AEPA Vermiculite Products Site United States Harris County Environmental Protection Houston, Texas September 2014 Agency This Fact Sheet will tell you about... • Current Status • Background Information • Potential Threats to Public Health and Welfare • What to Expect • For More Information Current Status The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting soil assessment activities at the Ver- miculite Products Site (Site). The Site is the loca- tion of a vermiculite processing facility. The vermiculite processed at this facility was mined from the Zonolite Mine in Libby, Montana, and was found to be contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos in outdoor soil or other source material is not inherent- ly hazardous, unless the asbestos is released from the source material into the air where it can be in- haled. As part of its assessment activities, the EPA has been looking at nearby locations where asbestos may have moved, either through air deposition or through use as fill. The community close to the Site is undergoing rapid residential redevelopment, so the EPA prioritized the sampling of these locations due to the potential for soil disturbing activities as- sociated with redevelopment. The EPA has already addressed actionable soil contamination at one property slated for redevelopment. The EPA has completed sampling activities onsite and at some targeted offsite locations. Some action- able levels of asbestos soil contamination have been identified both onsite and offsite. The EPA plans to continue assessment activities in several additional locations offsite. Assessment activities include soil sampling and air activity based sampling (ABS). ABS mimics typical human soil disturbing activi- ties, such as gardening or child's play, to determine the potential for release of asbestos from the soil. Background Information As part of a national re-evaluation of facilities that received vermiculite ore from the Zonolite Mine owned by W. R. Grace, in Libby, Montana, the EPA initiated a removal assessment at the Site. The Site, in operation since 1941, is an active vermiculite ex- foliation facility that processes vermiculite used in concrete aggregate. According to W. R. Grace ship- ping invoices, 213,750 tons of raw vermiculite ore from the Zonolite Mine were shipped to the facility between 1967 and 1986. The Vermiculite Products facility is located at 3025 Maxroy Street in Houston, Harris County, Texas. There is an existing residential area west of the Site consisting of newly redeveloped residential homes and some older housing stock. This area and several nearby former commercial properties are being re- developed with residential homes. Potential Threats to Public Health and Welfare Asbestos is of potential concern because chronic inhalation exposure to excessive levels of asbestos fibers suspended in air can result in lung diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. The route of exposure that represents the greatest concern to human health is the inhalation of air- borne fibers, dispersed from soil by the action of wind and pedestrian or vehicular traffic. What to Expect The EPA will complete its comprehensive sampling plan in the community to identify any potential threat to human health from asbestos-contaminated soil. The EPA plans to initiate discussions with the potentially responsible parties to address the con- tamination identified in association with the site. ------- For More Information If you would like more information about the Site, contact: Althea Foster, On-Scene Coordinator U.S. EPA Region 6 Phone: 214.665.2268 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) Email: foster.althea@epa.gov. Mike McAteer, On-Scene Coordinator U.S. EPA Region 6 Phone: 214.665.7157 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) Email: mcateer.mike@epa.gov. Donn Walters, Community Involvement Superfund Public Liaison U.S. EPA Region 6 Phone: 214.665.6483 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) Email: walters.donn@epa.gov. Stephen Harper, Community Involvement Coordinator U.S. EPA Region 6 Phone: 214.665.2727 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) Email: harper.stephen@epa.gov. All inquiries from the news media should be directed to the EPA Region 6 Press Office at 214.665.2200. To receive a Spanish translation of this fact sheet call U.S. EPA at 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free). Para recibir una traduccion en espanol de esta hoja de datos, comunicase con la Agencia de Proteccion del Medio Ambiente de los EEUU (la EPA) al numero de telefono 1.800.533.3508 (llamada gratis). &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 1445 Ross Ave. (6SF-VO) Dallas, TX 75202 ------- |