issue. EPA's ongoing investigations in Libby, Montana
have had national implications. The commercial mine in Libby produced vermiculite contaminated with a non-
commercial form of asbestos. Ore from this mine was shipped across the country, creating so-called Libby "sister"
sites. Region 4 has the largest number of Libby sister sites in the nation; the successful investigation of these sites is
a priority. Region 4 scientists have assisted with the investigations of the Libby sister sites and other sites in Region 4
where naturally occurring asbestos may be present. Region 4 scientists also participate in EPA's Asbestos Technical
Review Workgroup (TRW), which is working to identify and solve a variety of asbestos issues nationwide. Region
4 hosted the TRW's national meeting in 2010.
Did You Know?
Region 4 has rigorous quality assurance
and sample control procedures to ensure
that project plans, methodologies and data
interpretation are as accurate, timely and
comprehensive as possible.
Monthly calls, trainings and mailing lists
also enable the sharing of new developments
and ensure strong coordination and scientific
excellence across Region 4 programs.
20
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Partnering, Consultation and Collaboration
2006
EPA achieves
1,000th
Construction
Completion at
theMacalloy
Corporation site
in South Carolina.
To fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment, EPA Region 4 actively
collaborates with an extensive network of partners, including affected communities, states,
tribes, local governments, public nonprofits, private sector organizations and other federal
agencies. Region 4 relies on its government, nonprofit and private sector partners to help fulfill EPA's
mission of responding to emergencies and cleaning up hazardous sites.
Through several types of partnering agreements, including contracts, nonprofitgrants, state cooperative
agreements and federal interagency agreements, Region 4 ensures that all required Superfund cleanup
work will be performed. In 2010, Region 4 managed 12 major contracts with private firms, 46 federal
interagency agreements, 43 Superfund state contracts, 23 state cooperative agreements, one county
cooperative agreement and nine Technical Assistance Grants with community organizations.
Interagency agreements enabled three federal agencies to assist
with oversight of the cleanup of the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant fly
ash release in Tennessee. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation assisted
with geotechnical inspections, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
with sediment control oversight, and the U.S. Coast Guard with
health and safety oversight.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry worked
under an interagency agreement during the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill to provide essential oil and dispersant risk assessment advice.
Region 4's cooperative agreement with Person County, North
Carolina made possible the Recovery Act-funded extension of a
drinking water line to residents near the GMH Electronics Superfund
site.
Pre-remedial cooperative agreements in all eight states in the
Region helped move sites quickly through the cleanup process.
Region 4 is also a national leader and innovator in contract management. In addition to managing multi-site and
site-specific contracts for site assessment and cleanup, Region 4 has increased its efforts to provide environmental
consulting and remediation opportunities to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) and
small and disadvantaged businesses (SDBs). Through 2010, Region 4 has awarded more than 15 percent of all
Recovery Act funding contracts to SDVOSBs and SDBs, significantly exceeding Agency goals.
Innovative Agreements in Mississippi Enable Cleanups to Move Forward
Region 4 completed negotiations in 2010 to finalize the first Superfund State Contracts ever between EPA
and the State of Mississippi. The state has committed to cost-share on approximately $50 million in cleanup
costs at the Picayune Wood Treating and American Creosote Works sites. Region 4 also signed two interagency
agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for oversight of site cleanup activities, which are scheduled
to start in summer 2011. Both sites are located in low income, disadvantaged neighborhoods; the cleanups will
protect public health and restore the environment in these communities.
21
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FY 2010 Awards
2009
The American
Revitalization
and Recovery
Act provides
$27 million
forSuperfund
cleanups in
Florida, Georgia
and North
Carolina.
EPA Excellence, Integrity and Experience:
EPA Region 4 Staff Awards
In 2010, EPA Region 4 staff received two national awards (the Suzanne E. Olive Award for
Exemplary Leadership and the Paul G. Keough Award for Administrative Excellence), one silver
medal and four bronze medals. Region 4 staff also received the Annual Diversity Awareness
Award and the Donald J. Guinyard Pioneer Career Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership
and Mentoring. Finally, Region 4 staff received Notable Achievement Awards in Superfund
Enforcement, Reuse/Revitalization, Program Support and Community Involvement.
Celebrating Community Dedication:
Awards for Excellence in Site Reuse
In June 2010, Region 4 presented Excellence in Site Reuse Awards to Hillsborough and Broward
Counties in southern Florida. Region 4 created the award to recognize those who have gone above
and beyond in redeveloping Superfund sites; both counties were instrumental in returning two former
landfills to productive use. Hillsborough and Broward Counties demonstrated that these sites could
be reused in innovative ways to become assets for the surrounding communities.
