REGION 4 SUPERFUND
Annual Report
FY 2014
Leadership and Environmental Excellence
Through Collaboration and Partnership
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 4 Superfund
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1 Welcome
2 Region 4 Superfund in Action
3 Fiscal Year 2014: By the Numbers
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN COMMUNITIES
4 2014 Project Headlines
6 Community Engagement and Cleanup
8 Children's Health and Environmental Education
9 Superfund Redevelopment
10 Environmental Justice:
Celebrating 20 Years of Making a Visible Difference in Communities
A NEW ERA OF PARTNERSHIPS
11 Partnerships: Strengthening Outcomes, Expanding Possibilities
13 The Next Generation of Environmental Protection: Thriving in a Time of Change
14 Public Access to Environmental Information: Accountability, Transparency, Inclusion
15 The Economic Impacts of Region 4 Superfund's Work
16 Region 4 Superfund: Long-Term Dedication and Excellence
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND STEWARDSHIP
18 2014 Project Highlights: Major Accomplishments
22 Superfund Enforcement: Driven by the Rule of Law
SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
23 Climate Connections: Working Toward a Sustainable Future
25 Ecological Revitalization
26 Science, Research, Technological Innovation: Sustaining Excellence
27 FY 2014 Awards
29 FY 2015 Priorities: Looking Ahead
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Each day, the Region 4 Superfund program plays a vital role,
protecting human health and the environment in communities
across the southeastern United States. At environmental
emergencies and complex long-term cleanups, oil spills and
natural disasters, Region 4 is on the ground, working with its
partners to make sure people can live and work in clean and
healthy places.
Today, as EPA continues to transform the way it does
business, Region 4 is leading the way as a high-performing
organization. We are using innovative technologies to clean
sites up faster and cost effectively. Renewable energy
opportunities are helping us maximize environmental
outcomes and supporting sustainable redevelopment. Our
strong "enforcement first" approach ensures that the parties
responsible for contamination perform the cleanup or pay for
it. Region 4's extensive outreach and engagement efforts
make sure communities have the tools and information they
need.
This report highlights the activities of
the Region 4 Superfund program in
Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. These highlights
illustrate the program in action,
protecting public health and advancing
environmental protection.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Region 4
serves Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee and six
tribes. More than 61 million people live
in the Southeast; Region 4 is one of the
most populous and fastest-growing EPA
Regions in the country.
Our goal is to make a visible and lasting difference - whether it is making sure our children can play safely
in their neighborhoods, working with environmental justice communities to tackle public health challenges, or
supporting community-led reuse projects that revitalize local economies with jobs, new businesses, tax revenues
and spending.
The people who work for the Region 4 Superfund program are a key reason why this is all possible. Committed
to doing their best work for the American people, their skill and dedication make the remarkable outcomes
in this report possible. In the year ahead, we look forward to new opportunities for meaningful community
engagement, collaborative partnerships, scientific and enforcement excellence, and expanding the conversation
on environmental issues.
Franklin E. Hill, Director
Superfund Division
Randall Chaffins, Deputy Director
Superfund Division
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REGION 4 SUPERFUND IN ACTION
The Region 4 Superfund program responds rapidly and comprehensively to address environmental emergencies
and clean up some of the nation's worst hazardous waste sites. Each day, we focus on making sure people can
live and work in clean and healthy places. On the ground, this means listening to communities, working with our
partners and innovating to restore and protect the environment. The results are remarkable.
CERCLA
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), better
known as Superfund, mandates that EPA respond to uncontrolled releases of hazardous substances
that pose an immediate or future threat to human health and the environment. Superfund provides
guidelines for locating, investigating and cleaning up some of the most hazardous and highly polluted
areas in the country.
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NORTH CAROLINA
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(sources: AND, CERCLIS, DeLorme,
Esri, First American, Tele Atlas,
UNEP-WCMC, USGS)
Legend
Superfund Sites
Tribal Lands
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FISCAL YEAR 2014= BY THE NUMBERS
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Performance Measure Accomplishments
Primary Measure
Percent of Superfund sites with settlement or enforcement action prior to remedial action start
Statute-of-limitation cases > $200,000 addressed
Responsible Party-lead removal completions with or without an enforcement action
Superfund-lead removal completions
Remedial site assessment completions
Remedial action project completions
Superfund sites with human health protection achieved
Superfund sites with groundwater migration under control
Superfund sites ready for anticipated use
Construction completions
Accomplishment
100 percent
100 percent
31
32
19
1
2
6
2
Oil storage facilities subject to Facility Response Plan (FRP) requirements in compliance
Facilities subject to Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations in
compliance
Superfund Program Measures Accomplished
Target
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Starts
Decision Documents
Remedial Design / Remedial Action (RD/RA) Negotiation Starts
Remedial Design Starts
Remedial Design Completions
Remedial Action Starts
Remedial Action Completions
Five-Yea r Reviews
Deletions
Emergency Response Exercises
Sites Proposed to the National Priorities List (NPL)
Final NPL Sites
FRP and SPCC Inspections
Region 4 Superfund Site Universe, 2014
247 NPL sites
22 sites with Superfund Alternative
Agreements
60 Removal Action sites
70 percent of inspected non-compliant
facilities returned to compliance
59 percent of inspected non-compliant
facilities returned to compliance
Achieved
9
20
2
5
4
13
19
23
3
2
2
3
Excellence in Site Reuse
&EPA
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2014 PROJECT HEADLINES
New Community Involvement Plan in North Carolina Builds Strong Foundation
for Cleanup
In 2014, Region 4 worked closely with
community members in Navassa, North
Carolina, on a comprehensive Community
Involvement Plan for the nearby 300-acre
Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. - Navassa site.
Community priorities for the former wood-
treating facility include a thorough investigation
of potential health impacts from contaminants
and regular communication with site agencies
during cleanup. Community stakeholders also
shared broader priorities during interviews,
meetings and review of the draft plan. These
include site reuse, linking local economic
development with similar efforts nearby, and
recognizing the area's history and heritage as
part of the Gullah/Geechee Nation.
National Superfund Pilot Project Underway in Florida
EPA piloted three streamlined Five-Year
Reviews (FYRs) in Region 4 in 2014. At
Superfund sites where contamination remains
in place, EPA conducts these reviews every
five years to make sure site remedies
remain protective of human health and the
environment. By streamlining these FYRs,
EPA is working to refine and improve the FYR
process and conserve resources.
The streamlined FYR for the Kassauf-Kimerling Battery Disposal site in Tampa, Florida,
found that the site's remedy is protective of human health and the environment in the short
term. Long-term protectiveness will require implementation of institutional controls.
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Enforcement Makes PRP-lead Cleanup Possible in Charleston, South Carolina
Following vigorous, sustained enforcement efforts at the Columbia Nitrogen site, a former fertilizer manufacturing
facility, Region 4 approved the site's final removal action work plan in June 2014. EPA had offered site PRPs
several opportunities to negotiate a voluntary agreement to conduct and/or fund the site's cleanup and reimburse
EPA's past costs, which are about $3.6 million.
After the PRPs refused to conduct the cleanup or reimburse EPA's past costs, EPA issued a Unilateral
Administrative Order (UAO) for the site's cleanup in December 2013. Site PRPs are ready to begin the work,
pending access approvals.
EPA is currently referring claims to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to recover past costs and future oversight
costs from the PRPs. In addition, EPA will forward a referral for a claim for injunctive relief and penalties to DOJ
if the PRPs violate the UAO and do not clean up the site. EPA has an open lien on the property.
Mississippi Community Awarded $25,000 for New
Dog Park
Today, the Davis Timber Company site is home to the Hub City
Humane Society animal shelter and a variety of community-
oriented educational, therapeutic and volunteer programs.
