EPA Superfund
Region 4
Annual Report
FY 2015
Thirty-Five Years of Distinction
Protecting Public Health, Advancing Environmental Protection
I U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
| Region 4 Superfund
-------
*«««
1 Welcome
2 Region 4 Superfund in Action
3 Fiscal Year 2015: By the Numbers
4 35 Years of the Superfund Program: Healthier Families. Cleaner Communities. Making a Visible Difference
6 Region 4 Superfund Timeline: 35 Years of Excellence
TAKING ACTION, SAFEGUARDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
8 2015 Project Head lines
9 Children's Health and Environmental Education
10 Community Engagement and Cleanup
12 Superfund Redevelopment
13 Environmental Justice
A NEW ERA OF PARTNERSHIPS = COLLABORATION + EXPERIENCE + INNOVATION
14 Partnerships
16 Contracts and Training
18 Public Access to Environmental Information
ADVANCING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
19 2015 Project Highlights
23 Superfund Enforcement
SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY: PIONEERING FOR THE FUTURE
24 Green Remediation
26 Science, Research,Technological Innovation
28 Ecological Revitalization
29 FY 2015 Awards
33 FY 2016 Priorities
-------
WELCOME
This year, the Region 4 Superfund program marked a major milestone,
celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, better known as Superfund. We
also transitioned to a new organizational structure, and are already seeing
increases in efficiency and effectiveness. We are proud to present this years
annual report; it showcases the program's achievements in 2015 and provides an opportunity to reflect on some remarkable
accomplishments over the past 35 years.
Region 4 continues to make a visible difference in communities - implementing innovative cleanups, supporting reuse of
once-contaminated sites, promoting green remediation, restoring pollinator habitat, and fostering sustainability efforts.
We respond rapidly to environmental emergencies, oil spills and natural disasters. Every day, we are on the ground across
the Southeast, protecting public health and the environment.
Making sure communities have the resources they need to participate as informed partners in environmental discussions,
problem solving and decision making is at the heart of our work. We rely on a broad coalition of local, state, tribal and
federal partners to achieve our mission, even working internationally to share lessons learned and build capacities.
Together, we strive to deliver the best environmental enterprise in the world.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, the Region 4 Superfund program:
• Maximized environmental and public health benefits at some of the nation's most complex sites.
• Protected communities from time-critical threats from releases of hazardous substances, pollutants and oil.
• Protected children's health.
• Worked for environmental justice and connected vulnerable communities with technical assistance.
• Took action against violators of federal environmental laws, making sure governments, businesses and other
parties meet their obligations.
• Advanced renewable energy opportunities, working toward a more sustainable future and increasing communities'
resiliency to a changing climate.
These achievements are a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our staff. In the year ahead, we will continue to
meet program goals and work closely with our partners, empowering them to step up and get involved. We will continue
to promote the OneEPA standard in all that we do. Thank you for your time, interest and shared commitment to protect
and restore the environment. We look forward to another great year of partnership and public participation as we work
together to advance our cleanup mission at EPA.
Franklin E. Hill
Director
Superfund Division
-------
(Sources: EPA Superfund site data,
DeLorme, Esri, First American,
Tele Atlas, United Nations World
Conservation Monitoring Center,
U.S. Geological Survey)
• *) • •» •
TENNESSEE'
* 9 NORTH CAROLINA
•— *qF* * • -*
S.OUTH
CAROLINA
Legend
• Superfund Sites
Tribal Lands
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.
REGION 4 SUPERFUND INACTION
EPA Region 4's Superfund program makes a visible difference in communities across the Southeast on
a daily basis. Recognized regionally and nationally for sustained excellence and innovation in protecting
human health and the environment, the program responds rapidly and comprehensively to address
environmental emergencies and clean up some of the nation's worst hazardous waste sites.
-------
FISCAL YEAR 2015: BYTHE NUMBERS
Region 4 is continuously seeking to improve the performance, protectiveness and cost efficiency of
Superf und program activities in the southeastern United States, makingsure communities have access
to transparent, meaningful information and holding those responsible for cleanup accountable.
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 > $500,000 addressed
Superfund-lead and Responsible Party-lead removal completions with or without an
enforcement action
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
Oil storage facilities subject to Facility Response Plan (FRP) requirements in compliance
Facilities subject to Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations in
compliance
Accomplishment
100 percent
100 percent
54
75 percent
68 percent
Superfund Program Measures Accomplished
Target
Achieved
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS)
Starts
Decision Documents
Remedial Design / Remedial Action (R
Negotiation Starts
Remedial Design Starts
Remedial Design Completion
Remedial Action Starts
Remedial Action Comph
Five-Yea r Reviews
Deletions
Emergency Response Exercises
Sites Proposed to the National Priorities List (
Final NPL Sites
FRP and SPCC Inspections
Region 4 Superfund
Site Universe, 2015
247 NPL sites
23 Sites with Superfund Alternative Agreements
60 Removal Action sites
-------
--;, -
Community volunteers at the annual /-
Creek cleanup event in Jacksonville, Florida.
,'c '*«•
35 YEARS OF THE SUPERFUND PROGRAM:
Healthier Families. Cleaner Communities. Making a Visible Difference
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
demonstrated that wastes buried long ago could prove to be a serious threat to public health and the
environment. Overtime, the responsibilities of the Superfund program grew to include federal facilities
and oil spills. Program reforms designed to make Superfund "faster, fairer and more efficient" included
provisions that encouraged redevelopment and expanded public involvement.
Since then, EPA has been working hard to fulfill the program's mission to protect human health and
advance environmental protection. In the Southeast, the results are striking. Over 1,780 removal actions
have addressed immediate threats to human health and the environment, along with almost 350 long-
term remedial actions. Fifty-eight sites have been taken off the N PL following cleanup. The total estimated
value of private-party settlements in Region 4 since 1980 is more than $3 billion.
The Jacksonville Integrated Planning Project (JIPP)
This community-based effort in Jacksonville, Florida, is a national model for EPA's commitments to environmental justice,
public health and sustainable development. For several years, the Agency worked with local, state and federal stakeholders
to improve public health and environmental outcomes. The area faces significant economic and environmental challenges,
including five Superfund sites. After the community first identified its top priorities - access to affordable health care,
affordable healthy food and safe recreation opportunities - the focus moved to local capacity building, expanding the
project's network of community partners, and transitioning to self-sustaining, community-led efforts. Today, these
follow-on efforts are well underway - planning for a community health center, grant-funded opportunities for area
youth to work in local parks, plans to link neighborhood greenways, development of a community market, healthy food
initiatives and construction of affordable housing.