Hillsborough County, Florida
Following the cleanup of the Taylor Road Landfill Superfund site, Hillsborough County
has creatively reused the 42-acre area, establishing a recycling center, a community
collection center, a household chemical/electronics collection center, a site maintenance
facility and an environmental field office. The county also uses part of the landfill to
grow hay used for erosion control. The county collaborated with the Academy of Model
Aeronautics and the Tampa Radio-control Aircraft Club to build a model airplane
park that includes a paved runway and covered working areas. The county has also
worked with DOE on a study to evaluate using methane from landfills as a renewable energy source.
Hillsborough County also enhanced the selected remedy by voluntarily extending water lines to
additional residents to provide a larger-than-required buffer area between private wells and site
monitoring wells.
Broward County, Florida
Broward County has redeveloped the Davie Landfill Superfund site, once referred to by
some as "Mount Trashmore," into Vista View Park, a 160-acre recreation area featuring
horse trails, picnic shelters, restrooms, a fishing pier, and lots of room for kite flying,
bicycling, rollerblading and skateboarding. Broward County saw the recreational reuse
potential of the site early on. At the same time that the county closed the landfill and
cleaned up the site under EPA oversight, it also installed much of the infrastructure,
including roads, storm water drainage and landscaping, that would enable the site's
recreational reuse. Vista View Park opened in July 2003. The park's popularity led the county
to purchase adjacent land and expand the park; the park's expansion opened in November 2009.
Additional park facilities now include a trail with fitness stations, camping, and areas for radio-
controlled plane flying and boating. One of park's two playgrounds has been recognized for exceeding
the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
22
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Celebrating Community Dedication:
the Award for Citizen Excellence in Community Involvement
2010
Region 4
supports federal
response to
the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill.
EPA monitors
and samples the
air, water and
sediment along
the Gulf Coast.
Fort Valley, Georgia
In September 2010, EPA presented the Woolfolk Alliance with the Agency's Citizen Excellence in Community
Involvement Award. The national award is presented annually to an individual or a community group working with
a Superfund team for outstanding achievements in the field of environmental protection. The award recognizes the
community's dedicated 12-year effort to restore and reuse the Woolfolk Chemical Works Superfund site, a 31-acre
former pesticide manufacturing and packaging facility located adjacent to the city's downtown district.
"The Woolfolk Alliance serves as a great example for communities across the nation on how to bring together many
diverse interests to solve a common challenge," said Region 4 Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming. "EPA is proud
to present this award to Fort Valley Mayor John E. Stumbo and members of the Woolfolk Alliance, and commends
them for their dedication to the cleanup and redevelopment of the Woolfolk Chemical Works site."
For more than a decade, the Woolfolk Alliance has facilitated effective information exchanges between the
community and state and federal agencies, and identified productive ways to reuse the formerly contaminated site.
The dedication of the members in the community-based organization is unparalleled; the majority of its founding
members remain active, 12 years after the Woolfolk Alliance was formed.
To date, the site's cleanup has involved the treatment and removal of arsenic-contaminated soil in addition to the
remediation of multiple residential yards and attics. Today, Thomas Public Library and the Troutman House, a
welcome center and headquarters for several local community organizations, are located on a cleaned up portion of
the site. Additional reuse plans are underway.
Region 4 Staff and SRS SuperJTI Receive National Recognition
Region 4 staff were recognized with EPA's Suzanne E. Olive Award for Exemplary Leadership in National Equal
Employment Opportunity for their work as part of the SRS SuperJTI job readiness program in South Carolina.
The award recognizes employees for exemplary achievements and contributions to the Agency in fostering and
promoting the tenets of equal employment opportunity and civil rights, and for demonstrated commitment to
workforce diversity.
For more information about SRS SuperJTI, please see page 18 of the report.
23
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The Year in Review: Additional FY 2010 Highlights
Sampling, Cleanup and Cost Recovery Agreements for Alabama Sites
In 2010, Region 4 negotiated settlement agreements with responsible parties at the Alabama Plating Company
site in Vincent, Alabama. Responsible parties have agreed to provide all of their remaining assets, approximately
$720,000, to partially reimburse EPA for its response costs at the former metal plating and galvanizing facility. In
Anniston, sampling and cleanup activities to address contamination from local industrial operations moved forward
after Region 4 was able to gain access to hundreds of properties.
