Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site Community Relations Plan
June 1999
For Additional Information Please Contact: Lisa Brown Community Involvement Coordinator (800) 553-2509 or (215) 814-5528
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1.0 Community Relations Plan Overview 2
2.0 EPA Background 2.1 Superfund .! 3 2.2 Relevant EPA Groups 5 2.3 State Role '. 6
3.0 Site Background 3.1 Site Description , 7 3.2 Site History 7 3.3 Site Activities 10
4.0 Community Background 4.1 Community Profile : .- 12 4.2 History of Community Involvement 13
5.0 Community Concerns 5.1 Historic Community Concerns 15 5.2 Current Community Concerns 15
6.0 Community Relations Objectives 19
7.0 Community Relations Activities 20
Appendixes ^ Page
Appendix A Glossary of Technical Terms A-1
Appendix B List of Interested Parties B-1
Appendix C Information Repositories C-l
Appendix D Technical Assistance Grant Information D-1
Appendix E Community Relations Activities and Timing E-1
Appendix F Site Location Map F-1 Section 1.0 Community Relations Plan Overview
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed this Community Relations Plan (CRP)* to encourage community involvement aiid two-way communication between the Site community and EPA during the Site cleanup. EPA is committed to acknowledging and addressing the Site-related concerns of local community members, including: residents'; public officials; media; and other interested parties.
EPA uses a CRP as a guide for conducting community outreach and involvement as part of the Superfund process at a site. EPA's major goal is to keep community members informed about and involved in the Site cleanup process. EPA prepared this CRP from many sources of information, including: EPA site files; public meetings; community interviews; and input from local residents and public officials. The EPA Region III office oversees the implementation of all activities outlined in this plan.
This CRP is divided into seven sections, plus appendixes. Section 1.0 is an Community Relations Plan Overview. Section 2.0, EPA Background, provides an overview of the Superfund program and relevant EPA sections, divisions, branches, and offices. Section 3.0, Site Background, gives a brief summary of the Site, as well as a description of the selected cleanup plan for the Site. Section 4.0, Community Background, presents: a profile of the community surrounding the Site; a history of community relations at the Site; a description of Site-related concerns and issues raised by community members; and a summary of interviews conducted with local residents. Section 5.0, Community Concerns, details the concerns that area residents have expressed. Section 6.0, Community Relations Objectives, describes how the CRP will facilitate interaction with the public. Secfion 7.0, Community Relations Activities, lists those activities EPA will utilize to achieve the community relations objectives efficiently and effectively.
All words highlighted in bold are defined in the Glossary of Technical Terms (Appendix A).
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 2 Section 2.0 EPA Background
2.1 Superfund
< "p^^^i^^ .-wwm^ The Superfund program is one of the nations
Site Disccwery most ambitious and complex environmental programs. The National Oil and Hazardous m Substances Pollution Contingency Plan I (NCP) guides this program. Congress passed Preliminary Assessment (PA) Site Inspection (SI) the Superfund law, officially known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 1 Compensation, and Liability Act Hazard Ranking System (HRS) (CERCLA), in 1980. CERCLA arose out of National Priorities Ust (NPL) Removal Action the need to protect people from the dangers At Any Point, posed by abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous As Necessary Continuous Remedial Investigation (RI) waste sites. Superfund gives EPA the Public Feasibility Study (FS) Participation authority to stop on-going releases or prevent potential releases of hazardous substances; ;5?J : • enables EPA to make parties responsible for Proposed Remedial Action Plan Record of Decision (ROD) site contamination pay for cleanup; and provides funding for cleanup when money from responsible parties is not available. Status of Remedial Design (FtD) site as of Remedial Action (RA) Congress amended CERCLA in 1986 when it April 1999 passed the Superfund Amendments and J • •|^^i^:--4i.0'.;..X^i„ Reauthorization Act (SARA). Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
•VM** i^i^^Ufy r •••'• • •"''••• • iff mf'&M The term "Superfund" refers to the $8.5 billion Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund Closeout/ NPL Delisting established by Congress to pay for cleanup and enforcement activities at hazardous waste sites. A tax on the petroleum and chemical industries finances Superfund. The law enables EPA to either recover the cost of cleanup activities from those responsible for the problem [potentially responsible parties (PRPs)] or to legally require those responsible to cleanup the hazardous waste sites at their own expense.
The figure above illustrates the various steps in the Superflind process. These steps are described in more detail on the following pages.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 3 Identifying Sites for Cleanup
Under the Superfund program, EPA investigates hazardous waste sites throughout the United States. EPA conducts an initial review of each site to determine whether further action is necessary. The site then is evaluated using the Hazard Ranking System (HRS). This system is a measurement tool that assigns each site a score based on the possibility that contamination will spread through soil, ground water, surface water, or air. It also takes into account other factors, such as the location of nearby residences. EPA places the most serious sites on the National Priorities List (NPL), a list of sites identified for possible cleanup using Superfund money.
Selecting and Implementing the Cleanup Plan
After a site is placed on the NPL, EPA conducts remedial investigation and feasibility study activities. In the remedial investigation, EPA examines the site's contamination to find out what it is, how much there is, what or who it affects, and what type of health or environmental damage this contamination could cause. During the feasibility study, EPA reviews the different ways contamination could be cleaned up and evaluates the effectiveness of different cleanup options to determine what will work best for the particular site and the surrounding community. EPA announces its recommended cleanup plan in a document called a Proposed Remedial Action Plan (Proposed Plan).
After the Proposed Plan is released, EPA holds a 30-day public comment period concerning this document. A public comment period is, at minimum, a 30-day period to enable community members to review and comment on a Proposed Plan or other EPA documents. During this time, EPA holds a public meeting to provide information and to address the community's questions and concerns about the Proposed Plan. EPA takes all comments into account and may change its recommended cleanup method based on citizen input. After reviewing all public comments, EPA makes a final decision and selects a cleanup method. EPA announces this final decision in the Record of Decision.
The next steps are the remedial design and remedial action, during which EPA supervises the design and implementation of the cleanup plan outlined in the Record of Decision. When necessary, EPA can modify the Record of Decision to reflect changes to the cleanup plan. After all appropriate cleanup actions have been completed at a site, EPA will delete that site from the NPL. However, EPA continues to monitor delisted Superftand sites every five years to ensure that the site continues to meet cleanup goals.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 4 2.2 Relevant EPA Group
Headquartered in Washington, D.C, EPA has ten regional offices, each of which has community relations and technical staff involved in Superfund site cleanups. EPA Region III encompasses: Maryland; Pennsylvania; Delaware; Virginia; West Virginia; and Washington, D.C. The EPA Region III office is located in Philadelphia, Permsylvania. It houses several divisions that work with other EPA offices when necessary. The EPA branches most involved with the Bush Valley Landfill Site are described below.