Thanks to a $25,000 award from PetSafe's Bark for Your Park
contest in August 2014, the area will soon also include a 3-acre
dog park. "We're really excited," said Hub City Humane Society
Director Virginia Cheatham. "We've got the perfect place here."
Plans for the park include an agility section and splash pad,
as well as separate areas for dogs of different sizes. Other
future plans include a facility for abused horses, programs for
children with disabilities to help take care of the horses and
other shelter animals, and dog training programs.
Innovative Cleanup:
A Closer Look at the Davis Timber Company Site
Accelerated cleanup of this 30-acre former wood-treating
facility finished in 2012, two months ahead of schedule and
$400,000 under the project's $4.6 million budget.
Cleanup included relocating parts of East and West
Mineral Creek, treating contaminated leachate, excavating
contaminated soil, and capping a 3-acre area to permanently
contain contaminated materials.
Green initiatives during the cleanup included recycling
325,000 pounds of steel, reusing 3,000 cubic yards of
concrete as rip rap, reusing 2,000 cubic yards of mulch
from land clearing activities, and using an improved
revegetation plan incorporating native plants, water
retention soil amendments, and the recycling of treated
waste water.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CLEANUP
Region 4 Superfund works every day with other federal
agencies, states, tribes and communities to improve the
health of American families and protect the environment.
The more communities are informed and involved in
environmental decision making, the better. Not only does
community involvement give the public the ability to influence
how a site is cleaned up and how people are affected by
Superfund process, the collaboration produces a better end
result for everyone, including the environment.
Region 4's community engagement goals include ensuring
transparency and accessibility in the Superfund decision-
making process, providing information and technical
assistance that makes a difference for communities, and
producing site outcomes that are responsive to stakeholder
concerns and aligned with community needs.
Wework closely with EPA's Community
Engagement Initiative to emphasize
meaningful, "early and often"
community engagement and public
outreach as core components of the
program's activities. We recognize
that the needs of each community are
unique and tailor our approaches to
best meet those needs.
Members of the Northern Birmingham Community Coalition.
Community Coalition in Alabama Develops Revitalization Action Plan
In North Birmingham, environmental justice
neighborhoods near the Walter Coke industrial facility
and the 35th Avenue Superfund site are coming
together to develop a shared vision for the future.
Years of industrial operations and contamination
left behind a legacy of broken trust and limited
resources. To change this, EPA helped form the
North Birmingham Community Coalition, creating a
proactive community partner to work with the Agency.
Supported by EPA's Superfund Redevelopment
Initiative (SRI), the Technical Assistance Services
for Communities (TASC) program and EPA's Conflict
Prevention and Resolution Center (CPRC), the
Coalition published its Revitalization Action Plan in November 2014. Coalition priorities include access to health
care, enhanced neighborhood services and improved housing conditions. The Plan also includes a detailed
conditions analysis, implementation partners and strategic action plans. The Coalition is now moving forward with
the project's next steps. Region 4 is also convening the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental
Justice to identify federal programs that can support implementation.
Sustained Community Engagement at the CTS of Asheville, Inc. Site
During the ongoing investigation and cleanup of this former electronics components manufacturing facility in
Asheville, North Carolina, EPA's site team is in regular contact with more than 400 community members, providing
regular site updates via email.
Starting in 2012, CTS offered whole-house filtration systems to people who relied on wells for drinking water.
To date, CTS has installed more than 100 whole-house filtration systems. Following sampling of a residential
property east of the site, several families were temporarily relocated while CTS addressed contaminated springs
on the property. Finally, following recent air sampling, the Region 4 site team contacted property owners directly
to discuss the results; they indicated that the air pathway did not pose a risk to human health. Looking forward,
the site team is focused on ensuring that the community continues to have access to accurate cleanup and public
health information.
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Award-Winning Community Participation and Engagement in Mississippi
At the Kerr-McGee Chemical site in Columbus, Mississippi, early and consistent community engagement has
enabled the environmental justice community and other local stakeholders to participate meaningfully in the
Superfund process. The Memphis Town Community Advisory Group's monthly meetings provided a forum to
identify community concerns and partner with EPA to identify solutions. The advisory group took the initiative
to apply for an EPA Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) for technical support, and provided comments to EPA,
the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the City of Columbus on site work plans and
design documents. The group also assisted EPA and MDEQ in identifying the best options for sharing information
with the local community.
In July 2014, EPA recognized the work of the Memphis Town Community Advisory Group with the 2014 Citizen
Excellence in Community Involvement Award. The award recognizes the outstanding contributions the advisory
group has made to EPA and to their community through leadership and environmental awareness. This 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.
Project Highlights
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recent advisory group meeting discussing the site's preliminary health assessment (top
left); Region 4 presenting the advisory group with EPA's Citizen Excellence in Community
Involvement Award (top right).
Collaboration among the site's Greenfield Environmental Trust, the City of Columbus, EPA
and MDEQ is also making possible a coordinated cleanup and road improvement project
along part of the 14th Avenue Ditch (left). The action addresses the locality's need to widen
the road and improve stormwater flow while minimizing the potential for contaminant
migration. The project shows how federal, state and local governments can work with site
stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
Did You Know?
In addition to working with the Memphis Town
Community Advisory Group, Region 4's community
outreach activities in Columbus have included public
meetings, distribution of fact sheets and door-to-door
outreach. To make sure EPA contacted everyone in the
community, Region 4 site staff scheduled appointments
with disabled homeowners and the elderly.
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CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Protecting children's health is central to EPA's mission, and the Agency has taken great strides to improve the
environment for children where they live, learn and play. Region 4 is a national leader in advancing children's
health protection. Environmental education is also a key part of ensuring children's health. Region 4's Children's
Environmental Health (CEH) Outreach Team travels across the Southeast, visiting schools, making presentations
at community centers, and sharing information to support healthy communities and advance environmental
protection.
In April 2014, Region 4 staff joined
students in Jacksonville, Florida, for
Earth Day celebrations. Environmental
education activities included asthma
trigger awareness, sun safety,
lead awareness, wetlands, and
decontamination procedures and the
use of protective equipment in hazardous
environments. These activities involved
5,000 students and their caregivers at
six schools, three daycares and two
churches.
In July 2014, Region 4 staff visited
children at the Hawk Enrichment Center
in Sylvania, Georgia. The outreach
focused on building environmental
awareness, and is part of Region 4's
ongoing community outreach efforts
in the cities, towns and counties
surrounding the Savannah River Site (SRS), a 310-square-mile, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear
weapons complex in Aiken, South Carolina. EPA's overall goal is to help Georgia and South Carolina
communities understand the environmental safeguards in place at SRS, to increase citizens' and families'
knowledge of the site, and to let communities and schools know about available Agency resources.
In August 2014, Region 4 staff attended the Cherokee Indian Reservation's 14th Annual Youth Trout Derby
in Cherokee, North Carolina. During this weekend event, EPA's CEH Outreach Team interacted with 3,200
youth and their families, providing environmental learning experiences regarding asthma trigger awareness,
sun safety, the hazards of pesticides, and mercury in fish awareness.
At the 25th Black Youth Leadership Development Institute, convened in St. Simons Island, Georgia, in
August 2014, Region 4 staff provided presentations on community-capacity building and GIS technology to
the 100 middle and high school students attending the week-long conference.
Why Focus on Children's Health?
Children are often more vulnerable to pollutants than adults due to differences in behavior and biology,
that can lead to greater exposure and/or unique windows of susceptibility during development.
