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