2016
Region 4 Superfund
Annual Report
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Reaching for the Next Level of
Public Health and Environmental Protection
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CONTENTS
f
1 6 11
Welcome
28
Innovations
A New Era of Partnerships
Region 4 Superfund:
FY 2017 Priorities
Making a Visible Difference in
Communities
Reaching for the Next Level of
Environmental Protection
Cover photos illustrate EPA Region 4 Superfund program activities across the Southeast. See pages 2,11, 21 and 24 for more
information.
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A
WELCOME
In 2016, the EPA Region 4 Superfund program focused on meeting and
learning from the challenges of our time and building on the successes of the
past. It was a year of significant milestones for the Region and our program.
Today, with the 35th anniversary of the Superfund program just past, we
have renewed our efforts to accomplish our mission - protecting the health of all
Americans and safeguarding the environment.
This report goes beyond numbers and accomplishments. It shares how our
program makes a visible difference in the communities we serve, and how we
continually strive to be a high-performing organization through sound science,
transparency, cost effectiveness and collaboration. Using these approaches,
we identify and assess sites across the Southeast that most threaten human
health and the environment. We use innovative approaches and cost-effective
technologies to tackle contamination. We respond rapidly to environmental
emergencies, oil spills and other natural or manmade disasters. We work closely
with communities to address their concerns and support the return of sites
to sustainable and beneficial use. And we seek to hold violators of the law
and polluting parties accountable to ensure that they, and not the taxpayer,
appropriately pay for the consequences of their actions.
This report also provides an opportunity for us to look forward and recommit to
EPA's public health mission, making sure that our communities are healthy places
for our children and grandchildren to learn, grow and play. This is possible only if
we work together. Ensuring that 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, with Region 4
Superfund's skilled and dedicated workforce serving as the foundation for our
efforts.
In the year ahead, we look forward to new ideas and collaborations, building
on Region 4 Superfund's vital community outreach, enforcement and scientific
excellence, fiscal responsibility, and focus on environmental justice as we strive for
the next level of public health and environmental protection.
a In Region 4,
the Superfund
program
makes a visible
difference in
communities
across the
Southeast on a
daily basis. "
Franklin E. Hill
Director
Superfund Division
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Region 4 Superfund
The Region 4 Superfund program plays a vital role
in protecting public health and the environment
in communities across the southeastern United
States. Headquartered in Atlanta, EPA Region 4
serves the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and six
federally recognized tribes.
Recognized regionally and nationally for sustained excellence and innovation in
protecting human health and the environment, Region 4 Superfund responds
rapidly and comprehensively to address environmental emergencies and clean
up some of the nation's worst hazardous waste sites.
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.
2 &EPA
(Sources: EPA Superfund site data,
DeLorme, Esri, First American, Tele
Atlas, United Nations World Con-
servation Monitoring Center, U.S.
Geological Survey)
NORTH CAROLINA
S.OUTH
CAROLINA
FLORIDA
Legend
Superfund Sites
Tribal Lands
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Fiscal Year (FY) 2016:
By the Numbers
Region 4 Superfund is continuously seeking to improve
the performance, protectiveness and cost efficiency
of program activities across the southeastern United
States, making sure communities have access to
transparent, meaningful information and holding
those responsible for cleanup accountable.
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS ACT (GPRA)
PERFORMANCE MEASURE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
100%
100%
Percent of Superfund sites with
settlement or enforcement action
prior to remedial action start
Statute-of-limitation cases
> $500,000 addressed
£k43 |99%S
Superfund-lead and Responsible
Party-lead removal completions with
or without an enforcement action
Remedial site assessment
completions
fa
REGION 4
SUPERFUND
SITE UNIVERSE,
2016
247
National Priorities List
(NPL) sites
23
Sites with Superfund
Alternative
Agreements
60
Removal Action sites
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By the Numbers
GPRA PERFORMANCE MEASURE ACCOMPLISHMENTS - FY 2016
Remedial action project completions
Superfund sites with human health
protection achieved
Superfund sites with groundwater
migration under control
Superfund sites ready for anticipated
use
3
Construction completions
Oil storage facilities subject to
Facility Response Plan (FRP)
requirements in compliance
66°/c
Facilities subject to Spill Prevention,
Control and Countermeasure (SPCC)
regulations in compliance
u The Region 4 Superfund program makes a visible
difference across the Southeast through education,
innovative cleanups and rapid responses to protect
public health and the environment, and by supporting
the reuse of once-contaminated sites. "
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SUPERFUND PROGRAM MEASURES ACCOMPLISHED - FY 2016
rf ~
5
3
Remedial Design
Completions
Deletions
Remedial Investigation/
Feasibility Study (RI/FS)
Starts
Decision Documents
3
Remedial Action Starts
12
Emergency Response
Exercises
2/5
Remedial Design/Remedial
Action (RD/RA) Negotiation
Starts/Completions
11
Remedial Action
Completions
Sites Proposed to the NPL
Remedial Design Starts
~
47
Five-Year Reviews
FRP and SPCC Inspections
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MAKING A VISIBLE
DIFFERENCE IN
COMMUNITIES
SPARTANBURG:
A CLOSER LOOK
In 1997, the Forest Park and
Arkwright neighborhoods were
surrounded by two Superfund sites,
six brownfields and a chemical
plant. Community organization
ReCenesis set out to improve local
quality of life and address the root
of the problems.
Since 1997, when ReCenesis received
a $20,000 environmental justice
grant from EPA, the community has
leveraged more than $300 million in
local investments. Today, in addition
to the planned solar farm, six com-
munity health centers, 500 units
of affordable housing and the C.C.
Woodson Community Center stand
because of the collaborative efforts
of EPA's Superfund and Brownfields
programs, the community, and
local, state, federal and foundation
partners.
r
Headlines from 2016 include efforts in South
Carolina, Mississippi and Georgia as the Region 4
Superfund program makes a visible difference in
communities across the Southeast.
Solar Redevelopment at Former Landfill Recognized
During Clean Energy Summit
Arkwright Dump is a former Superfund site in the Arkwright neighborhood,
located just south of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Following cleanup and
capping, the 30-acre property will soon host 12,000 solar panels that will bring
jobs and a source of clean energy to power almost 500 neighborhood homes.
In August 2016, the first Clean Energy Savings for All Summit was held in
Spartanburg to highlight the successful partnership created by the ReGenesis
Project. ReGenesis is a nonprofit organization that has collaborated with
Region 4, Duke Energy, Solvay, the City of Spartanburg, the South Carolina
Department of Health and Environmental Control, and others to facilitate the
development of the solar facility.
State Representative Harold Mitchell of South Carolina discussing the new ReCenesis
Health Care clinic, one of six community health centers in the area.
Region 4 Superfund Serves as Resource at Georgia
Environmental Conference
In August 2016, representatives from Region 4 Superfund attended the Georgia
Environmental Conference along with over 700 attendees from local, state and
federal governments as well as business and industry leaders. Superfund staff
participated in multiple panels, discussing remediation, redevelopment and
sustainability initiatives. EPA also staffed the Superfund Redevelopment booth
(right), which highlighted information about sites in reuse in Georgia.
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"Better Cleanups Through Superior Collaboration" - Region 4
Superfund Hosts First-Ever Superfund Team Symposium
This April 2016 conference brought EPA's contractor community together
with Region 4 staff to discuss opportunities for collaboration and innovation
on new projects and existing cleanup efforts. The Superfund Team
Symposium included roundtable discussions, panels and breakout sessions
focused on site investigation and characterization, stakeholder engagement,
disaster pre-planning and response, enforcement support services,
remediation technologies, risk assessments, reuse and redevelopment,
lifecycle data management, management of emerging contaminants, project
coordination, and greening cleanups. More than 300 people from Region 4,
other federal agencies and EPA's contractor community attended the two-
day symposium.
