Community Relations Plan for the Remedial Action at The
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m GO COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN for Remedial Action at the Sikes Hazardous Waste Site Crosby, Texas Revised February, 1983 Abandoned Site Response Unit Texas Department of Water Resources 1700 North Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 983696 0o0 O O COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN for Remedial Action at the Sikes Hazardous Waste Site Crosby, Texas Funding provided by a Grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980. Grant Number: CX-810198-01-2 Grant Manager: Gary D. Schroeder, P.E. Texas Department of Water Resources Inquiries: All inquiries related to the Sikes Hazardous Waste Site project should be referred to: Chris Lippe Abandoned Site Response Unit Solid Waste and Spill Response Section Texas Department of Water Resources P. 0. Box 13087 Austin, Texas 78711 TABLE OF CONTENTS omo o Page o o Statement of Objecti ve 1 A. Site Background and History of Community Involvement at the Sikes Site 1 B. Specific Objectives of the Community Relations Program at the Sikes Site 2 C. Community Relations Techniques and Objectives 2 D. Workplan and Schedule 4 E. Budget and Staffing Plan 5 APPENDICES A. Interested Groups and Individuals B. Site-Location Map COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN for Remedial Action at the Sikes Hazardous Waste Site Crosby, Texas ™ July 1982 - March 1983 g O ! This community relations plan (CRP) outlines the anticipated community rela- ° : tions program for the continuing stages of remedial action at the Sikes site in Crosby, Texas. Under a Cooperative Agreement with the EPA, the TDWR is responsible for implementing the community relations program at the Sikes site. A. SITE BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AT THE SIKES SITE p 1. Site Background The Sikes Disposal Pits are located 100 yards north of U.S. Highway 90 t and 400 yards east of the San Jacinto River, approximately 4 miles \ southwest of Crosby, Texas, in northeast Harris County. Texas Department of Water Resources' file data indicates that the site [ began operation in the early or mid-1960's and closed in late 1967. The owner/operator, Mr. Richard 0. Sikes, reportedly received S2 per r load or approximately $1,500 per month from the principal transporter of waste to the site, French Limited of Houston, Inc. Other trans- porters also used the site. The relationship between Mr. Sikes and French, Ltd. deteriorated after a fire at the Sikes location damaged a [ nearby train trestle resulting in litigation against French, Ltd. Shortly thereafter, another commercial waste disposal operation was started by Mr. B. G, Burton located due south of Sikes Pits and south of Highway 90, and was used by French, Ltd. French purchased the Burton site in 1967. The death of Mr. Richard Sikes in 1967 coupled with the opening of the Burton Pit was apparently the end of the Sikes PTts as a commercial waste disposal operation. r The Sikes' property consists of 25 acres containing six earthen ponds excavated below grade. These pits contain a variety of chemical substances as no attempt was made to segregate chemical wastes during disposal operations. Approximately 200 drums containing unidentified wastes are scattered throughout the property. Monitor wells were installed by the State on the property. During the drilling of the wells, sandy soils were encountered extending from the surface to approximately 30 feet. Ground water from the monitor wells was sampled and found to contain notable concentrations of several heavy metals and organic compounds. Over the past 15 years, inactivity and lack of remedial maintenance has caused the containment levees around the ponds to deteriorate. That fact, coupled with periods of flooding in the San Jacinto River bottom, has resulted in the accumulation, through runoff, of a large area of sludge east of the main disposal pond. Preliminary probing of the runoff area shows a significant accumulation of sludge and tar- like material ranging in depth from several inches to 4 feet. Samples indicate a variety of organic compounds in the sludge runoff including phenolic compounds, xylene, benzene, creosol and halogenated hydro- carbons. The major environmental problems at this site are: a. Shallow ground water contamination is occurring at the site. 00 There are families in the area using shallow ground water for drinking purposes but no contamination has been found in any o drinking wells to'date. b. Low levels of contaminants have been measured in the air in the immediate vicinity of the waste areas. c. Some contaminants have been recorded in adjacent drainage ditches which discharge to the San Jacinto River. Of particular concern is the potential uptake of bioaccumulative toxics into the aquatic community. 2. Community Involvement at the Site Community involvement will likely increase as remedial actions proceed at the site. B. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM AT SIKES 1. During the remedial investigation, feasibility study, and beyond, keep local elected officials and agencies personally informed of site activities, investigation findings, and study results. 