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Columbia Smelting Cleanup Order Signed,
Ball Fields Construction to Start in 2017
Community Update No. 5
August 2016
WHAT IS SECONDARY LEAD SMELTING?
Secondary lead smelting plants refine scrap or used
lead materials into metallic lead of a higher purity.
Such materials can include the lead plates from
batteries, lead pipe or metal sheets that contain lead
Secondary smelting can be responsible for releasing
lead into the surrounding environment through lead
funic emissions. Lead dust and smoke can be
released during the smelting process, and slag
contaminated with lead may be left over after the
smelting process.
WHY IS LEAD A PROBLEM?
Lead is a toxic metal that was used for many years in
paint and leaded gasoline. Lead poisoning can cause
a number of harmful health effects, particularly in
children under the age of six.
Exposure to lead in soil can occur when children
play in the dirt and put their hands or dusty toys in
their mouths. Lead can also get into your body by
breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil
containing lead.
WHY DO THE FIELDS NEED TO BE
CLEANED UP?
As part of an investigation of the former Columbia
Smelting and Refining Works (Columbia) smelting
plant, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
sampled soil from the block where Columbia once
stood. Soil samples were also collected from other
areas, including several athletic fields throughout
Red Hook Park.
The results of the sampling showed lead in the
surface soils from the former Columbia facility at
elevated levels across Ball Fields 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Because of this, Ball Fields 5-8 were closed, and will
remain closed until the cleanup is completed. Lead
from Columbia was also found in the soils at Ball
Field 9. However, the results did not show elevated
levels of lead in the surface soils of this field.
Because lead levels in the soils at Ball Field 9 do not
pose an immediate health risk, it will remain open for
public use until cleanup of that field begins.
WHO WILL CONDUCT THE CLEANUP OF
BALL FIELDS 5-8 AND 9, AND WHEN?
The New York City Department of Parks and
Recreation (NYC Parks) will be cleaning up Ball
Fields 5-8 and 9, under EPA oversight. Because this is
a large, complex engineering and construction project,
it will take several years to finish. Once the design
work, which has been ongoing since fall 2015, is
complete, NYC Parks will hire a construction
contractor. Construction will then take about 12-18
months. Details on all the steps involved in the
cleanup process can be found on EPA's webpage for
the project (see link below).
To reduce disturbing athletic schedules, Ball Fields 5
through 8 will be cleaned up first, and once they are
re-opened, Ball Field 9 will be cleaned up. NYC Parks
expects to start the cleanup of Ball Fields 5-8 in late
summer 2017 and complete it in fall 2018. NYC Parks
estimates that Ball Field 9 will be cleaned up by spring
2020. All work on these fields is being done under a
Consent Order between EPA and NYC Parks, a legal
document about the cleanup finalized in July 2016.
'/ Historic Columbja _
? smelter footprint
Red Hook
"Pool J
~ = EPA/NYC Parks Cleanup
Red Hook Park Ball Fields to be cleaned up by NYC Parks under
EPA oversight.
https://www3.epa.gOv/region02/superfund/removal/columbia/

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CLEANUP PLANS
The cleanup of Ball Fields 5-8 and 9 under EPA oversight will involve
removing all park features such as fencing, some of the trees, curbing
and other structures, adding a physical and visual barrier to contaminated
soil, and then covering the barrier with one foot of clean soil and natural
or artificial turf over the entire area. A bioswale and other improvements
will be added. The baseball diamonds, grass cover, fencing, walkways,
and associated structures will then be reinstalled. Controls will be put in
place to make sure the public is not exposed to any contaminants during
construction. This cleanup method will permanently eliminate public
contact with contaminants by isolating them under the barrier, one foot
of clean soil and turf. This will also serve to prevent any future spread of
contaminated soils from these ball fields. The new layers will then be
monitored and inspected over the years.
WHAT ABOUT I II I OTHER FIELDS?
EPA's sampling results show contamination from historic fill, not from
the Columbia facility, in deeper soils within Soccer Fields 2, 6 and
surrounding Soccer Field 1 (which is turf). Additionally, contaminants
from historic fill were found by NYC Parks in a separate investigation in
the soil at Soccer Field 3, Ball Fields 1-4, and Soccer Fields 4 and 5.
The fill was added in the 1800s to expand the ground surface towards the
Gowanus Bay, since this area of Red Hook was originally a tidal marsh.
Based on the findings, NYC Parks closed several of the other fields, and
plans to remediate all remaining fields within Red Hook Park by 2022 to
the same standards as Ball Fields 5-9. As this is unrelated to the
Columbia Site, these fields will be addressed by NYC Parks and NYC
Health outside of the Consent Order; however, EPA will be available for
consultation. Currently, only Soccer Fields 1 and 6 (as well as Ball Field
9) remain open. For more information on remediation of Soccer Fields 1
through 6 and Ball Fields 1 through 4, see NYC Parks' website on the
cleanup at: https://www.nvcgovparks.org/about/whats-happening/red-
hook-park-remedi ati on.
HOW WILL I GET UPDATES?
EPA and NYC Parks will provide updates on the status of the Ball Field 5-9 cleanup efforts to the community
in various ways, including fact sheets, letters to park users, updates to the websites, and public information
sessions where EPA and NYC Parks will be available to present plans and answer questions. EPA has
established an Information Repository at the Red Hook Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, where the
public can review and copy records related to EPA's investigation and the cleanup of Ball Fields 5 through 9.
SIMPLE STEPS TO REDUCE YOUR LEAD EXPOSURE
The following steps are recommended to reduce your potential exposure to lead contamination that
may be present in urban soils.
•	Remove shoes at the door before entering your home to prevent tracking in any dirt that may be
on your shoes. Clean the bottom of your shoes with a wet wipe or paper towel.
•	Wash your hands and face after visiting these ball fields and always before eating, drinking, or
smoking.
•	Avoid digging into or disturbing soil below the surface of the ball fields.
If you would like
information about the site
please contact:
Natalie Loney
U.S. EPA
Community Involvement
Coordinator
(212) 637-3639
Toll Free: (800) 346-5009
lonev.natalie@epa.gov
If you would like
information on other
environmental concerns or
the Superfund hazardous
waste program contact:
George Zachos
U.S. EPA
Regional Public Liaison
(732)321-6621
Toll Free: (888) 283-7626
zachos. george@epa. gov
Visit the EPA's website at:
https://www3.epa.gov/region02/
superfund/removal/columbia/
https://www3.epa.gov/region02/superfund/removal/columbia/

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