At EPA, protecting children from environmental health risks is fundamental to our vision of making
the world a better place for future generations. Children represent 25 percent of our population but
100 percent of our future.
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SUPERFUND REDEVELOPMENT
Region 4 is committed to helping communities restore Superfund sites as valued assets 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. Through Superfund site reuse, challenges turn into opportunities. By the end of FY 2014,
87 Superfund sites in Region 4 were determined to be ready for anticipated use.
Innovative Tallahassee Park Integrates Remedy and Reuse, Stormwater Management
In Florida's capital city, cleanup of the Cascade Park Gasification
Plant Superfund site has made possible a remarkable facility
that brings together arts, entertainment, education, history and
wellness. Located in the heart of downtown, Cascades Park
includes an amphitheater, play areas, water fountains, plazas,
open space, commemoration areas and miles of multi-use trails.
The innovative park opened at the former industrial area
and landfill in March 2014. Constructed by Blueprint 2000 in
partnership with the City of Tallahassee and Leon County,
Cascades Park is a stormwater facility that doubles as an urban
community park. Designed to flood, the park will offer relief to
nearby areas during major storm events. The park was built by
the citizens of Tallahassee and Leon County through the use
of a one-cent local option sales tax.
Cleanup plans integrated remedy and reuse considerations,
making it possible to excavate contaminated soils and improve
infrastructure at the same time. Today, the project's three
goals - the protection of human health and the environment,
the park's development, and the improvement of the city's
stormwater management system - have been achieved.
Looking forward, Cascades Park will become part of a larger
public park system. A group of stakeholders working with
Blueprint 2000 have finished the Capital Cascade Trail Master
Plan, which outlines a city-wide system of trails and parks.
Region 4 is continuously seeking to improve the performance, protectiveness and cost efficiency of Superfund
program activities in the southeastern United States, making sure communities have access to transparent,
meaningful information and holding those responsible for cleanup accountable.
Water features, stormwater management areas and the Capital City Amphitheater at Cascades Park, 2014.
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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE:
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF MAKING A
VISIBLE DIFFERENCE IN COMMUNITIES
Environmental justice
means that all communities overburdened
by pollution - particularly minority, low
income and tribal communities - deserve
the same degree of protection from
environmental and health hazards, equal
access to the federal decision-
making process, and a
healthy environment
in which to live,
learn and
work.
Making a visible difference in communities for all
Americans - improving the health of American
families and protecting the environment - is one of
EPA's top priorities. Every day, Region 4 works to
improve the health of American families and protect
the environment. Advancing environmental justice
is a critical part of achieving that goal. Everyone
deserves the opportunity to live, work and play in a
clean and healthy environment. Low-income, minority
and tribal communities are often overburdened by
pollution and face disproportionate human health
impacts, greater obstacles to economic prosperity and
increased vulnerability to climate change. In 2014,
EPA celebrated the 20th anniversary of Executive
Order 12898, which directed federal agencies to
make environmental justice part of their missions by
identifying and addressing disproportionately high
and adverse human health or environmental effects
of their programs, policies, and activities on minority,
low-income populations.
In recognition of this milestone, EPA declared February 2014 "Environmental Justice Month" for all EPA
employees and staff. EPA also hosted activities throughout 2014 to celebrate the successes of many collaborative
efforts across the country. In Region 4, events included an environmental justice forum at Duke University in
Durham, North Carolina, and a series of discussions exploring public health inequities hosted by EPA's Offices
of Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities in Atlanta, Georgia.
Landmark Environmental Justice Efforts in Region 4
Jacksonville, Florida: Community-based collaborative efforts in the country's twelfth largest city have served as
national models for EPA's commitment to environmental justice. During the Jacksonville Environmental Justice
Showcase Community project and the Jacksonville Integrated Planning Project, Region 4 has worked with
local, state and federal stakeholders to improve environmental and public health outcomes in local low-income,
minority communities. Community priorities for these projects include increasing access to affordable health
care services and environmental protection, healthy, affordable food, clean water, and recreation opportunities
for youth. In 2014, as a result of these projects, Jacksonville's Springfield and the Eastside neighborhoods were
selected by the U.S. National Park Service to receive funding as Groundwork Trust sites. The funds will support
local park and creek improvements and programming.
"As we mark this day, we remember how Americans called on a Nation to pursue
clean air, water and land for all people.
On this anniversary, let us move forward with the same unity, energy and passion to
live up to the promise that here in America, no matter who you are or where you come
from, you can pursue your dreams in a safe and just environment."
- President Barack Obama, 2014 Presidential Proclamation recognizing the 20th
Anniversary of Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice
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PARTNERSHIPS:
STRENGTHENING OUTCOMES,
EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES
Region 4 works collaboratively with a diverse network of partners - affected communities,
states, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, private sector organizations and other federal
agencies - to ensure the protection of human health and the environment.
We also rely on our 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, nonprofit grants, state cooperative agreements
and federal interagency agreements, Region 4 ensures that all required Superfund cleanup
work is performed with broad-based support using the most cost-effective approach possible.
Award-Winning Partnership Leads to Innovative Remedy, Accelerated Cleanup
At the Camp Lejeune Military Res. (USNavy) site in North Carolina, EPA, the State of North
Carolina, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic and Marine Corps Base Camp
Lejeune have collaborated extensively on the cleanup of this federal facility. The joint effort
led to development of an innovative remedy - a permeable reactive barrier, or PRB - to
treat a chlorinated solvent groundwater plume and protect Edwards Creek from contaminated
groundwater discharges.
The partnership has also made accelerated cleanup of unexploded ordnance areas possible.
Cleanup efforts rendered over 55,400 tons of soil as non-hazardous for disposal, resulting
in cost savings of $5.5 million. Reuse planning for the area is now underway - the 100-
acre Wallace Creek complex will include barracks, buildings and parking areas. In recognition
of the partnership's innovative efforts, the Department of Defense (DOD) awarded project
partners the 2014 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award for outstanding achievement
and innovative environmental practices and partnerships that promote quality of life and
increase efficiencies without compromising mission success.
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The site's PRB trench, which was 400 feet long and 23 feet deep, before and after.
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Soil stabilization efforts at the Camp Lejeune Military Res. (USNavy) site, before and after.
Program Contract Support Effort Maintains Key Region 4 Response Capabilities
In 2014, the contracts supporting Region 4 emergency
response, removal and site assessment activities were
undergoing reacquisition. This created a significant
challenge - maintaining critical support to the programs
while administering acquisition processes in a fast-
changing environment. Thanks to creative teamwork
and extraordinary efforts by Region 4 staff, program
contract support remained in place. While completing the
reacquisition, four justifications for other than full and open
competition, three contract extensions, two crossover
contracts, and the award of a stand-alone GSA schedule
Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team
(START) contract, the first of its kind in the nation, were
required to maintain the necessary response capabilities.
In September 2014, the Region 4 large-business START
contract was awarded to Tetra Tech, ensuring long-
term continuity in Superfund's emergency response,
removal and site assessment activities. In June 2014,
the Region 4 federal facilities program awarded a
new Regional Oversight Contract (ROC) to TechLaw
following an extended acquisition process. Award of this
contract represented a significant milestone in Superfund
acquisitions for Region 4.
In FY 2014, Region 4 Superfund met or exceeded all five national socioeconomic contracting goals for the
first time. The program is responsible for more than 90 percent of all regional contract spending. During FY
2014, Region 4 Superfund managed more than $54.5 million in financial resources in support of mission-critical
activities throughout the Region. This included $49.5 million in contracts, $3.9 million in cooperative agreements
and grants, $350,000 in expenses, and $770,000 in travel. Region 4 Superfund's commitment to leveraging
special account resources provided 17.5 percent of all spending with significant contributions to contracts and
travel. Reimbursable payroll accounts for enforcement-lead cleanup, federal facility oversight and oil trust fund
supported 15,458 payroll hours, equal to 7.4 full-time equivalents or 4.4 percent of Region 4 Superfund's payroll.
