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Fact Sheet
February 2006
Quarterly Update for Herculaneum Lead Smelter Site, Herculaneum, Missouri
QUARTERLY UPDATES
This is the second quarterly update issued by the EPA Region 7 in our effort to keep the Herculaneum community informed about progress at the Herculaneum Lead Smelter Site. This newsletter includes information about the work conducted by the EPA, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS). The Herculaneum Community Advisory Group (CAG) may also use the newsletter to provide community members with information about their activities.
NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARD
On December 19, 2005, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register to invite the public to review and comment on a proposed finding that the Missouri State Implementation Plan (SIP) for lead is substantially inadequate to attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in Herculaneum. Doe Run-Herculaneum violated the NAAQS for lead in three consecutive calendar quarters of 2005. The company and the MDNR operate monitors at the Broad Street monitoring location.
The standard for lead is set at a level of 1.5 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air, averaged over a calendar quarter. Doe Run’s monitor recorded a quarterly value of 1.928 micrograms per cubic meter in the first calendar quarter of 2005, and MDNR’s monitor recorded a quarterly value of 1.877. Doe Run’s monitor recorded a value of 1.615 in the second quarter, and MDNR’s monitor recorded a value of 1.60 in the third quarter. Air monitoring results at the Doe Run Herculaneum facility fell within the NAAQS during the fourth quarter of 2005.
The deadline for submitting comments on EPA’s proposed actions related to the State Implementation Plan for the Doe Run facility in Herculaneum ended January 18. EPA is currently reviewing comments received from the public. For additional information on this action, contact Amy Algoe-Eakin, Air Planning and Development Branch, or Kim Olson, Office of External Programs, 913-551-7003 or toll free 800-223-0425.
YARD SOIL PROGRESS
EPA will continue oversight of Doe Run’s replacement of contaminated
yard soils during calendar year 2006. To date, 407 yards have been replaced
and 113 home interiors have been cleaned.
MONITORING FOR RECONTAMINATION
EPA monitors for lead recontamination in surface soils every six months.
The data indicate that lead levels are trending upward in areas within
eight-tenths of a mile from the smelter. Data and statistics collected
by EPA are available at: www.epa.gov/region7/cleanup/superfund/major_superfund_site_reports.html.
EPA has analyzed soil samples collected through the third quarter of 2005.
These samples indicate:
- 45 of 62
quadrants, or 73 percent, show an increasing trend in soil lead concentrations.
- 15 of 16 residences have at least 1 quadrant with an increasing trend of lead contamination.
SLAG PILE UPDATE
EPA continues to negotiate with Doe Run related to the slag pile design,
construction and wetland mitigation required by the Engineering Evaluation/Cost
Analysis (EE/CA) for the Herculaneum Slag Storage Area. Copies of the
approved EE/CA, all comments and related responses are available at the
Herculaneum City Hall and the Windsor Branch of the Jefferson County Library.
LEAD SPECIATION STUDY
In September 2004, EPA requested that the Laboratory for Environmental
and Geological Studies at the University of Colorado conduct a study to
characterize soils and household dust collected from selected Herculaneum
residences. EPA has approved the final study report. The CAG requested
that EPA include the following verbatim summary from the conclusions identified
in the study in our next Herculaneum update.
Based on data presented in this summary the following conclusions
can be reached with respect to the occurrences of lead found in residential
soils and dusts from the Herculaneum area.
- Soils have
elevated RBA values with respect to the IEUBK default values and are consistent
with the elevated blood leads observed at the site.
- Yards and
house dust have “fingerprinting” forms, many of these are
common to the Doe Run facility.
- Neither paint nor gasoline are significant lead contributors to the site.
Based on the data reviewed in this summary it is my opinion that the lead
in residential soils and house dust from the Herculaneum area are the
result of activities associated with the Doe Run operation and include;
smelter-stack emissions, fugitive emissions from hauling and storage as
well as waste and concentration spillages.” A copy of the speciation
report is available for viewing with other site documents at the Herculaneum
City Hall.
VOLUNTARY PROPERTY PURCHASE PROGRAM
As of December 31, 2005, 133 property purchases have been closed and 142
purchase offers have been accepted by Herculaneum residents. Twenty permanent
residences did not participate in the Voluntary Property Purchase Program.
__________________________________________
Community Advisory Group Meeting
The next meeting of the Herculaneum Lead Smelter
Community Advisory Group will be held:
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Herculaneum High School Cafeteria
Herculaneum, Missouri
__________________________________________
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EPA encourages the community to review the Administrative Record file,
which is available at the following locations:
Herculaneum City Hall
1 Parkwood Court
Herculaneum, Missouri
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Dianna Whitaker
Office of External Programs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
whitaker.dianna@epa.gov
Phone: 913-551-7003 or
Toll Free: 1-800-223-0425
