SEPA
Region 9
Pacific Southwest
BROWNFfEl

Property Information
Address
County
Size
210 Capitol Hill
Nixon, NV 89424
Washoe
0.35 acres
Technical Assistance Recipients
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
www.plpt.nsn.us
Contacts
Ruben Ramos-Avina
Tribal Response Program Coordinator
(775) 574-0101, Ext. 10
ravina@plpt.nsn.us
Lisa Hanusiak
U.S. EPA
(415) 972-3152
hanusiak.lisa@epa.gov
PROJECT SUMMARY
Community
The Rock Building property is located on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation near
Nixon, Washoe County, Nevada. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe plans to redevelop the
property for residential or commercial use, and was concerned about existing or potential
environmental liabilities. EPA places a high priority on providing Brownfields technical
assistance and other support to Tribal Nations.
Property Information
The Rock Building property includes an area of approximately 0.35 acres that has been
vacant since the 1960s. The Rock Building was initially constructed around 1902 by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, which occupied the building through the 1960s. The building is
currently unoccupied but historically has been used as a school, residence, and adminis-
trative offices. The lot surrounding the building is currently used for vehicle
parking by the Pyramid Lake Housing Authority.
Technical Assistance
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides technical assistance
to research historical property uses, conduct environmental sampling and identify cleanup
options and costs. The focus of the EPA-funded environmental assessment was to investi-
gate potential contamination and characterize conditions at the parcel considered for
planned redevelopment or reuse. The Targeted Brownfields Assessment consisted of a
combined Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA).
Findings
The combined Phase I/II ESA of the Rock Building included surface and subsurface soil
sampling, soil gas sampling, and a hazardous building material survey. The building survey
identified the presence of asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint. Total petro-
leum hydrocarbons (diesel and motor oil) were detected at concentrations greater than the
state cleanup levels, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons were detected at concentra-
tions above the federal residential human health guidelines in soil samples near the
former aboveground storage tank used to store heating oil.
Recommendations
Surface and subsurface soil with contamination exceeding human health guidelines may
require removal or capping to prevent future exposure. Any future building improve-
ments, remodeling, or demolition would require asbestos and lead-based paint abatement.
Future Use
The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe redevelopment plan for the Rock Building property
includes options to renovate the building or demolish it and construct new buildings for
residential use or for commercial offices for tribal departments, including the Pyramid
Lake Housing Authority.
[
M
Hf
Jjp
aCc
« ''
K
#
A
.. . A
f


EPA's Targeted Brownfields
Assessment Program is a technical
service to conduct environmental
assessments on brownfield sites:
www.epa.gov/brownfields

-------