USEPA and Beazer Information Session on Offsite Soil Clean-up and Sampling- May 30, 2013
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Beazer East, Inc., the responsible party for the remediation of the Cabot- Koppers Superfund Site in Gainesville, FL, are conducting an information session for residents and property owners in the Stephen Foster Neighborhood that have been notified that their properties are located in the remediation or evaluation zones for offsite soil clean-up. The session will answer questions concerning the upcoming soil removal and restoration activities planned for the neighborhood. Representatives of USEPA, Beazer East, and other state and local representatives will be available to answer questions.
Location: Senior Recreation Center
5701 NW 34th Street
Gainesville, FL 32653
Date: Thursday, May 30, 2013
Time: Between 1 PM and 8 PM.
Short presentations will be given at 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM and 7 PM
View the Invitation
For more information—contact
Scott Miller, USEPA 404-562-9120 miller.scott@epamail.epa.gov
Greg Council, Tetra Tech 770-619-9950
John Mousa, ACEPD 352-264-6805 jjm@alachuacounty.us
USEPA and Beazer Solicit Site Access for Sampling and Preliminary Design Surveys for Soil Clean-up of Offsite Properties - May 6, 2013
The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in conjunction with Beazer East, Inc., the responsible party for remediation of the Cabot-Koppers Superfund site, began sending out property access agreement request letters on May 2, 2013 to residents and property owners of approximately 92 properties in the neighborhood west of the former Koppers site (East of NW 6th Street) and the neighborhood across NW 23rd Ave south of the former Koppers site.
The purpose of these letters is to solicit property access for either additional soil sampling or to perform preliminary remedial design surveys in preparation for the offsite soil clean-up of residential properties. The additional sampling is intended to further confirm the properties that will be subject to offsite soil remediation. The preliminary design property surveys will be requested for those properties that are already confirmed to be in areas that will require soil remediation in order to develop plans for the offsite soil remediation.
Two fact sheets will be included with the USEPA request letter explaining to the residents and property owners what the access agreement is for and what the anticipated process will be for the future planned offsite soil remediation process. The fact sheets provide contact numbers for persons to call for questions. The USEPA Project Manager, Mr. Scott Miller, was in Gainesville the week of May 6th to go door to door to meet with residents who received the letters, answer questions and to encourage signing of the property access agreements.
The USEPA & Beazer East, Inc. have tentatively planned an informational meeting in late May or early June for the residents and property owners receiving the request letters, in order to further answer questions about the soil sampling and survey process and the anticipated future steps in the offsite remediation process.
1658_USEPA Beazer Fact Sheet on Offsite Soil Remdiation Sequencing SF Neighborhood 5-6-2013.pdf
1658_USEPA Beazer Frequently Asked Questions Soil Removal and Restoration SF Neighborhood 5-6-2013.pdf
1658_USEPA Access Authorization for Sampling Letter 5-2-2013.pdf1658_USEPA Survey Access Request Letter 5-3-2013.pdf
Beazer East Drilling to Occur on Koppers Site Beginning April 4, 2013
Beginning April 2nd through April 11th Beazer's East, Inc. will begin drilling work on the Koppers site starting at 7:30AM and ending at 6:30PM. After a short break, work will resume on April 16th. This is a temporary extednded daily schedule to allow Beazer's East to catch up on some work at the site. The drilling plan has been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in consultation with the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department and the City of Gainesville. This work is associated with the pilot demonstration ISGS remediation process and is intended to gather additional subsurface soil information at the process areas on site.
If you have any questions or issues related to the work, please contact:
Scott Miller, Remedial Project Manager
United States Environmental Protection Agency
(404)562-9120
miller.scott@epamail.epa.gov
In addition, you may contact:
John Mousa, Pollution Prevention Manager
Alachua County Environmental Protection Agency
(352)264-6805
jjm@alachuacounty.us
Fred Murry, Assistant City Manager
City of Gainesville
(352)334-5010
murryfj@cityofgainesville.org
USEPA Consent Decree of Koppers Superfund Site --Public Comment Period
The expected Cabot-Koppers Consent Decree was lodged with the United States District Court, Northern District on February 7, 2013. The US Department of Justice (USDOJ) has placed a notice in the Federal Register on February 13, 2013 to alert and give the public an opportunity to review the decree. The notice begins a 30-day public comment period which will end on March 15, 2013.