Symposium Outcomes in Action:
The Dual Training Workforce Program
The Dual Training Workforce Intern Program (DTWP) was one immediate
outcome of the 2016 Superfund Team Symposium. The DTWP provides
college students with an opportunity to intern with the Region 4 Superfund
program and Superfund contractor Black & Veatch during summer and winter
breaks. The program offers a meaningful work experience similar to what can
be expected after graduation in environmental career fields. As part of the
program, interns are able to develop their scientific knowledge and expertise.
L
Symposium discussions and
outreach efforts.
DTWP Benefits for Student
Interns
Learning from environmental
professionals.
Applying classroom theory.
Performing meaningful work.
Experiencing EPA and
contractor work environments.
DTWP Benefits for Region 4
and Black & Veatch
Creating a diverse pool for
future employment.
Building knowledge and
expertise.
Developing relationships with
colleges and universities.
DTWP interns working in the field and meeting with senior Region 4 Superfund and
Black & Veatch staff.
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Advancing Environmental Justice
EPA defines environmental justice as the fair treatment
and meaningful involvement of all people regardless
of race, color, national origin or income with respect to
the development, implementation and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations and policies.
Region 4's Superfund arid 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.
Region 4 Superfund and Environmental Justice
As a part of Region 4's Environmental Justice Policy, Region 4 Superfund has
developed a procedural manual that outlines how the Division integrates
environmental justice principles into programs, procedures and practices, and assists
in carrying out responsibilities in a way that furthers our commitment to incorporate
environmental justice considerations into our everyday work.
As part of EJ 2020, EPA's environmental justice strategy for 2016-2020, Region 4
Superfund is also tracking reduced human exposures to contamination at hazardous
waste sites, with an emphasis on minority, low-income and vulnerable communities.
Sites are defined as Human Exposure Under Control (HEUC) when there are no
unacceptable human exposure pathways and EPA has determined the site is under
control for current conditions site wide. Region 4 Superfund will report on the
number of facilities and sites with human exposures under control, the number
remaining, and the percent with human exposures under control in communities with
environmental justice concerns.
The H EUC measure is important because, along with Executive Order 12898, it draws
attention to the plight of overburdened and underserved communities surrounded
by hazardous waste sites. Because minority and low-income populations are highly
concentrated in neighborhoods with multiple hazardous waste facilities, they
continue to be particularly vulnerable to negative impacts from these facilities.
" 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.
It's only when we work
together that we will
be able to deliver these
basic rights to every
American, no matter
who they are, where they
live or how much money
they make. Everyone
deserves to have their
health protected
from environmental
exposures.ff
Gina McCarthy
EPA Administrator
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Sustaining Connections with Georgia Communities
Cleanup of the Savannah River Site (SRS) - a 310-square-rnile Superfund N PL site
operated by the Department of Energy - is an ongoing, decades-long process.
Region 4 Superfund is overseeing the cleanup under CERCLA. The cleanup is
protecting public health while providing hundreds of local jobs. Several nearby
communities are potentially impacted by the site, including Shell BiufF in Burke
County, Georgia, just across the Savannah River from the site. Shell Bluff is also
adjacent to Plant Vogtle, an active nuclear power plant.
In August 2016, Region 4 Superfund staff hosted Matthew Tejada, the national
director of EPA's Office of Environmental Justice, for a trip to Shell Bluff. The Georgia
Women's Action for New Direction (Georgia WAN D) extended the invitation to meet
with local leaders and tour the area. Georgia WAN D is an organization that seeks to
direct women's voices into a powerful movement for social change. During the two-
day visit, EPA staff met with representatives from diverse community organizations,
including Spelman College, Harambee House, The Imani Group, Ogeechee
Riverkeeper, neighborhood groups and several area churches. Presentations were
made to the group by Georgia WAN D, Region 4 Superfund staff, Savannah River
Ecology Laboratory (SREL) staff, and Matthew Tejada.
The group also discussed community priorities, including public health and safety,
outreach and education, and economic development. Superfund staff discussed
available Agency resources and emphasized EPA's long-term commitment to
protecting public health and the environment. Superfund is actively engaged with
WAN D and SREL in an outreach and sampling effort for metals and radionuclides
in the area. The program is also conducting a technical needs assessment to help
determine the path forward for the efforts in the Shell Bluff community in 2017.
Shell Bluff resident and Georgia WAND community leader Annie Laura Howard sharing the
history of the Shell Bluff community with Matthew Tejada and tour participants.
A CLOSER LOOK:
Community Engagement
and the Savannah River
Site
Community outreach and
engagement are a vital part
of EPA's activities at the
Savannah River Site, a former
nuclear production plant
in Aiken, South Carolina. In
recent years, Region 4 has
collaborated with the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE)
and The Imani Croup on
community meetings focused
on environmental justice in the
Central Savannah River Area.
The CSRA, as the area is
known, includes 13 counties
in Georgia and five counties in
South Carolina. The meetings
provide area communities
with updates on the site's
cleanup status, focused
on community capacity-
building opportunities
such as the Superfund Job
Training Initiative, and shared
information on technical
assistance grants and
resources.
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Community Engagement and
Public Health
Community involvement is a core
component of the Superfund
process, and for good reason.
Nationally, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau, about 53 million people
live within three miles of a Superfund N PL
site. Early and meaningful community
participation during Superfund cleanups
enables the public to remain informed about
site cleanup actions and how people and the
environment are affected by the Superfund
process. The collaboration also produces
better outcomes for everyone, including the
environment.
Region 4 Superfund 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 approach 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.
Community Coalition in Alabama - Building
Partnerships, Pursuing Opportunities
In North Birmingham, neighborhoods near the former
Walter Coke industrial facility and the 35th Avenue
Superfund site have come 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 supported
the formation of the North Birmingham Community
Coalition, creating a proactive community partner to
work with the Agency.
in February 2016, Coalition members traveled to Atlanta
to participate in a Federal Interagency Working Group on
Environmental Justice meeting. Members learned about
available federal resources; the agencies learned about
the community's history, concerns and priorities. In May
2016, the Coalition shared its Revitalization Action plan
with the Northern Birmingham community. Coalition
priorities include access to health care, community
revitalization and improved housing conditions. The Plan
includes a detailed conditions analysis, implementation
partners and strategic action pians. The Coalition is now
moving forward with the project's next steps.
)
Second graders at Pleasantdale Elementary School in Doraville,
Georgia, celebrating Earth Day in May 2016. Region 4 provided
the class with educational materials; the day's activities
included making Lorax mustaches as a reminder to help the
planet
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Safeguarding Our Future
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 Superfund staff lead
efforts that support Children's Environmental Health (CEH)
across the Southeast, visiting schools, making presentations
at community centers, and sharing information to support
healthy communities and advance environmental protection.
Innovative Youth Outreach in Mississippi Builds
Community Capacities
Cleanup investigations are ongoing at the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation
site, a former wood-treating facility in Columbus, Mississippi. To help local youth
better understand the site's history and sampling activities, Superfund staff
participated in a first-ever outreach event at the Columbus Housing Authority in
2016, Collaboration among Region 4, the Multistate Trust (the site's PRP group)
and J5 (the site's local minority-owned contractor) made the event possible.
Summer Camps in Alabama Support Healthy Communities
For the second year running, Region 4 Superfund was part of a series of
environmental summer camps in North Birmingham, Alabama. More than 450
children participated in 2016. The goal is to help youth learn about healthy
living, making a difference in their community and nearby environmental
activities. An ongoing partnership between the City of Birmingham and
Region 4 makes the summer camps possible. Looking forward, Region 4 is
evaluating opportunities to expand its environmental summer camp series to
several other Alabama locations.
PROTECTING CHILDREN'S
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Children are highly sensitive to
pollution. At EPA, protecting
children from environmental health
risks is fundamental to our vision of
making the world a better place for
future generations.
Children rotated through 12 hands-
on activity stations on a variety of
environmental topics.
