Ftrs00076 Letters Dated November 29, 1989 and May 29, 1990 to Panther Creek Partners and to PADER Which Summarize the Agency's Concerns Regarding This Matter
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY * ^ REGION III i I ^22£ * 841 Chestnut Building : \, ~ ~. .<p Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 ** «*)»*•*• Honorable Gus Yatron JUL 1 6 1990 House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515-3806 Dear Mr. Yatron: This is in response to your letter of June 18, 1990, to Mr. Patrick Quinn, Director, Office of Legislation, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of your constituent, Ms. Kerry Evans, regarding the construction of a cogeneration facility adjacent to the Tonolli Corporation Superfund Site in Nesguehoning, Pennsylvania. The Tonolli Corporation operated a battery recycling and secondary lead smelting plant in Nesguehoning from 1974 through 1986. Tonolli Corporation abandoned the site in January 1986, after declaring bankruptcy and demonstrating their inability to finance appropriate remedial actions. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) conducted the initial investigation of the Tonolli Site and found elevated levels of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium to be present in onsite soils and ground water. The site was placed on the National Priorities List in October 1989. EPA conducted removal activities to;address the primary risks posed by the contaminants at the site and to secure the site perimeter. EPA then entered into a Consent Order with a group of potentially responsible parties reguiring the completion of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS). This study, which will take approximately 18 months, will define the nature and extent of contamination that exists at the site and . evaluate cleanup methods for remediation. The field activities associated with the RI/FS are scheduled to begin by August 1, 1990. Since February 1989, EPA's Remedial Project Manager for the Tonolli Site, Ms. Donna McCartney, has been in contact with Panther Creek Partners, the firm responsible for the cogeneration facility which will be situated adjacent to the Tonolli Site. EPA has reviewed extensive technical information regarding the plans and permit reguirements for this ccgeneration facility, and has communicated all concerns relevant to its authority pertaining to the proximity of the facility to the Tonolli Site both to Panther Creek Partners and to PADER. EPA has issued two ftRS00076 letters dated November 29, 1989 and May 29, 1990 to Panther Creek Partners and to PADER which summarize the Agency's concerns regarding this matter. These letters are incorporated in the public record for the cogeneration facility, and have been of particular interest to Ms. Evans and the citizens' group she belongs to, the Anthracite Regional Conservation Society ("ARCS"). EPA's concerns, as described in the two letters, impose conditions on the permit for the cogeneration facility. Such conditions restrict any earth moving or construction activities in the Tonolli Site vicinity for a time period of approximately 22 months in order to allow EPA to complete the RI/FS and define the extent of contamination. The permit conditions also describe an exclusion zone of at least 300 feet which will serve as a buffer between the Tonolli Site and the cogeneration plant activities. While PADER and the Office of Surface Mining have the primary responsibility for permitting a cogeneration facility, EPA has remained involved due to the proximity of the cogeneration activities to the Tonolli Site. At this time, EPA believes that the% restrictions imposed on the cogeneration facility's permit are adeguate. The cogeneration activities will not include the excavation of waste coal (culm) that is on the Tonolli Site, and any activities planned to occur near the Tonolli Site will not begin for at least 22 months. EPA plans to proceed with the RI/FS at the Tonolli Site, and to continue to exchange information with the Nesguehoning community, PADER, and Panther Creek Partners regarding our findings on the extent of contamination at the Tonolli Site. EPA also plans to conduct a public meeting in the Nesguehoning community within the next month in order to inform the citizens of the activities planned for the Tonolli Site. I hope that this information addresses your concerns and those of your constituents. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Edwin B. Erickson Regional Administrator WS00077 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 1B 1990. Honorable Gus Yatron House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515-3806 Dear Mr. Yafrons This is in response to your letter of June 18, 1990, to Mr. Patrick Quinn, Director, Office of Legislation, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of your constituent, Ms. Kerry Evans, regarding the construction of a cogeneration facility adjacent to the Tonolli Corporation Superfund Site in Nesguehoning, Pennsylvania* The Tonolli Corporation operated a battery recycling and ^ secondary lead smelting plant In Nesguehoning from 1974 through '& 1986* Tonolli Corporation abandoned the site in January .1986, 4, after declaring bankruptcy and demonstrating their inability'to finance appropriate remedial actions. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) conducted the initial investigation of the Tonolli Site and found elevated levels of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium to be present in onsite soils and ground water. The site was placed on the National. Priorities List in October 1989. EPA conducted removal activities to address the primary risks posed by the contaminants at the site and to secure the site perimeter. EPA then entered into a Consent Order with a group of potentially responsible parties requiring the completion of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS)« This study, which will take approximately 18 months, will define the nature and extent of contamination that exists at the site and evaluate cleanup methods for remediation. The field activities associated with the RI/FS are scheduled to begin by August 1, 1990. Since February 1989, EPA's Remedial Project Manager for the Tonolli Site, Ms. Donna McCartney, has been in contact with Panther Creek Partners, the firm responsible for the cogeneration facility which will be situated adjacent to the Tonolli Site. EPA has reviewed extensive technical information regarding the plans and permit reguirements for this cogeneration facility, and has communicated all concerns relevant to its authority pertaining to the proximity of the facility to the Tonolli Site both to Panther Creek partners and to PADER. EPA has issued two CONCURRENCES JH.WU1 JHWZi JHW^U . JHWUZ 3CIOO i\ SYMBOL SURNAME Bregman Anderson Ferdas ' DATE I H EPA Form 1320-1 (12-70) rln~wO(/7iAflCT/V)/)-?/>? ' OFFICIA^,,0,™..L FIL— .„.,E COP.Y letters dated November 29, 1989 and May 29, 1990 to Panther Creek Partners and to PADER which summarize the Agency's concerns regarding this matter. These letters are incorporated in the public record for the cogeneration facility, and have been of particular interest to Ms. Evans and the citizens' group she belongs to, the Anthracite Regional Conservation Society ("ARCS"). EPA's concerns, as described in the two letters, impose conditions on the permit for the cogeneration facility. Such conditions restrict any earth moving or construction activities in the Tonolli Site vicinity for a'time period of approximately 22 months in order to allow CPA to complete the RI/FS and define the extent of contamination. The permit conditions also describe an exclusion zon«t of at least 300 feet which will serve as a buffer between the Tonolli Site and the cogeneration plant activities* While PADER and the Office of Surface Mining have the primary responsibility for permitting a cogeneration facility, EPA has remained involved due to the proximity of the cogeneration activities to the Tonolli Site. At this time, EPA believes that the restrictions imposed on the cogeneration ~* facility's permit are adequate. The cogeneration activities will; not include the excavation of waste coal (culm) that is on the | Tonolli Site, and any activities planned to occur near the Tonolli Site wills not begin for at least 22 months. EPA plans to proceed with the RI/FS at the Tonolli Site, and to continue to exchange information with the Nesguehoning community, PADER, and Panther Creek Partners regarding our findings on the extent of contamination at the Tonolli Site. EPA also plans to conduct a public meeting in the Nesquehoning community within the next month in order to inform the citizens of the activities planned for the Tonolli Site. I hope that this information addresses your concerns and those of your constituents* Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Edwin B. Erickson Regional Administrator AR5QOQ79 GUS YATRON 6TH DISTRICT. PENNSYLVANIA REPLY. IF ANY TO: D 1940N. 13TH STREET • v iiiiifir.*** om f thiiier liinheffiiiiiirln -^-^* i ^-i i v »* INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS _. „ SUBCOMMITTEE ON MERIDAN BANK BUILDING iT-OUSE Ol TR.QJrtSCIttStlU'ES INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS POTTSVILLE———, PA 17901-2936 v fljasiunstan, BC* 20515-5806 TssrsEsr1 LJ 2205 RAYBURN House OFFICE BUILDING SUBCOMMITTEE ON WASHINGTON. DC 20515-3806 June 18, 1990 HUMAN RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS Mr. Patrick Quinn Director, Office of Legislation /.„ Environmental Protection Agency Jll 401 M Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20460 ,, • \_ Dear Mr. Quinn: I am contacting you on behalf of Ms. Kerry Evans, Box 66, ~~ Oak Court, Rural Delivery l, Lake Hauto, Nesgoiehoning, Pennsylvania 18240. As you will note