Signing ceremony for the ROC contract with EPA
Tech Law staff.
and
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THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION: THRIVING IN A TIME OF CHANGE
EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment brings together a diverse, skilled workforce
committed to doing their best work for the American people. As today's environmental problems continue to
increase in complexity, EPA's ability to respond creatively, flexibly and effectively relies on a high-performance
work environment that supports staff growth and development, and is collaborative and results driven. In 2014,
Region 4 Superfund staff tackled a series of challenges - furloughs, a government shutdown, building closures
and delays - as well as a reorganization and space consolidation within the Superfund Division. Region 4
staff excelled at their jobs, working collaboratively, meeting performance measures, making a difference in
communities across the Southeast.
Region 4 Superfund Hosts 2014 NARPM Training Program
In June 2014, EPA Region 4 Superfund hosted the 23rd
annual National Association of Remedial Project Managers
(NARPM) Training Program in Atlanta. The weeklong
program is one of the largest technical conferences held by
EPA. The program promotes the exchange of information
among remedial project managers (RPMs) from EPA's
regional offices, and provides a discussion forum for
regional and national issues of concern and establishes a
permanent line of communication between RPMs and RPM
advisory groups. The program also brings RPMs together
with EPA remedial support staff and other technical staff as
well as other federal, state, tribal and local agencies.
NARPM 2014: At a Glance
57 state agencies were represented.
Other federal agencies included the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR), the National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences,
NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense,
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Tribal attendees included the St.
Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Quapaw
Tribe of Oklahoma, the Navajo Nation
Environmental Protection Agency and
the Nez Perce Tribe.
Total training hours provided: 8,000.
NARPM trainings are the result of extensive collaboration
among offices within EPA's Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response. They include the Office of Superfund
Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI), the
Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO),
OSRTI's Environmental Response Team (ERT), and other
offices, including the Office of Research and Development (ORD). EPA's Technical Support Project (TSP) Forums
(Groundwater, Engineering and Federal Facilities) and the Contaminated Sediment Forum also developed and
supported several training courses.
The 2014 training included 37 technical, legal, project management and contracting training courses, 13 panel
and information sessions, individual coaching sessions, two plenary sessions, and a resource area featuring 17
exhibits. About 490 people attended, including EPA RPMs, remedial support staff, senior managers, community
involvement coordinators, attorneys, enforcement personnel, ERT members, and staff from other federal, state,
tribal and local agencies. Three TSP forums and a contaminated sediment forum held meetings concurrently to
enhance networking opportunities.
of 54 EPA RPMs developed and taught courses for the 2014 NARPM Training Program
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PUBLIC ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION:
ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, INCLUSION
Communities and EPA's local, state, tribal and
federal partners rely on accurate Superfund
program information. EPA staff members also
rely on access to comprehensive information
generated during the program's environmental
restoration efforts. We work hard to make sure
this information is up-to-date, transparent
and easily accessible, serving as a vital and
valued shared resource.
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, we have
focused on providing Superfund communities
with comprehensive information resources
and enhancing the program's website, posting
information on a timely basis to the Web.
Superfund Program Review (SPR) Workgroup Efforts Lead to New Fact Sheet
In 2014, a workgroup co-chaired by Region 4 focused on when and how EPA can encourage non-liable parties
(e.g., potential developers, non-liable site owners) to clean up Superfund sites. Made up of EPA redevelopment
experts from OSRE, OSRTI and several EPA Regions, the workgroup is developing a companion piece to the
2008 EPA document "Top 10 Questions to Ask When Buying a Superfund Site." The new fact sheet will provide
answers to questions about when and how EPA can encourage non-liable parties to engage at Superfund sites,
enabling faster cleanups and conserving taxpayer funds.
OneEPA Effort Includes New and Updated Superfund Resources in Region 4
The goals of the OneEPA process are to improve knowledge sharing among EPA offices and make sure that
communities, partners and stakeholders have access to the best information resources possible. A complete
review and rebuilding of EPA's website is a major part of this effort. Region 4 is at the forefront, updating profile
information for all Superfund sites and providing new content that addresses priority information needs.
By late 2015, the program's online resources will provide millions of Americans with enhanced, more transparent
access to updated information about environmental issues as well as EPA's work to support healthy communities
and advance environmental protection. These resources will also strengthen environmental decision-making,
optimizing cleanups, cost savings and partnership opportunities.
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THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF
REGION 4 SUPERFUND'S WORK
When a Superfund site is restored for reuse, it can revitalize a local economy with jobs, new businesses, tax
revenues and spending. In 2014, EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Initiative took a closer look at these benefits.
Superfund sites across Region 4 are home to commercial facilities, retail centers, government offices and
residential areas. Many sites continue to host industrial and manufacturing operations. Others are parks and
recreation areas. On-site businesses and organizations on current and former Region 4 Superfund sites provide
over 6,200 jobs and contribute an estimated $334 million in annual employment income for residents across the
Southeast. Restored on-site properties in Region 4 generate about $4.4 million in annual property tax revenues
for local governments.
Benfield Industries, Inc. (Waynesville, North Carolina)
Reuses: nonprofit medical manufacturing facility, vocational training
center, green space
Benefits: 490 on-site jobs; $12.5 million in annual employee income;
total property value of $3.4 million
Lexington County Landfill (Lexington County, South Carolina)
Reuses: mini-golf course, driving range, practice golf course, ballpark,
recycling center
Benefits: 11 on-site jobs; $370,000 in annual employment income;
$1,588 in tax revenues; on-site business sales of $340,000
BMI-Textron and Trans-Circuits, Inc. (Lake Park, Florida)
Reuses: commercial and light industrial facilities, aircraft engine and
turbine manufacturer
Benefits: 90 on-site jobs; $4.8 million in annual employment income;
$87,000 in tax revenues; on-site business sales of $11.6 million
Davie Landfill (Davie, Florida)
Reuses: 272-acre park with trails, camping areas, playgrounds, fishing
and boating
Benefits: recreation resource; public health benefits; increased local
property values; stormwater management
Calhoun Park Area (Charleston, South Carolina)
Reuses: South Carolina aquarium, commercial buildings, Fort Sumter
Visitor Education Center, ferry terminal, parking, green space
Benefits: 400 on-site jobs; $24.2 million in annual employment income;
$490,000 in tax revenues; total property value of more than $33 million
LEXZNCTQN COUNTY
SANDHILLS
BnauMM
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REGION 4 SUPERFUND:
LONG-TERM DEDICATION AND EXCELLENCE
Every day, EPA Region 4's Superfund program makes a visible difference in communities across the Southeast.
The revitalization of communities affected by contaminated lands is a key part of Superfund's mission, delivering
significant benefits one community at a time.
Plugging and capping of an abandoned oil well in western
Kentucky with cement.
The TVA Kingston site, before and after.
UReVenturePark
CHARLOTTES FIRST ECO-INDUSTHIAL PARK
Western Kentucky
Over the past seven years, Region 4 has
successfully drilled out and plugged over 500
abandoned and leaking oil wells.
Kingston, Tennessee
Following a rapid emergency response, this
long-term cleanup is addressing the largest
ash spill in the country's history.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Region 4's Superfund and Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
programs worked closely with the site's
potentially responsible party and its state and
community partners to support the cleanup
and transformation of this former textile dye
plant into a renewable energy hub.