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Reuse Matters
Looking to the future at Superfund sites is a powerful
tool. Considering reuse engages communities, helps
protect remedies, fosters long-term stewardship,
identifies opportunities for faster and lower-cost
cleanups, informs land use controls, provides environmental
benefits, and enables economic opportunities as well as
recreational and ecological amenities. These benefits matter.
Nationally, one in four Americans live near a Superfund
National Priorities List site.
Region 4 Superfund is committed to helping communities restore
contaminated sites as valued assets. Region 4 views the revitalization of
communities affected by contaminated properties as a key part of our mission
to protect public health and the environment. By the end of FY 2.016,102
Superfund sites in the Region were determined to be ready for anticipated use.
Reuse Benefits for People and Pets in South-Central Mississippi
At the Davis Timber Company Superfund site near Hattiesburg, site owners,
community organizations and local governments have worked together
with Region 4 and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) on a coordinated approach to the cleanup of this former wood
treatment facility. The approach has linked cleanup and redevelopment, with
a protective remedy and land revitalization as overarching goals.
Today, following cleanup, the site is home to Breland Community Center, the Hub City Humane Society's animal
shelter, the Fields of Barktopia dog park, parking, trail connections and restored habitat for pollinators. "We're really
fortunate to be on the property," said Humane Society Manager Virginia Cheatham. "Especially being able to give
back to the community something that was desperately needed."
12 SEPA
DID YOU KNOW?
Accelerated cleanup of the site
finished in 2012, two months ahead
of schedule and $400,000 under
the project's $4.6 million budget.
This photo shows site wetlands
protected by the cleanup.
Green initiatives during 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 wastewater.
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Sustained Excellence at Martin-Marietta Sodyeco, Inc. Site
ReVeriture Park continues to serve as a national model for adaptive reuse
and innovative redevelopment projects. This facility near Charlotte is one
of the leading renewable and clean energy projects on a Superfund site in
the United States. Region 4's Superfund and Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) programs and the North Carolina Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) have worked closely with
developer Forsite Development, Clariant Corporation, the site's owner, and
state and community partners to clean up the area and support its return to
productive use.
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 a biomass combined heat-and-power
project, an algae-to-fuel pilot plant, a fuels and lubricants distributor, a
liquids tote washing and recycling facility, a composite walls contractor, a
composting operation, greenhouse facility and a 35-acre aquaculture project,
among others. New investments to date exceed $17 million. The developer
recently sold a 10-acre parcel to a medical group that will be breaking ground
on an 8o,ooo-square-foot medical office building in the summer of 2017. This
facility will bring more than $30 million in additional investment to the site.
Region 4 Hosts Biannual Superfund Redevelopment Meeting
in Charlotte
The 2016 gathering brought EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Coordinators
together to discuss current opportunities and lessons learned from
supporting the safe and appropriate reuse of Superfund sites nationwide.
Region 4 Superfund Division Director Franklin E. Hill's opening remarks
focused on community benefits of reuse, including economic revitalization,
sustainability and climate change impact mitigation. The meeting included
intensive discussions focused on communications, outreach and training
tools as well as a visit to ReVenture Park, the innovative business hub at the
nearby Martin-Marietta Sodyeco, Inc. site.
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Duckweed growing in a former
containment point at ReVenture Park,
Duckweed clarifies water by removing
excess nutrients, nitrogen and
phosphates. Duckweed can be used as
a biofuel when dried.
Presentation and group discussion
during the 2016 Superfund
Redevelopment Meeting.
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REACHING FOR THE NEXT
LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
2016 Highlights
Record Settlement Agreement Moves Region 4 Cleanups Forward
EPA recently reached a nationwide settlement agreement with the Kerr-McGee
Corporation and related subsidiaries of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. At
$5.15 billion, it represents the largest recovery for the cleanup of environmental
contamination in U.S. history. The agreement covers more than 2,700 sites in 47
states; three of the four N PL sites are located in Region 4.
Funded by settlement resources, significant progress was made at these three
Kerr-McGee Corporation Superfund sites - as well as a fourth site managed by
Region 4's Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) program - in 2016.
Columbus, Mississippi: Region 4 is currently conducting the RI/FS at this
former chemical manufacturing facility. Region 4 will then issue a proposed
cleanup plan to address any contamination and related risk to people and
the environment.
Navassa, North Carolina: Region 4 and the site's Trustee, the Multistate
Environmental Response Trust, are working with local government and
the community to plan for a cleanup of this former wood-treating facility
that protects public health and can be leveraged for future prosperity. One
future use possibility is locating a Gullah Geechee Heritage Center at this
former rice plantation.
Jacksonville, Florida: Region 4, the site's Trustee and the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection are working closely with
community leaders and site stakeholders to develop a strategy to address
contamination at this 31-acre former pesticide and herbicide manufacturing
facility. The area is currently undeveloped and vegetated with native
grasses and shrubs. EPA issued the Proposed Plan for the site's cleanup in
September 2016.
Meridian, Mississippi: With Region 4 and M DEQ oversight, the Trustee is
completing site investigations and fieldwork that will guide upcoming
RCRA cleanup activities at this former wood-treating facility. Earlier interim
cleanup measures included a bioremediation study and off-site ditch
excavation.
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
hazardous substances.
Region 4 Superfund works closely
with communities and state, tribal
and federal partners to ensure the
protection of human health and the
environment at these sites.
Navassa Mayor Eulis A. Willis and
Region 4 Superfund Division Director
Franklin E. Hill touring the Navassa
site in 2016,
14 SEPA
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Region 4 Sites Proposed for Listing on the NPL, FY 2016
Views of the Velsicol Chemical Corp. site's Smart
Ditch drainage channel.
Former Custom Cleaners (Memphis, Tennessee)
Dry cleaning operations at this site from 1945 to the mid-
1990s contaminated soil, indoor air and groundwater with
tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a dry cleaning solvent.
Post and Lumber Preserving Co. Inc. (Quincy, Florida)
A wood preserving facility operated at this site from 1948
to 1990. Its operations contaminated soil, sediment and
groundwater with pentachlorophenol (PCP), arsenic and
dioxin.
Investigations are ongoing at both sites. Through these efforts,
Region 4 Superfund and state agencies - the Tennessee Department
of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection (FDEP), respectively - will protect
people and the environment from site contamination.
Innovative Project in Tennessee Ensures Long-Term
Protectiveness
In 2016, Region 4 Superfund completed a major remedy upgrade at the
Velsicol Chemical Corp. (Hardeman County) site in Toone, Tennessee. The
site includes an area where Velsicol Chemical Corporation operated a 24-
acre landfill from 1964 to 1973. After the landfill area was capped in 1997, a follow-up survey found that some buried waste
material extended beyond the capped area and improper cap slope created drainage and erosion problems.
Landfill cap extension and drainage improvement construction began in 2015 with installation of mechanically
stabilized earth retaining walls, cap extensions, "Smart Ditch" drainage channels and outfalls. The Smart Ditch is
an innovative alternative to normal rip-rap drainage construction; it provides for better drainage and eliminates the
site's cap erosion issues. In addition, 4 acres of scarred earth from a former on-site borrow area were restored to
ecological use. The area was regraded and planted with native grasses and wildflowers, providing valuable habitat
for pollinators. Use of the grasses and wildflowers also decreases overall maintenance requirements - the area
requires less-frequent watering and mowing - and enhances the remedy by providing erosion control,
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2016 Highlights
Interim Remedy Selected for Site in Western North Carolina
In February 2016, Region 4 Superfund issued an Interim Action
Record of Decision (ROD) for this former electronics components
manufacturing facility in Asheville, North Carolina. The remedy is
a source control action for non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) and
trichloroethene (TCE) in the groundwater beneath the former CTS
plant. It will employ electrical resistance heating and in-situ chemical
oxidation technologies to treat a 3.1-acre area containing 208,250
cubic yards of contaminated material. EPA and the community
worked together to push for a robust source-control strategy that
expanded the treatment area three-fold and the volume five-fold
from CTS Corporation's initial proposal. A Consent Decree has been
successfully negotiated with CTS, Northrup Grumman and the
property owner. Implementation of the remedy is anticipated to start
in 2017.
