Superfund Sites in Hurricane’s Path Tested
EPA and Florida Sign Brownfield Agreement

Superfund Sites in Hurricane’s Path Tested
As was reported in the December issue of Brownfield News, the areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita comprise one of the most environmentally hazardous regions in the United States. The U.S. EPA is the lead agency for hazardous cleanup and part of its response to the hurricane recovery efforts is sampling at Superfund National Priority List (NPL) sites throughout the region. Some of the recent results include:

Samples taken at D.L. Mud, Inc. in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana, were collected from monitoring wells and the results were compared to data collected for the five-year review for the site completed in September 2003. The concentrations of metals detected in the samples were comparable to the concentrations of metals reported in the five-year review. EPA will continue to monitor the site according to the site operation and maintenance monitoring plan.

In October, a team from EPA collected sediment, surface water and groundwater samples at nine NPL sites in Mississippi and Alabama to assess if Hurricane Katrina had any impact on cleanup remedies currently operating or completed at those sites. In Mississippi, samples were collected at American Creosote Works in Louisville, Picayune Wood Treating in Picayune and Davis Timber in Hattiesburg. Site contaminants of concern (COCs) were detected, but the concentrations were within the range of previously reported concentrations for the detected COCs, which were below risk-based human health levels of concern.

In Alabama, samples were collected at the Olin-McIntosh Plant and Ciba Geigy in McIntosh, Stauffer-Cold Creek and Stauffer-LeMoyne in LeMoyne, Redwing Carriers (Saraland Apartments) in Saraland and the Perdido Groundwater Contamination Site in Perdido. Some chemical concentrations were detected, but the concentrations were detected at levels below risk-based human health levels of concern. At sites where there is pre-Katrina sampling data, the sampling results were within the range of previously reported concentrations for the detected COCs.

EPAs assessment of the results indicates that the remedies at each site were not affected by the hurricanes. More information is available at: www.epa.gov/katrina.

EPA and Florida Sign Brownfield Agreement

The U.S. EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement recognizing Florida’s Brownfields Redevelopment Program as a means to expedite the cleanup of polluted properties and return them to productive use.
 
“This recognizes the two agencies’ commitment to the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Program,” said Jimmy Palmer, EPA Region 4 Administrator in Atlanta.  “I look forward to continuing to work with Florida to promote environmental protection, economic development, and community revitalization through this program.”

This new agreement incorporates the requirements of the 2002 federal Brownfields Law and recognizes that cleanups conducted under Florida’s program may also satisfy the requirements of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
 
“The brownfields program allows for the restoration of the environment and revitalization of our communities,” said DEP Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “Through this agreement, we are streamlining the process and paving the way for the redevelopment of Florida’s urban communities.”

The agreement represents a commitment by both agencies to work cooperatively to achieve protective cleanups at brownfield properties in Florida, while preserving federal enforcement authority. The agreement, in part, promotes the federal “One Cleanup Program,” facilitating assessment and cleanup of polluted properties under the most efficient state or federal cleanup authority, and assists redevelopment and reuse.

It provides a clear statement of state and federal roles at polluted properties and provides for coordinated and consistent technical and regulatory guidance to property owners, prospective purchasers, public and private developers, citizens, local governments, and elected officials. The commitments expressed in the agreement by EPA are expected to increase the number and rate of cleanups at sites and facilities throughout the state.

Since 1999, Florida has created 4,407 new direct jobs and 2,947 new indirect jobs, and realized nearly $400 million of capital investment in designated brownfield areas.