Superfund Community Involvement Section (Region III)
This section oversees communication among EPA and residents, public officials, media representatives, and community groups associated with Superfund sites. The Superfund Community Involvement Section is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing activities designed to enhance communication and community involvement for each site. Each site has a Community Involvement Coordinator who works closely with EPA technical staff to keep the local community informed and involved during Superfund cleanup work. The Community Involvement Coordinator for the Bush Valley Landfill Site is Lisa Brown. See Appendix B for her address and telephone numbers.
Superfund Remedial Branch (Region III)
This branch is responsible for all long-term cleanup work at Superfund sites in: Maryland; Pennsylvania; Virginia; West Virginia; Delaware; and Washington, D.C. These responsibilities include conducting site assessments, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, treatability tests, and remedial designs and actions. Each site has a Remedial Project Manager who supervises site study and cleanup performed by EPA technical staff, private contractors, and other parties involved. The Remedial Project Manager for the Bush Valley Landfill Site is Hilary Thornton. See Appendix B for his address and telephone number.
Superfund Removal Branch (Region III)
EPA's Superfund Removal Branch manages short-term actions and emergency removal responses. These actions include responses to accidental releases of hazardous substances, as well as short-term work at sites on EPA's NPL. EPA On-Scene Coordinators supervise immediate removal actions.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 5 2.3 State Role
Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
MDE is the state agency that supports EPA-led studies and cleanups at Federal Superflind sites located in Maryland. MDE reviews and comments on site workplans and studies, participates in community relations activities, and provides technical assistance to EPA. The MDE contact for the Bush Valley Landfill Superfimd Site is Dave Healy. See Appendix B for his address and telephone number.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 6 Section 3.0 Site Background
3.1 Site Description
The Bush Valley Landfill Site is located in Harford County, Maryland; one mile from the town of Abingdon, Maryland. The Site encompasses approximately 29 acres, with the actual landfill area occupying approximately 16 of those acres. The Bush Declaration Natural Resources Management Area, a 120-acre tidal cattail marsh, borders the Site to the north and east. Harford Town, a plarmed community, lies west of the Site across Bush Road. Sections of Harford Town already are complete and families currently reside there; additional single-family homes and townhouses are planned for the future. See Appendix F for a map of the Site.
On the southern border of the Site are several private residences, as well as a 14-acre parcel of woodlands. Approximately one-half mile south of the landfill lies a group of modular homes and a trailer park. Bynum Run Creek flows northeasterly approximately 300 feet north of the Site. The creek converges with James Run approximately 800 feet north of the Site, and flows to the south into the Bush River Tributary, located approximately 1,000 feet east of the Site. The James Run-Bush River Tributary flows into the Bush River, which flows southerly and discharges into the Chesapeake Bay.
Almost every residence located on Bush Road, including the Beachwood Mobile Home Park, currently uses municipal water provided by the Perryman Water Treatment System through the Harford County Water System. The Perryman Water Treatment Plant supplies water to the local community (approximately 35,000 people) from eight wells. Three of these wells are located within three miles of the Site. In addition, Harford County requires new residences in the area to connect to the municipal water system.
A few residences that existed before the water line was installed elected to confinue using well water. Three residences immediately south of the landfill retained their wells after connecting to the municipal system, but no longer use the wells for drinking water.
3.2 Site History
Prior to 1974, the Bush Valley Landfill Site was used for cattle grazing and raising crops. The Harris and Braxton families owned the land for many years. In the late 1960s or early 1970s, Lloyd Harris, Sr. started a trash-hauling business. In 1974, Lloyd Harris, Sr. leased the property, which was to become the Bush Valley Landfill, from Charlotte Harris, Evelyn Braxton Peaker, and Allen and Martha Braxton. In 1975, he entered into a contract to provide sanitary landfill services for Harford County.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 7 On August 25, 1975, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) permitted Mr. Harris to use the land to operate a municipal solid-waste landfill. The landfill owner reportedly accepted household and industrial wastes, and also may have accepted hazardous wastes. From 1975 through 1978, the Harford County Health Department (HCHD) and DHMH performed several inspections and noted a number of permit violations in the landfill's operations. Harford County monitored trucks entering the landfill and kept records of the volumes of wastes being disposed. Prior to 1977, the Site allegedly was used for the open burning of trash. Several 55-gallon drums containing hazardous wastes were disposed at the Site. "On numerous mornings, wastes were found on top of the daily soil cover that had been applied the previous day, indicating that "midnight dumping" had occurred.
For several years beginning in 1978, DHMH ordered Lloyd Harris, Sr. to correct design and operational deficiencies at the landfill that violated state law. Mr. Harris disregarded many of these orders. On March 26, 1981, DHMH suspended the 1975 permit and ordered Mr. Harris to cease accepting solid waste at the landfill and to take corrective actions. Again, Mr. Harris ignored the DHMH order. On May 11, 1982, DHMH ordered the Site operator to stop accepting solid waste at the landfill and to close the Site. Once again, Mr. Harris ignored the order. It was not until the landfill was filled to capacity in December 1982 that Mr. Harris abandoned Site operations and applied a minimal cover over the landfill.
The state of Maryland conducted a site inspection in November 1983 and noted that piles of unspread earth remained on the Site next to several uncapped sections. Also in 1983, the state of Maryland conducted a site visit and prepared a preliminary assessment report, later submitted to EPA in August 1984. In July 1984, EPA conducted a site inspection at the Site, and completed a more extensive site inspection the following year. EPA documented leachate seeps and erosion gullies and detected various organic compounds in on-site monitoring wells.
EPA then evaluated the Site using the HRS. This system is a measurement tool that evaluates potential risks to public health.and the environment; sites scoring greater than 28.5 are eligible for inclusion on the NPL. On June 16, 1988, under the provisions of CERCLA, and based on the site's HRS score of 40.29, EPA proposed the Bush Valley Landfill Site for placement on the NPL. On March 31, 1989, EPA finalized this placement.
In June 1990, Harford County, a PRP for the Site, entered into good faith negotiations with EPA. On December 21, 1990, EPA and Harford County entered into an Administrative Order on Consent requiring the county to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study.
From January 1991, through May 1993, Harford County's technical contractor, Geraghty & Miller, Inc., conducted remedial invesfigafion activifies at the Bush Valley Landfill Site. EPA supervised the work that characterized the types and amounts of contamination at the Site and surrounding areas. The remedial investigafion activities included the following:
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 8 • surveying to provide information on the distribution of buried metals in the landfill area (i.e., buried drums); • monitoring the air to characterize ambient air quality; • investigating hydrologic and geologic areas to characterize the Site conditions; • installing monitoring wells; • sampling, including collecting samples from 12 monitoring well locations, 3 residential well locations, 8 surface water locations, 10 sediment locations, 6 leachate locations, and 8 surface soil locations; • investigating human population and land use to identify, enumerate, and characterize human populations potentially exposed to ground water contamination attributable to the Site; and, • conducting ecological investigations for evaluating impacts to the environment, and data collection for iise in the baseline risk assessment.