Final Remedy in Place at Former Manufacturing Facility in
Mississippi
Working with the State of Mississippi, Region 4 completed
construction of the final remedy for the Chemfax, Inc. site in
December 2015. In total, 109,211 tons of contaminated soil and
sediment were removed during the cleanup. A facility on site
produced synthetic hydrocarbon resins and waxes from petroleum
products. Facility operations contaminated groundwater with
benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and naphthalene. Groundwater
sampling will continue into the future to monitor natural attenuation.
Third Annual STEMFest Draws Thousands in
Coastal Georgia and South Carolina
In September 2016, Region 4 Superfund staff joined Georgia Southern
University for its third annual Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math (STEM) Festival. The idea was to provide takeaway learning
so all people could see how STEM relates to their lives and engage
View of the CTS of Asheville, Inc. site.
State of Mississippi, state contractor and EPA
staff inspected the site together in January
2016.
More than 3,000 children and their families
participated in the 2016 STEM Festival.
16 4>EPA
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students iri considering STEM careers. Activities such as "Captain
DECON" exercises helped elementary, middle and high school students
learn about Region 4 Superfund's emergency response activities, while
exploration stations provided hands-on activities for all ages.
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. The site is currently
in Phase 4, which began in July 2015. It focuses on addressing all
remaining residential properties identified for cleanup. To date,
Region 4 Superfund has addressed more than 230 properties,
including three schools and two low-income apartment complexes.
More than 20,000 tons of contaminated soil have been removed and
landfilled off site.
Residential yard cleanup, before and after
(2016).
ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CLEANUP AND REUSE
Following cleanup, Superfund site reuse can revitalize local economies with jobs, new
businesses, tax revenues and spending. EPA recently took a closer look at these benefits.
Superfund sites across Region 4 are home to commercial facilities, shopping centers, offices
and residential areas. Many sites continue to host industrial and manufacturing operations.
Others are parks, recreation areas and wildlife refuges.
On-site businesses and organizations on current and former Superfund sites in Region 4
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.
&EPA 17
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2016 Highlights
Time-Critical Response in North Carolina Protects Public Health
In late 2015, Region 4's Emergency Operations Center received a National
Response Center notification of potential improper demolition activities and
alleged release of asbestos at the Old Davis Hospital site, an abandoned medical
complex in Statesvilie, North Carolina. Region 4 Superfund worked with the
North Carolina Health Hazards Control Unit, the state agency that implements
the asbestos program in North Carolina, to evaluate site conditions.
After investigations identified friable asbestos in two large demolition debris piles
that posed a potential threat to the surrounding community and anyone entering
the site, a time-critical removal action by Superfund in the summer of 2016
mitigated risks associated with the asbestos-containing material in the debris
piles.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
AND REMOVALS:
RESPONDING RAPIDLY,
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
EPA's Superfund Emergency
Response and Removal program
takes action quickly to remove
imminent threats to public health
and the environment.
Whether there is a chemical leak at
a manufacturing facility, a landfill
fire, an uncontrolled oil release or a
natural disaster, Region 4 Superfund
will be there, coordinating closely
with local responders and other
emergency officials.
Region 4 Superfund's time-critical cleanup activities at the Old Davis Hospital site.
&
A CLOSER LOOK: ASBESTOS
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil. Because of its fiber strength and
heat resistance, asbestos has been used in a variety of building construction materials
for insulation and as a fire retardant. Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of
manufactured goods.
Exposure to asbestos increases people's risk of developing lung disease. Friable asbestos-
containing material is any materia! that contains more than one percent asbestos by weight
18 4>EPA
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Spill Response in Central Alabama Protects Natural Resources
In September 2016, Region 4 Superfund responded rapidly to a
310,000-gallon gasoline spill from a ruptured pipeline in Shelby County,
Alabama. The fuel travelled a short distance down a hill into a series of
sediment retention ponds. The ponds trapped the fuel, preventing a
potentially catastrophic discharge to the Cahaba River and Peel Creek.
Region 4 worked closely with the operator, Colonial Pipeline, the Alabama
Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), and the local fire
department and emergency management agency to address the spill.
EPA mobilized On-Scene Coordinators, U.S. Coast Guard Gulf Strike
Team members, and Superfund Technical Assessment and Response
Team members. Superfund performed oversight of removal operations,
and assisted Colonial with a robust safety plan to address the explosive
and toxic vapors given off from the ponded fuel. Vacuum pumps, air-
powered skimmers and air-powered pumps removed the fuel from the
pond. Region 4 Superfund also led a shoreline assessment; Colonial
excavated shorelines where ponded gasoline soaked into the soil.
Colonial excavated the damaged section of pipe in consultation with the
U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Looking forward, Superfund remains engaged with Colonial on the spill
as the operator reconstructs the damaged line in consultation with
PHMSA. Once completed, Colonial will excavate the nearby pipeline.
ADEM will then assume responsibility for the long-term remediation of
the impacted ponds. Water samples from Peel Creek and the Cahaba
River have shown no evidence of gasoline or gasoline components.
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 authorized
under 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
the surface waters of the United States.
Superfund 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 Superfund's oil spill
prevention and removal program is to
work cooperatively 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 pond after removal of gasoline and shoreline excavation.
oEPA
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2016 Highlights
Accident Response Exercises in Georgia Build Capacities
Region 4 Superfund staff participated in the Atlanta Large-Scale Aviation
Accident Response Exercise in February 2016. Held at Georgia Gwinnett
College, the tabletop exercise was sponsored by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Transportation Safety
Board. The exercise tested response capabilities after a large-scale
aviation accident at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Staff participated in breakout discussion groups focusing on patient
tracking and fatality management. Staff addressed concerns related to
potential environmental contamination and health risks to humans and
wildlife in the debris field.
Region 4 Superfund staff were also part of the Nuclear Weapon
Accident/Incident Exercise held at the Naval Submarine Base Kings
Bay in Kingsland, Georgia, in April 2016. The full-scale exercise focused
on an accident involving a nuclear weapon in Department of Defense
custody at a military installation. During the exercise, the U.S. Navy's
Environmental Coordinator requested the activation of Region 4's
Regional Response Team (RRT) for the first time. During the exercise's
Facilitated After Action Review (FAAR), Region 4's role was recognized
by Department of Defense officials and the Rear Admiral of the U.S.
Navy's Region Southeast (NRSE).
Additional FY 2016 Homeland Security Highlights
In 2016, Region 4 Superfund:
HOMELAND SECURITY
EPA plays a vital role in homeland
security. For years, EPA has been
responding to oil and chemical spills and
natural disasters. EPA's long-standing
competencies in these areas - emergency
response, hazardous material cleanup,
water quality protection, air quality
monitoring and radiation detection
- provide the Agency with a base of
expertise and the capabilities necessary
to address today's homeland security
challenges. These challenges include a
significant environmental component,
ensuring that the nation has clean air,
clean and safe water supplies, restored
lands and healthy communities.
In 2016, Region 4 maintained a
program emphasizing day-to-day
emergency response while building
our relationships with state and local
partners and enhancing our level of
preparedness. We also continued to
serve as a national leader in sharing
the Agency's preparedness efforts
and expertise with our partners and
seeking new opportunities for enhanced
communication, intergovernmental
coordination and shared research with
our partnership network.
Conducted or participated in more than 60 outreach, exercise and training events with Local Emergency
Planning Committees, state and county emergency management agencies, local response organizations such as
fire department and hazmat units, and private industry.
Participated in a radiological decontamination evaluation in Israel and met with the Israeli Ministry of
Environmental Protection to discuss environmental response strategies and cleanup techniques.
Worked as part of a multi-Agency collaborative planning team to update sections of FEMA's All Hazards Plan
focused on nuclear and radiological incidents as well as incidents related to weapons of mass destruction.