Augusta, Georgia, and
Aiken, South Carolina
EPA SuperJTI job trainings have led to
career opportunities for more than 60 people.
Cleanup of this federal facility, a former
nuclear production plant, has protected public
health while providing hundreds of local jobs.
Training at the Savannah River Site.
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The Calhoun Park Area site.
Charleston, South Carolina
Following cleanup, the South Carolina
Aquarium, the Fort Sumter Visitor Education
Center and ferry terminal, stores, open space
and parking are now located on this former
industrial area. Site businesses employ over
400 people, providing local employment
income of about $24.2 million.
Jacksonville, Florida
Community-based collaborative efforts
in the country's twelfth largest city are
national models for EPA's commitment to
environmental justice.
Community meeting for the Jacksonville Integrated Planning
Project.
Anniston, Alabama.
The Davis Timber Company site.
Anniston, Alabama
Innovative enforcement and cleanup
agreements for a former chemical plant have
encouraged a collaborative process yielding
faster results and avoiding prolonged litigation.
Provisions of the agreements are also funding
scholarships for area children and funds for
local schools.
Lamar County, Mississippi
Green initiatives during cleanup of this former
wood treatment facility included recycling
325,000 pounds of steel, reusing concrete
as rip rap, reusing mulch from land clearing,
and an innovative revegetation plan that used
native plants, water retention soil amendments,
and recycling of treated wastewater.
The Gulf Coast
When the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded
in the Gulf of Mexico, Region 4 provided its
full support to the federal response to the
oil spill, monitoring air, water and sediment,
protection and waste management efforts.
Region 4 assessed more than 1,000 miles of the Gulf Coast.
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UJ
LLJ
2014 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Demolition of Manhattan Project Facilities at the Oak Ridge Reservation
DOE's K-25 Building in Tennessee supplied highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons as
part of the Manhattan Project and later for commercial purposes. For more than two decades,
it was the largest building on the planet. Known as the Gaseous Diffusion Plant, operations
began in 1943 and ended in 1985. The plant provided material for the first atomic weapon
during World War II. Demolition of the 40-acre building began in 2008 and proceeded in
three phases. After demolition activities in 2013, disposal of building wastes finished in June
2014. Project costs totaled $1.08 billion. As part of the site's National Historic Preservation
Act Memorandum of Agreement, future plans call for an interactive interpretive center with a
visitor's overlook recognizing the area's history and contributions. Historic objects from the
building were identified and removed prior to demolition.
Demolition of the K-25 Building, before and after.
Federal Facilities
From nuclear weapons plants and military bases to landfills and fuel distribution stations,
the U.S. government operates thousands of facilities across the country. Because of
past waste disposal practices and unintentional releases, many federal facilities are
contaminated. Contaminated federal facilities such as 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 and collaborates with many groups, including governmental and non-
governmental organizations and local stakeholders, to coordinate cleanup, technical
assistance and restoration efforts at 20 federal facilities on the A/PL. Innovative cleanup
solutions are enabling the restoration of these facilities so they can once again serve an
important role.
Region 4's responsibilities include oversight of complex cleanups at 17 DOD bases and
three major DOE complexes on the A/PL: 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 at A/PL sites.
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Did You Know?
In July 2014, the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, became the newest member of EPA's national Green
Power Communities initiative. Oak Ridge becomes the first city in the Southeast to take part in the
national initiative.
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green
power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. To be
designated as a Green Power Community, a local government must purchase or produce green power
in amounts that meet EPA minimum purchase requirements set by community electricity usage. Green
power is defined as electricity generated from renewable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal,
biogas, biomass and low-impact hydropower. For more information, visit: www.epa.aov/areenpower.
Plugged Oil Wells in Kentucky
In 2014, Region 4 properly plugged 52 leaking and abandoned
wells in Daviess, Ohio and Hancock counties in western
Kentucky. These problematic wells were referred to EPA by oil
and gas inspectors from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The
wells, on average 75 to 95 years old, were in extremely poor
and leaking condition. By working closely with local contractors
on this work, Region 4 has been able to lower cleanup costs
and maximize local spending, with an estimated 70 to 75
percent of project funding spent in the community.
This leaking oil well in Hancock County, Kentucky, was recently
discovered. Upcoming cleanup will address the oil threat to nearby
surf ace water.
The Oil Program: Preventing,
Preparing and Responding
Oil spills endanger public health, imperil
drinking water, devastate streams and
natural resources, and disrupt the economy.
EPA's mission, as authorizedunder the Clean
Water Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and
the National Contingency Plan, is to prevent
harm to the environment associated with the
threatened or actual discharges of oil into
surface waters of the United States. Region
4 monitors and inspects oil storage facilities,
conducts spill preparation drills and other
training, conducts emergency oil removals,
and implements removals at abandoned
and leaking oil wells to prevent releases.
The goal of the Region's oil spill prevention
and removal program istoworkcooperatively
with the oil industry and other governmental
agencies to reduce the number, the size,
and the impact of oil spills into waterways
and other associated environmentally
sensitive areas. Our program is one of the
most comprehensive and effective in the
nation.
The program and its partners are also
addressing thousands of abandoned oil
wells identified as currently or potentially
impacting waterways in the Southeast.
These wells are a legacy of the oil production
industry prior to the implementation of
stringent plugging and abandonment
requirements. Many of these wells pose
a direct threat to the surface waters of the
United States.
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Partnering Leads to Environmental
Education Opportunities in Mississippi
Superfund sites can provide opportunities for
students to safely learn about their environment
and hazardous waste issues. Access to real-
world, hands-on activities develops skills in critical
thinking, problem solving, and decision making.
Region 4 has worked with EPA's Superfund
Redevelopment Initiative and the Agency's
Technology Innovation and Field Services
Division on a Superfund environmental education
curriculum for South Side Elementary School in
Picayune, Mississippi. Long-term cleanup of the
nearby Picayune Wood Treating site is nearly
complete.
With EPA support, the community has developed
reuse plans forthe site that include recreation areas,
community facilities, trails and environmental
education programs. The City of Picayune plans
to acquire the property and assume maintenance
responsibilities for the site once institutional
controls are in place. The project's environmental
education curriculum was presented at EPA's 2014
NARPM conference in Atlanta.
Long-Term Cleanups:
Protecting Safe, Healthy Communities
Some cleanups take place at complex, highly
contaminated sites such as 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.
Region 4 Sites Proposed to the NPL, FY 2014
35th Avenue (Birmingham, Alabama): residential
soil contamination
Region 4 Sites Listed on the NPL, FY 2014
Walker Machine Products, Inc. (Collierville,
Tennessee): former machine screw products
manufacturer
Collaborative Cleanup and Community Outreach after Coal Ash Spill in North Carolina
On February 2, 2014, a pipe running under a coal ash
storage pond at the Duke Energy River Steam Station in
Eden, North Carolina, ruptured. The coal ash spilled, largely
affecting the Dan River, which flows into Virginia. The spill
is the third largest of its kind in the country's history.
The next day, emergency response and cleanup efforts were
underway. Cleanup quickly became a collaborative effort
involving the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
and Department of Health, the North Carolina Department
of Public Health, the U.S. Fish and Wldlife Service and Army
Corps of Engineers, Duke Energy, and county and local
partners as well as EPA and the North Carolina Department
of Environment and Natural Resources.
The pipe rupture allowed an estimated 50,000 to
82,000 tons of coal ash and 24 to 27 million gallons of
basin water to reach the Dan River.