-------
was huge because it connected people and helped create new partnerships ... and
relationships have changed in a positive way. The Eastside and Springfield neighborhoods established
relationships through the JIPP and planted seeds of trust that continue to grow.**
- JIPP participant
After
I
Davis Timber Company
At this former wood treatment site in Mississippi, cleanup work finished under budget and ahead of schedule. Cleanup
included recycling of 325,000 pounds of steel and land restoration using native plants and soil amendments. Today, the area
hosts a community center and an animal welfare facility.
The TVA Kingston Fly Ash Spill
Following a rapid emergency response, this long-term cleanup effort addressed the largest ash spill in the country's history.
The project included one of the largest baseline ecological risk assessments ever conducted in the United States.
The Gulf Coast
When the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, Region 4 provided our full support to the
federal response to the oil spill, monitoring air, water and sediment, and overseeing beach cleanup, shoreline protection
and waste management efforts. Region 4 assessed more than 1,000 miles of the Gulf Coast's shoreline. At the height of the
response, over 45,000 people and 6,000 vessels were involved in containment and cleanup efforts across the Gulf Coast.
-------
R4SUPERFUND TIMELINE
7956 Superfund Amendments
and Reauthorization Act
strengthens program
authorities
7959 Rapid Region 4 response to
Hurricane Hugo
Early Program reforms make Superfund
7990s "faster, fairer and more efficient"
7992 First Construction Completion in the nation in
Mississippi
7992 Rapid Region 4 response to Hurricane Andrew
7992 Under Federal Facility
Compliance Act, federal
agencies are subject to
hazardous waste laws
7993 Cleanup of explosives
and chemicals at
Divex Chemical
site in South Carolina
7994 EPAs Environmental
Justice Task Force
formed
7953
7950 President Carter signs
Superfund law
7957 First Consent Decree in Region 4
7952 First two sites in Region 4
deleted from NPL
7953 A.L. Taylor site in Kentucky is
first Region 4 site listed on NPL
First Administrative Order on
Consent in Region
2000s Superfund responsibilities address 2001 attacks
on World Trade Center and Pentagon, 2001
anthrax attacks, Columbia space shuttle
disaster, and hurricanes Katrina and Rita
2000 Emergency actions at the Anniston Lead site in
Alabama protect public health
2000 Cleanup of highly toxic materials at former Flura
Chemical facility in Tennessee
2004 900th Construction Completion at Solitron
^H Microwave site in Florida
xvEPA
7996 Illegal insecticide spraying in Mississippi leads
to relocation effort, $50 million cleanup
7996 Cumulative Superfund cost recovery settlements
exceed $2 billion
7997 EPAs Office of Children's Health Protection
created
7999 Superfund Redevelopment Initiative helps
communities turn sites into productive assets
-------
35 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
2005
2006
2005
2005
2009
2075
2075
Emergency response to train derailment in
Graniteville, South Carolina
1,000th Construction Completion at the Macalloy
Corporation site in South Carolina
Rapid response to TVA Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly
ash slurry spill
First Region 4 Superfund Excellence in Site Reuse
Awards given to two Florida communities
American Revitalization and Recovery Act provides
$27 million for cleanups in Southeast
2070
2072
Region 4 supports federal response to
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Closure of Savannah River Site's P
Reactor, first for nuclear weapons
production reactor under CERCLA in
the country
Off-site soil cleanup around Cabot/
Koppers site in Florida
Region 4 hosts record-setting EPA
Community Involvement Training
Conference
Redevelopment at Fort Gillem establishes
largest logistics hub in Atlanta
&EPA
-------
Taking Action, Safeguarding Healthy
Communities
2015 PROJECT HEADLINES
Final Cleanup of Maxey Flats Former Nuclear
Disposal Area Underway in Kentucky
Region 4 has worked closely with state agencies to ensure the
proper closure and long-term care of the Maxey Flats Nuclear
Disposal site, protecting public health and the environment. The
facility accepted radioactive waste from 1963 to 1977. In June
2015, Director Franklin E. Hill joined Kentucky Governor Steve
Beshear and state and local officials to shovel the first load of dirt
onto the synthetic liner that will serve as part of the nuclear waste
site's permanent protective cap.
"This is a good day for Kentucky as one of our biggest environmental challenges is being properly dealt with, keeping
our citizens and our environment safe from the radioactive disposal done here in the past," Governor Beshear said. "This
action is being taken to ensure the safety of our citizens and our environment near the disposal site." At $35.2 million,
the project is the largest state-funded environmental cleanup effort ever completed in the Commonwealth. The final
capping plan includes installation of a permanent vegetative cap, permanent surface water control features and surface
monuments to identify the locations of buried waste. Cap construction is projected to wrap up in November 2016.
Rapid Response to Train Derailment and Fire
in Tennessee Keeps Community Safe
On July 2, 2015, a CSX train carrying the extremely flammable
and toxic chemical acrylonitrile derailed and caught fire near the
Tennessee community of Maryville. Local authorities evacuated
about 5,000 residents. Region 4 emergency responders mobilized
rapidly, conducting air and water quality monitoring and
providing technical, operational and community support to state
and local response agencies.
After the fire was extinguished on July 3, residents were allowed back into their homes. About 4,000 tons of contaminated
soil were excavated for off-site disposal. The breached tank car was decontaminated and rail service was restored. The
Tennessee Department of Environmental Quality continues to monitor the area.
-------
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. 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.
Alabama Partnership Leads to Summer Camps Supporting Healthy Communities
As part of a OneEPA partnership, Region 4 Superfund participated in a series of summer camps in North Birmingham,
Alabama. The goal of the camps was to help youth learn about healthy living, making a difference in their community
and nearby environmental activities. More than 120 children took part in games, demonstrations and giveaways. In small
groups, children rotated through five stations (climate change/energy, healthy homes/lead, asthma, water quality awareness
and healthy soil). A partnership between the City of Birmingham and Region 4 made the summer camps possible.
Protecting Children's Environmental 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
J for future generations. Children represent 25 percent of our
population but 100 percent of our future.
-------
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CLEANUP
Community involvement is a core component of the Superf und process, and for good reason. Nationally, one
in four people live within four miles of a Superf und N PL site. Early and meaningful community participation
during Superfund cleanups not only gives the public the ability to inform site cleanups and how people are
affected by Superfund process; the collaboration also produces better outcomes for everyone, including the
environment.
Region 4 works 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. 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.
Collaboration at the Kerr-McGee Chemical Site Addressing Community Priorities
The 14th Avenue Ditch Improvement Project demonstrates how a partnership among environmental regulators, local
government and community stakeholders can deliver results that benefit public health, the environment and communities.
Next to the Kerr-McGee Chemical site in Columbus, Mississippi, traffic and stormwater improvements along 14th Avenue
were a longstanding community priority, the result of flooding, safety and contaminant migration issues from the Kerr-McGee
site. Project implementation required significant and ongoing collaboration among federal, state and local stakeholders. The
14th Avenue Ditch Improvement Project was successfully completed in July 2015.