20
SEPA
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Construction Complete Remedy Achieved in Mississippi
In 2016, coordinated Superfund response by Region 4 Superfund's
Emergency Response, Removal and Prevention Branch and the
Restoration and Sustainability Branch enabled final cleanup activities
at the American Creosote Works, Inc. site in Louisville, Mississippi,
After rerouting Hughes Creek and removing a creosote layer below
the former creek bed, Region 4 and the Mississippi Department
of Environmental Quality completed a final addition to the site's
containment ceil. Looking forward, the City of Louisville is developing
reuse plans for industrial expansion at the site.
Cleanup Supports Solar Facility in North Carolina
To clean up the North Carolina State University (Lot 86 Farm Unit #1)
site near Raleigh, Region 4 Superfund, the North Carolina Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR), and the University
treated and capped soils. They also extracted groundwater, treated
it with air strippers and discharged treated groundwater to the city
sewer system. Today, the former landfill hosts a 12-array solar facility
that generates 75.6 kilowatts of power. Under a lease from the State
of North Carolina, Carolina Solar Energy LLC (CSE) owns and operates
the 432-photovoltaic-panel system. The facility has an innovative
design; instead of grading and digging into the cap for concrete
foundations, CSE installed a recycled plastic foundation. It allowed for
solar array construction and ballasting on the ground surface.
SITE HISTORY
A timber processing and creosote wood-
preserving facility operated at the 12.0-acre
site for 86 years. EPA and MDEQ have
worked closely to address widespread
creosote contamination. EPA led multiple
removal actions between 1984 and
2016. The final remedial action started
in 2012 and, coordinated with a removal
action completed in 2016, resulted in the
construction completion of the site's
remedy.
¦ Mm
'f
Top: View of the site's containment cell.
Bottom: Hughes Creek following cleanup,
November 2016.
Solar panels on the capped part of the site.
&EPA 21
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2016 Highlights
Rapid Response at Active Military Facility in Florida
Protects Children's Health
Region 4 Superfund, the Air Force and the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP) are working together on the cleanup
of Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida, In 2015, the Bay County
School District notified the Air Force of plans to renovate parking and bus
turnaround areas at Tyndall Elementary School. The school is built on a
former training range; lead shot is present in the sandy soil. At the time, a
remedial investigation was being conducting at the school under the terms of
the site's Federal Facility Agreement.
Region 4, the Air Force and FDEP had immediate concerns that the
renovation work could disturb contaminated soil and lead shot, creating
exposures. The parties moved quickly, conducting a time-critical removal
action (TCRA) that removed about 10,200 cubic yards of contaminated
surface soils in front of the school. In 2016, a second TCRA addressed lead-
shot areas located between school buildings. The accelerated effort resulted
in coordinated action that protected children's health and the environment
and enabled the school system to move forward with its renovation pians on
schedule. The site's broader remedial investigation for the area is ongoing.
Excavation underway at Tyndall Elementary School.
22 4>EPA
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. Many
federal facilities are contaminated
because of past waste disposal
practices and unintentional releases.
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 Superfund 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 NPL. Innovative
cleanup solutions are enabling the
restoration of these facilities so they
can continue to 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 Caseous 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 NPL sites.
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Historic Milestone Reached in Decommissioning
Manhattan Project Facilities in Tennessee
!n August 2016, Region 4 Superfurid staff joined local, state and
other federal officials to watch the final wall of Building K-27 fall
at the East Tennessee Technology Park. The event marked the
first time in history that all uranium-enrichment gaseous diffusion
buildings at a site were cleaned up and demolished. The building,
the last of five primary gaseous diffusion buildings, was part of the
Manhattan Project, which supplied enriched uranium for nuclear
weapons and production of fuel elements for nuclear reactors.
Operations at the Oak Ridge Reservation began in 1945 and ended
in 1985. DOE began major environmental cleanup efforts in 1987. In
1996, the area was renamed the East Tennessee Technology Park.
Aerial view of the site's primary gaseous diffusion
buildings prior to demolition.
Region 4 Superfund worked diligently with DOE to make sure
all demolition activities were completed safely and protectively.
Successful demolitions of the four other buildings took place from
2006 to 2015. Program staff also worked with DOE staff on the
use of a portable treatment unit to treat and safely discharge a
million gallons of water that had accumulated in the basement of
an electrical switchhouse supporting the K-27 structure. Region 4
Superfund oversight activity also extends to over 400 additional
buildings and other structures on site, and includes review of DOE
soil cleanup action completion reports to ensure the long-term
protectiveness of site remedies.
As properties are cleaned up, they are transferred to the City of Oak
Ridge and the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee.
Together, they are working to transform the area into a private-
sector brownfield industrial complex capable of sustaining hundreds
of jobs and millions of dollars in capital investment for the region.
Region 4 Superfund has signed off on the transfer of almost 850
acres of remediated land at the East Tennessee Technology Park.
More than 332,000 square feet of building space have been made
available for new economic development to date, leading to an
estimated $100 million private investment in technology, industry
and renewables. The goal is to complete soil cleanup and transfer of
the East Tennessee Technology Park by 2020.
Building K-27, before and during demolition, 2016.
«->EPA 23
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2016 Highlights
Superfund Job Training Provides Training and Job Opportunities
in Mississippi
Sixteen trainees completed EPA's Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI)
training at the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp - Columbus Superfund site in
Columbus, Mississippi. Through a partnership with local contractor J5,
SuperJTI provided local job seekers with new skills and work experience.
SuperJTI staff, community partner Memphistown Community Action
Group and Pastor Darren Leach conducted outreach activities and hosted
10 candidate orientations to publicize the training and attract interested
candidates.
After a rigorous screening process, trainees completed pre-employment
courses on money management, cultural competence and environmental
justice. Trainees also completed the technical training curriculum required to
work on site, earning certifications for CPR/First Aid and the 40-hr Hazardous
Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER).
A graduation ceremony attended by Columbus Mayor Robert E. Smith, Sr.,
honored the trainees. Following graduation, all 16 trainees were placed in
positions with J5 working on site cleanup as well as demolition projects for
the City of Columbus.
Upgrades Strengthen Region 4 Emergency Response Capabilities
Region 4 Superfund has initiated renovations for its Regional Emergency
Operations Center to provide enhanced audio visual systems for the Division's
conference rooms. The project will upgrade current systems and provide staff
with enhanced access to data and presentations, video teleconference calls
and external connections.
THE SUPERFUNDJOB
TRAINING INITIATIVE
SuperJTI's goal is to help
communities create job
opportunities and partnerships that
remain long after site cleanups are
completed.
SuperJTI National Program Manager
Melissa Friedland (left) and project
partners at the graduation ceremony
for the Kerr-McCee SuperJTI.
24 4>EPA
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Major Milestone at Former Nuclear Disposal Area in Kentucky
Construction of the final cap at the Maxey Flats Nuclear Disposal site finished in 2016. The cap's installation is a major
milestone in what has been Kentucky's most-costly state-funded environmental cleanup. The project was funded
with $18 million in trust funds and $17 million in bonds approved by the Kentucky state legislature.
The site accepted radioactive wastes from 1963 to 1977. The Commonwealth of Kentucky intended for the landfill to
generate economic development by attracting the nuclear industry with a conveniently located, permitted landfill
for disposal of low-level radioactive wastes generated by prospective industries. While economic development goals
were not met, the landfill did attract disposal of low-level radioactive wastes from many private companies, medical
research facilities, universities, and federal agencies. In all, more than 4.75 million cubic yards of wastes containing
plutonium, uranium, thorium and heavy metals were buried on site in 46 large, unlined earthen trenches. Over time,
radiation from the buried wastes leached out of the trenches and migrated off site.