On behalf of Harford County, Geraghty & Miller prepared and submitted.the Draft Remedial Investigation Report to EPA on April 23, 1993. EPA conducted a review and then retumed comments to Harford County to facilitate revisions. EPA accepted the Remedial Investigation Report as final on March 7, 1995.
EPA developed a risk assessment using the data gathered during the remedial investigation. Results of this Risk Assessment were used to determine cleanup goals. Geraghty & Miller, on behalf of Harford County, prepared and submitted the Draft Feasibility Study to EPA on February 26, 1995. Based on a review of the study, EPA provided comments to the county on April 12, 1995. EPA finalized the Feasibility Study on June 8, 1995.
On June 15, 1995, EPA released the Proposed Plan for the Site, detailing the preferred site cleanup plan. Based on these documents and the public comment period held after the Proposed Plan was released, EPA issued its Record of Decision in September 1995.
EPA determined that Altemative 3, Single Barrier Cover System and Landfill Gas Management, was the best cleanup plan. EPA believes that the plan appropriately protects human health and the environment, satisfies all applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements, and is cost-effective. The selected cleanup plan, Altemafive 3, is made up of the following components:
Single Barrier Cover Svstem
Constmct and maintain a single barrier cover system to contain the landfill contents and on-site soils and to reduce the amount of leachate produced. Prior to constmction, the landfill surface will be leveled to provide a solid foundation for the cover system.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 9 Storm Water Control Svstem
i Constmct a storm water management system to collect mnoff and sediment, promote drainage, and minimize erosion of the cover system. This system will include a perimeter channel arid three sediment collection basins.
Landfill Gas Management System
Constmct a landfill gas management system, including a slurry wall, gas collection layer, and gas venting wells. This system will create a pathway for landfill gases to vent to the atmosphere. This landfill gas management system will direct landfill gases away from residences located south of the Site before venfing to the atmosphere.
Ground Water Monitoring Program
Develop a long-term ground water monitoring program to ensure that the concentrations of site-related contaminants are reduced to acceptable levels through natural processes.
Ecological Monitoring Program
Institute a monitoring program for surface water and sediments from the adjacent streams and wetlands area to ensure that the selected cleanup plan protects the environment.
Institutional Controls
Place deed restrictions on Site property where landfill contents remain to protect the cover system. Place land use restrictions on land parcels with ground water contamination to prohibit using ground water for domestic purposes
Operation and Maintenance
Conduct operation and maintenance activities until EPA determines that the preferred cleanup plan has been effective in cleaning up the Site and that the surrounding community and environment are no longer threatened by contamination.
3.3 Site Activities
Several things have happened since EPA issued the Record of Decision in September 1995. EPA negotiated with the PRPs to determine who would take the lead in doing the cleanup activities and paying the associated costs.
From September 1995 to September 1997, EPA was involved in negotiations with the Site PRPs over site cleanup and responsibility. These negotiafions are an integral part of the cleanup
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 10 process. While the process takes some time, it is EPA's legal responsibility to enter into these negotiations and provide the PRPs with a chance to offer counterproposals and legal motions.
On September 26, 1997, the PRPs agreed to conduct the work by signing a formal EPA legal document.
In keeping with the administrative reforms proposed by EPA Administrator Carol Browner, EPA provided an offer of "orphan share" compensation in the amount of $1.4 million to the financially viable responsible parties. The purpose of the orphan share compensation is to provide fiscal relief to the responsible parties who agree to settle with EPA. This helps to offset costs associated with responsible parties who are not financially viable. Although the Consent Decree represents no recovery of EPA's past costs (due to the orphan share), it.does commit the Settling Parties to reimburse the United States for 100% of future response costs and to perform all work that is called for in the Record of Decision. Additionally, the settlement provides for a broad waiver of claims against both Municipal Solid Waste ("MSW") parties associated with the Site as well as any parties that disposed of wastes that were in very limited amounts and posed less of an environmental threat.
Since that time, work started on developing plans for cleaning up the site. One of the plans is the Remedial Design Work Plan; it provides strategies and schedules for generating technical information and drawings needed for planning the site work. After this plan is finished, technical drawings and specifications will be produced for the cleanup work. The Remedial Design is the engineering phase of the site cleanup. It will include: • Health and safety plan for the site work (monitoring, dust suppression and other preventative and protective measures); Specifications for the cap liner material; Sampling, analysis, and monitoring plans; Constmction quality assurance plans; Final grading and drainage plans; Details for contractor bidding.
In June 1998, contractors for the PRPs did some excavation work at the site. Using a process known as "test pitting", areas surrounding the known borders were opened in order to define the exact boundaries of the landfill. This informafion is essential to ensure that the capping project will cover the landfill enfirely.
In the fall of 1998 EPA received the draft Remedial Design. EPA and MDE are reviewing this draft and will provide comments back to the PRPs, who will finish the Design and submit it again. After EPA and MDE conduct a thorough review of the finished Remedial Design, EPA will provide the community with additional information about it and solicit comments.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 11 Section 4.0 Community Background
4.1 Community Profile
Harford County is located in northeastern Maryland, and is part of the Baltimore metropolitan area. Bel Air, the county seat, is 23 miles from Baltimore. The 1996 estimated population is 212,616, and is expected to exceed 231,000 by 2010.
The history of the county dates back to 1773, when a legislative decree ordered 448 square miles of land separated from Baltimore County and renamed for Henry Harford, a descendent of Lord Baltimore. During the 19th century, Harford County matured economically with early industries such as iron works, chrome mining, logging, fishing, and carming. In northern Harford County, slate and serpentine marble quarrying were major industries. In addition, nearly 100 grist mills operated in Harford County for over 200 years. In the late 1800s, agriculture and related industries began to grow and prosper in Harford County, in large part due to the beginning of the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad.
The U.S. Army has been a major force in Harford County since 1918 when the Aberdeen Proving Ground and Edgewood Arsenal military installations opened. During the 1930s, Bata Shoe Co., Inc. purchased land along the Bush River, built a factory, established a corporate town, and remained the largest private-sector employer for decades. Since 1983, more than 14 industrial parks have established themselves in the area.
Currently, Harford County has a healthy economy primarily due to County officials actively pursuing a policy that encourages business and industry to locate and expand within the County. Nationally prominent firms located in the County include: Clorox Company; Frito-Lay, Inc.; Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.; General Electric; Pier 1 Imports; and GAP Stores, Inc. Foreign interests that have joined the business community include Boettcher America and Interma Textiles from Germany; Belgium's LAG Motorcoach Inc.; and Denmark's Weibel Equipment Company.