Community outreach and engagement was a top priority from the
outset. EPA's Community Involvement Coordinators met with impacted
communities, providing information updates across North Carolina and
Virginia. As a result of community concerns, EPA developed a website
to provide regular updates on the spill and cleanup activities. Comments
submitted through the website are monitored 24/7 and responded to in
a timely manner. Looking forward, Region 4 will continue to update the
community throughout the cleanup process through the website, fact
sheets, press releases and community meetings.
Defining Terms
Coal ash is the waste
that remains when coal
is burned.
For more information on the cleanup, please visit: epa.aov/reaion4/duke-enerav/index.html.
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Rapid Response by EPA and Its Partners Protects Public Health and the Environment
In November 2013, a train carrying crude oil
derailed into a wetland slough near Aliceville,
Alabama. Several rail cars exploded, sending
flames hundreds of feet into the air.
Region 4 and its partners - including the Alabama
Department of Environmental Management,
Pickens County Emergency Management, the
Federal Railroad Administration, and Alabama
Gulf Coast Railway - responded rapidly, putting
out the fire and containing an oil spill that impacted
9 acres of wetlands.
Cleanup actions in 2013 and 2014 removed more
than 228,000 gallons of crude oil from the derailed
train cars and surrounding areas, as well as 8,000
tons of impacted soils. Monitoring and biweekly
inspections of the area are ongoing.
Public Health Threat from Leaking Chemicals Addressed in Knoxville
Investigation of an abandoned laboratory facility at
Knoxville College by Region 4 and the Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation
found thousands of damaged and leaking chemical
containers. In August 2014, EPAand its contractors
removed all hazardous materials, placed them in
secure storage containers, and shipped them off
site for treatment and disposal. EPA then removed
equipment and storage containers from the site
and demobilized all crews.
EPA's community outreach efforts during the emergency response
included two fact sheets, door-to-door interviews and a public
meeting.
Region 4 Emergency Response Program Provides Training to State Partners
Region 4 Superfund reached out to state partners in 2014, providing opportunities for state personnel with
limited travel budgets to receive up-to-date training. Introduction and Advanced Groundwater Investigations
training took place in Montgomery, Alabama, for staff from the Alabama Department of Emergency Management.
Introduction to Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund took place in Tallahassee, Florida, for staff from the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Both courses were fully subscribed and well received.
Emergency Response: Responding
Rapidly, Making a Difference
addressing time-critical threats from releases
or threatened releases of hazardous wastes,
pollutants and oil. Whether there is a chemical
leak at a manufacturing facility, a landfill fire, an
uncontrolled oil release or a natural disaster,
Region 4 will be there, coordinating closely with
local responders and other emergency officials.
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SUPERFUND ENFORCEMENT:
DRIVEN BY THE RULE OF LAW
"Enforcement First" at EPA
Region 4 Superfund's approach to "enforcement
first" means that we conduct thorough, timely
investigations to identify PRPs, take all appropriate
remedial and removal enforcement actions,
address recovery ofEPA's costs and make sure
PRPs conduct investigations and
cleanup under enforceable
orders.
I
Every year, EPA takes hundreds of enforcement
actions against violators of federal environmental laws.
Superfund enforcement and cost recovery protects
human health and the environment by compelling the
parties responsible for contamination to clean it up or
pay for the cleanup. In turn, resources returned to the
Trust Fund help make cleanup activities possible in
communities across the Southeast. While compliance
with the nation's environmental laws is the ultimate
objective, enforcement is a vital part of encouraging
governments, businesses and other parties to meet
their environmental obligations.
Region 4's Superfund program vigorously pursues
enforcement and cost recovery activities. In line with
EPA enforcement goals, we returned $25 million in
taxpayer funds to the Agency and reached agreements
with potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to conduct
$75.5 million in cleanup work in 2014. Our enforcement
program continues to identify and implement best
practices to expedite site cleanups and optimize PRP-
lead removals and remedial investigations.
Enforcement Tools Tackling Complex PRP Search in Alabama
North Birmingham, Alabama's industrial history stretches back more than a century. To make sure efforts to
identify PRPs at the 35th Avenue Superfund site are comprehensive, Region 4's search encompasses the past
130 years and covers a one-mile radius, focusing on industries that may have generated contaminants of concern.
An industrial survey identified companies operating near the site since 1883. An EPIC Study explored the history
of site activities, identifying landfills, drainage ways and stormwater pathways, and the location of smoke stacks.
Information collection has also included use of the Agency's 104(e) authority to send letters to knowledgeable
parties and interview area residents, property owners, former industry employees and community leaders.
Settlement Agreement in Place and Cleanup Underway in Gulfport, Mississippi
In June 2014, following several years of negotiations, EPA and DOJ entered into a settlement agreement with
the State of Mississippi for recovery of EPA's response costs at the Chemfax site, a former hydrocarbon resin
and wax production facility. The State agreed to pay $2.25 million for past response costs and to perform the
site's cleanup. The State is currently putting the remedy in place. The cleanup is also an important part of the
community's long-term plans for economic development and growth.
1
Views of the vacant Chemfax site.
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CLIMATE CONNECTIONS:
WORKING TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
EPA is committed to advancing sustainable environmental outcomes through efforts like the
Green Power Partnership and the RE-Powering America's Land Initiative. In Region 4, we
work with partners in the public and private sectors to support renewable energy development
opportunities on currently and formerly contaminated lands. Our Clean and Green Policy
supports a more sustainable future by promoting the use of renewable energy and other best
management practices at Superfund sites.
Renewable Energy: Powering the Future
Reuse plans for the former International Mineral
and Chemicals (IMC) and Arkwright Dump sites in
Spartanburg, South Carolina, call for renewable
energy facilities as well as other land uses. As
part of the RE-Powering America's Land Initiative,
EPA is working with the ReGenesis community
organization to explore opportunities to safely
locate renewable energy facilities on the sites. In
2014, Region 4 participated in meetings and calls
with ReGenesis and other project stakeholders,
including the South Carolina Department of Health &
Environmental Control, Duke Energy, and interested
solar developers. In addition, Region 4 provided
ReGenesis with a formal letter of support, which also
outlined the Agency's responsibility to make sure the
facilities' design is compatible with site remedies and
protective of human health and the environment.
Planning for renewable energy facilities at the Kerr-
McGee Chemical site in Columbus, Mississippi, is also
ongoing. A 2013 feasibility study by EPA and DOE's
National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that the
site was well suited for a large-scale solar photovoltaic
(PV) system. It concluded that such a system at the
site could power up to 800 homes and support up to
200 construction jobs. After EPA determines if any
additional cleanup is needed at the site, plans for the
facility will be able to move forward.
Did You Know?
EPA's RE-Powering America's
Land Initiative was recently
selected by Harvard University
as one of the 25 finalists for
the Innovation in American
Government Award.
Community Cleanup Benefits
Contracting with local businesses at the Kerr-McGee Chemical site is supporting jobs
and benefiting the community. In 2014, the site's PRP group, the Multistate Trust, entered
into a master services agreement with J5, a local minority-owned contractor, to assist
with the site's cleanup. J5 is well known and trusted by many key stakeholders in the
community, including the City of Columbus, Columbus Water & Light (a local utility) and
the Memphis Town Community Advisory Group. In addition, the City of Columbus and
the site's advisory group partnered to develop a list of screened vendors and potential
laborers for the Multistate Trust and its contractors to consider. To date, the contractor's
work has been excellent, usually completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
LLJ GO
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Green remediation is the
practice of considering all
environmental effects of
remedy implementation and
incorporating options - such
as the use of renewable
energy resources - to
maximize the environmental
benefits of cleanups.
Material!