In 1991, Region 4 Superfund finalized a cleanup plan to entomb the landfill and its trenches in perpetuity under
thousands of tons of compacted soil to allow time for the buried wastes to stabilize, allow the radioactivity to
decay, and stop water infiltration into the trenches. The landfill covers about 60 acres (45 football fields). After
construction of an interim cap in 2002, the final cap was put in place in 2016. It consists of more than 1 million cubic
feet of compacted soil, a multi-layer geosynthetic engineered capping system with a geosynthetic clay liner, and
protective soil and a vegetative layer supporting a grass cover. Looking forward, the Commonwealth of Kentucky
will undertake monitoring and custodial care of the site in perpetuity.
Aerial view of the site cap, October 2016.
oEPA
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Polluters Pay, Enforcement First
Enforcing federal environmental laws is a central
mission of EPA's regional offices. 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's experienced and trained staff vigorously pursues
enforcement and cost recovery activities. In line with EPA enforcement
goals, we returned $22.6 million in taxpayer funds to the Agency and reached
agreements with potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to conduct $38 million
in cleanup work in 2016. Our enforcement program continues to identify and
implement best practices to expedite site cleanups and optimize PRP-lead
removals and remedial investigations by referring $169,6 million to the U.S.
Department of Justice for litigation.
2016 Agreement Yields $42 Million Settlement
for Tennessee Cleanup
Following a series of state and federal agreements and orders, the story of
the Copper Basin Mining District in southeast Tennessee has changed from
one of environmental degradation to environmental restoration. Extensive
former copper and sulfur mining operations dating back to the early
1800s resulted in a 50-square-mile area of deforested, barren land and the
degradation of the North Potato Creek and Davis Mill Creek watersheds and
26 miles of the Ocoee River.
"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.
ENFORCEMENT FACTS
4,- j» Nationwide, since
, the start of EPA's
( enforcement program,
EPA has secured over
£35.1 billion in private-
party commitments and over $6.9
billion to recover past cleanup costs.
In 2016, Region 4 finalized a Consent Decree with the site PRP to conduct remedial design and remedial action
activities at the site. The agreement also reimburses EPA for its past and future costs at the site. The PRP will spend
an estimated $32 million to maintain and operate a water treatment system, prevent public access to contaminated
26 &EPA
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"This settlement marks a significant turning point in the
remediation and restoration of an area that has borne the brunt of
contamination from industrialized operations for over a century. The
provisions of this settlement exemplifies the hard work by multiple
federal agencies, the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Valley
Authority and the PRP to ensure the remediation and recovery of
the Ocoee River; North Potato Creek and Davis Mill Creek watersheds
continue well into the future.;;
Heather McTeer Toney
EPA Region 4 Regional Administrator
water, and monitor contamination in the Ocoee River. The PRP wiil also
reimburse EPA $10.8 million for a portion of its past costs and pay for future
EPA and State of Tennessee oversight costs.
$5.5 Million Settlement Enables Final Cleanup in North Carolina
In September 2016, Region 4 Superfund announced a settlement with 173
parties to clean up areas surrounding the Ward Transformer Superfund site in
Raleigh. The consent decree requires that settling parties fund and perform
an estimated $5.5 million cleanup of PCB contamination from lower Brier
Creek, Lake Crabtree, lower Crabtree Creek and nearby tributaries. Final
cleanup plans are now under development.
The Copper Basin Mining District prior
to cleanup.
Aerial view of the Ward Transformer
site.
Site contamination was caused by a former transformer manufacturing,
repair, sales and reconditioning facility that operated on site for several
decades. Short-term cleanup actions in 2015 treated and disposed of over
488,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soil, material and debris at the site.
Comprehensive Settlement Agreement in Place for
South Carolina Cleanup
In April 2016, Region 4 Superfund announced a settlement agreement with parties
to design and implement the final remedy for the International Mineral and
Chemical Corp. (IMC) site, a 41-acre former fertilizer production facility just outside
Spartanburg, South Carolina. The PRP will also reimburse EPA $117,000 for its past
costs and pay for future EPA and State of South Carolina oversight costs.
3
Aerial view of the IMC site.
&EPA 27
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INNOVATIONS
Innovative Science in Action
RARE Project Nearing Completion
Region 4 Superfund has been leading an innovative urban contaminant
background study. Funded by a Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE)
grant from EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), the Region's
Superfund and RCRA programs have partnered on a project to collect urban
background data across the Region.
The project sampling team in Kentucky and surface soil sampling for the RARE urban
background study.
URBAN BACKGROUND
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 quality background data.
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. 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.
28 4>EPA
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Project goals include the creation of a Region-wide urban background
database that can be used to inform decision making across the Region and
the creation of standardized procedures for use in other states, cities and
EPA Regions. In 2016, the project team collected samples in five cities in
three Region 4 states. A sixth city is scheduled for early 2017 and efforts are
underway to expand to include additional cities.
Project partners include EPA Region 4's Superfund, RCRA, and Science and
Ecosystem Support Division, ORD's National Exposure Research Lab (Las
Vegas), and ORD's National Risk Management Research Lab (Cincinnati),
along with all eight Region 4 states. State agencies in Kentucky, North
Carolina and Tennessee worked with local authorities to gain access for the
sampling effort.
Looking forward, the project will serve as a pilot effort to inform
development of regional and national urban background contaminant
databases. The project has already been used as a template for a background
study at one site, the data from one event has been used to represent the
background for an area near another site, and Region 4 has been contacted
several times about using study plans for events outside of the Region.
Vapor Intrusion
Since EPA issued final technical guides for vapor intrusion for volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) in 2.015, more sites are being assessed and
many assessments now take place early in the Superfund process. When a
site assessment begins, Region 4 Superfund site teams now automatically
consider the potential for vapor intrusion. For example, at the Former Macon
Naval Ordnance Plant in Macon, Georgia, an elevated TCE value triggered an
early action and a vapor intrusion investigation that eventually expanded to
many site buildings.
The TAGA Bus
The Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) bus has been deployed at several
Region 4 sites. It was recently used in Granada, Mississippi, to rapidly screen
17 houses in a subdivision located next to a site with VOC contamination. At
the Former Macon Naval Ordnance Plant, Region 4 deployed the TAGA bus to
aid in rapid screening of seven of the nine buildings under investigation.
WHAT IS VAPOR INTRUSION?
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).
Lab equipment inside the TAGA bus.
THE TAGA BUS:
A CLOSER LOOK
The TAGA bus is a self-contained
mobile laboratory capable of
real-time sampling and analysis
in the iow parts-per-billion level
of outdoor air or emissions from
various environmental sources and
concerns.
In addition, the TAGA bus has
specialized sampling equipment for
measuring indoor air and air quality
at remote locations.
oEPA
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Restoring Our Environment
Views of the soil amendment project, during and after construction.
30 4>EPA
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 2016, 21 sites in Region
4 are in planned or actual ecological reuse.
Integrating Pollinator Protection as Part of Cleanups,
Long-Term Stewardship and Reuse
Region 4 Superfund is at the forefront of making pollinator-friendly native
plantings part of cleanups and long-term stewardship and reuse activities.
This work helps EPA measure the Superfund program's progress toward
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.
Innovative Remedy Fosters Ecological Future for Former Mine
Site in South Carolina
The Henry's Knob Mine site is a former kyanite mine. About 1.4 million cubic
yards of mine tailings were left behind in several ponds around the site after
the mine's closure. These tailings interact with precipitation and release
contaminants into the groundwater.
POLLINATORS 101
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 Region 4, hundreds of acres at
Superfund sites have been planted
with pollinator-friendly habitat as
a result of cleanup and restoration
activities.
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To address this, the responsible party worked with Region 4 Superfund
and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
to develop a soil amendment placed over the tailings to produce a thick
vegetative layer to aid in adsorption of the precipitation. The Superfund site
team also helped the responsible party select a seed mix that would support
pollinators. Native vegetation and pollinator habitat are now well established
on site; all of the tailing ponds will be vegetated by mid-2017.
