Final Community Involvement Plan Solvay Coke and Gas Site Milwaukee, Wisconsin Prepared for: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Prepared by: APEX Direct, Inc. April 2008 Contract No. EP-S5-07-01, Task Order No. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN 1 2.0 SITE OVERVIEW 1 2.1 Site Description 1 2.2 Site History and Cleanup 3 2.3 Site Contaminants 4 3.0 COMMUNITY BACKGROUND 4 3.1 Community Profile 4 3.2 Community History 5 3.3 Past Community Involvement With the Site 5 4.0 COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS 5 4.1 Site Ownership 5 4.2 Site Redevelopment and Future Use 6 4.3 Economic Effects 6 4.4 Length of Time to Conduct the Cleanup 7 4.5 Cost and Responsibility for the Cleanup 7 4.6 Possible Lake Contamination 7 4.7 Health Effects 7 4.8 Site Access and Security 8 5.0 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES 8 5.1 Establish a Point of Contact 8 5.2 Develop and Maintain a Site Mailing List 9 5.3 Establish an Information Repository 9 5.4 Maintain Contact With Local Officials, Organizations and Residents 9 5.5 Maintain Communication With Local Media 9 5.6 Prepare and Distribute Written Information 10 5.7 Make Information Available Electronically 10 5.8 Conduct Public Meetings or Information Sessions 10 5.9 Publish Announcements 10 5.10 Revise the Community Involvement Plan 10 APPENDIXES A INFORMATION REPOSITORY AND POSSIBLE MEETING LOCATIONS B LIST OF CONTACTS AND INTERESTED GROUPS C COMMUNITY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS i 1.0 Overview of Community Involvement Plan The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepared this Community Involvement Plan (CIP) to support upcoming investigation and cleanup activities at the Solvay Coke and Gas (Solvay Coke) site in Milwaukee, Wis. This CIP provides information about the site background, community demographics, community concerns and activities EPA will conduct to inform and involve the community during site cleanup efforts. This document has two primary purposes: (1) to summarize community concerns as expressed during interviews conducted February 26-28, 2008, and (2) to present a plan and schedule for communication between local residents and EPA as site investigation and cleanup activities progress. In addition to this overview, this CIP contains the following sections: Section 2.0, Site Overview – Provides background information about the site’s location and history Section 3.0, Community Background – Presents a community profile and summarizes the community history and past involvement with the site Section 4.0, Community Concerns and Questions – Summarizes information obtained from local residents during community interviews conducted in February 2008 Section 5.0, Community Involvement Activities – Provides the EPA plan and timeline for a site-specific community involvement program to keep residents informed and involved during site activities Appendix A – Provides the locations of the site information repository and administrative record, as well as possible locations for public meetings Appendix B – Provides a list of contacts and local organizations Appendix C –Provides a list of questions asked during February 2008 community interviews 2.0 Site Overview This section describes the site, provides information about the site’s history and cleanup, and presents information about the primary site contaminants. 2.1 Site Description The 46-acre Solvay Coke site is located at 311 East Greenfield Ave. in Milwaukee, Wis. The site is located along the Lake Michigan waterfront in an industrial and commercial corridor that covers more than 700 acres. The nearest residential neighborhood is located about 0.3 mile west of the site. The site is bordered to the north by East Greenfield Ave., to the 1 northeast by railroad tracks and a coal storage area, to the east and south by the Kinnickinnic River, and to the west by railroad tracks (see site location figure below). Access to the property is restricted by its relative isolation within the waterfront industrial corridor. In addition, the site is secured by a tall chain-link fence and warning signs. Despite these measures, the site perimeter is not entirely secure, and humans and wildlife could gain access and be exposed to hazardous substances. During a site assessment in 2001, deer were observed on the site. Deer and other wildlife may feed in areas contaminated with hazardous substances. 