xvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency For more information For questions, comments or more information contact these U.S. EPA team members: Rafael P. Gonzalez U.S. EPA Public Affairs Specialist Land and Chemicals Division 312-886-0269 gonzalez. rafaelp@epa. gov Carolyn Bury U.S. EPA Project Manager Land and Chemicals Division 312-886-3020 burv.carolvn@epa.gov U.S. EPA toll-free: 800-621-8431, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., weekdays Information repositories and website: Official documents are available for your review at: Carbondale Public Library 405 W. Main St. and U.S. EPA Records Center Seventh Floor, 77 W. Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL U.S. EPA mailing address: U.S. EPA Region 5, LU-16J 77 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604-3590 On the web: Former Koppers Wood-Treating website at: https://www.epa.gov/hwcorrectiveac tionsites/former-koppers-wood- treatment-site -current-documents - reports-and-graphics-2 Direct link to the ESD: https://www.epa.gov/hwcorrectiveac tionsites/administrative-record- explanation-significant-difference- former-koppers-wood U.S. EPA Explains Changes to Cleanup Plan Koppers Wood-Treating Site Carbondale, Illinois March 2019 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to add 15.8 acres to the cleanup plan approved for the former Koppers Wood-Treating site in Carbondale. In a document called Explanation of Significant Difference, (ESD), U.S. EPA has selected a change to the current remedy requiring that current owner Beazer East Inc. excavate 8.4 acres of soil in additional parcels and take it to an off-site landfill. The remaining 7.4 acres of contaminated soil would be managed with a one-foot engineered soil cover, per the proposal. The ESD explains the additional remedy in greater detail. The document is available online, at the local library, and at the EPA Records Center in Chicago (see sidebar to the left). If you are unable to access the ESD document, please ask Rafael Gonzalez to mail it to you. Public Participation Opportunities The proposed ESD will be issued on March 28, 2019 and public comments will be due April 19, 2019. If requested, U.S. EPA will host a public meeting in Carbondale to further explain the proposed additional cleanup actions and take comments. See the front of the mailing for instructions on how to submit comments. Expanded Investigation and New Risk Assessments U.S. EPA determined that dioxin and fiiran compounds on the Koppers site were not fully evaluated in the 1990s. While these chemicals were not used for wood-treating, they are byproducts of pentachlorophenol manufacturing. Pentachlorophenol was used as a wood preservative during one period of plant operations. Dioxins and fiirans break down slowly in the environment, remaining in soil and sediment and accumulating in animals. Comprehensive sampling and analysis of these chemicals was completed on the Koppers site and in the adjacent residential area through 2016. The sampling data were used in human health and ecological risk assessments. Based on the ecological risk assessment, the additional 15.8 acres of soil on the former plant property were identified as needing cleanup to protect the environment. As reported earlier in public meetings and outreach materials, the sampling in the residential area did not find wood-treating chemicals. Site History The former Koppers Wood-Treating site is on the far northeast side of Carbondale occupying 219 acres. Wood-treating processes from 1902 to 1991 left a legacy of contamination. In 2010, Beazer finished cleanup actions that included creek excavation and on-site management of soil. Beazer constructed a landfill cell to consolidate and contain much of the waste material. Liquid creosote chemicals continue to be extracted from the ground and taken offsite for disposal or recycling. The cleanup is regularly monitored to ensure it continues to protect people and the environment. ------- KOPPERS WOOD-TREATING SITE: EPA Proposes Cleanup Changes V Reproduced on Recycled Paper 06SŁ-t?0909 II 'oBbdimd ¦pA|g uos>per "M LL (T6T-d) sjiejjv 3!iqnd jo 03Lyo S uo|60y Aou06v UOHOBlOJd |BlU8LUU0JIAUg saiejs pajmn Vd3'ox U.S. EPA Proposes Additional Cleanup Actions Koppers Wood-Treating Site Carbondale, Illinois COMMENTS WELCOME Comments can be submitted to: Email: bury.carolyn@epa.gov Mail: Carolyn Bury, U.S. EPA Region 5, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Mail Code LU-16J, Chicago, IL 60604 U.S. EPA will review and consider all public comments, develop a summary of our responses, and issue a final Explanation of Significant Difference that will be available to the public. ------- |