Answers to Questions Submitted to EPA Region 7 During March 2 Community Dialogue Meeting in Bridgeton, Mo., March 2016


Answers to Questions Submitted to EPA Region 7 During March 2 Community
Dialogue Meeting in Bridgeton, Mo., March 2016

1.	Does EPA have a cleanup plan for the site, or is it just a cap?

EPA is currently reevaluating the 2008 Record of Decision (ROD). EPA has not yet made any decision on a
revised remedy for the site. EPA will propose any revised remedy decision for public comment by the end of
2016.

2.	When will the work on the isolation barrier begin and be completed?

The exact duration of the construction will be contingent upon the details and complexities of the approved
design, but field efforts will begin within six months from the time EPA's Action Memorandum is signed.

Planning for the construction has identified multiple items related to this effort, including the physical barrier,
engineering controls and other features to help ensure RIM remains isolated from the effects of a SSE.

3.	How and when does EPA communicate with MDNR regarding the site?

EPA and MDNR hold regular, bi-weekly, conference calls to discuss the site. In addition to these bi-weekly calls,
EPA and MDNR often communicate almost on a daily basis about specific actions at the site, both state lead and
federal lead.

4.	Have any health studies been done on the effects of the site on the surrounding community?

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released a Health Consultation in the fall of 2015
that provides a confirmation of EPA's previous findings that there are currently no significant off-site health risks
to the community that are attributable to the site. That report is available online:

https://www3.epa.gov/region07/cleanup/west lake landfill/pdf/west-lake-hc-eval-oul.pdf

5.	Can EPA identify what information and documents will be used to make the remedy decision
(data and analysis, risk information, Rl, FS, etc.) and make them available in advance of the
Dialogue Meetings when you will discuss the different options? We need to read them to be able
to discuss the options.

EPA will use data and information collected as part of investigations conducted since the 2008 ROD. This
information will be summarized in a Remedial Investigation Addendum (Rl Addendum) report which is expected
to be released in the fall 2016. In addition, a Final Feasibility Study (FFS) will describe and evaluate site-specific
cleanup alternatives, and will also be used to support the final remedy decision. There are many other technical
documents available for review on EPA's West Lake Landfill website in the Site Documents section:
https://www3.epa.gov/region07/cleanup/west lake landfill/document-archive.htm#SiteDocs

6.	Can EPA release approved work plans and post updates of on-site activities?

EPA provides approved work plans and other site-related documents to the public on its West Lake Landfill
website in the Site Documents section. EPA reviews these reports to ensure the information regarding the site is
accurate, and is scientifically supported by the data. Please see web-link below for archived documents for the
site:

https://www3.epa.gov/region07/cleanup/west lake landfill/document-archive.htm#SiteDocs

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The Administrative Record also contains site-related documents and is available locally at the Bridgeton Trails
Branch of the St. Louis County Public Library.

EPA posts regular updates of site activities on its West Lake Landfill website and also to its West Lake Facebook
and Twitter pages:

https://www3.epa.gov/regic ;anup/west lake landfill

https://www.facebook.com/WestLakeLandfillSuperfundSite

https://twitter.com/WestLakeSite

7. Can EPA create a map showing where the Subsurface Smoldering Event is located?

The subsurface smoldering event (SSE) is monitored and managed under the regulatory authority of the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). All information related to oversight and monitoring of the
Bridgeton Landfill is posted on their website (http://dnr.mo.gov/bridgeton/). EPA has also enlisted the support
of our Office of Research and Development (ORD) in examining the SSE monitoring data, which is also available
on MDNR's website.

8. How can EPA make a remedy decision according to your timeline just one month after getting the
Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study in the fall of 2016?

EPA is and will be reviewing various draft components and data that will support the Rl Addendum and
subsequent FFS. Therefore, while the delivery of the final Rl Addendum and FFS documents are scheduled to be
finalized about a month apart, many of the data elements (existing and being generated from recent additional
investigations) will have already been reviewed and approved for inclusion in these documents. This information
and data will be publicly available once the reports have been approved by EPA.

9. After these complex documents are completed can you have Terrie Boguski (TASC) review and
summarize them for the entire community?

Yes, the documents will be available for review by TASC. EPA funds TASC and is supportive of Terrie's role in
interpreting complex site information for the community.

10. What is EPA's plan if the subsurface smoldering event accelerates? Is there a contingency plan?

EPA is currently in discussions with the PRPs regarding implementation of a series of engineering controls to
ensure an SSE does not come in contact with the RIM associated within 0U1, Area 1. The result of these
discussions is not yet complete but will be made publicly available once final. It is EPA's intent to ensure that
regardless of the SSE's location, measures will be taken to address this concern.

11. Why stop short of full vegetative clearing as part of surface fire mitigation?

Removing vegetation in areas where RIM has been identified as at or near the surface is underway as a time
critical removal action to reduce risks associated with a surface fire. Other site vegetation, while perceived as a
nuisance, protects the landfill surface from erosion until the permanent remedy can be implemented. Planning
for sampling of the remaining vegetation is currently underway. It is currently anticipated that the remaining site
vegetation will be removed from 0U1 during implementation of the final remedy.

12. Who are the Potentially Responsible Parties?

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The Potentially Responsible Parties identified for the site are Bridgeton Landfill LLC, Rock Road Industries, Cotter
Corporation, and the Department of Energy.

13.	How can you increase transparency on your interactions with the PRPs?

EPA is committed to transparency, and will continue to release information about the work being performed by
the PRPs at the Site. EPA will also continue to routinely meet with members of the community, release final
approved documents, and communicate on the site via our website and on social media outlets to better
support our on-going transparency efforts.

14.	If MDNR is in charge of the underground fire (subsurface smoldering event) in the Bridgeton
Landfill where can I see MDNR's information on their air quality testing?

The MDNR maintains a web page with site information including web-links to the air sampling and monitoring
reports for the Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill. The MDNR web page with links to the air data can be accessed at:

http://dnr.mo.gov/bridgeton/

15.	Since MDNR is responsible for the Bridgeton Landfill have you tested for the absence of RIM in the
South Quarry?

Initial results from the historical review in the Phase I investigation indicate there is no evidence of RIM
impacted areas that warrant further investigation within the former North or South Quarry. MDNR is
responsible for monitoring the subsurface smoldering event and for managing the Bridgeton Landfill and EPA is
responsible for radiologically impacted material (RIM). Under EPA's oversight and approval authority, PRPs are
working to finalize the Phase 1 Comprehensive Report for OU-1 that will identify extent of the radiological
contamination encountered in the Area 1 investigation. An earlier phase of this field work did extend into a
portion of the North Quarry but did not encounter RIM.

16.	Please share as much information as possible about your plans to split off groundwater as a
separate project you are calling Operable Unit 3.

EPA will require additional groundwater evaluations on and off site to determine the nature and extent of
contaminants identified in and around the West Lake site, and develop an evaluation that supports whether
there is a need for a future and separate groundwater remedial action. EPA will publicly post the OU-3 related
documents once finalized.

17.	How are families currently impacted by the RIM contamination?

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released a Health Consultation in the fall of 2015
that provides a confirmation of EPA's previous findings that there are currently no significant off-site health risks
to the community that are attributable to the site. That report is available online:

https://www3.epa.gov/region07/cleanup/west lake landfill/pdf/west-lake-hc-eval-oul.pdf

Based on on-site and off-site monitoring performed to date, EPA has determined that there is no significant off-
site health risks posed by wastes contained at the site. EPA continues to monitor the site and surrounding areas
for evidence of impacts, or potential threats to the surrounding communities.

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