2 2.2 Site History and Cleanup The site is comprised of a number of lots where a variety of industrial activities were conducted since at least 1990. Between about 1902 and 1983, a coke and manufactured gas facility operated on the property; at its peak, the facility operated 200 coke ovens. Coke ovens heat coal to produce coke, coal tars and fuel gas. At many of the former manufactured gas plants in Wis., coke and coal tars were considered process wastes. At the Solvay Coke site, coke production was a principal manufacturing process. Coke and coal tars produced at the Solvay Coke site were shipped elsewhere for use as blast furnace fuel. Manufactured gas was presumably sold locally. Solvay Coke differs from other manufactured gas plants in the state both in terms of the size of its operations and the possibility that there was a market for the coal tars produced there. From 1983 until January 2003, the Wisconsin Wrecking Company, a concrete recycler, operated a scrap and salvage operation on the northern portion of the site. In January 2003, Wisconsin Wrecking assigned its interest in the site to Water Street Holdings, LLC. At the same time, Cliffs Mining Company conveyed the site to Water Street Holdings, LLC. Shortly thereafter, Water Street Holdings, LLC, conveyed the site to Golden Marina Causeway, LLC. Most of the coke and gas manufacturing buildings on the site property were demolished between 2003 and 2005. In February 2003, a legal document called a removal order was signed between EPA; Cliffs Mining Company; Water Street Holdings, LLC; and Wisconsin Wrecking, LLC. The order required the companies to take action to address four primary sources of hazardous substances: (1) asbestos in many of the physical structures and on the ground; (2) coal tar from manufactured gas plant operations; (3) numerous above-ground storage tanks; and (4) other hazards throughout the site, such as drums containing harmful substances and oil in old electrical transformers. As part of the removal actions, the site was fenced and gated on three sides, and warning signs were posted. A summary of the types and quantities of waste handled and shipped off site for disposal was provided to EPA in a report dated March 2005. In September 2005, EPA issued a Notice of Completion summarizing the removal actions taken at the site and approving the post-removal site control measures proposed by the parties. In January 2007, EPA and the companies signed a legal agreement called an administrative order on consent. In addition to Cliffs Mining Company; American Natural Resources Company; Wisconsin Electric Power Company; Wisconsin Gas LLC; and Maxus Energy Company, East Greenfield Investors voluntarily signed because of a contractual agreement with Cliffs Mining Company (East Greenfield Investors had expressed interest in acquiring the property). This legal order required that the companies conduct an investigation to determine the type and amount of contamination at the site as well as risks posed to people, wildlife and the environment. In addition, the companies agreed to evaluate options for cleaning up the site. An investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination in site soil and ground water is expected to begin in summer 2008. After the investigation is complete, EPA 3 will evaluate options for cleaning up the site and will present its recommended cleanup option for public comment. After considering public comments and concerns, EPA will select and implement a cleanup option. EPA has determined that American Natural Resources Company, Cliffs Mining Company, Maxus Energy Corporation, Wisconsin Electric Power Company and Wisconsin Gas LLC (d/b/a We Energies) are liable for conditions at the site and are responsible for funding the site investigation. These companies were former site owners or operators. 2.3 Site Contaminants Site contaminants include various metals, cyanide and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs. PAHs commonly found in manufactured gas plant waste may cause cancer in humans. High levels of PAHs may also have a detrimental effect on animals and the environment. During previous site assessments, PAHs were identified in samples of surface soil and river mud. Most of the PAH contamination from manufactured gas plant sites does not pose an immediate health risk because it is in the form of coal tar buried under soil. If coal tar residue comes in contact with skin, however, it can cause redness or a rash. In some people, coal tar can cause a sunburn effect on skin. Eye irritation is another hazard if coal tar residue gets in the eyes. 3.0 Community Background The following sections describe the community demographics, summarize the history of the community and discuss the community’s past involvement with the site. 3.1 Community Profile Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee County and is the largest city in Wisconsin. Milwaukee is the main cultural and economic center of the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha Metropolitan area. As of the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, Milwaukee had a population of 602,782. The city gained population between 2000 and 2006, which marked the first period of positive population growth since the 1960s. Starting in the 1960s, Milwaukee’s population began to decline due to various factors including the loss of blue collar jobs. In recent years, revitalization efforts have been underway in neighborhoods throughout the city, including Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, East Side, Walker’s Point and Bay View, as well as downtown.