West Lake Update January 16, 2015 A Year in The year 2014 for the WesFCake Landfill Superfund Site was an active time for work, both on and off the site. EPA cooperated with partner agencies and local stakeholders throughout the year to continue protect- ing human health and the environment. Here's a look back at some key landmarks: EPA Analysis of PRPs' SSE Report EPAs top researchers in the Office of Research and De- velopment (ORD) completed a critical assessment of the Potentially Responsible Parties' (PRPs) report on what could happen if the subsurface smoldering event (SSE) in the Bridgeton Landfill were to contact the radiologically-impacted material (RIM) at the West Lake site. EPA's experts agree the RIM is not expected to be more or less radioactive in the presence of heat, and there's no evidence that RIM will become explo- sive in the presence of heat. EPA does expect there to be increased releases of radon if the SSE were to contact the RIM. The ORD review is available online: www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/west_lake_landfill/ EPA Partnership with USGS In Spring 2014, EPA Region 7 requested that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) review 2012-2014 groundwater monitoring data for the West Lake Landfill Site. USGS is a governmental science organization that provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment. As the federal govern- ment's experts on groundwater, geology and hydro- geology, USGS's partnership with EPA brings some of the world's best and brightest groundwater scientists to the West Lake team. The USGS groundwater report to EPA was delivered on December 17 and is available online: www.epa.gov/ region7/cleanup/west_lake_ landfill/pdf/west-lake-usgs-gw-rpt-12-17-14.pdf tions during construction activities to determine if any releases occur above any established health-based benchmarks. The system currently conducts sampling for typical solid waste landfill gases such as sulfur di- oxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds. Radiation monitoring for radon, alpha, beta and gamma emissions is also underway. EPA's summary of the data collected by the monitoring system will be posted online in January 2015. EPA Partnership with USAGE The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) entered into two Interagen- cy Agreements with EPA Region 7 in 2014. The first agreement enables USACE to provide construction management support for the design and construction of the proposed isolation barrier. The second agreement allows USACE to perform an Independent Technical Review of reports prepared by the PRPs in response to the December 2011 National Remedy Review Board consultation, and provide com- munity relations support. Under the first agreement, USACE is reviewing and commenting on the draft design of the proposed isolation barrier. The Corps' input regarding potentially applicable technologies for and challenges to constructing the barrier will soon be delivered to Region 7. USACE would also review work plans provided by the PRPs associated with construc- tion of the barrier. EPA Supports Local Emergency Planning Efforts EPA Region 7 supported St. Louis County Emergency Management in its contingency planning efforts. St. Louis County has developed an Incident Action Plan for potential emergency situations that could arise at or near the West Lake Landfill Site. EPA has supported this planning effort since March 2014 by participating in planning calls, reviewing and commenting on the draft plan, and providing a fact sheet to the county on EPA's response assets as well as assets EPA can access from other federal agencies and special teams through the National Response System. EPA Establishes Off-Site Air Monitoring Network EPA established an off-site air monitoring network consisting of five locations in areas surrounding the ^ in early Summer Jfl 2014. The purpose of the system is to document ambient K air conditions off ¦,r,v i the site, establish v , a baseline prior to ¦ : - \ J construction activ- R I ities, and monitor I J ambient air condi- EPA Completes BMAC Radiation Screening Radiation experts from EPA Region 7 and Region 5 worked from morning to night the week of May 19 to complete a comprehen- sive radiation screening of the 70-acre Bridge- ton Municipal Ath- letic Complex (BMAC). Combining a Global Positioning System (GPS)-linked radiation ------- detector with soil sampling, this screening provided the community with the definitive, scientifically- backed results to confirm that the complex remains suitable for use. EPA's screening of BMAC resulted in the collection of data from 58,000 points along 45 miles of transecting lines. Three field survey teams worked together to screen the complex. Using GPS and radiation detection instruments, the teams screened for gamma radiation and also collected more than 100 soil samples for laboratory testing for thorium, radium and uranium. A final report is available online at EPA's West Lake Landfill page, under the Site Documents link: www.epa.gov/region07/cleanup/west_lake_land- iill/ EPA Coordinates Isolation Barrier Work with Airport On August 6, Lambert-St. Louis International Air- port management and representatives of the City of St. Louis invited representatives of EPA, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE) to meet with Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster to discuss the proposed isolation barrier at the West Lake Landfill Site. The meeting fo- cused on potential impacts to public health and safety. A main topic of the meeting was the potential for open excavation at the landfill to attract large numbers of birds, which can pose a safety hazard for aircraft flying in and out of the airport. Airport officials expressed that due to the length of the isolation barriers excava- tion phase and the amount of waste to be excavated, there is a significant potential for a bird hazard to develop from activities associated with construction. While plans for the isolation barrier are still in devel- opment, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport will day an important role in reviewing the proposed bird azard mitigation plans to ensure the safety of the fly- ing public and surrounding community. Brad Vann Joins West Lake Team as EPA's Project Manager In October, Brad"Vann became EPAs new Project Manager for the site, replacing Dan Gravatt. Brad will work with stakehold- ers throughout the remedial process to investigate the site, characterize contamination, and help select and implement i remedial actions in accordance1' with laws that protect human health and the environ- ment. Prior to working at EPA, Brad served for 13 years as a hydrogeologist and project manager for USAGE, where he worked on the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) sites and the former Weldon Spring Ordinance Works. Brad holds a Master's Degree in geology from Oklahoma State University. EPA Updates West Lake Landfill Website EPA Region 7 updated its West Lake Landfill website to more clearly and effectively communicate with " - —~T~ -r- | 1—~ i 1 | "" * *c V# a the public. The new web- site features several new sections, including a map of the Superfund site and its boundaries, a "What's New" section, and a section dedicated to the West Lake Update Path Ahead - to provide a central resource of site information to the public. Region 7's Twitter feed and Facebook photo gallery are also accessible through this website. All documents available on the previous website are still available in the new document archive, directly linked to the new website: www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/ west_lake_landfill EPA Reviewing Isolation Barrier Alternatives Assessment EPA Region 7 received the isolation barrier alternatives report from the PRPs this fall. This report provides preliminary analysis of the possible isolation barrier alignments, including analysis of bird control issues associated with each alignment. The report is currently under review and evaluation by various offices within EPA, and by USAGE and the St. Louis Airport Author- ity. Upon completion of the review, EPA will use US- AGE'S advice to determine next steps in the isolation barrier decision-making process, me Isolation Barrier Alternatives Assessment report is available online: www.epa.gov/ region7/cleanup/west_lake_landfill Community Inquiries Ben Washburn 913-551-7364 Washburn.Ben@epa.gov Find Us On www.facebook.com/eparegion7 www.twitter.com/eparegion7 www.scribd.com/eparegion7 www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/west_lake_landfill EPA Provides Independent Technical Assis- tance to the Community Through its Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC contract, EPA continues to pro- vide an independent environmen- tal consultant to help community residents better understand con- ditions at the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site. Terrie Boguski is the lead consultant working for the Community Advisory Group (CAG) and community as a whole. TASC contractors provide independent analysis, review and technical assistance to the community, and they work at the direction of the community—independent of EPA. ------- |