Public comments on the Consent Decree should be addressed to:
Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division and should refer to the United States of America V. Beazer East, Inc. Action no. 1:13cvs29-SPM-GRJ; D.J. Ref. NO. 90-11-2-622/1.
Comments may be submitted by email or by mail.
By email, send public comments to pubcomment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov.
By mail, send comments to: Assistant Attorney General, U. S. DOJENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044-7611
When the public comment period ends, the USEPA and the USDOJ will collectively review the comments and prepare a response to them as necessary for the presiding judge’s consideration. The presiding federal judge will decide whether to enter or decline to enter the consent decree. The presiding judge may, but is not required to, have a hearing in open court concerning the consent decree.
Once a consent decree is entered, the remediation work will begin according to the schedule established in the consent decree and the Statement of Work (which is an appendix to the consent decree). Links to view and download the Consent Decree and assoicated documents are provided below. Alternatively, the Consent Decree may be viewed at the information repository at the Alachua County Public Library, located at 401 E. University Avenue in Gainesville, Florida 32601, for public review.
Consent Decree Documents:
US Department of Justice Link to Entire Consent Decree Documents
Final Beazer Consent Decree.pdf
Complaint_doc 1_020713.pdf
Appendix A -USEPA Feb 2011 Record of Decision click on this link; ckopflrod0211.pdf
Appendix B through G including Statement of Work
USEPA Notifies Homeowner Participants of Results of Indoor Dust Sampling Study
On November 30, 2012, the USEPA Region 4 in Atlanta sent letters to homeowners who participated in the Indoor Dust Sampling Study in May 2012 advising them of the levels of dioxins found in their house dust. The USEPA stated that levels of dioxins found in indoor dust in the the homes near the former Koppers site were not above USEPA concern levels and that no indoor remediation was planned for the neighborhood. The final USEPA report with all sampling data has not yet been released by USEPA. The Florida Department of Health will study the full sampling data set to determine if there is a long term health impact from the levels of dioxins found in the homes. The final FDOH report is expected out in early 2013.
LATEST OFFSITE SOIL SAMPLING DATA AVAILABLE
The latest round of offsite soil sampling results for dioxins from samples taken in October 2012 in the vicinity of the Cabot Koppers Superfund Site and in the City Material Storage Yard are now available on the Interactive Soil Map application.
SOIL GAS INVESTIGATION AT FORMER CABOT SITE- SEPTEMBER 24,2012
During the week of September 24, 2012, the Cabot Corporation (Cabot) will conduct a soil gas investigation at the Northside Shopping Center located at the corner of N. Main Street and NE 23rd Avenue in Gainesville, Florida. This investigation is being performed at the request of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as part of ongoing studies and environmental monitoring associated with the Cabot Carbon/Koppers Superfund site. The Northside Shopping Center was built on a portion of the former Cabot facility, which was historically used to distill pine oil and pine tar from pine trees. As a result, soil and groundwater data from locations beneath the building or nearby locations indicate the presence of relatively low levels of volatile organic compounds. Soil gas sampling is being conducted to confirm that vapor concentrations in the subsurface do not exceed protective levels. The investigation will include soil gas sampling from a dozen exterior locations surrounding the shopping center buildings. The results of the soil gas sampling will help determine whether or not additional assessment is needed. The investigation work plan has been reviewed and approved by the USEPA with input from the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (ACEPD) and the City of Gainesville. Links to the Workplan and the Fact Sheet can be found below.
Soil Gas Investigation Workplan - Northside Shopping Center
Fact Sheet on Soil Gas Investigation – Northside Shopping Center
DRILLING OF SOIL BORINGS IN PROCESS AREA STARTED- July 2012
Drilling activites are ongoing on the former Koppers site during the months of July and August 2012 to install soil borings in the Former Process Area in the southeast portion of the site. These borings are to provide additional characterization of the contamination in the surficial and upper hawthorn formations in preparation for the ISGS demonstration pilot program.
ADDITIONAL OFFSITE SOIL SAMPLING DATA AVAILABLE
Additional offsite soil sampling results for dioxins, arsenic and benzo(a)pyrene from samples taken in January and June 2012 in the vicinity of the Cabot Koppers Superfund Site and along busy street areas of the City of Gainesville are now available on the Interactive Soil Map application.