10
-------
2015 conference participants included 447 people on site, 257 people online and a surge in EPA staff attendance 0/277.
Region 4 Hosts Record-Setting 2015 EPA Community Involvement Training Conference
In August 2015, Region 4 hosted EPA's 14th Community Involvement Training Conference, focused on the theme of "Working
to Make a Visible Difference in Communities." This dynamic gathering brought together more than 500 people from EPA and
the Agency's partners and stakeholders working on environmental community involvement, partnerships, stewardship, and
outreach and education programs. The conference also included field trips demonstrating the power of effective community
involvement and cooperative conservation efforts in the Atlanta area, an eco-cafe, exhibits and networking opportunities.
The 2015 conference made history as the largest one to date.
Festival Is Part of Regional Outreach to
Underserved Communities in Southeast Georgia
In September 2015, Region 4 staff joined Georgia Southern
University for its second annual STEM Festival, a community event
celebrating science, technology, engineering and math. Our Mobile
Command Post (left) helped elementary, middle and high school
students learn about Region 4's emergency response activities, while
exploration stations provided hands-on activities for children young
and old. More than 3,000 children and their families participated in
the 2015 STEM Festival.
Did You Know?
EPA's first Community Involvement Training Conference
was held in Boston in 1998. The biennial event brings
EPA staff and stakeholders and partners together to
learn about best practices to enhance community
involvement and engagement.
The three-day conference includes keynote sessions,
exhibits and technology displays, go-minute information
sessions, half- and full-day trainings, and field trips
showcasing community-based projects and programs.
-------
SUPERFUND REDEVELOPMENT
The reuse of Superfund sites returns land to productive use and restores blighted properties,
benefiting surrounding communities - providing job opportunities, sustaining local economies, and
offering recreational and ecological amenities. EPA Region 4 is committed to helping communities
restore Superfund sites as valued assets. Region 4 views the revitalization of communities affected by
contaminated properties as a key part of our mission to protect human health and the environment.
By the end of FY 2015, 96 Superfund sites in the Region were determined to be ready for anticipated
use.
Reclaim, Restore, Reinvent: Creating
Jobs and Cleaner Energy at the
Martin-Marietta, Sodyeco, Inc. Site
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Re Venture Park - a 667-acre
renewable energy industrial park - is bringing together
innovative businesses that will create hundreds of new jobs.
Forsite Development is converting industrial building space
into a business park focused on energy efficiency, renewable
energy and environmental technology. The project is home
to biomass combined heat-and-power projects, an algae-
to-fuel pilot plant, an all-electric truck company, an energy
efficiency training firm, a plastics recycler and a 35-acre
aquaculture project, among others. In total, new investments
on site exceed $14 million.
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.
EPA's Superfund and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act programs and state agencies worked closely with
Forsite Development, Clariant Corporation, the owner, and community partners to clean up the area and support its
return to productive use. Clariant Corporation and Forsite Development focused on making sure reuse plans were
compatible with the cleanup. The companies committed to maintaining the remedy and putting land use controls in
place for commercial and industrial uses. By reclaiming, restoring and reinventing this industrial area, Re Venture
Park serves as a national model for innovative redevelopment. It is one of the leading renewable and clean 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.
Environmental stewardship is also an
integral part of the project. The area's
natural resources will be enhanced by a
185-acre conservation easement, wildlife
habitat projects, stream restoration and
a trail system connecting the regional
Carolina Thread Trail to the nearby U.S.
National Whitewater Center.
CAR9LINA
THREAD
TRAIL
12
-------
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Helping healthy, sustainable and equitable communities is a priority of the federal government. Making
a visible difference in communities for all Americans is one of EPA's top priorities. Every day, Region 4
works to improve the health of American families and protect the environment.
Environmental justice plays a key role in an integrated effort that addresses housing, environment,
transportation and health issues. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live, work, play and learn in a
clean, 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.
Region 4's Superfund and Environmental Justice programs collaborate closely to make sure minority,
low income and tribal communities facing disproportionate environmental risks have opportunities
for meaningful participation in environmental decision-making. We also coordinate closely with EPA
headquarters and states to support initiatives that provide all people living near Superfund sites with
technical assistance, training opportunities and other services.
Landmark Environmental Justice Efforts in
Region 4
Spartanburg, South Carolina:
In 1997, the Forest Park and Arkwright neighborhoods were
surrounded by two Superfund sites, six brownfields and an active
chemical plant. Community organization ReGenesis, led by Harold
Mitchell - now a South Carolina state representative - set out to
improve local quality of life and address the root of the problems.
In 1997, ReGenesis received an environmental justice small grant of
$20,000 from EPA. Over time, city, county, state and federal agencies
became involved. Since then, Spartanburg has turned that grant into
more than $270 million in local investments.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy visiting
Spartanburg in June 2015 to learn more about its
national leadership on environmental Justice issues.
Today, community health centers, affordable housing and a state-of-
the-art recreation center stand because of the collaborative efforts
of the Superfund and Brownfields programs, the community and a
host of local, state and federal partners. A solar facility is planned
for the site of an old chemical plant. New housing has replaced old, unsafe stock. Community members have been
trained in asbestos abatement - and they found work not just locally, but in Virginia, helping to renovate the Pentagon,
and in New Orleans, where they helped rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
^^Spartanburg is a shining beacon of what's possible when folks impacted by community decisions
have a seat at the table. As the Superfund program celebrates 35 years of revitalizing communities,
I was thrilled to celebrate such an amazing success story because at the core of EPA's mission is
the belief that no matter who you are or where you come from, you have the right to clean air to
breathe, clean water to drink and healthy land to call home. ^
- EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy
&ER&
-------
A New Era of Partnerships =
Collaboration + Experience + Innovation
PARTNERSHIPS
Region 4 works collaboratively with a diverse network of partners - affected communities, states, tribal
and local governments, nonprofits, private sector organizations and other federal agencies - to ensure
the protection of public 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-includingcontracts, 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.
Superfund Cooperative Agreements - A Performance Partnership
EPA's partnerships with state agencies are vitally important to the cleanup and reuse of Superfund sites. Accordingly,
Region 4 Superfund has established performance-based agreements with all eight states in the Southeast Region. These
agreements have helped focus the efforts of EPA and the states on making tangible progress toward site cleanup. In
FY 2015, Region 4 Superfund provided the states with over $4.2 million dollars in cooperative agreement funding for
ongoing remedial projects. The support has allowed the states to join in the site cleanup process from site characterization
through five-year reviews.
