HIPPS ROAD LANDFILL SUPERFUND SITE JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA OCTOBER 2017 U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION IV Approved by~ _....__,,,_____-,1-1____ _ 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 HIPPS ROAD LANDFILL 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 ..................................................................4 2.0 Capsule Site Description ......................................................................................................5 2.1 Site History .................................................................................................................5 2.2 Site Description/Location ...........................................................................................7 2.3 Site Inspections and Cleanup Activities .....................................................................9 3.0 Community Background ....................................................................................................11 3.1 Community Profile ...................................................................................................11 3.2 History of Community Involvement .........................................................................13 3.3 Key Community Concerns ........................................................................................14 3.4 Response to Community Concerns ...........................................................................14 3.5 Summary of Communication Needs .........................................................................15 4.0 EPA’s Community Involvement Program .........................................................................16 4.1 The Plan ....................................................................................................................16 4.2 Time Frame Summary for Community Involvement Activities ................................21 Appendices: A EPA Regional Contacts ......................................................................................................22 B Local Officials ...................................................................................................................23 C State Officials ….…………………………………………………………………….......24 D Federal Elected Officials ....................................................................................................25 E Potentially Responsible Parties .........................................................................................26 F Media Contacts ..................................................................................................................27 G Meeting Locations .............................................................................................................29 H Repository Locations .........................................................................................................30 I Other Local Resources .......................................................................................................31 Figures: 1 Site Map ...............................................................................................................................7 2 Site Plan ............................................................................................................................8 3 EJ Screen ..........................................................................................................................12 _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Hipps Road Landfill Community Involvement Plan Page 3 October 2017 Section 1.0 Overview of the Community Involvement Plan The EPA developed this Community Involvement Plan (CIP) to facilitate two-way communication between the community surrounding Hipps Road Landfill Superfund Site (Site) and the EPA and to encourage community involvement in Site remediation activities. The EPA will utilize the community involvement activities outlined in this plan to inform area residents about the Site and provide opportunities for community involvement. This CIP addresses the Hipps Road Landfill Superfund Site’s relationship to the community and the EPA (Section 2.0), provides a description of the community (Section 3.0), presents the EPA’s community involvement program (Section 4.0), and provides a listing of resources available (Appendices). The EPA drew upon several information sources to develop this plan, including community interviews and Site files. The EPA’s Regional Office will oversee the implementation of the community involvement activities outlined in this Plan. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Hipps Road Landfill Community Involvement Plan Page 4 October 2017 Section 2.0 Capsule Site Description 2.1 Site History The Hipps Road landfill area, initially a cypress swamp, is located in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1968, the property owner contracted with Waste Control of Florida (WCF) to use low-lying areas of the property as a landfill. The property owner ended the landfill operations in 1970, and the waste was covered by soil. The property owner then subdivided the property into residential lots. Prior to 1970, Florida landfills were not required to undergo permitting; therefore, no records are available of the fill materials at the Hipps Road Landfill. In the early 1980s, residents complained about unusual tastes and odors in their private well- water. The initial investigations identified Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) contamination in the groundwater. In 1983, the City of Jacksonville sampled private wells and identified the presence of vinyl chloride and methylene chloride, with re-sampling in March 1983 verifying detections of toluene, vinyl chloride and methylene chloride. In March and April 1983, the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (FDHRS) now known as the Florida Department of Health, conducted a third sampling of the wells, the results of which indicated detections of a larger group of VOCs. By June 1983, the City of Jacksonville extended the public water system to the affected area. Construction of the water lines was completed in October 1983. In August 1983, a joint study by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (FDER); now Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), the US Geological Survey, the City of Jacksonville's Bio-Environmental Services Division and the Duval County Public Health Division was completed. The study found similar chemicals as those noted in the earlier FDHRS investigation. In September 1983, the EPA proposed the Site for listing on the National Priorities List (NPL) and in August 1984 the Site was approved for remedial activities under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). From January to September 1985, the EPA conducted an emergency response action to connect local residents using groundwater as a drinking water source to the City of Jacksonville's public water system. The EPA presented the results of the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) in May 1986. The results indicated that Site groundwater was the largest area of concern and the migration of contaminants would likely occur in the lower sand aquifer located to the northeast of the landfill. The risk assessment conducted during the FS concluded that none of the compounds detected in soil were present at concentrations of toxicological concern. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Hipps Road Landfill Community Involvement Plan Page 5 October 2017 The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Site was issued in September 1986. The ROD indicated that the objective of the remedial action was to address surficial soil contamination and waste materials and to provide for the remediation of potential groundwater threats to the environment and human health. Major cleanup elements for the Site include the following: • Proper landfill closure. • Recovery of contaminated groundwater with treatment at the publicly owned treatment works (POTW). • Long-term (20-year) monitoring of groundwater after completion of treatment • Operation and maintenance of all components of the remedy, including the groundwater recovery system, groundwater monitoring, maintenance of the landfill cap and associated systems and maintaining the connector sewer line and site security systems • Institutional controls may include, but are not limited to, the plugging and abandonment of impacted private wells, fencing the site, acquiring affected properties and instituting a well drilling ban for a minimum of 20 years. In September 1990, the EPA amended the ROD to include the recovery of groundwater from five recovery wells; treatment of contaminated groundwater by air stripping; and the use of an on-site holding pond for disposal of treated groundwater.