Two of the larger towns in the vicinity of the Bush Valley Landfill Site are Bel Air and Edgewood. Bel Air (1990 population: 8,860) became the seat of the Harford County govemment in 1782. As the Civil War approached, it was a village of four stores, two newspapers, one library, an academy, two churches, and two lodges. The town was incorporated in 1874 and has since become a stable political and economic center. As a result, the economy is oriented toward trade, services, and govemment activities, with some light industrial development. The role of retail services, dominated by owner-operated small businesses, in the Town Center area has shifted from serving surrounding communities to serving the daytime worker population.
Locally based firms demand the most office space in Bel Air. Over the next 20 years, office employment is expected to nearly triple in Harford County. Residential development consists
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 12 primarily of single-family, detached units on large parcels of land in Bel Air's immediate vicinity. Recent residential development in the town has consisted primarily of attached dwellings (i.e., townhouses).
Edgewood is a densely populated community that has experienced significant change within the past two decades as a result of tremendous population growth and the virtual disappearance of farming. Townhouses, condos, apartments, and single-family dwellings make up the large housing developments responsible for the growth rate in the area. Edgewood's economy is currently based on manufacturing and regional distribution centers, but may shift to other areas such as merchant wholesaling, technical research and development, and business offices.
Another important part of Edgewood's economy is the Edgewood Arsenal, which provides a large number of jobs that stimulate County-wide growth and the local economy. In addition, the Arsenal has encouraged the constmction and irnprovement of highways leading to the base. During the 1970s, employment at the Edgewood Arsenal underwent a major change due to a decrease in the labor force. The elimination of the draft and the end of the Vietnam War are considered the primary causes of this decrease. However, the military still employs 8,000 civilians, remaining the area's largest employer.
4.2 History of Community Involvement
One of EPA's roles in conducting community relations activities at Superfund sites is to determine the level of community interest in the Site. Generally, the level of community interest and involvement regarding the Bush Valley Landfill Site has been rather limited, although some citizens living in the immediate vicinity have shown considerable interest. These citizens would like to be kept informed of site activities and study results.
In January 1992, Harford County representatives and a few citizens met to discuss the remedial activities planned for the Site. Neither EPA nor state representatives were present during that meeting. The EPA Community Involvement Coordinator and the EPA Remedial Project Manager conducted interviews with citizens and public officials in October 1992, January 1993, and July 1996 to determine issues of concem to the community. These issues and EPA's plans for addressing them are addressed in the following sections.
EPA released the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study report, and Proposed Plan for the Bush Valley Landfill Site for public comment on June 15, 1995. These documents are available to the public in the Administrative Record File at an Information Repository. An Information Repository is maintained at the Bel Air Branch of the Harford County Library, as well as at the EPA Region III headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. See Appendix C for more information. Notices that these documents are available were published in two newspapers of general circulation in Harford County: The Record on June 14, 1995, and The Aegis on June 16, 1995. The public comment period for the Proposed Plan ran from June 15, 1995, to July 14, 1995.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 • Page 13 In addition, EPA held a public meeting on June 26, 1995, at the Edgewood High School in Edgewood, Maryland. The meeting was sparsely attended. Representatives from EPA presented the Remedial Invesfigation and Feasibility Study findings and answered questions about the Site and the remedial alternatives being considered at that time. No one at the public meeting voiced any overall objections to the preferred cleanup plan. However, residents raised concerns about the preferred cleanup plan's cost ($5.7 million) and who was to pay for implementation of the cleanup plan. During the public comment period, MDE submitted written comments on the Proposed Plan. EPA received no other written comments.
Following the public meeting and the close of the comment period, EPA evaluated and considered comments received from the public, including the written comments from MDE. The Responsiveness Summary, part of the Record of Decision, provides responses to all significant comments, including those expressed orally at the public meeting.
In July 1996, EPA conducted additional community interviews, allowing residents to speak one- on-one with the EPA representatives involved with the Bush Valley Landfill Site. These interviews allowed EPA to see how residents' concems had changed over the past few years, and allowed residents to ask questions about the Site activities that had occurred since the previous interviews.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 14 Section 5.0 Community Concems
5.1 Historic Community Concerns
Historic community concems from past outreach activities center around six main issues: the relationship between the govemment agencies involved with the Site and the community; current Site activities; payment for the cleanup; development in the area; the Site's effect on public health and drinking water; and past site activities.
Residents expressed confusion about the relationship among the various govemment agencies involved with the Site. Because of this confiision, many were unsure of what information current and potential residents were receiving about ongoing Site activities. Several citizens were concemed with security at the Site, particularly children having access to, and then playing on, the Site.
Residents also voiced concern about the impact of past Site activities, such as illegal dumping of trash and dead animals, and the impact those activities were having on Bynum Run and area wetlands. Others expressed concem about impacts on public health, citing those in the area dying of cancer. Many residents were concemed with area ground water quality, which had been perceived as bad since approximately the early 1980s. Another concern focused on the proper placement, installation, and abandonment of on-site monitoring wells.
Residents also voiced concems about whether EPA would complete the cleanup of the Bush Valley Landfill Site. A related concem was responsibility for Site cleanup costs, citing the fact that Harford County was the only PRP.
5.2 Current Community Concerns
From interviews conducted with local residents from July 22 to July 24, 1996, several shared concems became apparent. Following are summaries of these concems.
Ouality and Scope of Information
Residents expressed concem about what information, if any, EPA had distributed to the community regarding the Bush Valley Landfill Site. Residents felt that many people are not aware that the Bush Valley Landfill Site was on the NPL. In addifion, many people voiced concem about notifying those looking to purchase a home in close proximity to the Site, such as in the Harford Town development.
EPA has made an effort to keep the local community informed about the Bush Valley Site. EPA issued fact sheets to inform the local community about the status of the
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 15 project and to provide general information about the Superfund process. The first fact sheet was issued in May 1995 before the Proposed Plan was issued. This was followed by a public meeting to receive public input on the proposed remedy. The public meeting was announced in a local newspaper well in advance of the public meeting. The second fact sheet was issued in October 1995, after the September 1995 Record of Decision (ROD) was finalized. The fact sheet described the selected remedy for the site. EPA has also established a site repository of information at the Bel Air library, which is available for public review. The repository contains technical documents related to the site studies and information supporting the ROD. The repository also contains other more general information about the Superfund program. In the summer of 1996, EPA also mailed out postcards to a wide distribution ofpeopl e in the area, to announce that EPA would be conducting community interviews and to invite any interested citizens to participate. EPA mailed out an information update to the community in April 1998. EPA team members have been, and continue to be, available to answer citizen inquiries by telephone or mail. In the past few years, EPA has added a toll-free (800) number and an Internet Web site for inforination on Superfund sites within EPA Region III. (See appendix for further information.)
With regard to informing those looking to purchase a home in the vicinity of the site, Harford County has required home builders in the Harford Town development to include a disclosure form as part of the sales agreement. The disclosure informs prospective home buyers that the Bush Valley Landfill is located nearby and includes both a county and EPA contact person if they need further information.
