VvEPA EPA Plans Assessment Activities at the
E^fonmen,aiprotection Former Zonolite/W.R. Grace Exfoliation
Agency	_ ....
Facility
New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana	June 2014
This Fact Sheet will tell you about...
•	Planned Activity
•	History
•	Next Steps
•	For More Information
Planned Activities
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be con-
ducting soil assessment activities at the former Zo-
nolite/W. R. Grace Exfoliation Facility, located at 4729
River Road. The Site was the location of a vermiculite
processing facility. The vermiculite processed at this facili-
ty was contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos in outdoor
soil or other source material is not inherently hazardous,
unless the asbestos is released from the source material
into air where it can be inhaled.
As part of its assessment activities EPA will also look at
nearby locations where asbestos may have migrated either
through air deposition or through the use of waste process
material as fill.
The planned assessment will be taking place from mid-
June through July. EPA plans to take soil samples and per-
form Activity Based Sampling (ABS) which involves per-
forming soil disturbing activities that mimic actual site use
while sampling the air for the release of Libby Amphibole
Asbestos. ABS is used to determine if any asbestos present
poses a potential threat of exposure to the public.
The On Scene Coordinator (OSC) and Community In-
volvement Coordinator (CIC) will be on Site on June 17,
2014 and be available for any questions from the commu-
nity. They will also have additional information on asbes-
tos available at that time.
History
The facility is a former vermiculite exfoliation facility that
received raw vermiculite ore from the Zonolite Mine in
Libby, Montana, that was contaminated with asbestos. The
facility received 148,300 tons of vermiculite ore between
1965 and 1989. There was also a deposit of asbestos at that
mine, so the vermiculite from Libby was contaminated
with asbestos. Vermiculite from Libby was distributed for
processing to a number of facilities across the country.
Next Steps
This removal assessment addresses the need to identify
and lessen the potential threats posed by Libby Amphibole
Asbestos contaminated soils located on-site from the pro-
cessing of vermiculite and distributed off-site by air depo-
sition or through the use as fill.
It is unclear if soil contamination currently creates a public
health risk. Vermiculite was observed in the western por-
tion of the site in 2008, but this area is surrounded by a six
foot high, locked, chain link fence. Therefore, exposure is
unlikely unless this area becomes disturbed in the future. If
asbestos contamination is identified at levels that present a
risk to public health, EPA is prepared to act to address the
contamination.
For more information, please contact...
Althea Foster, On Scene Coordinator
U.S. EPA, Region 6
Tel: 214-665-2268
Foster.althea@epa.gov
Mike McAteer, On Scene Coordinator
U. S. EPA, Region 6
Tel: 214-665-7157
McAteer.mike@epa.gov
Bill Little, Involvement Coordinator/SEE
U.S. EPA, Region 6
Tel: 214-665-8131or 1-800-533-3508 (toll-free)
Little ,bill@epa. gov
Donn Walters, Regional Public Liaison
U.S. EPA, Region 6
(214) 665-6483 or 1-800-553-3508 (toll-free)
Walters.donn@epa.gov
Inquiries from the news media should be directed to the
External Affairs Office at 214.665.2200.
Call U.S. EPA at 1- 800-533-3508 (toll free) to receive a
Spanish translation of this fact sheet.
Para recibir una traduction en espanol de esta Hoja de Da-
tos, comunicarse con la Agenda de Protection del Medio
Ambiente de los EEUU (la EPA) al numero de telefono 1-
800-533-3508 (llamada gratis).

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xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 6
1445 Ross Ave. (6SF-VO)
Dallas, TX 75202

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