vvEPA Facility Cleanup EPA Region 4 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Corrective Action Program Walter Coke, Birmingham, AL Number 4 October 2012 Background The facility, Walter Coke, is located at 3500 35th Avenue, North Birmingham, AL 35207, Walter Coke is an industrial coke operation that produces foundry and furnace coke and coke by-products. It has been in operation for over 90-years at this 400 acre property. The facility is located near the Harriman Park, Fairmont and Collegeville residential communities. New RCRA Agreement In September 2012, the EPA Region 4 RCRA Corrective Action Program entered into an Agreement with Walter Coke which outlines requirements for Walter Coke to finalize RCRA Corrective Measures Studies and implement EPA approved remedies (site restoration or cleanup) at the facility. This Agreement builds upon the previous investigations and moves the facility from the investigative phase into a cleanup phase. This Agreement also dovetails with the EPA's overall mission to protect human health and the environment. The Agreement, effective September 24, 2012, includes a phased approach to implement remedies at approximately fifty (50) specific smaller areas within five (5) broader areas that require attention: What is RCRA? The Congressional law, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA, pronounced 'rick-ra') authorizes EPA to require facilities to examine the nature and extent of their potential pollution to protect human health and/or the environment. The lead regulatory program on the investigation and cleanup at the Walter Coke facility is the EPA's RCRA Corrective Action program in the Southeast Region 4 Office in Atlanta. The new Agreement is under the authority of RCRA Section 3008(h), and is called a RCRA Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) for corrective action. Example of drilling equipment installing a groundwater monitoring well. ------- • Coke Manufacturing facility • Former Chemical Plant • Former Pig Iron Foundry • Land Disposal Area • Wastewater Treatment Area All work to be conducted by the facility is covered under the September 2012 Agreement that contains schedules with targeted deliverables and due dates. The work will be based on sound science using EPA technical guidance. Community Engagement EPA's goal is to keep the local community informed and engaged. During key milestones of the Agreement, the EPA Region 4 RCRA Corrective Action Program will have meaningful community involvement. For instance, when cleanup actions (remedies) are proposed, a public notice will be initiated. Under the Agreement, Walter Coke is required to develop a Community Engagement Plan for EPA's approval. In addition, the EPA Region 4 RCRA Corrective Action Program will be offering an upcoming free public workshop that will educate the community on the detail s of the Agreement and the cleanup program. Contact Information Brian Holtzclaw, Community Engagement Coordinator, 404-821-0697, holtzclaw.brian@epa. gov Meredith Anderson, RCRA Project Manager, 404-562-8608, anderson. meredith@epa. gov EPA mil continue to promote community engagement. More Information For the latest on the EPA North Birmingham Environmental Collaborative Project, of which the EPA Region 4 RCRA Corrective Action Program is an element, refer to: http:// epa. gov/northbhamproi ect/. The latest new Agreement and maps of the cleanup areas of attention, can be found at: http://www, epa. gov/region04/ production/foiapgs/readingroom/ rcra community/waiter, html A temporary information repository for viewing has been set up at the Harriman Park Recreation Center, since the North Birmingham Library has been closed for renovations. 2 ------- |