Interagency Agreement Strengthens Core Superfund Services
EPA's Superfund program has been working with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers' South Atlantic Savannah (US ACE -
SAS) District to develop a partnership for environmental response that leverages the capabilities and strengths of both
agencies. This includes an acquisition framework to use contracts available to either Agency in support of the Superfund
program and its responsibilities under both CERCLA and the Robert T. Stafford Natural Disaster Act. An interagency
agreement with the USAGE provides the mechanism for access to these capabilities throughout the Region. Architectural
-------
Reg/on 4 staff traveled to Indonesia in 2014 to provide cleanup recommendations for contaminated sites.
and engineering services, remedial action services, and non-time-critical removal services, including design, construction
and oversight assistance, will be available beginning in mid to late 2016.
Building International Capacities by Partnering across EPA Programs
EPA is a world-renowned environmental organization with over three decades of experience in addressing domestic public
health and environmental challenges. Since its inception, the Agency has recognized that domestic action alone is not
enough to fully address environmental concerns. It is in the interest of the United States and its international partners to
share environmental management practices and to achieve the mutual goal of protecting the global commons. International
cooperation is vital to achieving our mission.
EPAs Regional offices help make this possible. In September 2015, Region 4 hosted a delegation from the Indonesian Ministry
of Forestry and the Environment. The study visit was part of implementing a joint Memorandum of Understanding between
EPA and the Indonesian Ministry for Environmental Cooperation. Staff met to share information on EPAs hazardous waste
management, clean water and clean air act programs and cleanup approaches. The Indonesian delegation and Region 4
Superfund Division Director Franklin E. Hill also toured the 35th Avenue Superfund site in Alabama to learn about ongoing
cleanup and soil treatment activities.
EPA-State Joint Review Is Latest in Series of Collaborative Efforts in Central Georgia
Cleanup of this former pesticide production facility near downtown Fort Valley has been complex, tackling contamination
in groundwater, soil, surface water, stormwater, sediment and the air. The remedies included groundwater treatment and
monitoring, soil excavation, treatment and disposal, building demolition, attic and drainage pipe decontamination, and
institutional controls.
Throughout the process, Region 4 has worked closely with the
community and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division
(EPD). Local partnerships have led to remarkable reuses - Peach
County public library, a tourist information center, offices and open
space for community festivals (see right). Most recently, EPA partnered
with Georgia EPD on the sites third five-year review. The project found
that the site's remedies continue to be protective of public health and
the environment. Groundwater treatment is ongoing.
Welcome Center
Fort Valley
Main Street DBA
Peach County
of Commerce
Development Authority
of Peach County
Georgia Peach Festiva
-------
CONTRACTS AND TRAINING
EPA's mission to protect public 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. EPA's culture supports staff growth and development, and is collaborative
and results driven.
New National Contracting Paradigm - The Remedial Acquisition Framework (RAF)
After 20 years of Remedial Action Contracts (RACs), EPA's contracting paradigm is changing. As the current suite of RAG
contracts expires, they will be replaced with a new national contracting approach designed by EPA's Remedial Acquisition
Framework (RAF) Group:
• Design Engineering Services (DES) - for activities requiring professionally licensed and accredited architectural and
engineering staff. DES activities are in support of EPA-lead, PRP, state, tribal and federal facility remediation requirements.
• Remedial Environmental Services (RES) - for remedial and non-time-critical removal action services. The primary
focus of this contract will be EPA-lead remedial action or the site cleanup phase of the process.
• Environmental Services and Operations (ESO) - for remedy operation service in support of response actions. The
primary focus will be for EPA-lead remedy operations. This includes technical assistance and support, PRP and federal
facility project oversight, and remedial action management support for EPA-lead remedial actions.
With national multiple-award contracts, Regions will be able to place task orders to fulfill their requirements selecting from
a broad pool of highly qualified and capable service providers. The Region 4 Superfund program is a strong supporter of the
new contracting paradigm. Demonstrating our commitment to the process, we have provided a large cadre of skilled and
dedicated staff to assist the Agency in executing the new suite of contracts in a timely manner.
16
-------
Participants at the ERRS
contract signing.
2015 Contract Awards Maintain Key Region 4 Response Capabilities
In 2015, Region 4 awarded two Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contracts, three Emergency &
Rapid Response (ERRS) contracts and one Enforcement Support Services contract (ESS). The START and ERRS contracts provide
emergency response support services to Superfund on-scene coordinators and have a potential value of over $100 million and a
five-year performance period. The ESS supports the Superfund Enforcement and Information Branch and has a maximum contract
value of $4 million over five years. This unprecedented number of contract awards reflects the diligent and collaborative efforts of
both Superfund and acquisition management staff.
Trainings Enhance Field Readiness of Region 4 Superfund Staff
Region 4 Superfund's Science and Ecosystem Support Division hosted several trainings in 2015 to enhance the field readiness of
Superfund staff. A course in field sampling procedures familiarized participants with Region 4 standard operating procedures and
included hands-on exercises. EPAs new Quality Assurance Field Activities Procedure (QAFAP) focuses on quality management
for sampling and non-sampling field activities. Since most Region 4 Superfund staff are field personnel, the training provided both
professional development and met programmatic requirements. The QAFAP incorporates document control, records management,
field personnel training, sample and environmental data management, field documentation, field equipment, planning investigations,
reports, internal audits and corrective actions. Region 4 SESD also hosted a three-day Introduction to Environmental Geophysics
course in October 2015. Through the OSWER training program, an additional six courses were offered in Region 4 during 2015,
and at least 11 training courses are scheduled for Region 4 in 2016.
2016 Superfund Symposium to Strengthen Partnerships, Focus on Innovation
Recognizing the importance of sustaining strong working relationships among all of our partners, Region 4 has committed to
hosting the 2016 Superfund Contractor Technical Symposium. The gathering will bring together the Region's contractor community
with EPA and other federal agencies to share innovative technologies and cleanup strategies. Focus areas will include sustainability,
green remediation, cleanup optimization, community engagement and other topics.
-------
PUBLIC ACCESS TO
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
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.
OneEPA Effort Strengthens Community Access to Environmental Information Resources
OneEPA has been designed to improve knowledge sharing across EPA. It ensures that communities, regulated entities
and other stakeholders have access to the best environmental information resources possible. "OneEPA Web" is a
critical element of this work, transforming and restructuring EPA's website to focus on key environmental topics, while
helping Web users quickly find accurate and up to date information. Since EPA relies on its website as one method to
effectively communicate with many audiences, this work will allow EPA to present consistent Agency messages and
communicate information with one voice.
Region 4 has continued to be at the forefront of this effort, leading an Agency- wide effort to update and refine relevant
Superfund-related content for our target audiences, while providing easier access to information about Superfund and
all the work being done to protect human health and the environment. In addition, during this transition, Region 4
has continued to provide impacted communities with comprehensive information resources on work and progress
across the Southeast, posting information online on a timely basis and highlighting regional work at Superfund sites.
