U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3 Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and District of Columbia Mza JACKSON CERAMIX SUPERFUND SITE EPA CONTINUES investigation Falls Creek, PA JANUARY 2013 Progress Report on Remedial Investigation The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), continues its Remedial Investigation (RI) of the Jackson Ceramix Superfund Site (Site). The pur- pose of the RI is to find out the source and extent of contamination; evaluate options for cleanup; and determine if the site can be redeveloped to provide economic, environmental, and/or social benefits. The RI began in the spring of 2010 and additional sampling took place in June 2012. EPA expects to complete the RI in the summer of 2013 and will keep the community updated on our progress. The EPA has been working with the Borough of Falls Creek and prospective land developers to re- develop the former china manufacturing facility and the area north of the railroad tracks between First Street and Slab Run Road. EPA's investigation of the site (Figure 1) includes: • The former china manufacturing facility; • The former lagoon; and • The Sandy Lick Creek floodplain due east of the former china manufacturing facility. As a precautionary measure, EPA included the Falls Creek Park in the investigation (labeled as Baseball Field Area in Figure 1) because of its proximity to the Site. While we did detect low levels of metals and organic compounds, the levels do not pose a health risk to people playing in or visiting the park. 2010 Work Summary EPA has completed the following work which be- gan in 2010: the Jackson Ceramix site and the baseball field area. ^Installed and sampled 34 temporary and perma- nent groundwater monitoring wells. Results of the samples taken at the former facility, the former lagoon and the floodplain areas indicate the presence of lead and other metals and organic compounds in the soils, sediment, surface water and groundwater. Caution signs with EPA's contact information have been installed in these areas. Additional Sampling Needed Based on the 2010 sample results, EPA determined that more information was needed to better assess the extent of contamination at the site and the risk to human health and the environment. The addi- tional sampling began in June 2012 and included: •S92 soil samples collected from 28 sample loca- tions within the Sandy Lick Creek floodplain. •SAdditional sampling at the southern portion of the baseball field area and the former manufacturing facility property. SAt least two additional rounds of samples of the groundwater monitoring wells. In an effort to complete the groundwater investiga- tion, EPA would like to gather well information from residents who live within one mile of the site. •SSampled soil, sediment, and surface water from ------- EPA Conducts Residential Well Survey In the fall of 2012, contract workers for the EPA went door-to-door to collect information about residential groundwater wells. The information will help EPA determine the best approach for remediating groundwater contamination by iden- tifying the use of the underlying groundwater and the locations of wells in the vicinity of the Site. A report summarizing the well survey informa- tion will be available to the public in late February 2013. Private information such as names and addresses will be kept confidential. The re- port will be available at: http:// loggerhead.epa.gov/arweb/public/ search_results.jsp?siteid=PAD001222025 Site Background and Cleanup History Jackson Ceramix is located within the Borough of Falls Creek off of Third Street, in both Jefferson and Clearfield counties. Between 1917 until its closing in October 1985, the facility manufac- tured and painted china. Chemicals and metals used in the china manufac- turing process included lead and other metals, and organic compounds. Poor chemical handling practices at the plant resulted in contamination of the groundwater, soil, sediment and wetlands. Wastewater generated from the china manufactur- ing process was contaminated with residual paints, oils and china glazing material. The waste- water was discharged to an unlined lagoon (labeled as the Former Lagoon on Figure 1). The lagoon repeatedly discharged the wastewater and sludge into the floodplain east of the railroad tracks, covering approximately 20 acres of the floodplain with lead-contaminated sludge. Broken and unfinished china debris was stockpiled across the entire facility and was buried under- ground in the extreme southeastern corner of the Falls Creek recreational park. Multiple investigations and removal actions have been conducted at the Site by the EPA and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection since 1987 including: 1987-A Site Inspection was completed. 1989-Drums containing lead, PCB-contaminated oil, organic materials, flammable solids and liquids were removed. 1992-A groundwater investigation began along with an evaluation of risks to migratory birds by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998-1999-Stockpiled hazardous chemicals, con- taminated soils, sediment, and debris were removed and the former facility was covered with two feet of clean soil. 2010-A wetlands soil investigation began to deline- ate lead contamination within the floodplain. Additional Information Rashmi Mathur Remedial Project Manager 1650 Arch Street, Code 3HS22 Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-814-5234 mathur.rashmi@epa.gov David Polish Community Involvement Coordinator 1650 Arch Street, Code 3HS52 Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-814-3327 polish.david@epa.gov On the web - http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/npl/ PAD001222025.htm ------- ------- Jackson Ceramix Site United States Environmental Protection Agency 3HS52 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA19103 Attn: David Polish ------- |