&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
For more information
If you are interested in the Jacobsville
Neighborhood Soil Contamination
site cleanup, please attend one of
the upcoming public meetings on
Thursday, Feb. 8, at at the Central
United Methodist Church, Family
Life Center, 300 Mary St., from
3 to 5 p.m. or 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Comments on the proposed plan
should be submitted from Jan. 12 to
Feb. 28:
• Orally or in writing at the public
meeting
• Electronically via the Internet at
epa.gov/region5/publiccomment/
• Fax to Yolanda Bouchee at
(312) 353-1155
Contact EPA
Yolanda Bouchee
EPA Community Involvement
Coordinator
Office of Public Affairs (P-19J)
(312) 353-3209 or (800) 621-8431
weekdays 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
bouchee.yolanda@epa.gov
fax: (312) 353-1155
Jena Sleboda
EPA Remedial Project Manager
Superfund Division (SR-6J)
(312) 353-1263 or (800) 621-8431
weekdays 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
sleboda.jena@epa.gov
Site-related documents
may be reviewed at:
Evansville Vanderburgh Public
Library - Central Branch - Public
Comment Shelf
200 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
EPA Region 5 Records Center
77 W. Jackson Blvd., 7th Floor
Chicago
EPA Proposes Cleanup
Plan for Lead Site
Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil Contamination Site
Evansville, Indiana January 2007
In order to clean up contaminated residential yards in the Jacobsville
Neighborhood Soil Contamination Superfund site, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Region 5 is proposing to remove soil from properties
containing lead and arsenic concentrations above established safety levels
and replace it with clean soil and sod cover. The safety threshold is set at
400 parts lead per million parts soil (parts per million is abbreviated ppm),
and for arsenic, the limit is 30 ppm. A part per million is a tiny amount,
similar to a drop of food dye in 16 gallons of water. The purpose of the
cleanup is to prevent human exposure to lead, especially in children.
The purpose of this proposed plan fact sheet is to provide background
information about the Jacobsville site, describe the various cleanup options
considered, and identify EPA's preferred cleanup alternative.1 The public is
encouraged to comment on this proposal. EPA will be accepting comments from
Jan. 12 to Feb. 28, 2007. See the adjacent box for ways to provide comments
to EPA. You also can attend and participate in one of two public meetings at
the Central United Methodist Church, Family Life Center, 300 Mary St., on
Thursday, Feb. 8. The meetings will be held at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
EPA along with its state partner Indiana Department of Environmental
Management will select a final cleanup plan for the Jacobsville site. This
will occur after review and consideration of information provided by the
public during the comment period and public hearing. The final cleanup
proposal, which will be announced in a local newspaper notice and
presented in an EPA document called a record of decision or ROD, could
differ from this proposed plan depending on information or comments EPA
receives during the public comment period.
The public also is encouraged to review the supporting documents for the
Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil Contamination site. The information includes
documents called the remedial investigation and feasibility study and the
site-wide human health and ecological risk assessment report, found in the
remedial investigation. The remedial investigation studies the nature and
extent of contamination at the site, while the feasibility study evaluates
different cleanup options. The risk assessment evaluates potential health
risks to people and the environment from contamination at the site. You can
review these reports at the information repository near the site: Evansville
Vanderburgh Public Library - Central Branch.
1 Section 117(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act (CERCL4, known as the Superfund law) requires EPA to provide an
opportunity for public input, with a meeting and comment period. It also requires a
newspaper ad announcing the proposed cleanup plan. This fact sheet summarizes an
EPA document called a remedial investigation/feasibility study. The full study and all
other official site documents can be found at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library.
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lead "hot spots," with levels as high as 6,150 ppm. The
acceptable health limit is 400 ppm. IDEM began looking
for facilities other than Evansville Plating Works that
could have contributed to the high levels of lead in
the area. Four former plants - all closed for at least 50
years - were identified as possible contributors to the
lead contamination. The former factories include Blount
Plow Works, Advance Stove Works, Newton-Kelsay, and
Sharpes Shot Works.
• Blount Plow Works operated from the 1880s to the
1940s as a manufacturer of horse-driven plows. The
facility operated a foundry where metal castings
were produced. Buehler's Buy Low, 200 N. Main
St., now stands where the foundry once operated.
• Advance Stove Works operated from the turn of
the last century to the 1950s as a manufacturer
of stoves and a foundry. Benthall Brothers now
occupies that site at Read and Division streets.
• Newton-Kelsay operated from around the early
1900s to the 1950s. That site manufactured harness
parts for animals. A McDonald's Restaurant, 20 N.
Main St., now stands on the site.
• Sharpes Shot Works operated from 1878 to an
unknown date and manufactured lead shot for guns.
That site is now Deaconess Hospital.
It is believed that airborne dust, soot and smoke from
plant operations deposited lead on neighborhood soil.