EJSCREEN: A Tool for Putting Environmental Justice into Action
To better meet the Agency's responsibilities related to the protection
of public health and the environment, EPA has developed a new
environmental justice (EJ) mapping and screening tool called
EJSCREEN. It is based on nationally consistent data and an approach
that combines environmental and demographic indicators in maps
and reports.
Region 4 Superfund will ensure that program staff are well trained and
use EJSCREEN to identify communities with environmental justice
concerns and assign appropriate resources to address them. These resources may include enhanced communication
with communities, assistance with Community Advisory Groups and Technical Assistance Grants, and coordination
with enforcement planning efforts to make sure environmental justice concerns are considered in cleanup and cost
recovery negotiations.
To learn more about EJSCREEN, please visit http://www.epa.gov/ejscreen.
18
-------
Advancing Environmenta
Protection
Final Cleanup Makes Vital Difference in Camilla, Georgia
Cleanup and reuse of the Camilla Wood Preserving Company site, a former wood-treating facility, was
a top community priority. "Cleaning it up and then fencing it off and forgetting about it didn't make
any sense," recalled former Camilla Mayor Jay Powell. "This is a large area right next to downtown.
We saw an opportunity to turn a big negative into a big plus."
The community worked closely with Region 4 on its
reuse plans for the western part of the site, making
sure the remedy would be compatible with recreational
uses. In 2007, the City of Camilla turned 25 acres into
soccer fields and a recreation complex. Construction of
the final remedy for the eastern part of the site finished
in November 2015. Following cleanup, the community
plans to use the area for additional recreation facilities.
Florida Site Efforts Focus on Long-Term
Protectiveness and Reuse
In Pensacola, Florida, Region 4 listened carefully to the
community's public health concerns and responded
comprehensively. Cleanup of the Escambia Wood Treating
Company site has included emergency response, relocation
of families from surrounding neighborhoods, and long-
term remedies for site soils and groundwater. Starting in the
mid-1990s, EPA worked with local stakeholders to create
a revitalization vision that includes a buffer area between
redevelopment and a local church. In 2015, the community
is fulfilling a vision 20 years in the making; Escambia County
will take ownership of 70 acres of EPA-owned property and
create a commerce park.
Removal of the last part of "Mt. Dioxin,"
a huge pile of contaminated soil at the
Escambia Wood Treating Company site.
&ER&
-------
South Carolina Emergency Response
Tackles Landfill Fire and Asbestos
Waste
After responding to a fire at Bennett Landfill, Region
4 and its partners - the South Carolina Department
of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC),
and the Emergency Management Agencies of Union
and Chester Counties - evaluated the area and
conducted air monitoring, sampling and surveying.
In collaboration with SCDHEC and the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Region 4
also hosted several availability sessions to address
stakeholders' concerns. The project team then
moved forward with cleanup - compacting and
encapsulating still-smoldering parts of the landfill
{right) and addressing asbestos waste. The cleanup
finished in the fall of 2015.
N Mercury Spill Cleanup in Georgia
In February 2015, EPA was notified that three
| adolescents discovered containers of mercury
in a basement, played with the mercury and
carried the material outside. The incident
was discovered the next day, when a teacher
noticed free mercury in the hair of one of the
adolescents. The child's blood mercury level
exceeded health-based limits. Several homes,
a yard and a public roadway had substantial
mercury contamination.
Region 4 staff responded to the scene, providing assessment and cleanup support to state and local
response and health organizations. Over the course of several weeks, EPA contractors conducted
decontamination, excavation and demolition activities to make sure homes were safe for residents. In
all, more than 400 cubic yards of contaminated debris and soil, 275 gallons of contaminated liquid, and
75 pounds of free mercury were removed.
Removal Action in North Carolina Protects Public Health, Potential Reuse
A metal plating business at the Blue Ridge Plating site in Asheville closed down in 2014. A site assessment
after its closure discovered asbestos-containing construction materials, containers of hazardous
substances and even possible explosives. Cleanup included building demolition, management of
asbestos-containing materials, removal and disposal of thousands of gallons of hazardous liquids, and
disposal of more than 3,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil. In addition to protecting public health
and the environment, the removal action has cleared the way for the site property's potential sale and
reuse. To help pay for the cleanup, the site's PRPs entered into a cost recovery agreement with EPA; they
agreed to pay $150,000 plus proceeds from the future sale of the property.
20
-------
EPA Assistant Administrator Mathy Stanislaus
Joined Region 4 management on a tour of sites -
including the 35th Avenue site - where the Agency
is making a visible difference in communities.
Alabama Cleanup Tackling Soil Contamination, Restoring Residential
Properties
The 35th Avenue Superfund site in Birmingham,
Alabama, includes parts of three North Birmingham
communities - Collegeville, Fairmont and Harriman
Park - affected by nearby industrial activities. After
sampling found about 400 properties with soil
contamination above acceptable levels, a multi-
phase removal action to protect public health and the
environment began in 2014. Phase 3, which began in
January 2015, focused on reducing cancer risk from
soil in the three communities. Phase 4 began in July
2015; it focuses on cleaning up remaining residential
properties. Since February 2014, EPA has addressed
145 properties, including three schools and two low-income apartment complexes. As of October
2015, more than 30,000 tons of contaminated soil have been removed and landfilled off site. To address
community concerns, answer questions and provide information, Region 4 staffs a Community Center
in downtown Birmingham five days a week.
Oil Response Scenario in Tennessee
Builds Capacities, Tests Preparedness
In June 2015, Region 4 staff kicked off a challenging
oil response scenario - a government initiated
unannounced exercise (GIUE) - in Chattanooga.
The exercise focused on a small (2,100-gallon)
discharge of oil from piping at an oil storage facility
into the Tennessee River. This facility stores over 14
million gallons of heavy oils and is regulated under
EPAs oil pollution prevention regulations. The
facility's response team and OSRO (a contracted oil spill removal organization) responded. The OSRO
deployed a containment boom into the Tennessee River and provided recovery devices and provisions
for the storage of "recovered oil." Region 4 staff initiated the GIUE, observed the facility's response and
provided exercise feedback following its completion.
Spill Cleanup in Central Kentucky Restores Water Quality
A crude oil spill near Glasgow, Kentucky, in 2014 saturated parts of Beaver Creek. After trenching
operations indicated the source was a nearby abandoned well, Region 4 and the Kentucky Department
of Environmental Protection worked together to plug the well. Due to extensive limestone cave systems
in the area, more than 80,000 gallons of cement were required to properly plug the well to land surface.
The Oil Program: Preventing, Preparing and Responding
The goal of the Region's oil spill prevention and removal program is to work cooperatively with the
oil industry and other governmental agencies to reduce the number, size and 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.