2. As alternatives are developed, keep local and regional interest groups informed through the media; consult informally with all interested individuals and groups (see appendix). 3. Be prepared to document each contact with the community, the issues raised, and the agency's response. C. COMMUNITY RELATIONS TECHNIQUES AND OBJECTIVES PHASE: Continuing Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Technique Objective 1 Initial briefing for Congressional To inform Congressional and state and state officials. leaders of the schedule, tasks, and rationale for the continuing remedial investigation and feasi- bility study; to answer their questions. 2. Initial briefing for local To inform the general community officials. of the remedial investigation tasks and general objectives for alternative remedies. Emphasize cost-effectiveness. To answer questions and incorporate local concerns into the feasibility studies, as appropriate. 3. Initial press release To inform the general community of the schedule, tasks, and rationale for the investigation and feasibility study (may be done concurrently with item 2). 4. Status report To report the status of the investic tion/feasibility studies. Includes contact person and telephone number oo for comments. To be distributed to o the press and to interested individ- o uals as a source of accurate informa o tion. 5. Update for Congressional To inform Congressional and state State and local officials leaders of the alternatives develope* during the feasibility study. To hear their concerns and preferences. To gain their support in presenting the most cost-effective alternative. 6. Public consultation - residents Small, informal meeting with residents (optional) and adjacent property owners to discuss the remedial action alterna- tives presented in the draft feasi- bility report. To hear their concerns and preferences. Public consultation - local Small, informal meeting with local officials officials to discuss the remedial action alternatives presented in the draft feasibility report. To hear their concerns and preferences. 8. Interim report To document all instances when the public contacted the agency to express concerns or questions about the site, and to record the agency's response and follow-up, for the public record. D. WORKPLAN AND SCHEDULE Activity Week 1 2 3 I 4 56 26 27 28 29 30 31 1. Contract Awarded X 2. Prepare Press Release X X 3. Prepare Briefing for Officials X X 4. Contact Officials X - X 5. Issue Press Release 6. Develop Status Reports X - X Continuous X - X 7. Respond to Media/Citizen Calls X - X Continuous X - X 8. Final Investigation Report from Contractor 9. Public Consultations X - X - X 10. Interim Report 11. Revise CRP 000841 E. BUDGET AND STAFFING PLAN Date Activity Staff Responsibility Hour; 6/10/82 Revise and Submit CRP 'Primary: S. Ferguson 24 Coordinate: R. Kimbro 2 T.- Milligan 2 C. Chambers (EPA) Week 1 Contract Awarded Week 2-3 Prepare Press Release Primary: S. Ferguson 6 Coordinate: R. Kimbro 1 T. Milligan 1 Week 2-3 Prepare Briefing for Primary: S. Ferguson 6 Officials Coordinate: R. Kimbro 1 T. Milligan 1 Week 4-5 Contact Officials Primary: C. Lippe 12 Coordinate: R. Kimbro ' 1 C. Chambers Week 6 Issue Press Release Primary: C. Lippe 2 Coordinate: R. Kimbro \ T. Milligan \ C. Chambers Continuous Develop Status Reports Primary: C. Lippe 10 R. Natek 10 Coordinate: Project Mgr. \ T. Milligan \ R. Kimbro \ Week 36 Final Investigation Report from Contractor Week 37-39 Public Consultations Primary: C. Lippe Coordinate: R. Kimbro T. Milligan C. Chambers Week 40 Interim Report Primary: C. Lippe 6 Coordinate: R. Kimbro 1 T. Milligan 1 Week 41 Revise CRP Primary: C. Lippe 6 Coordinate: R. Kimbro 1 T. Milligan 1 Continuous Respond to Media/Citizen Primary: C. Lippe 12 Calls Coordinate: T. Milligan r APPENDIX A Interested Groups and Individuals List of Elected Officials Federal oc Honorable John G. Tower Honorable Jack Fields o United States Senate House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515 Honorable Lloyd Bentsen Honorable Jack Brooks United States Senate House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515 r State Honorable Mark White Honorable Tom Craddick, Chairman Governor of Texas Texas House Committee on Natural Austin, Texas 78711 Resources 3108 Stanolind Midland, Texas 79701 Honorable Carl Parker Honorable Tati Santiesteban, Chairman Texas Senate Texas Senate Natural Resource Committee 1 Plaza Square 747 San Antonio, #100 Port Arthur, Texas 77640 El Paso, Texas 79901 Honorable Ed Emmett Honorable Fred Agnich, Chairman Texas House of Representatives Texas House Committee on Environmental P. 0. Box 5158 Affairs Kingswood, Texas 77339 P. 0. Box 2910 Austin, Texas 78769 Local — Mr. Richard Bianchi Honorable James Fonteno Chamber of Commerce Harris County Precinct 2 506 Church Street 1001 Preston Crosby, Texas 77532 Houston, Texas 77002 713/328-3571 Mr. Jack Steele, Executive Director Honorable Jon Lindsay Houston-Galveston Area Council Harris County Judge P.