Govemment Agency Expertise
Residents raised questions about the expertise of EPA and other officials involved with the Site. One resident in particular expressed concem that EPA officials did not know everything necessary to determine the proper course of action for Site cleanup. This resident also was concemed with the unknown; for example, the possibility of undiscovered harmful substances located in and around the Site that could be overlooked, thereby causing future harm to those unaware of the risks.
EPA has gained considerable experience in dealing with these types of landfills because there are many municipal landfills on the NPL. In fact, EPA has developed a presumptive remedy for landfills, capping, because this is typically the most appropriate cleanup approach for a municipal landfill. The Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study was conducted by a competent contractor hired by Harford County. The contractor has considerable experience in the environmental field and in investigating contaminated sites. The work was conducted with oversight by Harford County and EPA. EPA staff include professionals with experience in numerous technical fields including engineering, toxicology, geology, and hydrogeology.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 16 After the cap is installed, it will have to be maintained indefinitely to assure that it does not degrade so that waste would be exposed. Ground water will be monitored until safe levels are reached. For this type of site, where waste will be left onsite, EPA is required to perform reviews of the remedy at least once every five years to ensure that the remedy remains protective. If warranted, additional cleanup actions can be taken.
Length of Time to Cleanup the Site
Residents also expressed concem about the amount of time being taken to cleanup the Site. One resident felt she had seen many studies, but little action from EPA. Residents questioned why the cleanup was taking so long to complete.
// typically takes a considerable period of time to investigate an NPL site. At this site, we 've gotten past that stage, and the remedy has been selected. The design and installation of a landfill cap is relatively simple and should be completed in less time than remedies at more complex sites. In the meantime, the risk assessment shows that the site presents no immediate threat to human health or the environment.
Impacts of Hazardous Materials and Cleanup Efforts
One concem central to all residents interviewed was the impact of the hazardous materials and cleanup efforts at the Site on local plants, animals, and waterways. One resident voiced concem that constmction being carried out for cleanup efforts could damage local plants and animals.
Contamination from the landfill does not appear to have impacted the local ecology surrounding the site. However, the ROD requires a long-term ecological monitoring program in the nearby streams and wetlands to ensure that no impacts occur during or after the cleanup process. During the installation of the cap, it is likely that some areas surrounding the landfdl will need to be cleared to make room for construction equipment and to accommodate the cap. A site restoration plan will be developed during the Remedial Design and implemented following the Remedial Action. All of these documents will be available for public review.
Impacts of Hazardous Materials on Well Water
Residents were concemed that hazardous materials at the Site would affect the quality of well water. Residents were concemed about the potential effects these contaminants could have on human health, as well as about any other possible effects.
While the Remedial Investigation showed some low levels of ground water
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 17 contamination emanating from the landfill, it is unlikely that ground water contamination from the landfill could affect the quality of well water in the area. This is due to a number of factors. First, the ground water generally fiows from west to east toward the marsh area. There are no residences located in that direction. Further, almost every residence along Bush Road, including the Beachwood Mobile Home Park, has been connected to a municipal water supply. Harford County requires new residences in the area to connect to this water supply as well. The three residences immediately south of the landfill, which would be the most likely to be affected by landfill contamination, no longer use their wells for drinking water. Finally, as a safeguard, the remedy includes long-term ground water monitoring to ensure that the ground water contamination is reduced to safe levels following installation of the cap over the landfill.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 18 Section 6.0 Community Relations Objectives
This CRP is designed to facilitate interaction with the public, and EPA recommends the following objectives to support the community relations program for the Bush Valley Landfill Site. EPA will meet these objectives by conducting the activifies described in Section 7.0. The objectives serve as guides to inform the community about the Superfund process, the Site, and Site-related activities.
Maintain Effective Communication Among Local, State, and Federal Officials
In order to meet the needs of the community effecfively, EPA will maintain contact with local, state, and other Federal officials conceming the Bush Valley Landfill Site. EPA will maintain contact with these officials through telephone conversations, written correspondence, or meetings to provide them with Site-related information so that they may respond accurately and promptly to concerned citizens.
Provide Site-Related Information to Interested Parties
EPA will provide information about the Site history; site-related activities; technical, program, and community relations documents; and other site-related information to local,residents, businesses, and other interested parties in order to increase awareness and understanding of Site activities. EPA will provide information to enable interested parties to remain knowledgeable about the Site.
Provide Information on the Superfund Program and How it Relates to the Site
EPA will provide information to interested parties regarding the Superftand program and how it relates to the Bush Valley Landfill Site. In addition, EPA will provide information on new developments or changes in the Superftand program. This information will help explain EPA's involvement at the Site, educate the public about the Site's inclusion in the Superfund program, and describe how the Superfund process works.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 19 Section 7.0 Community Relations Activities
To achieve and maintain the community relations objecfives effectively, EPA recommends the community relations activities described in this section for the Bush Valley Landfill Site. EPA will conduct these activities throughout the entire Superfund process at the Site to ensure that the public is informed of Site activities and developments. These activities also will help EPA ensure that the public has sufficient time to express its concems about the Site and Site-related activities. CERCLA requires that EPA conduct all of the activities described below to meet the needs of the community and to achieve the goals of the community relations program. An outline of the community relations activities EPA will conduct, and the appropriate timing for each activity, can be found in Appendix E.
Provide a Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA designates a Community Involvement Coordinator (CIC) to provide accurate and timely responses to residents, officials, citizens' groups, businesses, and the media. The CIC is responsible for establishing and maintaining open communication between EPA and the public and for handling inquiries and concems regarding the Site. The CIC also is responsible for organizing events such as public meetings and for developing information products such as fact sheets. EPA encourages the public to contact the CIC with any questions or comments about the Bush Valley Landfill Site. The address and telephone number of the CIC for the Bush Valley Landfill Site, Lisa Brown, are located in Appendix B.
Establish and Maintain an Information Repository
EPA establishes an information repository to ensure that accurate information is available to the public. The repository houses the Administrative Record File for the Site, EPA's official compilation of documents, data, reports, and other informafion that support the selection of a cleanup action. EPA updates this file with Site-related documents and fact sheets as appropriate, so that the community is aware of Site activities and developments. EPA also ensures that the information repository has photocopying capabilities. There are two information repositories for the Bush Valley Landfill Site. Refer to Appendix C for the addresses, telephone numbers, and hours of these repositories.
Prepare Fact Sheets
EPA prepares fact sheets to provide the community with information about the Superfund program and Site-related activities and developments. Fact sheets are an effective means of establishing and maintaining communication with the public. Fact sheets inform the public of current Site status, future Site activities, and developments in the Superfund process. EPA mails the fact sheets to those people or groups on its Site mailing list.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 20 Conduct Community Interviews and Personal Visits
EPA conducts community interviews or personal visits with area residents to address the concems and needs of the public. These interviews provide an effective way for EPA to learn about community concerns and to answer quesfions about the Bush Valley Landfill Site. EPA uses these interviews to inform the public of current Site status and future Site activities. Additionally, EPA uses community interviews in developing the CRP for a particular site.