Cere
Laid ft Eicncits
Green Remediation: Maximizing Environmental Outcomes
Cleaning up a hazardous waste site uses energy, water and other
natural or material resources. EPA recognizes that much can be done to
conserve natural resources, minimize waste generation and reduce energy
consumption, improving the environmental performance of Superfund
activities while fulfilling the Agency's mission to protect human health and
the environment.
Following our Clean and Green Policy, Region 4 Superfund continues to
work collaboratively with our partners to implement green remediation best
practices. The policy supports a more sustainable future by promoting the
use of renewable energy and cleaner burning fuels, water conservation,
green reuse designs for sites following cleanup, greenhouse gas emission
reduction technologies, waste reduction and recycling programs, and other
best management practices at sites wherever possible.
Region 4 Superfund's Green Team Returns to Action
Region 4 Superfund has reestablished its "Green Team," with a goal of
sharing and enhancing collective knowledge on sustainability-related issues
for Superfund and site cleanup activities, including green remediation
approaches and best practices. The Region 4 Green Team is focused on developing and refining a sustainability
communications strategy for Region 4, helping promote implementation of the Region's Clean and Green Policy,
highlighting best management practices already in use at Superfund sites across the Southeast, and developing
indicators to help track and report on activities undertaken to date. These efforts will help ensure Region 4
continues to identify and focus on regional opportunities and priorities to advance greener cleanup practices and
help the Region lead in this area for EPA.
Mississippi Cleanup Illustrates EPA's Commitment to Green Remediation Principles
Two chemical processing plants operated at the Sonford Products site in Flowood, Mississippi, from 1972 to
1985, resulting in contamination of soil and groundwater with pentachlorophenol and dioxin. Today, Region 4
is tracking best management practices throughout the design and implementation of the site's remedy, which
includes cleanup of residential yards, extraction of light non-aqueous phase liquid and in-place chemical oxidation
of contaminated groundwater. An environmental footprint analysis (EFA) will help optimize each phase of the
cleanup. The EFA will quantify wastes generated, wastes recycled and reused, the amounts of water and energy
used, and air emissions. Use of these metrics will serve as a model for conserving resources and strengthening
the environmental performance and reducing the carbon footprint of Superfund activities.
Granulated activated carbon vessels (left) and the remedial action shed (right) at the Sonford Products site.
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SEPA
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ECOLOGICAL REVITALIZATION
Ecological revitalization returns land from a contaminated state to one that supports functioning and sustainable
habitat. Ecological revitalization improves soil health, supports diverse vegetation, sequesters carbon, protects
surface water and groundwater, and provides wildlife habitat and passive recreation opportunities. Through FY
2014, 11 sites in Region 4 are in planned or actual ecological reuse.
Wetlands Restoration Protects Rare Natural Resources in Central Florida
A primary goal of the cleanup of the 5-acre Raleigh Street Dump site,
a former landfill, has been to preserve wildlife habitat in one of the last
undeveloped areas in Tampa. Restoration of more than 2.5 acres of
wetlands began in late 2013 and is ongoing. The primary goal is to provide
self-sustaining ecosystems that closely resemble natural systems.
Activities have included restoring the original grade of the wetlands area
and planting native wetland plants and removing exotic plant species.
Eight nesting boxes for small birds have also been installed.
The wetlands are monitored quarterly to ensure an 85 percent survival
rate for planted species. New plantings will take place as needed to
maintain this survival rate. Exotic species are also monitored. The
monitoring program will continue for five years.
Other cleanup actions have included the removal and disposal of more
than 33,000 tons of soil, debris and sediment. Forty tons of waste tires
were taken away and recycled.
Wetlands 101
Wetlands are part of the foundation of our nation's water
resources and are vital to the health of waterways and
communities that are downstream. Wetlands feed downstream
waters, trap floodwaters, recharge groundwater supplies,
remove pollution, and provide fish and wildlife habitat.
Wetlands are also economic drivers because of their key
role in fishing, hunting, agriculture and recreation.
Native Species Plantings
White mangroves
Buttonwood trees
Saltmeadow cordgrass
Sand cordgrass
Dune sunflowers
Sea oxeye daisies
Railroad vines
Wild grasses and
wildflowers
Invasive Species Removals
Brazilian pepper
Lead tree
Rattlebox
Air potato
Aerial view of the Raleigh Street Dump site during restoration (left) and wildlife at the site (right).
&EFK
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Black arrows show one of the groundwater discharge points
along the creek, with and without thermal imaging.
SCIENCE, RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL
INNOVATION: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE
High-quality research, sound science and technological innovation are essential to the protection of human
health and the environment and are hallmarks of the Region 4 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 in Action
XRF Field Confirmation Analysis and Training
Region 4's human health risk assessors are working with on-scene coordinators (OSCs) and EPA contractors
on innovative field assessment techniques for Superfund sites. These approaches will improve information
gathering efforts while also saving time and money. Field screening using x-ray fluorescence (XRF) helps
identify the best path forward for soil sampling and optimizes scientific results. Region 4's leadership in this
area has included trainings with EPA Headquarters support for OSCs and project managers. Publication of
guidance is planned for the near future.
Thermal Imaging Technology and Training
Groundwater stays at a relatively constant
temperature. When it discharges into a stream or
other surface water, that temperature differential
makes it possible to identify the exact points of
groundwater discharge to surface water using
thermal imaging technology. Following trainings
in Region 4 and a course at the 2014 NARPM
Training Program in Atlanta, Region 4 pursued a real-world application of the innovative technology. EPA
contracted with the U.S. Geological Survey to use a thermal imaging camera to identify groundwater
discharge points along a creek downstream of the Hemphill Road Superfund site in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Four major discharge points were identified; these locations have been designated as future water sample
collection points. Contaminated groundwater from the site is likely discharging from these areas along the
creek.
Quality Assurance Work Requires Extensive Collaboration and Coordination
In March 2014, Region 4 learned that one of the Contract Laboratory Program labs had produced data
over a four-year period that could no longer be considered of "known quality." Data from 27 Superfund
sites in Region 4 were affected. Region 4 site teams worked together to assess impacts on site decision-
making, develop communication strategies for the affected communities and stakeholders, estimate data
replacement costs and coordinate funding for the work. These efforts brought together Region 4 site teams
with EPA Headquarters offices, state program offices and current EPA contractors, and were performed
concurrently with ongoing work to minimize the impact of the unusable data on project schedules.
RARE Project Proposal Accepted and Funded
Region 4 has received EPA Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) funding for an innovative urban
contaminant background study. The project will sample surface soils in urban areas in the Southeast. Soil
samples from any large, long-established city are expected to contain elevated levels of certain metals
and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), often due to human activity. This is commonly referred to
as "urban background." Because these increased contaminant concentrations are due to urban activities
and not site releases, it is often challenging to address these contaminants at sites where investigations,
cleanup and risk management are ongoing. The project will serve as a pilot effort that will hopefully inform
development of regional and national urban contaminant databases.
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FY 2014 AWARDS
EPA Excellence, Integrity and Experience: Region 4 Staff Awards
In 2014, EPA Region 4 staff received several National Honor Awards for Exceptional Service, Administrative
Excellence, Exemplary Customer Service, and Exemplary Leadership in Human Resources Management. Notable
Achievement Awards included the Federal Facility Response Outstanding Achievement Award, the Regional
Science Team Award, the Superfund Community Involvement Coordinator of the Year Award, and the Technical
Enforcer Award. Regional Bronze Honor Awards recognized staff excellence and leadership in Superfund site
management at the Reef Environmental, Black Leaf Chemical, Davis Timber Company and Chemfax, Inc. sites.
Federal Executive Board Employee of the Year Awards included the Outstanding Scientific Achievement award.
