68th Street Dump Site Baltimore County, Maryland Superfund Update USEPA Region 3 February 2009 USEz, 68lh Street Dump Site Investigation Status Significant progress has been achieved since the last public meeting in May 2008. Work plans that describe the field investigation activities for the Site have been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). The field investigations began in early July 2008 and are scheduled to be completed for most of the Site by February 2009. Shortly after completion of the field investigation, a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Report and Re-use Analysis will be prepared to present the results of the investigation and the options for remediation and re-use of the Site. Additionally, the Early Removal Action (ERA) was performed over the Summer and included the removal of specific containers and contaminated soils. During this activity, signs were placed prominently around the Site as requested by community members at the last public meeting. The Early Removal Action (ERA) work was completed and is under review for acceptance bv the USEPA. Site Background The site consists of approximately 270 acres of undeveloped area located near Rosedale in Baltimore County. The site has been divided into five Management Areas to better manage site-wide investigations, remediation and re-use (see the map below). Portions of the site were once used as landfills and received primarily industrial and commercial refuse, incinerator ash, and/or waste oils for a period of years extending from the mid- 1940s through the early 1970s. The site has remained unused and undeveloped since that time except for the random dumping of surface debris by unauthorized trespassers. E ¦ ,*¦ MA-D. ^ MA-E In April 2006, the USEPA entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent with the 68tn Street Landfill Sites Coalition (Coalition), a group of 19 companies and governments. Under the Order, the Coalition has agreed to conduct a comprehensive environmental investigation and develop a remediation plan that incorporates a preliminary re-use plan for the Site. Clean-up Plans and Documents The Coalition has prepared environmental investigation work plans, a preliminary re-use assessment, and a response action document for the site. These documents have been reviewed and approved by the USEPA, MDE, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for compliance with Superfund law and related environmental requirements. The approved documents are available to the public. They are posted on the USEPA and Coalition websites, and may be found at: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/sites/MDD980918387/iiidex.htm and www.68thstreetlandfillsite.com The documents may be accessed through the internet available at any public library or personal computer. They may also be viewed in person at the USEPA-Region 3 offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Early Removal Action Completion The ERA was performed at the Site during the Summer of 2008. It was intended to immediately reduce the human health and ecological risks posed by surface contamination and debris to on-site workers, trespassers and wildlife. The ERA focused on the removal of soils, containers, and other waste materials observed at the surface of the Site to which humans and wildlife could be exposed in the Site's current condition. The areas designated for removal were previously identified during reconnaissance conducted in March 2007 and February 2008. These reconnaissance results are presented in an USEPA-approved Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Report. The ERA was conducted in accordance with the USEPA- approved Response Action Plan over a three month timeframe between June 2008 and September 2008. Field activities included limited site clearing to provide required access; removal of surface soils (see the photograph above), containers, and housekeeping items including gas cylinders, batteries, and empty drums; and, placement of warning signs around the site perimeter. The work component most visible to local residents and the general public was the shoulder closure on the 1-95 north-bound Moravia Road Exit Ramp in early Summer which allows access during the early removal action and the field investigations. The exit ramp will be returned to its original condition following the completion of the field investigation activities. Overall, the ERA resulted in the removal of approximately 44 cubic yards of contaminated soil, 3 tons of housekeeping items, 6 drums of waste materials, and the placement of 43 warning signs (the blue squares on the above map indicate warning sign locations). WARNING NO TRESPASSING USEPA SUPERFUND SITE CLEAN-UP ACTIVITIES (W1 ON-GOING vV FOR INFOMATION CALL: 1-800-352-1973 x43220 ------- On-going Field Investigations Field investigations are currently on-going to better understand and delineate environmental conditions throughout the Site. The results of the field investigation and the results of past investigations of the Site will be used to determine potential clean-up alternatives that will improve human and ecological systems that are within or pass through the Site. The field investigation activities that are currently being performed, in addition to limited clearing, include: installing monitoring wells; collecting soil borings; excavating test pits; sampling soil, soil-gas, and sediment; evaluating soil cover; and conducting bioassay sampling, geophysical surveys and a habitat survey. Additional activities will include groundwater and surface-water sampling and stream flow evaluation. In addition, off-Site sampling will be conducted to establish background. While the laboratory results are not yet available, the conditions encountered at the site are consistent with prior studies. The picture below depicts the installation of a monitoring well in Management Area F. Over the last 6 months, Site work has been performed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Access to the site by unauthorized personnel is not allowed in order to minimize the potential for exposure to waste materials and unsafe conditions. USEPA and MDE conduct periodic oversight of the field activities and receive routine status updates. Completion Schedule Based on current expectations for completion of the field investigations, it is anticipated that the Remedial Investigations/Feasibility Studies results will be presented to the USEPA, the MDE and the Natural Resources Trustees for review during Fall 2009. After review and finalization of these documents, the USEPA will select preferred alternatives for the Site and develop Proposed Plans for clean-up. The Proposed Plans will be made available to the public for review and comment. It is expected that the comment period, along with a public meeting on the RIs/FSs, will be held in Spring 2010. When is the Next Community Involvement Opportunity? Opportunities for interested community members to provide input to the clean-up and redevelopment process are available on a continuing basis by contacting the USEPA Community Involvement Coordinator (Carrie Deitzel), listed below. In addition, informal public information sessions and required public comment periods will be held at key project milestones. The next public information session is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2009 to discuss the overall findings of the field investigations. Additionally, USEPA will conduct interviews with community members through March 2009 to help the USEPA understand local issues and concerns regarding the site and its clean-up. Public notices of upcoming events, including public information sessions, will appear in The Avenue, a weekly newspaper, and The Examiner, a daily newspaper. Direct mailings will also be sent to those on the most current USEPA mailing list. Site-specific information will be available on the USEPA website. For more information about this site, please contact: Carrie Deitzel (3HS52) Community Involvement Coordinator 215-814-5525 or 1-800-553-2509x45525 deitzel. carric@cpa. gov Christopher J. Corbett (3HS22) Remedial Project Manager 215-814-3220 or 1-800-352-1973 x43220 corbett.chris@, epa.gov USEPA Region 3 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029 Or log onto: http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/super/sites/MDD980918387/iiidex.htm USEPA-Region 3 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029 Attn: C. Deitzel (3HS52) Update: 68th Street Dump Site ------- |