Maintian a Site Mailing List
To disseminate information easily and effectively to interested parties, EPA maintains an up-to- date mailing list of those individuals, businesses, or organizations interested in the Bush Valley Landfill Site. The list includes the name's, addresses, and telephone numbers of area residents and businesses; local, state, and Federal officials; and other interested groups. EPA develops this mailing list from meeting sign-in sheets, telephone requests, and letters from the public. EPA uses this mailing list most often for the mailing of Site-related information, such as fact sheets. EPA maintains this mailing list in its Region III Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Provide News Releases to the Local Media
To ensure that the public receives accurate and timely information on Site-related activities and developments at the Bush Valley Landfill Site, EPA contacts the local news media. As Site events progress and EPA reaches developmental milestones, EPA provides information to the local news media about the purpose, location, and time of public meetings. EPA also informs the local media about the availability of Site-related information at the Site repository. EPA sends notices announcing these events to the newspapers and to television and radio stations that serve the local community.
EPA plans to provide the local Harford County news media with regular updates on the progress of Site activities. EPA staff are willing to participate in radio and television talk shows and to provide area newspapers with information for articles.
Hold Public Meetings or Information Sessions for Residents and Local Officials
EPA holds meetings or presents information sessions to inform the community of Site activities. Public meetings offer a fomm for the community to leam about the Site, to express their concems, and to ask questions related to the Site and Site acfivifies. Additionally, public meetings allow EPA personnel to meet the community affected by a site. Information sessions, including poster or display exhibits, allow EPA to present Site-related information to the public in an informal setting. EPA will hold public meetings or information sessions for the Bush Valley Landfill Site after reaching significant milestones or when the community requests such fomms.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 21 Conduct Visits to Local Scools
If requested, EPA will visit schools in the communities affected by the Bush Valley Landfill Site to speak with students about the Site. EPA will inform students about the potential dangers of the Site and the effects the contamination may have on people, plants, and animals. Visiting schools gives EPA an opportunity to speak with young area residents about the Site. Children often are very concemed about what is happening in their environment; like adults, they need to be aware of the Site and Site-related activifies. During school visits, EPA personnel will present the information in a manner that children of all ages can understand.
Attend Additional Local Speaking Engagements
EPA persormel also are willing to attend meetings of area groups and organizations, such as the Rotary Club or the Women's Civic Club, to serve as guest speakers. As guest speakers, EPA personnel can address concems of the members of these organizations and maintain contact with area residents. This also provides an opportunity for members of these groups to leam more about the Site and EPA's involvement.
Maintain Contact with Local Officials
EPA maintains regular contact with local officials to inform them of the schedule of activities and major findings at the Site. By maintaining contact with local officials, EPA can address public concems effectively as they arise. As Site events progress, EPA will contact local officials to keep them informed. Local officials can assist in addressing residents' concems about the Site if they are well-informed of the acfivities occurring at the Site.
Revise the Community Relations Plan
EPA revises the CRP to reflect significant changes in the level and nature of community concems and interests and to update the community relations process for the Bush Valley Landfill Site. The plan addresses community concerns specific to the Site. Additionally, the plan presents the goals of the community relations program and the activities that EPA will conduct to achieve these goals. The plan also updates Site-related information, assesses community involvement efforts, and develops a strategy for future activities. The EPA CIC updates the CRP as necessary.
Maintain a Toll-Free Telephone Number for Residents
EPA maintains a toll-free telephone number for interested persons or parties to call for information about the Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site. Anyone with questions or comments regarding the Site may call 1-800-553-2509. When calling this toll-free number, please be sure to refer to the site about which you are calling.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 22 Maintain an E-Mail Account for Residents
The EPA CIC for the Bush Valley Landfill Site maintains £in electronic-mail (e-mail) account for residents to send inquiries or comments or to request information about the Site. Refer to Appendix B for the e-mail address of the CIC for the Bush Valley Landfill Site, Lisa Brown.
Maintain a World Wide Web Site
EPA maintains a location on the world wide web (WWW) that can be accessed with a computer via the Intemet. The WWW site houses information for all ten EPA regions. To access EPA Region 111 information, follow these instructions:
EPA's address is http:/www.epa.gov . Click on Region in the Offices. Regions, and Labs menu item. Select Region 3 on the map or from the listing. Select Hazardous Waste Management Division from the next menu listing . Click on the Superfund button. Select National Priorities List (Superfund Sites) from the next menu listing. Click on the name of the Superfimd Site about which you wish to view information.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page 23 Appendix A Glossary of Technical Terms
Administrative Order on Consent: A legal agreement signed by EPA and an individual, business, or other entity through which the violator agrees to pay for correction of violations, take the required corrective or cleanup actions, or refrain from an activity that caused environmental problems. The order describes the actions to be taken, may be subject to a comment period, applies to civil actions, and can be enforced in court.
Administrative Record File: A collection of documents and information that EPA relies on when selecting a method for addressing contamination at a Superfund site.
Ambient Air: Any unconfined portion of the atmosphere: open air, surrounding air.
Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements: Any state or Federal environmental laws with which a selected cleanup plan must comply.
Cleanup: An action taken to deal with the release or threatened release of hazardous substances that could adversely affect public health and/or the environment. The word "cleanup" is used to refer to both short-term (removal) actions and long-term (remedial) actions at Superfund sites.
Community Relations Plan (CRP): A document that highlights a community's concerns about a site and outlines the activities that EPA will conduct to address these concerns and to foster communication between EPA and the community.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA): A Federal law (commonly known as "Superfund") passed in 1980 and modified in 1986 by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). The law gives EPA the authority to investigate sites where there is a suspected threat to public health or the environment caused by the release or potential release of hazardous substances. The law also created a special tax on the chemical and petroleum industries. Monies collected under the tax are deposited into a trust fund to be used to cleanup abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Under the law, EPA can pay for site cleanup when the parties responsible for site contamination cannot be located or are unwilling or unable to perform the cleanup; or EPA may take legal action to force parties responsible for site contamination to cleanup the site or pay back the Federal govemment for the cost of the cleanup.
Feasibility Study: A study to identify and evaluate site cleanup altemafives, and to analyze the technologies and their benefits, limitafions, and costs.
Ground Water: Underground water that fills in gaps between soil, sand, and gravel; it can be a major source of drinking water.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page A-1 Hazard Ranking System (HRS): A screening tool used to evaluate the risks to public health and the environment associated with a hazardous waste site. The HRS calculates a score on the potential of a hazardous.substance spreading from the site through the air, water, or soil.