New Meadow in Central Georgia Supports
4.5 Acres of Pollinator Habitat
Following cleanup of this former landfill at the Armstrong World Industries
site in Macon, Georgia, the area is now a thriving pollinator meadow. The
Armstrong Macon Meadow is planted with over 50 locally native plants
representing the natural history of central Georgia; the area provides habitat
for bees, butterflies, birds and other species. Collaboration among Region 4,
Armstrong World Industries and the nonprofit Pollinator Partnership made
the meadow possible.
<0
Environmental Benefits: The meadow provides habitat for a
range of pollinator species. It includes a Monarch butterfly garden,
a butterfly garden, a Hummingbird garden and a bee garden.
Social and Educational Benefits: The meadow provides a
" r gathering place for company employees. Paths can be used for
; P exercise and relaxation, while signs help people learn about local
pollinators.
(Df1 Economic Benefits: The meadow is a sustainable and cost-effective
alternative to mowing the landfill cap several times a year. It also
provides erosion control, keeping the cap's soil cover in place.
KYANITE
Kyanite is used in production of
refractory, ceramic and porcelain
materials that withstand high
temperatures.
DID YOU KNOW?
Region 4 Superfund developed
communication materials - posters
(below) and a series of fact sheets
- to highlight pollinator-friendly
habitat at Superfund sites across
the Southeast and to support
future efforts to create and restore
additional habitat.
SKS5ssr-*,r' 2 r=w
In 2016, Region 4 Superfund staff
provided pollinator materials at the
Georgia Environmental Conference,
the International Environmental
Youth Symposium, a Science
Saturday event hosted by Georgia
Pacific, and at the Wildlife Habitat
Council's Conservation Conference
in Baltimore.
oEPA
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A NEW ERA OF
PARTNERSHIPS
Partnering, Consulting and Collaboration
egiori 4 Superfund 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 - including
contracts, nonprofit grants, state cooperative agreements and federal
interagency agreements - Region 4 Superfund ensures that all required site
cleanup work is performed with broad-based support using the most cost-
effective approach possible. In FY16, for example, Superfund provided over
$3.5 million dollars to our state partners for cleanup-related work.
Strengthening Global Partnerships,
Building International Capacities
In 2016, Region 4 Superfund staff traveled to El Salvador to assist the
Ministry of the Environment with the management of lead contamination
from a former battery recycler. Geophysical surveys identified illegally
buried hazardous waste under a soccer field next to the facility; about
40,000 tons of hazardous waste also remain in two warehouses on site.
Region 4 is providing ongoing assistance to protect public health, prevent
off-site migration of contaminated waste, and ensure proper management,
treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.
The project illustrates how EPA's regional offices are a vital part of the
Agency's efforts to share environmental management practices and to
achieve the mutual goal of protecting the global commons. 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. International cooperation is
vital to achieving our mission.
DID YOU KNOW?
Region 4 met four out
w of five socioeconomic
a contracting goals in
FY 2016. These goals
provide opportunities
for small, small disadvantaged,
minority-owned, service-disabled
veteran-owned and HUBZone
businesses to work for the federal
government. This was in large
part due to Superfund program
contracting, the largest source of
contracting in the Region by far.
EPA Region 4 staff discussing sampling
strategies at the site in El Salvador.
32 4>EPA
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A
Embracing High Performance:
Contracts and Training
2016 Contract Awards Increase Small and Disadvantaged
Business Participation
In June 2016, the Region awarded the follow-on Emergency Response
Training & Equipment Management Contract (ERTEM) contract to Basha
Services, LLC, ensuring continuity in the Superfund Emergency Response and
Removal Program through management of the Regional Response Center
(RRC). The contract carries a maximum contract value of $2.4 million.
Participants at the ERTEM contract signing.
In September 2016, Region 4 awarded a second contract to Hestor Group LLC,
an 8(a) small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business (WOSB),
and economically disadvantaged woman-owned small business. This contract
will provide community involvement services to the Superfund Enforcement
and Community Engagement Branch. It has a maximum contract value of $3.3
million over five years.
Participants at the community involvement services contract signing.
NATIONAL 2016 TRAINING
HIGHLIGHTS ECOLOGICAL
REVITALIZATION EFFORTS
IN TENNESSEE
In March 2016, staff from Region 4
Superfund and the Tennessee Valley
Authority joined EPA's Superfund
Redevelopment Initiative for a
webinar highlighting ecological
revitalization efforts at the TVA
Kingston Ash Recovery Project site
in Kingston, Tennessee. The webinar
is available online at
www.cluin.org/sri.
TVA's 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 wetlands
and river ecosystems are home to fish,
amphibians, birds and pollinators.
33
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Connecting Communities,
Sharing Information
f
Communities and EPA's local, state, tribal and
federal partners rely on accurate Superfund
program information. Region 4 Superfund
staff 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 Superfund 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.
New and Updated Superfund Resources in Region 4
as part of OneEPA Effort
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 restructuring of EPA's website was a major part of this effort. In 2015 and 2016, Region 4 has been at the
forefront, updating profile information for all Superfund sites and providing new content that addresses priority
information needs.
The program's online resources now 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 also strengthen environmental decision-making, optimizing cleanups,
cost savings and partnership opportunities.
Looking forward, Region 4 is starting on a new phase of enhancements that will incorporate user comments and
suggestions. Please click on the "Contact Us" buttons on the website to provide valuable feedback on how we can
continue to improve your Region 4 Superfund web experience.
County Environmental Proted
ip~ and the site's
the environment from site con-
SITE PROFILES
2016 Superfund site profile page for the
Raleigh Street Dump site in Tampa.
34 4>EPA
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EJSCREEN: Putting Environmental Justice into Action
EPA released EJSCREEN, the Agency's environmental justice mapping and
screen tool, to the public in 2015. EPA has since hosted hundreds of outreach
events to help people use the tool. EPA has also worked with other federal
and state partners to assist in incorporating EJSCREEN into various activities,
analyses and programs, Superfund staff are trained to use EJSCREEN
to identify communities with environmental justice concerns, to assign
appropriate resources to address those concerns, and determine the need for
additional analysis and resources in these communities.
Region 4 Superfund's efforts include:
Enhanced community engagement efforts during the Superfund remedial
process (with special focus on environmental justice sites).
Working with communities with environmental justice concerns to
identify potential assistance needs.
Sharing tools with these communities to support the return of Superfund
sites to productive use.
Identifying technical assistance gaps and needs in these communities
and developing strategies to improve technical assistance and support
diverse stakeholder groups.
Using the EJSCREEN tool as part of enforcement planning efforts to
make sure community concerns are considered during cleanup and cost
recovery negotiations.
To use EJSCREEN, please visit http://www.epa.gov/ejscreen.
SERA EJSCREEN EP*» En.ii wmal Sanhn mi UmppmQ fool [Wmk* 2Wq E.TW3»»» Honw I Uuurt | N*fc>
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Effective information-sharing is a
vitally important part of Region 4's
community involvement efforts. So
is reaching out to everyone in each
community.
In 2016, these efforts included the
first-ever youth outreach event
for the Kerr-McGee Chemical
Corporation site in Columbus,
Mississippi. The gathering was
designed to help local youth better
understand the site's history and
sampling activities. More than 75
children ages 4 to 15 attended.
Following several short-term
cleanups, Region 4 is currently
leading investigations to identify
all site-related risks to people and
the environment from this former
chemical manufacturing facility.
&EPA 35
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Superfund Staff Excellence:
A Closer Look
V
Excellence, Integrity and Experience: Region 4 Superfund Staff Awards
Every day, EPA employees work in offices, laboratories and communities across the Southeast to protect public
health and the environment. Whether they are investigating pollution issues, conducting cutting-edge research
on environmental health impacts, working behind the scenes on the legal aspects of rulemakings, advancing
environmental justice, or carrying out activities that support all of these efforts - Region 4 Superfund staff are on the
front lines of environmental protection.
In 2016, the remarkable efforts and dedication of EPA Region 4 Superfund staff were recognized with a range of
national and regional awards.