&ER& 21
-------
Cleanup Milestone Achieved at Savannah River Site
Cleanup of this federal facility, a former nuclear
weapons complex in Aiken, South Carolina, is
protecting public health while providing hundreds of
local jobs. Part of the cleanup includes safely closing
massive underground storage tanks that once contained
radioactive high-level waste. In September 2015, final
pouring of grout into Tank 16 was completed, ahead
of schedule. It is the seventh underground radioactive
high-level waste storage tank operationally closed at
the site, and the fifth tank closed since 2012.
"This continuing work will make the surrounding community and the environment safe for decades,"
noted EPA project manager Jon Richards. "EPA is committed to working with DOE, the state and the
community to finish the work of closing the high-level radioactive waste tanks and completing the
cleanup of several other operable units. The work requires a skilled workforce from the community
as well as the concerted effort of federal, state and local agencies to protect human health and the
environment."
Workers placed nearly 6,300 cubic yards of grout into the Tank 16 primary tank and systems from June
through September. Closure is the culmination of several extensive preparation and isolation activities,
where the placement of grout to fill up the entire tank and all internal tank components is the final step.
Tank 16 is also the first closure of a Type II tank. Type II tanks are among the oldest at the site, having been
constructed between 1955 and 1956. Tank 16 is 85 feet in diameter and has a storage capacity of about
1 million gallons. Tank 16 was closed ahead of the October 27, 2015, deadline in the Federal Facility
Agreement (FFA) between DOE, EPA, and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
Control.
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 N 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 NPL 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 N PLsites.
22
-------
SUPERFUND ENFORCEMENT
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 $18.2 million in taxpayer funds to the Agency and reached
agreements with potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to conduct $267 million in cleanup work in
2015. Our enforcement program continues to identify and implement best practices to expedite site
cleanups and optimize PRP-lead removals and remedial investigations.
2015 Agreements Enable Alabama Cleanup,
Reimburse EPA for Past Costs
The Capitol City Plume site encompasses nearly 50 city blocks in downtown
Montgomery, Alabama. At the request of the City of Montgomery, EPA delayed
finalizing the site on the NPL and has been in negotiations with the City, the
State of Alabama and several PRPs (the Downtown Environmental Alliance)
to defer future cleanup under state authority, while ensuring EPA cleanup
objectives are met, community concerns are addressed and EPAs past costs
are reimbursed. On September 30, 2015, several documents were executed to
complete this process - a Memorandum of Understanding between EPA and
the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) outlines
agency roles and responsibilities, a Work Agreement between ADEM and
the Alliance enables response actions at the site, and a Past Cost Settlement
Agreement between EPA and the Alliance resolves EPAs outstanding response
costs and reflects a settlement of $2.6 million.
Florida Cleanup Moving Forward Following
EPA-PRP Negotiations
In March 2015, EPA finalized a Consent Decree with PRPs for the cleanup of
the Orlando Gasification Plant site, which is located near downtown Orlando.
Under the agreement, the PRPs will clean up site soils and groundwater
and reimburse EPA for its costs. Coal tar waste product handling at the site
led to the contamination. Site PRPs are currently completing groundwater
investigations and developing remedial design documents for the cleanup
of site soils. Both residents and businesses use the public water system for
drinking water. Through ongoing investigations and groundwater monitoring,
EPA, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the site's PRPs
continue to protect people and the environment from site contamination.
"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 of EPA's costs and make
sure PRPs conduct investigations and
cleanup under enforceable orders.
&ER& 23
-------
Science and Sustainability:
Pioneering for the Future
GREEN REMEDIATION
Cleaning up a Superfund 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 proven green
remediation solutions. 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.
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.
Materials
Waste
Energy
Core
Land & Elements
Ecosystems
24
-------
Region 4 Superfund's Green Team in Action in 2015
Region 4 Superfund's "Green Team" shares and enhances knowledge on
sustainability-related issues for Superfund and site cleanup activities, including
green remediation approaches and best practices. During the past year, team
members developed a "green" survey of Region 4 staff to identify best practices,
project highlights and training needs. The team also developed educational
materials on pollinator protection and habitat enhancement, and participated
in the Region 4 Sustainability Forum. In addition, the team developed materials
for the Region's first Sustainability Day in November 2015.
Region 4 Evaluation Guides Innovative Federal
Facility Cleanup near Atlanta
Cleanup planning for Fort Gillem, a former U.S. Army base in Forest Park,
Georgia, has identified several opportunities to use green and sustainable best
management practices. Based on ASTM and Interstate Technology Regulatory
Council guidance, these opportunities include soil and groundwater sampling
technologies that require less materials and energy and generate less waste, as
well as a remediation method - enhanced bioremediation - that will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate cleanup.
Sustainability
The concept that everything we
need for our survival and well-being
depends, either directly or indirectly,
on our natural environment.
Sustainability is important to making
sure that we have - and will continue
to have - the water, materials and
resources to protect human health
and our environment.
Other EPA efforts in the area
of Sustainability practices and
approaches include labeling green
products and promoting green
chemistry and engineering, managing
materials rather than creating
waste, using green infrastructure
to manage stormwater runoff, and
supporting the sustainable design of
communities.
Cleanup and redevelopment are taking place simultaneously. At up to 8 mill/on square feet, the redevelopment of the former base at
Fort Gillem represents a chance to build Atlanta's largest logistics hub. Development activities for the Gillem Logistics Center in 2015
have included building removal (left and center) and site preparation (right). Grocery retailer Kroger has also Invested $175 million in a
new distribution center and warehouse on site, creating 120 jobs. Video link: https://vimeo.com/ij2922224
-------
SCIENCE, RESEARCHJECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
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 Superf und 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
> EPA's Scientific Integrity Policy
The Agency's ability to protect human health and the environment depends on high-
quality science. In January 2015, EPA published its updated Scientific Integrity Policy,
which provides a framework intended to ensure scientific integrity throughout EPA and
promote scientific and ethical standards. In Region 4, our Scientific Support Section
makes sure that the science used to support remedial decisions is sound and has
integrity, that proper quality control and quality assurance measures are in place, and
that sampling approaches and data evaluation are free from unintentional bias.
^ RARE Project Underway - Urban Background Study
Region 4 is leading an innovative urban contaminant background study. Funded by EPA's
Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) grant, surface soil sampling is planned in 11
cities across the Southeast. Soil samples from any large, long-established city are expected
to contain elevated levels of certain metals and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs) 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 without background data.
The project will serve as a pilot effort that will hopefully inform development of regional
and national urban background databases.
^ New Technical Guides and Training for Vapor Intrusion
After several years of work, EPA has issued final technical guides for vapor intrusion
for both petroleum and non-petroleum volatile organic compounds. Region 4 staff
served on the team that developed the documents. The guides cover any site in the
Superfund, RCRA, Brownfields or Underground Storage Tank programs where vapor
intrusion may be of potential concern. Both guides are applicable to residential and
non-residential settings. Region 4 staff has provided one-on-one and group trainings
on these new guides and continues to provide technical support on site-related vapor
intrusion issues.