FDOH JUNE 2012 COMMUNITY UPDATE FOR KOPPERS SITE AVAILABLE
The Florida Department of Health has released the June 2012 Community Update for the Koppers Superfund Site.
FDOH FINAL CANCER REVIEW STUDY FOR STEPHEN FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD RELEASED -June 2012
The Florida Department of Health has released the Final Cancer Review Study for the years 1981 - 2008 for the Stephen Foster Neighborhood near the Koppers Superfund Site. The report can be obtained at above link and at the Alachua County Health Department website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdalachua/index.htm
TREE INVENTORY IN STEPHEN FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD-- Week of May 29,2012
Kestrel Ecological Services of Gainesville , a contractor for Tetra Tech and Beazer East , is conducting a preliminary tree inventory during the week of May 29, 2012 in part of the Stephen Foster Neighborhood west of the former Koppers portion of the Cabot-Koppers Superfund Site. This tree inventory is intended to help with the preliminary planning process for the offsite soil remediation that is expected to occur in parts of the Stephen Foster neighborhood east of NW 6th street as part of the USEPA Record of Decision for the Cabot Koppers Superfund Site. The factsheet below provides more information on the tree inventory process.
Tree Inventory Information Sheeet- Stephen Foster Neighborhood May 2012
INDOOR DUST SAMPLING May 7 -17, 2012
The USEPA is starting the sampling of indoor dust in up to 35 homes in the Stephen Foster and two Background Neighborhoods on May 8, 2012. Sampling is exepected to continue through May 17, 2012. The USEPA sampling team has been arranging appointments with homeowners who had previously submitted an access authorization to USEPA. The samples of indoor dust will be tested for chlorinated and brominated dioxins and furans.
INDOOR DIOXIN DUST INVESTIGATION STUDY
The USEPA will implement an Indoor Dioxin Dust Investigation Study in selected neighborhoods in the City of Gainesville. On January 9, 2012, letters from USEPA were mailed out to preselected near site and background neighborhoods soliciting participation in the study and property access authorization from residential property owners. The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department is assisting USEPA in the mailout and receipt of letters from the contacted neighborhoods.
A workgroup of local health, environmental and technical experts will assist USEPA in identifying the homes to be tested from the group of homes whose owners have provided access authorization and completed survey questions. Sampling is tentatively scheduled for March/April 2012.
The Indoor Dioxin Dust Investigation Study is intended to investigate the issue of potential indoor dust contamination with dioxins in homes near the Cabot Koppers Superfund site and includes recommendations for sampling, testing and data intrepretation. The study will include sampling of indoor dust from not more than 15 homes located near the Superfund site and from not more than 15 "background" homes located almost 2 miles from the site. The background homes are located in neighborhoods that have not shown evidence of soil dioxin dust contamination above State of Florida standards.
In July 2011, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) submitted a
Indoor Dust Investigation/ Intrepretation Workplan for the Stephen Foster Neighborhood to the USEPA. The workplan was developed by a Task Force composed of representatives from the FDOH, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, USEPA, the US Agency for Toxics and Disease Registry, the Alachua County Health Department and included representatives of Beazer East, the Alachua County Environmental Protection Advisory Committee and the Technical Advisor from the citizens group, Protect Gainesville Citizen's Inc. Both the City of Gainesville Commission and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners have urged USEPA to implement the workplan.
USEPA Solicitation Letter for Near Site Homes
USEPA Solicitation Letter for Background Homes
Access Authorization and Survey Form
Indoor Dioxin Dust Study Fact Sheet
FINAL REPORT --INVESTIGATION OF HISTORICAL LINEAR FEATURES AND POTENTIAL DRUM DISPOSAL AREAS
The Final Report describing the results of the Investigation of Historical Linear Features and Potential Drum Disposal Areas on the Koppers Superfund Site conducted by Beazer East during the weeks of May 2 through May 12, 2011 is now available in the Cabot Koppers Online Document Library. The Final Report is dated June 21, 2011. This investigation was requested by USEPA to address concerns raised by residents in the Stephen Foster neighborhood about potential burial of drums and additional source areas on site. Field observations did not confirm the presence of buried drums or any additional creosote contamination source areas in the site locations investigated. Field oversight of activities was conducted by USEPA, the Corps of Engineers, Beazer East and representatives of ACEPD and GRU.