Region 4 Superfund also had finalists for the Outstanding Manager, Outstanding Achievement in Diversity, and
Outstanding Employee with a Disability awards.
Recognizing Community Leadership and Excellence in Superfund Redevelopment
Every year, Region 4 seeks opportunities to recognize the remarkable community-wide efforts that return
Superfund sites to use. Through our Excellence in Site Reuse Award, we honor the hard work and partnerships
that lead to a site's reuse. The 2014 recipients of the EPA Region 4 Excellence in Site Reuse Award are Forsite
Development in North Carolina and Chuck Davis and the Hub City Humane Society in Mississippi.
Charlotte, North Carolina
At the former Martin-Marietta, Sodeyco, Inc. Superfund site, ReVenture Park, a 667-acre "Renewable Energy
Industrial Park" is bringing together a host of innovative businesses that will create hundreds of new jobs. Forsite
Development is converting 300,000 square feet of existing industrial building space into a business park focused
on energy efficiency, renewable energy and environmental technology. A variety of projects are currently under
development, including a biomass combined heat and power project and an algae-to-fuel pilot plant. In total,
new investments by companies on site currently exceed $14 million. Additionally, site projects such as a large
conservation easement, wildlife habitat projects, stream restoration, and a trail system connecting the regional
Carolina Thread Trail across the site to the nearby U.S. National Whitewater Center enhance the site's natural
resources.
To make redevelopment possible, Forsite Development worked closely
with EPA, state agencies, site stakeholders and local partners to make sure
that reuse plans were compatible with the site's cleanup. The company
committed to maintaining the site's remedy and putting land use controls in
place permitting only commercial and industrial land uses across cleaned-
up areas of the site. In February 2012, EPA took the site off the NPL. The
property's delisting qualified it for state and federal brownfield grants and
incentives, clearing the way for its transformation into ReVenture Park.
Did You Know?
Region 4's "Excellence in Site
Reuse" award has served as
the model for several reuse
awards in other EPA Regions.
By reclaiming, restoring and reinventing this industrial area, ReVenture Park serves as a national model for
innovative redevelopment and is one of the leading renewable energy projects on a Superfund site in the United
States. The project illustrates how the reuse of Superfund sites can protect human health, advance environmental
protection and provide valuable community assets.
More than 200 people attended the award ceremony.
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The Longleaf Trace recreational trail runs alongside the
Davis Timber Company site, connecting the area with
downtown Hattiesburg, 12 miles away.
Lamar County, Mississippi
It has been quite a year at the Davis Timber Company
Superfund site. In addition to the site's innovative
cleanup and $25,000 dog park grant award (see page
5), Region 4 recognized the leadership of property owner
Chuck Davis and the Hub City Humane Society with its
Excellence in Site Reuse award.
Mr. Davis' priority was returning the site to beneficial use.
Prior to selection of the remedy, he participated in a reuse
assessment with the community and local government to
identify feasible reuse options. Mr. Davis then donated 3
acres of the site for a community center and local polling
location. The community center's opening led to further
reuse interest, and in November 2012, the Hub City
Humane Society leased the rest of the property.
Today, the site is home to the Hub City Humane Society
animal shelter and a variety of community-oriented
educational, therapeutic and volunteer programs.
Presbyterian Christian School donated eight portable
classrooms to use as shelters and classrooms, while
Lamar County donated $24,000 to help establish the
Humane Society's facilities. Following the $25,000 award
from PetSafe's Bark forYour Park contest in August 2014,
the area will soon also include a 3-acre dog park.
Future plans include a facility for abused horses,
programs for children with disabilities to help take care
of the horses and other shelter animals, and dog training
programs. Thanks to the vision of Mr. Davis and the Hub
City Humane Society, the site has been returned to use
and is now a remarkable, highly valued community asset.
New Award Recognizes Excellence in State
Engagement Supporting Reuse
Under our environmental laws, EPA and the states
share responsibility for protecting public health and
safeguarding the environment. These relationships
are a key part of the nation's environmental protection
system and vital to fulfilling the mission of the Superfund
program. In 2014, EPA developed the Excellence in State
Engagement Supporting Reuse award to recognize state
partners whose work has led to lasting benefits that
enhance community quality of life and ensure the long-
term protectiveness of site remedies and stewardship of
the environment.
In 2014, Region 4 presented the award to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). In addition
to their long-term support and encouragement of appropriate reuse at Superfund sites, FDEP also facilitates
a partnership with State Water Management Districts. This partnership currently implements groundwater
institutional controls across south Florida, leveraging existing federal and state regulations to ensure the
protection of human health and the environment.
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SEPA
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FY 2015 PRIORITIES: LOOKING AHEAD
Region 4 Superfund's efforts to protect public health and safeguard the environment directly support EPA's
seven priorities for the Agency's future:
Making a visible difference in communities across the country.
Addressing climate change and improving air quality.
Taking action on toxics and chemical safety.
Protecting water: a precious, limited resource.
Launching a new era of state, tribal and local partnerships.
Embracing EPA as a high-performing organization.
Working toward a sustainable future.
OneEPA
Focusing on making a visible difference in communities. EPA Region 4 programs will work together to
provide enhanced, transparent access to environmental information. These resources will also strengthen
environmental decision-making, optimizing cleanups, cost savings and partnership opportunities.
Core Mission
Strengthening enforcement. EPA Region 4 will vigorously pursue enforcement and cost recovery cases,
making sure those responsible for hazardous waste sites clean them up or reimburse EPA for the work.
Maintaining response readiness under demanding resource constraints. The Region will maintain a
trained, experienced team to respond to emergencies and natural disasters. Our Regional Response Support
Corps and Incident Management Teams will also remain fully functional.
Maximizing effective use of resources to protect human health and the environment. EPA Region 4 will
conduct thorough research, rely on accurate data and pursue innovative approaches to make sure it remains a
national leader in environmental protection.
Initiating a new contracting paradigm. The Region's approach to partnership agreements and contracts will
make sure all required Superfund cleanup work takes place.
Focusing on remedy construction. With funding in place for four new remedial action starts, EPA Region 4
will move out on cleanups in these communities.
Partnerships
Prioritizing environmental justice. Region 4 will make sure tools are available to support healthy communities
facing significant environmental and socioeconomic challenges.
Strengthening our network of partners. The Region and our partners will work to achieve shared goals,
enhancing the protection of human health and the environment and supporting community revitalization.
Sustainability
Working toward a sustainable future. Through renewable energy, green remediation and other best management
practices, Region 4 will continue to maximize the net environmental benefits of Superfund cleanups.
Encouraging land revitalization. The Region will lead the way in supporting land reuse, coordinating with the
Brownfields program and making sure these considerations are part of site remedies.
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Proposed Superfund Division Organization
Superfund Division
Division Director
Deputy Division Director
Associate Director
1 1
Emergency
Response, Removal
& Prevention
-
Removal & Oil
Programs
Removal
Operations
Emergency
Response
Restoration &
Site Evaluation
-
Restoration &
Investigation
Restoration &
DOE Coordination
Restoration &
Site Evaluation
i
Restoration &
Sustainability
-
Restoration &
Construction
Restoration &
DOD Coordination
Restoration &
Sustainability
Resource &
Scientific Integrity
-
Resource
Management
Scientific Support
1
Enforcement
& Community
Engagement
-
Investigations
& Community
Engagement
Enforcement
"EPA must work each and every day - hand-in-hand with other federal agencies, states,
tribes and local communities - to improve the health of American families and protect the
environment one community at a time, all across the country."
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy
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
EPA 904/R-l 5/001 | January 201 5 | www.epa.gov/region4/superfund
*
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with minimum 25% post-consumer fiber.
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