Green Remediation Meeting Multiple Clean and Green
Policy Objectives in South Carolina
The cleanup of the Savannah River Site (SRS) in western South
Carolina has incorporated multiple green remediation best
management approaches, including solar-powered remediation
and remote monitoring systems, passive and real-time sampling,
and high-efficiency control valves. These technologies have
resulted in reduced transportation and fuel usage requirements,
lab waste streams, and carbon dioxide emissions. Emerging
green remediation tools are also being researched at SRS,
including ground water treatment using agricultural oils to
accelerate cleanup and cap maintenance using bamboo as a fast-
growing vegetative cover. In total, there are currently 17 green
remediation-enhanced cleanup systems in place at SRS.
Did You Know?
In FY 2010, EPA Region 4's Superfund
program:
Led the Regional Incident Coordination
Team (RICT), which achieved a
seamless intra-agency response in
addressing several major priorities,
including the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill, extensive flooding in Tennessee
and the national Liberty RadEx training
exercise.
Undertook 121 emergency responses,
including 75 responses to hazardous
substance releases and 46 responses
to oil spills.
Provided 92 outreach seminars and
conducted 14 training exercises with
EPA's emergency response partners.
Conducted inspections or drills at
42 large oil storage facilities and 62
smaller oil facilities.
Worked with EPA's partners to conduct
removals at 100 abandoned, leaking
oil wells, the highest total in Region 4
history.
The Weyerhaeuser Mill site
Successful Consent Decree Agreements in North Carolina and Florida
In 2010, Region 4 completed negotiations with responsible parties at the Weyerhaeuser Mill site in Plymouth,
North Carolina and the Nocatee Hull Creosote site in Hull, Florida. At the Weyerhaeuser Mill site, an active paper
products manufacturing facility, the responsible party agreed to design and implement the remedy for impacted
surface water, sediments and fish tissue in the Roanoke River. The party also agreed to pay $3.2 million in past
response costs, bringing the total amount recovered by EPA at the site to more than $4.2 million. At the 136-
acre former wood treating plant in Florida, the responsible party agreed to fund the site's estimated $11.2 million
cleanup, reimburse EPA for its past response costs and pay for future Agency oversight costs.
24
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Looking Ahead: FY 2011
As the Superfund program enters its fourth decade, Region 4 renews its core commitment to healthy,
sustainable communities and environmental protection. By restoring land through effective, transparent
actions, collaborating with diverse constituencies and partners, and relying on scientific excellence,
vigorous enforcement and our staff's expertise and experience, EPA Region 4's Superfund program will be working
hard to protect human health and the environment in 2011.
FY 2011 Priorities
Core Mission
Maintaining responsiveness capabilities. EPA Region 4 will continue to support trainings and exercises,
maintaining our capabilities to effectively respond to emergencies and natural disasters and ensuring that
the Region's Response Support Corps and Incident Management Teams remain fully functional.
Enhancing enforcement. EPA Region 4 will continue to vigorously pursue enforcement and cost recovery
activities, ensuring that those responsible for hazardous waste sites either clean up the sites or reimburse
EPA for their cleanup.
Accelerating cleanups through efficiencies and transparency. As part of EPA's Integrated Cleanup
Initiative, EPA Region 4 will pursue opportunities to accelerate cleanups, engage stakeholders, address as
many sites as possible and help return sites to productive use.
Ensuring scientific excellence in environmental protection. EPA Region 4 will continue to conduct the
most thorough research, rely on the most accurate data and pursue the most innovative approaches to
ensure that Region 4 remains a national leader in environmental protection.
Building Partnerships
Advancing community engagement. EPA Region 4 will work closely with its partners as part of the
Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) to ensure transparent and accessible decision-making
processes, to deliver information that communities can use to participate meaningfully, to strengthen our
responsiveness to community perspectives, and to ensure timely cleanup decisions. Region 4 will also
continue to implement its CEI Action Plan and collaborate with EPA's regional Environmental Justice
Council and the Office of Environmental Justice on strategies and priorities.
Strengthening our network of partners. By continuing to foster strong relationships with our partners,
EPA Region 4 will accelerate and deliver comprehensive cleanups to protect human health and the
environment.
Sustainability
Implementing green remediation approaches. Sustainability is a key concept in the environmental
protection community. EPA Region 4 will expand its efforts to pursue green remediation approaches,
fully implementing the Agency's Green Remediation Strategy and the Region's Clean and Green Policy to
maximize the net environmental benefits of Superfund cleanups.
Supporting land revitalization. EPA Region 4 will continue to lead the way in supporting land reuse and
revitalization, focusing efforts on early planning to ensure that these considerations are built into site
remedies. EPA remains committed to restoring the nation's contaminated lands and enabling America's
communities to safely return these properties to beneficial uses.
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SUPERFUND
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 4
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303-8960
EPA904/R-11/001 January 2011 www.epa.gov/region4/waste/sf
Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper
with minimum 25% post-consumer fiber.
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