Because these companies have long been out of business,
EPA and IDEM will pay for cleaning up the site.
In June 2001, IDEM conducted an assessment and
inspection at the Jacobsville site, a study area that
includes residential properties, the four facilities listed
above, and the Evansville Plating Works site. During this
investigation, IDEM collected 189 soil samples from
the top 6 inches of soil on residential properties. The
samples were first tested for lead using a portable X-ray
sampling instrument. The instrument helped identify
57 samples that had lead concentrations exceeding 400
ppm.
Since placing the area on the National Priorities List
of Superfund sites in July 2004, EPA has done four
rounds of soil testing, including the latest in October
2006. EPA wanted to determine the boundaries of the
contamination. The Agency also has studied cleanup
options and developed cost estimates.
To keep the public informed of activities at the site, EPA
held a public "walk-in" session on April 12, 2005, made
brief presentations at Jacobsville neighborhood meetings,
and talked to many residents in the area while sampling
yards. EPA presented the cleanup options and costs to
the public during the first of three public hearings on
Jan. 23. EPA will continue to use local newspapers,
television stations, neighborhood meetings, and periodic
mailings to keep residents informed about progress at the
site.
Summary of site risks
A study of potential risks to public health, wildlife and
the environment was conducted for the Jacobsville site.
Coming into contact with lead- and arsenic-contaminated
soil in their yards was found to be the greatest health risk
to people. Other types of properties where exposure may
occur also were considered, including ball fields, parks,
day cares, and similar properties. The risk to wildlife
was found to be much less than the risk to humans.
Small children are the most sensitive to lead exposure.
The cleanup goal of 400 ppm for lead was determined
by predicting the concentrations that would cause blood
levels in small children to be greater than the level
where harmful effects from lead may start to occur.
Evansville also has background concentrations, or levels
found throughout a very large area, of arsenic that are
above the arsenic screening level. Because areas that
are cleaned to levels below background concentrations
will likely be recontaminated by surrounding soil, EPA
decided to use 30 ppm as the cleanup goal for arsenic.
The risk assessment found the cleanup goals of 400
ppm and 30 ppm will protect people's health and the
environment.
Cleanup options
EPA considered three options for cleaning up the
Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil Contamination site, each
of which was evaluated against nine criteria required by
the Superfund law (see criteria explanation in the box on
Page 4). The three options are summarized below. Full
details are available in the technical documents on file
in the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library - Central
Branch.
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Option 1—No further action
EPA includes a "no action" alternative as a basis for
comparison with other cleanup options. Since no action
would be taken, this option would increase the potential
for human and animal contact with the lead- and arsenic-
contaminated soil in the Jacobsville neighborhood.
Cost—$0
Option 2—Soil excavation, backfill, and
site restoration (EPA's preferred cleanup
alternative)
This choice consists of digging up soil with lead and
arsenic levels exceeding the cleanup levels of 400 ppm
and 30 ppm, respectively. The contaminated soil will
then be hauled by truck for off-site disposal at an
approved landfill. Clean soil will then be used to backfill
the yards, and the yards will be restored as closely as
possible to their original condition.
Cost—$22.8 million
Option 3—In-place treatment of soil and
site restoration
This alternative consists of mixing a safe chemical
mixture into the soil that will change the characteristics
of the lead and arsenic so they will not be absorbed
by the human body. The yards will then be restored as
closely as possible to their original condition.
Cost—$24.3 million
How do the options compare?
EPA evaluated the various cleanup options against seven
of the nine criteria required by the Superfund law (see
the comparison chart Page 5) and selected its preferred
alternative. State and community acceptance will be
evaluated after EPA receives public comments. More
information about the evaluation is in the site feasibility
study report contained at the Evansville Vanderburgh
Public Library - Central Branch. For cleanup of the site,
EPA's proposed choice is Option 2—soil excavation,
backfill and site restoration.
Evaluating the options
EPA uses nine criteria to evaluate and compare cleanup options. See the table on Page 5 comparing the
alternatives against these criteria.
1. Overall protection of human health and
the environment addresses whether an option
adequately protects human health and the
environment. This criterion can be met by reducing
or eliminating contaminants or by reducing people's
exposure to them.
2. Compliance with applicable or relevant and
appropriate requirements, referred to as ARARs,
ensures that each cleanup option complies with
federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
3. Long-term effectiveness and permanence
evaluates how well a cleanup option will work
in the long term, including how safely remaining
contaminants can be managed.
4. Reduction of toxicity, mobility, or volume
through treatment addresses how well the cleanup
option reduces the harmful effects, movement, and
amount of contaminants.
5. Short-term effectiveness compares how quickly
the cleanup can be completed and the health risks
posed to cleanup workers and nearby residents while
the alternative is under construction.
6. Implementability assesses how difficult the
cleanup option will be to construct and operate,
and whether technology, materials, and services are
readily available.
