Community Involvement Plan
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN VIBURNUM TREND LEAD HAUL ROADS SUPERFUND SITE DENT, IRON AND REYNOLDS COUNTIES, MISSOURI April 2009 U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 7 i ! 30216103 THE U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S (EPA) SUPERFUND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE AGENCY. ACTIVE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY PUBLIC PROJECT. EPA's COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES AT THE VIBURNUM TREND LEAD HAUL ROADS SUPERFUND SITE ARE DESIGNED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE NATURE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SITE, INVOLVE THE PUBLIC IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL AFFECT THEM, INVOLVE THE PUBLIC IN THE RESPONSES UNDER CONSIDERATION TO REMEDY THESE ISSUES, AND INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE PROGRESS BEING MADE TO IMPLEMENT THE REMEDY! Table of Contents Section Page 1.0 Overview of the Community Involvement Plan 2 2.0 Capsule Site Description 2 3.0 Community Background 3 4.0 EPA's Community Involvement Program 5 Appendices: A Key Contacts 10 B Meeting Locations 14 C Repository Locations 15 D Community Involvement Interview Questionnaire 16 1 Section 1.0 Overview of the Community Involvement Plan The EPA developed this Community Involvement Plan to facilitate two-way communication between the community surrounding the Viburnum Trend Lead Haul Roads Superfund Site (site) and EPA and to encourage community involvement in site activities. The EPA will utilize the community involvement activities outlined in this plan to ensure that residents are continuously informed and provided opportunities to be involved. EPA drew upon several information sources to develop this plan, including community interviews and site files. EPA's Regional Office will oversee the implementation of the community involvement activities outlined in this plan. Section 2.0 Capsule Site Description 2.1 Site History The Viburnum Trend is commonly known as the New Lead Belt which began producing lead in the early 1960s around Viburnum, Missouri and continues production to this day. Ten mines were opened along the north-south trending ore body during the next two decades. The older mines were generally established in the northern part of the trend, and the mining progressed about 40 miles southward to Corridon, Mo. Ores from the mines have been crushed, milled and processed to form a lead concentrate. The lead concentrate has been hauled by truck or rail to one of the smelters in the region. Lead concentrate commonly contains lead at concentrations greater than 70 percent (700,000 parts per million). Over the years, some lead concentrate has accumulated on the soils at some residential properties along the haul routes. 2.2 Site Description/Location The site includes residential yards along lead-concentrate haul routes in Dent, Iron and Reynolds counties where high concentrations of lead have been identified through EPA's investigations and sampling activities. 2.3 Site Inspections and Cleanup Activities EPA and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) conducted investigations and sampled residential properties along lead-concentrate trucking routes from 2001 to 2003. Some properties with lead contamination above 1,200 parts per million (ppm) were identified during 2 these investigations. At this contamination level, EPA prioritizes properties for cleanup as time- critical removals. On March 1, 2005, EPA reached an agreement with five mining companies regarding time- critical cleanup of residential yards in the Viburnum Trend Mining District. The agreement required the companies to continue sampling activities, dig up and replace soil at properties where lead concentrations exceed 1,200 ppm, provide vacuums with special filters to each home where soil-lead concentrations exceed 1,200 ppm, and clean home interiors at residences where soil has been removed. EPA has overseen these activities. In June 2007, EPA signed another agreement with the five mining companies to address residential properties where lead contamination between 400 and 1,199 ppm has been identified through ongoing sampling activities. The mining companies have prepared an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) report which recommends the best alternative for addressing lead contamination at these properties. EPA is currently reviewing the EE/CA report. When the EE/CA is ready to share with the site community, EPA will open a thirty-day comment period to obtain comments about the proposed cleanup alternative from interested members of the public. Section 3.0 Community Background 3.1 History of Community Involvement EPA, with the participation of the MDNR, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), hosted meetings to inform the local community about site activities on the following dates: June 10, 2004; June 7-9, 2005; June 27, 2006; and March 27, 2007. EPA hosted a public meeting at the Viburnum City Hall on June 10, 