The workplan for the effort can be found at the following link:
Beazer Workplan for Investigation of Linear Features and Potential Drum Disposal Areas 4-6-2011
ACEPD observations made during the field investigation effort is summarized at the following link: 
Summary of ACEPD Observations
USEPA MAY 2011 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN (CIP) FOR KOPPERS SUPERFUND SITE AVAILABLE
The USEPA Region 4 has released a revised update of the Community Involvement Plan for the Koppers Superfund Site dated May 2011.
CLICK HERE to view the document.
FDEP INTENT TO ISSUE NPDES PERMIT FOR FORMER KOPPERS SITE (BEAZER EAST SITE) -May 26 2011
On May 26, 2011 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issue a Notice of Intent to Issue an NPDES Stormwater Discharge Permit for the former Koppers Site (now called Beazer East site). The Draft NPDES Permit is available below. Requests for administrative hearing need to challenge the draft permit need to be made by the deadlines in the information below. For more information contact Jeff Martin, FDEP NE District, 904-256-1700 ext 21614
Draft NPDES Permit
Draft Administrative Order
Draft Permit Fact Sheet
Notice of Intent to Issue Permit
Draft Permit Map of Discharge and Sampling Locations
USEPA Releases Final Record of Decision (ROD) Clean-up plan for Cabot Koppers Superfund Site Feb 2, 2011
The USEPA has released the Final Record of Decision (ROD) for the Cabot Koppers Superfund Site on Feb 2 2011. The full text of the ROD is available from the USEPA website at the following link:
Soil Sampling Results for Dioxins in Offsite Neighborhood West of Former Koppers Site in Road Rights of Way North, South and East of Site are Available
Recent soil sampling results for dioxins in the offsite neighborhood west of the former Koppers part of the Cabot-Koppers Superfund site are now available. The latest samples were taken in September 2010 on residential and commercial properties. Click Here to see a map all the dioxin soil sampling results in the neighborhood west of Koppers including all previous rights-of-way data. Soil Sampling Results for Arsenic, Dioxins and Benzo(a)pyrene in Road Rights of Way North East and South of Former Koppers Site are Available Here.
Cabot Corporation -- Tar Removal Effort - Springstead and Hogtown Creeks
The Cabot Corporation is planning a voluntary effort to remove residual pine tar deposits from selcted segments of Springstead and Hogtown Creeks in January and February 2011. Click here to see the Final Workplan and for additional information about this work effort.
ACEPD Report on Sediment Quality on Springstead and Hogtown Creeks Near the Cabot-Koppers Superfund Site -May 2009 Updated August 2009
Alachua County and City of Gainesville Comments and Recommendations on USEPA Proposed Clean-up Plan for Koppers Superfund Site - October 8, 2010
The Final City of Gainesville and Alachua County Comments and Recommendations on the USEPA July 2010 Proposed Plan for Clean up of the Koppers Superfund Site was tranmitted to USEPA on October 8, 2010. Click HERE to see the final recommendations. The cover letter from Chair of Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, Cynthia Chestnut, accompanied the transmittal from the County. A cover letter from the Mayor of Gainesville, Craig Lowe, accompanied the transmittal from the City.
USEPA Proposed Cleanup Plan Released July 15, 2010
The USEPA Region 4 has released the Proposed Clean-up Plan for Koppers Superfund Site on July 15, 2010.
The plan can be seen at the following link:
USEPA Region 4 Proposed Plan for Koppers Superfund Site 7-15-2010.pdf
Historical Background -- Summary of Site History and Remediation Activities - Click Here
FDEP Fugitive Dust Complaint Form
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection NE District has developed a Fugitive Dust Affidavit Form to be used by citizens to document incidents of nuisance fugitive dust from industrial plant operations that are observed to be migrating off-site toward neighboring properties. This Affidavit Form should be filled out completely, notarized and submitted to FDEP to assist them in documenting excess fugitive dust and to determine if enforcement actions are needed. The form is available at the following link:
FDEP Fugitive Dust Affadavit Form.pdf
The form should be E-mailed or mailed to the following address:
Mr. Chris Kirts
Air Program Administrator
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Northeast District
7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite B200
Jacksonville, FL 32256-7590
E-mail: christopher.kirts@dep.state.fl.us
Phone: 904-807-3235
In addition to filling out this Form, citizens may contact the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department at 352-264-6800 with dust complaints and they will be investigated and refered the FDEP NE district.