Surface so/I sampling for the
RARE urban background study,
September 2015.
26
-------
^ The TAGA Bus in Region 4
The Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) bus is a self-contained mobile
laboratory capable of real-time sampling and analysis in the low parts-per-billion
level of outdoor air or emissions from various environmental sources and concerns.
In addition, the TAGA has specialized sampling equipment for measuring indoor air
and at remote locations.
Region 4 worked with EPAs Environmental Response Team (ERT) to use the TAGA
at several sites to get real-time air data to help our risk assessors and risk managers
determine if vapor intrusion is occurring and, if so, locating the potential source
of the contamination. The TAGA bus can save a lot of time and expense in ruling
out potential vapor intrusion locations when many properties need to be evaluated
or when immediate results are needed to determine potential human exposures to
contaminated air.
.
The TAGA mobile lab collecting an
ambient air sample.
Installation of an injection well for groundwater
cleanup at the Flash Cleaners site.
^ Cleanup Innovations: Molecular Biological Tools
The use of molecular biological tools for remediation has steadily increased
in the past several years, with the application of recent research continuing
to bear fruitful results. Cleanup of the Flash Cleaners Superfund site,
a former dry-cleaning facility in Pompano Beach, Florida, is a striking
example. Enhanced bioremediation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-
contaminated groundwater started with a basic census of the microbial
population in the groundwater. The remedial design specified the addition
of PCE-consuming bacteria and appropriate nutrients. A short four years
later, the groundwater is nearly clean.
Region 4 staff also participated in the Battelle Bioremediation Conference
and immediately used information from the forum to revise sampling
and analysis plans at two other sites to assess the bacterial populations'
viability for groundwater remediation. These in-place treatment methods
often have lower capital costs and lower operation and maintenance costs
when compared to other remedial actions.
^ Updated Contaminant Screening and Training
EPA and other agencies continually evaluate the toxicity of contaminants and provide regular updates through the Regional
Screening Level and Regional Removal Management Level tables. Recently, the toxicity of trichloroethylene (TCE) - a
colorless liquid typically used in industrial processes and a frequent contaminant at Superfund sites - has been revised
to a more conservative screening number for the inhalation pathway. This has had the largest impact in vapor intrusion
evaluations, especially when women of child-bearing age are present. Scientific Support Section staff explained the toxicity
information and provided training on the use of the more conservative screening value at Region 4 Superfund sites.
What Is Vapor Intrusion?
Vapor intrusion is a process by which chemicals volatile from impacted soil or groundwater beneath a building and diffuse
toward regions of lower chemical concentration (e.g., the atmosphere, conduits, basements).
&ER& 27
-------
ECOLOGICAL PENALIZATION
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 2015,18 sites in Region 4 are in planned or actual ecological reuse.
Pollinator Health: Showcasing Habitat Resources Across the Southeast
Pollinators contribute substantially to our national economy, playing a significant role in the production of over 150
food crops, and are vital to our national ecological systems. In support of the President's National Strategy to Promote
the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, Region 4 Superfund has been at the forefront of working to identify
opportunities and provide resources to help incorporate pollinator-friendly native plantings as part of site cleanup,
long-term stewardship and reuse activities. This work will help EPA measure the Superfund program's progress towards
meeting the national strategy objective of tracking the total acreage of pollinator-friendly habitat created and protected
at Superfund remedial sites. Region 4 is also working to expand opportunities to include pollinator-friendly plantings in
green remediation and green infrastructure activities.
In Region 4, hundreds of acres at Superfund sites have already been planted with pollinator-friendly habitat as a result of
cleanup and restoration activities. Region 4 has developed communication materials - posters and a series of fact sheets
- to showcase existing pollinator-friendly habitat at Superfund sites across the Southeast and to support future efforts to
create and restore additional habitat for pollinators at Superfund sites. For example, at the TVA Kingston Ash Recovery
Project in Tennessee, a fact sheet highlighted how ecological revitalization activities have resulted in the reestablishment
of over 60 acres of pollinator-friendly habitat at a formerly disturbed area.
„..
28
-------
FY 2015 AWARDS
In 2015, the remarkable efforts and dedication of EPA Region 4 staff were recognized with a range of
national and regional awards.
Award Type
Title
Description
National Honor Awards
Notable Achievement
Awards
Regional Bronze A wards
Additional Recognition
James W. Craig Pollution
Prevention Leadership
National Exemplary
Leadership in Records
Management
Superfund Individual of the
Year
Superfund Advancing
Innovation and Sustainability
in Cleanup Practice
Hart Oil Response Team
FortGillem Vapor Intrusion
Team
Region 4 Superfund Technical
Assistance and Response
Team
Sycamore Point Mercury
Emergency Response Team
North Birmingham Air
Toxics and Children's Health
Community Initiative Team
LWD Superfund Site
Enforcement Team
Hercules, Inc. Superfund Site
Enforcement Team
Eden Coal Ash Spill
Enforcement Team
Milan Army Ammunition Plant
Team Award
Environmental Justice and Air
Permitting Training Workshop
Exemplary Administration of
2014 Region 4 Reorganization
Process
Exceptional enforcement work eliminating future sources of pollution.
Innovation in records management and ensuring public access to
essential Superfund information.
Commitment to service, technical excellence and teamwork in Superfund
environmental chemistry.
Work in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to transform abandoned wood-treating
facility into animal shelter and community center.
Innovative, exceptional work in response to significant release of crude oil
in Kentucky.
Diligent engagement supporting development of vapor intrusion plan and
implementation.
Dedicated efforts ensuring continuity of services for Region's Emergency
Response and Removal program through a OneEPA approach.
Exemplary response to largest residential mercury spill in Region's history.
Exceptional skill in communicating complex scientific information to
community members in North Birmingham, Alabama, and expertise in
adapting outreach and education materials and delivery methods.
A model in PRP negotiation and settlement efficiency.
Extraordinary response to municipal sewer collapse and accelerated
cleanup in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Exemplary communication and collaboration at coal ash spill in Eden,
North Carolina.
Remedy work that establishes national cleanup standard for RDX, a
munitions-related contaminant, and restores groundwater to unrestricted
use.
Outstanding collaboration to deliver high-quality training to
environmental justice stakeholders in North Birmingham, Alabama, and
Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Exemplary administration of Region 4 reorganization process, embracing
EPA as a high-performing organization.
&ER& 29
-------
FY 2015 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 make site reuse possible.
