\e/EPA
RESULTS OF COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL
SAMPLING AND PATH FORWARD
IN THE COLLEGEVILLE, HARRIMAN PARK AND FAIRMONT
NEIGHBORHOODS, NORTH BIRMINGHAM, AL
Number 2
April 2011
example of a soil sample being
taken in a front yard.
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an-
nouncing to the community at large the results of environ-
mental sampling conducted by Walter Coke (formerly, Sloss
Industries) in the Summer of 2009. EPA previously released
this information to community leaders and residents whose
yards were sampled. EPA's goal is to keep the local commu-
nity informed and engaged. Walter Coke agreed to sample
yards, drainage areas and public areas in North Birmingham
for chemicals of potential concern, namely arsenic (As) and
Benzo(a)pyrene toxicity equivalents (BaP TEQ). The pur-
pose was to investigate the presence of these chemicals of potential concern in soil. EPA pro-
vided oversight of these sampling activities in the adjacent neighborhoods of the facility.
FINDINGS
In the Summer of 2009, soil samples were collected at numerous properties. After an in-depth
laboratory analysis of the soil samples, a Walter Coke sampling report, rigorous EPA review and
comments, and EPA risk assessor evaluations, the results show some levels of As and BaP TEQ
is present above EPA's cleanup levels at some of the school and residential properties sampled.
School Properties
EPA notified the school district verbally in Spring 2010, then formally in October 2010.
• Riggins Alternative School: EPA determined that BaP TEQ was above cleanup levels at
several sampling points. Follow-up action included re-sampling, soil removal, and soil and
grass replacement by Walter Coke.
• Hudson K-8 School: EPA determined that BaP TEQ was above cleanup levels at several
sampling points for the former school. Follow-up action included re-sampling at the new
school, soil removal, and soil and grass replacement by Walter Coke.
• Carver High School: EPA determined that BaP TEQ and arsenic was above the cleanup
level. The school district has restricted access with security fencing until soil removal is im-
plemented.
• Galloway Head Start School: BaP TEQ and arsenic were not detected at or above EPA's
cleanup level.
Residential and Other Properties
From the overall sampling results of 76 properties (included residential yards, schools, Public
Housing, rights-of-way, a church, and off-site Walter Coke property), EPA identified about 35%
of properties above cleanup levels in Collegeville, Harriman Park and Fairmont neighborhoods.
In November 2010, EPA and ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry—a
health agency) held one-on-one information sessions with the residents of the properties that
were sampled in 2009 to personally explain the results. A broader environmental information
session is scheduled for April 28, 2011, to explain the sampling results, soil cleanup action, and
future sampling to the community at large.
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INTERNET LINKS
Be sure to visit http://www.epa.gov/region4/
foiapgs/readingroom/index.htm as documents
related to this sampling event become avail-
able.
ADDITIONAL ACTIONS:
• Walter Coke will be releasing a cleanup
report for both Hudson K-8 and the Oppor-
tunity Academy at Riggins in early summer
2011.
School cleanup actions at Hudson
K-8 School, March 2011.
EPA reports that Walter Coke has agreed to
the cleanup of 27 properties, which are at
or above the soil cleanup levels. It is an-
ticipated that soil removal and replacement
will begin in summer 2011.
EPA is working on a new legal document
for Walter Coke. The purpose of the docu-
ment is to extend the environmental soil
assessment and cleanup in the neighbor-
hoods surrounding the facility. Public
comments on this document will be invited.
ATSDR is making a final determination
about the safety of gardening. This health
agency is evaluating soil data during their
"Health Consultation" process.
Details of additional actions will be pre-
sented at the community meeting on April
28,2011.
BASIS OF INVESTIGATION
The Congressional law, the Resource Conserva-
tion and Recovery Act (RCRA) authorizes EPA to
require facilities to examine the nature and extent
of their potential pollution that may endanger hu-
man health or the environment. Currently, the
lead regulatory program on this sampling matter is
the EPA's RCRA Corrective Action program in
the Southeast Region 4 Office in Atlanta.
HEALTH QUESTIONS
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR) is our lead federal agency
on public health issues.
For the pub-
lic, ATSDR
has created
Fact Sheets
on fre-
quently
asked health
questions on
Arsenic and
Polycyclic
Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAHs), related to the two
chemicals of potential concern. To view these
2 Fact Sheets produced by ATSDR on the inter-
net, please refer to the following web-site
pages:
Arsenic http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts2.pdf
PAHs http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts69.pdf
A one-on-one information session,
November 2010.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact the following individuals:
EPA Community Engagement
Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684 or by e-mail to
holtzclaw.brian@epa.gov
ATSDR (Federal Health Agency)
Dana Robison; 770-488-3744 (office), or by e-mail
to ihh6@cdc.gov
Walter Coke, Inc. Communications
Michael Monahan, (205) 745-2628 or by e-mail to
mmonahani@,walterenergy.com
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