2004. The purpose of the meeting was to educate the local community about upcoming sampling activities. EPA mailed a fact sheet to the site mailing list to invite them to the meeting. EPA also placed an advertisement the Quad County Star newspaper on June 9, 2004, as another way to inform the public about the meeting. From June 7 through June 9, 2005, EPA hosted three consecutive public meetings to inform the site community about upcoming time-critical removal activities. The evening meetings were scheduled at the Centerville Elementary School in Centerville; the Arcadia Valley High School in Ironton; and the Viburnum City Hall in Viburnum. EPA issued a fact sheet in May to the site mailing list to announce the meetings. EPA also placed display ads in the Mountain Echo newspaper on June 1, 2005, and in The Reynolds County Courier newspaper on June 2, 2005. EPA convened a public meeting on June 27, 2006, at the Quad County Fire Protection District in Viburnum to announce the proposal to issue a Remedial Action Plan permit to the Doe Run Co. 3 for disposal of site soils. EPA mailed a fact sheet to the site mailing list in June to invite the public to the meeting and to announce a 30-day comment period for the proposed permit action. EPA placed display ads iri the Quad County Star and the Mountain Echo to announce the 30-day comment period. EPA also scheduled radio broadcasts on KTJJ Radio in Farmington, Mo. as another way to announce the public meeting and comment period. EPA hosted a public meeting at the Viburnum City Hall on March 27, 2007, to inform the community about progress on the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis being prepared by the - mining companies. On February 15, 2007, EPA reached an agreement with The Doe Run Resources Corporation to implement specific work practices related to the company's handling and transportation of lead materials. During the March public meeting, EPA reported on this agreement and detailed the work practices that the company would be required to perform. A fact sheet was issued to the site mailing list in February to invite the community to the meeting. EPA also placed display ads in following newspapers: 1) News Democrat Journal on February 25, 2007; 2) The Mountain Echo on February 28, 2007; and 3) Reynolds County Courier on March 1,2007. Copies of important site documents are available in the administrative record which EPA maintains at the Ozark Regional Library in Ironton; the Reynolds County Library in Centerville, the Viburnum City Hall and EPA Region 7. 3.2 Analysis of Key Community Issues and Concerns EPA conducted community interviews in June 2005 and April 2006 with a cross section of community residents, municipal, county and state officials, and business and church representatives. EPA staff also answered questions from affected residents and resolved any outstanding issues related to ongoing soil removal activities. Questions used during the interviews are in Appendix D of this plan. The issues and concerns heard by EPA during the interviews are summarized below. Public Awareness about the Site - All of the people interviewed were aware of the site. Interviewees had received copies of fact sheets. Some interviewees had heard reports about the site on J98 Radio in Farmington, Mo. Meeting Locations, Timing and Publicity - Interviewees agreed that the Viburnum City Hall was an appropriate location for EPA's community meetings. One interviewee also suggested the local high school as a meeting location. Weeknights were identified as the best time to schedule meetings. However, it was suggested that Wednesday evenings be avoided because some churches schedule services on Wednesday evenings. One interviewee stated that the Quad County Star was an appropriate newspaper for placement of display ads. Another interviewee stated that some residents purchase the Sunday edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch so EPA might also consider placing ads in that newspaper. J98, a Farmington radio station, was identified as a station that covers the site area. This radio station receives copies of all site fact 4 sheets and press releases and has consistently followed up with requests for on-air interviews about upcoming public meetings. Community Information Needs - Everyone interviewed wanted to be kept informed about site cleanup activities. EPA has relied on a variety of methods to inform the community including issuance of press releases and fact sheets, establishment and maintenance of the site repository, and presentation of site progress at public meetings. Health Concerns — Some interviewees stated that local residents have expressed concern about lead contamination in the site area. As a consequence, many residents are pleased that EPA is addressing the contamination through the Superfund program. Section 4.0 EPA's Community Involvement Program 4.1 Goals This community involvement program is designed to keep the public informed of site progress, establish two-way communication, and provide opportunities for public input during site activities.