Information Repository: A collection of documents about a specific Superfund site and the general Superfund process. EPA usually sets up the information repository in a public building that is conveniently located, accessible to the handicapped, and contains a photocopying machine.
Landfill: An area used to dispose wastes. The wastes are spread in layers, compacted, and covered.
Leachate: A liquid that discharges from landfills as a result of water filtering through that landfill, moving contaminants along the way. A leachate seep occurs when leachate reaches the surface of the landfill and creates a liquid discharge stream.
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP): The Federal regulation that guides determination of the sites to be corrected under the Superfund program. The NCP was revised in 1990.
National Priorities List (NPL): EPA's list of the nation's hazardous waste sites that are eligible for possible long-term cleanup using Superfund money. EPA updates the NPL at least once a year, and states nominate many sites for consideration.
Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs): Any individuals or companies (including site owners and operators, and hazardous waste transporters, or generators) who are potentially responsible for, or contributed to, a spill or other contamination at a Superfund site. Whenever possible, through administrative and legal actions, EPA requires PRPs to cleanup hazardous waste sites they have contaminated.
Proposed Remedial Action Plan (Proposed Plan): A Superfund site document which reviews the cleanup altematives presented in the site Feasibility Study and identifies EPA's preferred alternative. Selection of a preferred alternative is not a closed-end commitment to use that altemative; rather it is a way for EPA to indicate, based upon its experience and expertise, which altemative is likely the best course of action. EPA must actively solicit public review of and comment on all altematives under consideration.
Public Comment Period: A minimum 30-day period to enable community members and other interested parties to formally review and comment on various documents and EPA actions. For example, EPA holds a public comment period when it proposes to add sites to the NPL.
Record of Decision: A legal document that announces and explains the cleanup method(s) EPA will use at a NPL site. The Record of Decision is based on information and technical analysis
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 . Page A-2 generated during the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study and on EPA's consideration of comments received during the public comment period.
Remedial Action: The actual construction or implementation phase that follows the Remedial Design of the selected cleanup altemative for a NPL site.
Remedial Design: The engineering phase following the Record of Decision. During this phase, technical drawings and specifications are developed for the Remedial Action at a site. The Remedial Design is similar to a blueprint or work plan.
Remedial Investigation: A study to identify the nature and extent of site contamination and to determine the threat this contamination poses to human health and/or the environment.
Removal Action: An immediate, short-term cleanup action to address the release or threatened release of hazardous substances. EPA initiates such actions to reduce or eliminate an immediate threat to public health and/or the environment, f
Responsiveness Summary: A summary of oral and written comments (and EPA responses to those comments) EPA received during a public comment period. This summary is part of the Record of Decision.
Risk Assessment: Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the risks posed to human health and/or the environment by the actual or potential exposure to the contamination at a site.
Slurry Wall: A vertical barrier constructed by digging a trench, usually down to the water table, between a waste source and a receptor. This trench is then filled with a low permeability substance, usually a bentonite mixture.
Superfund: The program operated under the legislative authority of CERCLA and SARA to update and improve environmental laws. The program has the authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases, of hazardous substances that may endanger public health, welfare, and/or the environment. The "Superfund" is a tmst fund that can be used to finance cleanup actions at hazardous waste sites. » Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA): Modifications to CERCLA enacted on October 17, 1986. The modifications increased the size of the Tmst Fund from $1.6 billion to $8.5 billion; stressed the importance of permanent remedies and irmovative treatment technologies in cleaning up hazardous waste sites; established specific cleanup goals and schedules; expanded the statutory cost and duration limits on removal actions; provided new enforcement authorities and settlement tools; increased the focus on human health problems posed by hazardous waste sites; encouraged greater cifizen participation in site activities; and expanded research and training activities to promote development of altemative and innovative technologies.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page A-3 Surface Water: Ponds, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water naturally open to the atmosphere.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page A-4 Appendix B List of Interested Parties
A. Federal Elected Representatives
Senator Paul Sarbanes Washington Office Local Office 309 Hart Senate Office Building Tower 1, Suite 1010 Washington, D.C. 20510 100 South Charles Street (202) 224-4524 Baltimore, MD 21201 (410)962-4436
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski Washington Office Local Office 709 Hart Senate Office Building World Trade Center, Suite 253 Washington, D.C. 20510 401 East Pratt Street (202) 224-4654 Baltimore, MD 21202 (202)224-8858 FAX (410)962-4510 e-mail: senator@mikulksi. senate .gov (410)962-7460 FAX
Representative Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Washington Office Local Office 315 Cannon House Office Building 45 North Main Street Washington, D.C. 20515 Bel Air, MD 21014 (202)225-3061 (410)838-2517 (202) 225-3094 FAX (410)838-7823 FAX
B. Federal Agency Officials
Lisa Brown (3HW43) Hilary Thornton (3HS23) Community Involvement Coordinator Remedial Project Manager U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region-Ill Region III 1650 Arch Street ., 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 814-5528 OR (800) 553-2509 (215)814-3323 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page B-1 C. Maryland State Elected Officials
Governor Paris N. Glendenning Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend State House Annapolis, MD 21401 (410)974-3901 (410)974-3275 FAX e-mail: [email protected]
Senator David R. Craig (District 34) Annapolis Office Local Office 307 James Senate Office Building 211 North Washington Street AnnapoHs, MD 21401-1991 Havre de Grace, MD 21078 (800) 492-7122, Ext. 3158 (410)273-6667 (410)841-3158
Representative Rose Mary Hatem Bonsack (District 34) Annapolis Office Local Office 326 Lowe House Office Building 118 West Bel Air Avenue Annapolis, MD 21401-1991 Aberdeen, MD 21001-3238 (800) 492-7122, Ext. 3289 (410)273-9549 (410) 841-3289
Representative Nancy Jacobs (District 34) Annapolis Office Local Office 326 Lowe House Office Building 2005 Pulaski Highway Annapolis, MD 21401-1991 P.O. Box 1101 (800) 492-7122, Ext. 3289 Edgewood, MD 21040-1101 (410)841-3289 (410)676-3858
Representative Mary Louis Preis (District 34) Annapolis Office Local Office 326 Lowe House Office Building 9 West Courtland Street Annapolis, MD 21401-1991 Bel Air, MD 21014-3701 (800)492-7122, Ext. 3289 (410)838-5890 (410)841-3289
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page B-2 D. Maryland State Officials