National Honor Awards
~ Award for Outstanding Leadership in
Collaborative Problem Solving Kerr-McGee
Superfund Site Settlement Team
~ Suzanne E. Olive Award for Exemplary
Leadership
~ Managerial Leadership Award
Notable Achievement Awards
~ Chemical Emergency Preparedness and
Prevention Leadership Award
~ Emergency Management - Homeland Security
Site Assessment Manager
of the Year
Community Involvement
Coordinator of the Year
Superfund Team of the Year-35th Avenue
Site Removal Implementation Team
Superfund Remediation Enforcement
Collaborative efforts in settlement of largest recovery cleanup of
environmental contamination in history.
Work ensuring positive steps are taken to identify and eliminate
employment disparities in Region 4.
Achievement in site cleanup and approaches to environmental justice,
enforcement and collaborative partnerships.
Exceptional accomplishments and leadership of Region 4's Oil
Inspection Program.
Leadership and substantial technical contributions and policy expertise
at the regional and national levels.
Excellence in managing Superfund Site Evaluation Program in two
states and representing Region 4 on National Data Management
Workgroup.
Exemplary service as advocate for strengthening early and meaningful
community engagement and making a visible difference during
Superfund cleanups.
Development of time-critical removal model that ensures protection of
vulnerable communities through emphasis on inclusion, collaboration,
sound science and transparency.
Exemplary work representing EPA and resolving complex disputes with
DOE at Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky.
36 SEPA
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Regional Bronze Awards
Copper Basiri RD/'RA Consent Decree
Negotiations Team
Superfund Financial
Support Team
Capital City Plume Site
Enforcement Team
Hattiesburg Derailment
Exercise Team
Additional Recognition
Human Resources Line of Business
Implementation Team
Hiring Surge
Support Team
President Obama's
Climate Action Plan
Successful negotiation of two complex consent decrees for remedial
design and remedial action at Copper Basin Mining District in
Tennessee.
Exceptional management of Superfund reimbursable accounts.
Exemplary collaborative efforts resulting in successful negotiations of
site deferral, cleanup and recovery of EPA costs.
Outstanding efforts in workshop and exercise planning and
implementation.
Achievement of exceptional results in implementation of the federal
personnel payroll system.
Innovative and exemplary performance In support of EPA's "Working
Together to Meet Agency Staffing" target.
Recognition of EPA Region 4 staff contributions in support of President
Obama's Climate Action Plan,
oEPA
Region 4 Superfund Staff in Action:
Community Involvement Coordinators (CICs)
!n 2016, these vita! liaisons between communities and EPA
site teams:
Wrote 20 Community Involvement Plans.
Supported 31 Five-Year Reviews.
Sent out 13,315 fact sheets.
Posted 457 public notices.
Established 14 Administrative Record repositories.
Supported 4 technical assistance grants.
Created 1 community advisory group.
Shared 94 result letters.
Obtained 539 access agreements.
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FY 2016 Awards
Recognizing Community Leadership and Excellence in Superfund Redevelopment
Every year, Region 4 Superfund 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.
NATIVE SPECIES
PLANTINGS
Wetlands Restoration Protects Rare Natural Resources in Florida
Region 4 Superfund recognized the efforts of responsible parties CSX
Transportation and its subsidiary, the Atlantic Land and Improvement
Company, to go above and beyond cleanup requirements at the 5-acre Raleigh
Street Dump site and preserve wildlife habitat in one of the last undeveloped
areas in Tampa. The parties worked closely with Region 4, the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, and the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection on site cleanup plans. Following cleanup, they partnered with
Wildlife Habitat Council, a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting and
enhancing wildlife habitat, on habitat restoration plans for the site.
Restoration of more than 2.5 acres of wetlands began in late 2013. The
primary goal was to provide self-sustaining ecosystems that closely resemble
natural systems. Activities included restoring the original grade of the
wetlands area, creating a wildflower and native grass meadow, creating
habitat brush piles, and removing exotic plant species. A bat box and nesting
boxes for small birds were also installed.
White mangroves
Buttoriwood trees
Saltmeadow cordgrass
Sand cordgrass
Dune sunflowers
Sea oxeye daisies
Railroad vines
Wild grasses and wildflowers
INVASIVE SPECIES
REMOVALS
Brazilian pepper
Lead tree
R attlebox
Air potato
Today, the wetlands are monitored quarterly to ensure an 85 percent survival
rate for planted species. New plantings take place as needed to maintain this
survival rate. Exotic species are also monitored.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.
Aerial view of the Raleigh Street Dump site during restoration (left) and wildlife at the
site (right).
38 4>EPA
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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.
VCC Initiative Leads to Successful Cleanups
and Reuse across the Southeast
Region 4 also awarded the 2016 Excellence in Site Reuse Award to ExxonMobil
in recognition of its commitment and dedication to cleaning up former
Virginia Carolina Chemical Company (VCC) sites. From the late 1800s to the
early 1900s, VCC produced phosphate fertilizer at sites across the Southeast.
Through its VCC Initiative, Region 4 has been working with ExxonMobil -
the corporate successor to VCC - to identify and address contamination at
properties where VCC facilities once operated.
Since 2000, ExxonMobil and its contractors have:
Completed removal actions at 27 VCC sites across the Southeast with EPA
and state oversight.
Addressed over a million tons of lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil and
sediment.
Restored several hundred acres of once-contaminated land.
For example, following the cleanup of the Swift Agri-Chem site in Charleston,
South Carolina, the new property owner, the Charleston County Park and
Recreation Commission, has plans for a public park with playing fields,
wetlands, event space, a dock, walking trails and support structures. The VCC
Initiative has proven to be an excellent opportunity for EPA and states such
as South Carolina to work with ExxonMobil and their contractors to clean up
properties, as well as an opportunity to work with property owners and local
communities to make site reuse a reality.
Region 4 Superfund and ExxonMobil representatives at the award ceremony for the VCC
Initiative sites.
oEPA
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Region 4 Superfund:
FY 2017 Priorities
Focusing on Fundamentals to Ensure the Achievement of
GPRA Goals, Agency Mission and Program Measures by:
Maximizing public health and environmental benefits and outcomes.
Leading the Region's efforts to safeguard vulnerable communities.
Protecting children's health.
Maintaining emergency response readiness.
Ensuring meaningful community engagement and environmental justice.
Maintaining a strong enforcement first program.
Focusing on federal facility oversight.
Supporting the return of sites to productive use.
Planning for the Future through the Use of
Good Science and New Technology:
Sustaining scientific excellence and integrity.
Maximizing use of innovative technologies and techniques.
Advancing renewable energy opportunities.
Enhancing communities' resiliency to a changing climate.
Embracing Organizational Change by Conducting
Program Management Reviews with the Goal of:
Improving operational efficiencies and effectiveness.
Enhancing cross-program coordination, collaboration and communication.
Leveraging resources.
Maintaining an effective contracting paradigm.
Strengthening Partnerships with States and Stakeholders by
Sharing information, guidance and best practices.
Enhancing access to comprehensive, up-to-date information resources.
Reaching out to build relationships and capacities.
40 oEPA
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In FY 2017, Region 4 Superfund will maintain its focus on reaching the next
level of public health and environmental protection. From rapid emergency
responses and innovative long-term cleanups to comprehensive enforcement
actions and pioneering sustainability efforts, we will continue to support
healthy, vibrant and resilient communities. We will make sure that people have
the resources they need to participate in environmental discussions, and work
with our local, state, federal and tribal partners to build capacities, enable reuse
opportunities, and strengthen project outcomes. Together, we look forward to new
opportunities to advance excellence in public health and environmental protection.
&EPA 41
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2016 Region 4 Superfund program activities (clockwise from top
left) in North Birmingham, Alabama, and at the Raleigh Street
Dump, Oak Ridge Reservation and Macon World Industries sites.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA 904/K-l6/001 I December 2016 I www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-epa-regior1-4-southeast
Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper
^0 with minimum 25% post-consumer fiber.
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