From Toxic Waste to Restored Ecological
Habitat and Community Recreation
In recognition of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)'s cleanup,
ecological restoration and community revitalization efforts at the
Kingston Ash Recovery Project site, EPA Region 4 awarded TVA
our Excellence in Site Reuse award in June 2015,
Since 1955, TVAhas operated apowerplantin Kingston, Tennessee.
In December 2008, a containment dike for coal fly ash failed,
creating a wave of water and ash that choked the Emory River,
disrupted electrical power, ruptured a gas line, covered a railway,
and necessitated the evacuation of a nearby neighborhood. EPA,
TVA, and state and local agencies responded immediately. The
cleanup's objectives were to ensure that it was protective of public
health and the environment, employed sound science, and took place quickly and safely. TVA removed contaminated
sediments, stabilized perimeter walls, and restored habitat. To date, the health of the river is improving much faster than
expected. There are no unacceptable risks to public health or the environment.
TVAs extensive ecological restoration efforts went far beyond cleanup requirements. Today, diverse natural habitats
provide an interconnected ecosystem that supports a wide range of wildlife and allows for recreation. Rehabilitated
Revegetatlon of over 50 acres of shoreline and wetland
habitat used special native seed mixes. Several varieties
of wetland shrubs were also planted and are now well
established.
Left to right: Cleanup work, cap Installation, and a before and after view of the Middle Embayment area at the TVA Kingston site.
30
-------
FY 2015 AWARDS
wetlands and river ecosystems are home to fish, amphibians, birds and pollinators. These areas are also now part of the 32-
acre Lakeshore Park. The community park has walking trails, a boat ramp and dock, fishing piers, canoe launches, restroom
facilities, and a pedestrian bridge.
TVA's community support and outreach activities have also been remarkable. Over more than six years, TVA has invested
$1.178 billion to protect public health and environment. TVA funding has been used to build new public schools and a
wastewater treatment plant and to rehabilitate a historic theater. Future land uses planned for the area include a sports
complex, an emergency response center and a volunteer fire station for the Swan Pond Community. At the Kingston Ash
Recovery Project site, TVA went above and beyond in its support of a comprehensive cleanup, ecological restoration and
broader community revitalization.
Continued Use and Mixed-Use Revitalization in Northeastern Florida
Region 4 also awarded the City of Jacksonville and several community organizations our 2015 Excellence in Site Reuse award
in recognition of their cleanup and redevelopment work at the Jacksonville Ash and Brown's Dump sites in Jacksonville,
Florida. Years of coordinated efforts have transformed four once-contaminated areas into safe places for locals to live, shop,
work and play.
The Jacksonville Ash site covers three areas where the City of Jacksonville deposited incinerator ash. The Forest Street and
5th & Cleveland incinerators operated from the early 1900s until the 1960s, and Lonnie C. Miller, Sr. Park received ash and
residue. The Brown's Dump site is a fourth incinerator ash deposit location. EPA is addressing the four sites through the
Superfund Alternative Approach. Cleanup efforts have included soil removal, surface covers and institutional controls to
prevent contact with contaminated soils.
The City of Jacksonville worked with EPA on an approach that would allow residential and commercial uses to continue
during cleanup. Community facilities - a public park, a middle and high school, and two elementary schools - also remained
open throughout. The school properties were cleaned up during the summer months when students were on their break. The
cleanup has spurred new development as well. The sites now support an animal care center, several residential developments,
a church, community centers and the 11-court MaliVai Tennis Center. Future plans include additional park facilities.
Animal care facility, tennis courts at the Emmett Reed Park sports complex and community center, and Darnell-Cookman Middle/High
School.
&ER& 31
-------
FY 2015 AWARDS
Collaborative Efforts in Mississippi Recognized
with State Excellence Award
In April 2015, Region 4 recognized the Mississippi Department
of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) with our Excellence in State
Engagement Supporting Reuse Award. MDEQ's collaborative efforts
to support and encourage the appropriate reuse of Superfund sites
across Mississippi have included a variety of approaches, including
offering assistance in reuse planning processes and implementing
environmental covenants. Mississippi's efforts to develop a process
and template to streamline placement of restrictive covenants
on Superfund site properties in the state ensures that remedial
actions remain protective as sites are returned to productive use.
Collaboration among MDEQ, EPA, site owners and communities
is generating success stories and paving the way for future reuse.
MDEQ's Trey Hess (right) accepting the award from
Region 4 Superfund Division Director Frank/in E. Hi/I and
Robin Richardson, EPA's Deputy Director of the Office of
Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation.
The Economic Impacts of Region 4
Superf und's Work
Superfund sites across Region 4 are home to commercial
facilities, retail centers, government offices and residential
areas. Many sites continue to host industrial and
manufacturingoperations. Others are parks, recreation areas
and wildlife refuges. On-site businesses and organizations
on current and former Region 4 Superfund sites provide
over 11,500 jobs and contribute an estimated $627 million
in annual employment income for residents across the
Southeast. Restored on-site properties in Region 4 generate
about $6.1 million in annual property tax revenues for local
governments.
Making a Visible Difference in Communities
EPA Region 4's Davis Timber site team worked with the
community of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to support the
transformation of an abandoned wood-treating facility
into an animal shelter and community center. The Longleaf
Recreational Trail (right) runs alongside the site, connecting
the area with downtown Hattiesburg.
32
-------
FY 2016 PRIORITIES
In FY 2016, Region 4 Superfund will remain focused on EPA's priorities for the Agency's future:
Making a Visible Difference in Communities
• Making decisions based on sound science.
• Maintaining a strong enforcement first program.
• Maintaining response readiness.
• Focusing on federal facility oversight.
• Ensuring meaningful community engagement and environmental justice.
• Returning sites to productive use.
Embracing EPA as a High-Performing Organization
• Consolidating changes in organizational structure.
• Adjusting to new systems architecture.
• Implementing a new contracting paradigm.
• Adapting to resource constraints.
• Focusing on the most effective use of resources to protect human health and environment.
Looking Ahead
In FY 2016, Region 4 Superfund will continue to focus on sustaining healthy and vibrant communities. From reducing
children's exposure to lead and mercury contamination to the provision of clean drinking water, Superfund cleanups will
be a leading force in the protection of public health. Through enforcement actions, we will continue to hold polluters
accountable and deter violations that may undermine public and environmental health. Our emergency response program
will respond rapidly to chemical, oil, biological and radiological releases as well as national emergencies, including
homeland security. Across the Southeast, our efforts will continue to make a visible difference in communities, as sites
returned to use support job creation, enhanced property values and tax revenues, and sustainable economic growth.
&ER& 33
-------
lfc,
V
9L
Re
TRHIL
V
t
•I
"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
&EPA
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-15/002 I December 2015 I www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-epa-region-4-southeast
J* ^» Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper
V ^ with minimum 25% post-consumer fiber.
------- |