Dave Healy Remedial Project Manager Federal and State Superfund Division Environmental Response and Restoration Program Waste Management Administration Maryland Department of the Environment 2500 Broening Highway Baltimore, MD 21224 (410)631-3440 (410) 631-3472 FAX
E. Harford County Officials
Eileen M. Rehrmann County Executive 220 South Main Street Bel Air, MD 21014 (410)838-6000
Harford County Council Joanne S. Parrott, County Council President Susan B. Heselton, District A Veronica L. Chenowith, District B Mark S. Decker, District C Barry Glassman, District D Courthouse Level A Robert S. Wagner, District E 20 West Courtland Street Mitchell Shank, District F Bel Air, MD 21014
Ernest A. Crofoot, Jr. Robert N. Hockaday County Attomey Director, Govemment and 220 S. Main Street Community Relations Bel Air, MD 21014 220 S. Main Street Bel Air, MD 21014 (410)638-3354
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page B-3 John T. Lamb Frank Henderson Director Deputy Director, Harford County Bureau of Environmental Health Environmental Affairs Harford County Health Department Department of Public Works 119 Hays Street 1807 North Fountain Green Road Bel Air, MD 21014 Bel Air, MD 21015 (410)838-3047 (410)638-3018
F. Local Officials
Bel Air, MD Town Council Stephen C. Burdette, Mayor Susan K. McComas Town Hall David E. Carey 39 Hickory Avenue Mara D. Pais Bel Air, MD 21014 Robert G. Cassilly (410)638-4550
G. Local Media
1. Newspapers
Bel Air Aegis P.O.Box 18S» 10 Hays Street Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: (410)879-9592 Fax: (410)838-2843 Contact: Bob Brink Cost: $150.17/column inch; $471.71/quarter page Deadline: Friday prior to publication (by 5:00 p.m.) Circulation: 35,200 weekly (Wednesday morning)
The Record RO. Box 1891 . 10 Hays Street Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: (410)879-9592 Fax: (410)838-2843 Contact: Bob Brink Cost: $3.90/column inch; $122.85/quarter page (Discount for placing in Aegis and Record)
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page B-4 Deadline: Wednesday prior to publication (by 10:00 a.m.) Circulation: 6,000 weekly (Friday moming)
The Sun for Harford County Terlyn Square 15ChurchvilleRoad Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: (410) 829-8000, Ext. 2684 (410)638-2684 Fax: (410) 893-3252 Contact: Maura Brennan Cost: $27.37/column inch; $862.16/quarter page Deadline: Nine days in advance Circulation: 30,000 weekly (Sunday)
2. Television
WMAR-TV {ChannQ\ 2, NBC Affiliate) 6400 York Road Balfimore, MD 21212
Phone: (410)377-2222 Fax: . (410)377-0493 Contact: Darcel Guy, Director of Public Affairs Deadline: 2 weeks in advance
WBAL-TV {CaarnvQl 11, CBS Affilic 3800 Hooper Avenue Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone: (410)338-6482 Fax: (410)338-6460 Contact: Wanda Draper Deadline: 4-6 weeks in advance fFJZ-rF (Channel 13, ABC Affiliate) TV Hill Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone: (410)578-7531 Fax: (410)578-1257 Contact: Kallie Amorgeanos
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page B-5 Deadline: 3 weeks in advance in written form
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 . , Page B-6 3. Radio
WHRF {1520 AM) 307 South Tollgate Road Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: (410)638-0500 Fax: (410)893-3951 Deadline: 2 weeks in advance
WASA (1330 AM) P. O. Box 97 Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Phone: (410)939-0800 Fax: (410)939-1861 Deadline: 2 weeks in advance in writing
WAMS (973 AM) P. O. Box 970 Aberdeen, MD 21001
Phone: (410)272-4400 Fax: (410)575-6890 Deadline: 2 weeks in advance
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page B-7 Appendix C Information Repositories
Harford County Library Bel Air Branch 100 Pennsylvania Avenue Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: ' (410)638-3151 Contact: Jan Schutzman Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, 1:00 - 9:00 p.m. Friday, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. (Check with library for dates)
U.S. EPA, Region III Administrative Records Room 841 Chestnut Building Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215)566-3157 Contact: Anna Butch Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.* * Please call at least one day in advance to schedule an appointment.
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page C-l Appendix D Technical Assistance Grant Information
EPA provides Technical Assistance Grants of up to $50,000 as part of its Superfund Community Relations Program. The Technical Assistance Grant program enables citizens residing near a site to hire a technical expert to review and interpret site reports generated by EPA or other parties. Complete information on Technical Assistance Grants is contained in an EPA document titled The Citizens' Guidance Manual for the Technical Assistance Grant Program. This document is available through the EPA Region III office. For additional information on how to apply for a Technical Assistance Grant, or to request a copy of the guidance manual, contact:
Lisa Brown (3HW43) Community Involvement Coordinator U. S. EPA, Region III 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 814-5528 OR (800) 553-2509 [email protected]
EPA accepts applications for Technical Assistance Grants as mandated by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act. Only one group per site can receive a Technical . Assistance Grant, so EPA urges local residents and groups to join together to apply.
The following are Federal publications on the Technical Assistance Grant program which can be obtained by calling Mealie Libertz, EPA Region III Technical Assistance Grant Coordinator, at (800)553-2509.
Resource Distribution for the Technical Assistance Grant Program Order No. PB90-249459/CCE
Superfund Technical Assistance Grant Brochure Order No. PB90-273772/CCE
Superfund Technical Assistance Grant Handbook Order No. PB91-238592/CCE
Update: Superfund Technical Assistance Grants OrderNo. PB90-273715/CCE
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page D-I Appendix E Community Relations Activities and Timing
Activity Tiriiing Notify residents of upcoming Site activities. As Site activities warrant Notify local media of upcoming Site activities. As Site activities warrant Designate an EPA primary contact person. Person has been designated Respond promptly and accurately to inquiries. As needed Write and distribute fact sheets. As Site cleanup progresses Maintain contact with local officials. As Site activities warrant Maintain and update each local information As new Site documents are released repository. Provide Technical Assistance Grant' As requested information. Release a Proposed Plan and provide a public Plan was released June 15, 1995; comment comment period on this plan. period began June 15, 1995, and ended July 14, 1995 Publish public notices (newspaper ads). At milestones; i.e.. Proposed Plan, Record of Decision, and for other reasons as needed Hold public meetings or information sessions After releasing the Proposed Plan, before for residents and local officials. beginning cleanup work, and for other reasons as needed Obtain a transcript of Proposed Plan public Obtained and placed in each local information meetings. repository Prepare a Responsiveness Summary. Completed after the 1995 public comment period; issued as part of the Record of . Decision; and placed in each information repository Conduct informal meetings and workshops. As needed, and based on community interest Maintain and update Site mailing list. Lists have been established; update as needed Revise the Community Relations Plan. As needed Conduct visits to local schools. As requested Attend additional local speaking engagements. As requested Maintain a toll-free telephone number. Currently being maintained Maintain an e-mail account. Currently being maintained Maintain a world wide web site. Currently being maintained
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page E-1 Appendix F Site Location Map
MARYUHD
SITE LOCATIOM SCMI; rifT
Community Relations Plan Bush Valley Landfill Superfund Site June 1999 Page F-1