7. Cost compares the expense of each option over
time in a financial calculation called present worth.
Cost includes capital expenditures such as buildings,
machines, and wells plus operation and maintenance
costs. Present worth cost is the total cost of an
alternative over time in terms of today's dollar value.
A cleanup is considered cost effective if its costs are
proportionate to its overall effectiveness.
8. State acceptance is whether the state
environmental agency, in this case IDEM, agrees
with EPA's recommended option. EPA evaluates state
acceptance after it receives public comments on its
preferred option.
9. Community acceptance evaluates how well the
community near the site accepts the option. EPA and
IDEM will evaluate community acceptance after the
public comment period.
4
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Option 1 is not desirable because it would leave all risk of
exposure to the arsenic and lead contamination in place.
Options 2 and 3 would be permanent solutions that would
allow residents to use their lawns freely without risk of
exposure. However, Options 2 and 3 would temporarily
inconvenience residents because equipment would be
used on the lawns to perform the cleanup, but Option 2
would be less invasive because it would take less time.
No information exists to prove that Option 3 will be
protective in the long-term. Option 2 also is less costly
than Option 3.
Next steps
EPA in consultation with IDEM will evaluate public
reaction to the preferred cleanup option during the
comment period (including the public meeting) before
deciding on a final choice. Based on new information
or public comments, EPA may modify its proposed
option or select another cleanup alternative outlined
in this fact sheet. EPA encourages you to review and
comment on the cleanup choices. More technical detail
on the proposed cleanup plan is available in the official
documents on file at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public
Library - Central Branch.
EPA will respond in writing to the comments in a file
called a responsiveness summary, which will be part of
the final decision document called the record of decision.
EPA will announce the selected cleanup plan in a local
newspaper advertisement and will place a copy of the
ROD in the information repository.
All about lead
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal. It is
commonly found at low levels in soil. Low levels of
lead can be found in the air, water, food and dust in
cities because of the widespread use of lead in man-
made products. The federal government regulates
the amount of lead in the air, water and soil. Lead is
highly toxic and can cause a range of health effects,
from behavioral problems and learning disabilities
to seizures and death. Children 6 years old and
younger are most at risk because their bodies are
growing quickly and the effects of the lead can
cause problems. Children often have higher levels
of exposure because they play in dirt and may put
dirty hands in their mouths. Also, children who lack
proper nutrition may absorb more lead and suffer
more harmful effects. To learn more about lead visit
www. atsdr. cdc. gov/tfacts 13 .html
Evaluation Criteria
Alternative 1
Alternative 2*
Alternative 3
Overall protection of human
health and the environment
~
¦
¦
Compliance with ARARs
~
¦
¦
Long-term effectiveness and
permanence
~
¦
~
Reduction of toxicity, mobility, or
volume through treatment
~
~
¦
Short-term effectiveness
~
~
~
Implementability
¦
¦
~
Cost
¦
$0
¦
$22,826,984
¦
$24,261,760
State acceptance
Will be evaluated after public comment period
Community acceptance
Will be evaluated after public comment period
¦ Fully meets criteria
~ Partially meets criteria
~ Does not meet criteria
*EPA's recommended alternative
Evaluation Criteria for the Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil Contamination Site
5
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Upcoming Public Meetings
about Jacobsville
Neighborhood Soil Cleanup
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007
3-5 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Central United Methodist Church
Family Life Center
300 Mary St.
Evansville
At the meetings, EPA will give a presentation to
explain the proposed plan and opportunities for those
attending a chance to speak for the public record
during the hearing phase. You may also submit your
written comments.
If you need special accommodations for the public
meeting, contact Yolanda Bouchee at the contact
information on Page 1 by Feb. 5.
If you have scientific and technical questions about
the lead cleanup, you may contact EPA Remedial
Project Manager, Jena Sleboda at the contact
information on Page 1.
When possible, site information is also posted on the
Internet at epa.gov/region5/sites/jacobsville
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Fold on Dashed Lines, Tape, Stamp, and Mail
Name
Address
City State
Zip
Jena Sleboda
Remedial Project Manager
EPA Region 5 (SR-6J)
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Place
Stamp
Here
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Comment Sheet
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is interested in your comments on the proposed cleanup plan for the Jacobsville
Neighborhood Soil Contamination site. EPA will consider public comments before selecting a final cleanup remedy for
the Jacobsville Neighborhood Soil Contamination site. Please use the space below to write your comments, then fold and
mail this form. Comments must be postmarked by Feb. 28. If you have general questions, contact Yolanda Bouchee at
(312) 353-3209, or through EPA's toll-free number at (800) 621-8431. Those with electronic capabilities may submit their
comments to EPA via the Internet at epa.gov/region5/publiccomment.
Name _
Address
City
Zip.
State
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