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US EPA. ASARCO Hayden Plant Alternative Superfund Site November 2, 2016 Update on the Phase 2 Remedial Investigation. Roles of EPA & ADEQ. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the lead regulatory agency
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US EPA ASARCO Hayden Plant Alternative Superfund Site November 2, 2016 Update on the Phase 2 Remedial Investigation
Roles of EPA & ADEQ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the lead regulatory agency Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is the support regulatory agency EPA ensures compliance with Federal regulations ADEQ ensures compliance with Arizona’s State regulations
Alternative Superfund Site The ASARCO Hayden site is an Alternative Superfund site Alternative Superfund sites are not included on the National Priorities List (NPL) Alternative Superfund sites and NPL Superfund sites are both cleaned up in accordance with the same Federal and State regulations
Site History • 1990’s- Initial health studies by Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) • 2004 - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts an investigation of soils in Kearny, Hayden and Winkelman • 2006 - Hayden Site qualifies as an Alternative Superfund Site
Site History Residential Yard Cleanup • 2008 & 09 – Phase 1 Yard Cleanup • Aug 2014 – Phase 2 Yard Cleanup • 658 Yards in Hayden and Winkleman • 649 Yards Sampled by EPA • 266 Yards required cleanup
Goals of Superfund Protect human health and the environment by cleaning up polluted sites Coordinate with states and tribal governments throughout the Superfund process Provide opportunity for community engagement
Remedial Investigation Evaluate previous data Determine if new data is needed Prepare a Work Plan Sample surface water, groundwater, soil and air Analyze samples at laboratory Determine the level of contamination Calculate risk and exposure to contamination
Next Steps at Asarco • Feasibility Study • Evaluate potential cleanup options • Proposed Plan • Announces the preferred cleanup option from FS • Minimum 30-day public comment period and public meeting • Record of Decision (ROD) • Outlines cleanup specifics • Cleanup goals • Chosen cleanup option
History of Remedial Investigations at Asarco • 2004-06 - Phase 1 RI (EPA) • 2008-12 - Phase 2 RI Workplan (EPA) • 2013-15 - Phase 2 RI Sampling (ASARCO) • 2015-16 - Draft RI Report Submitted to EPA and ADEQ for Review (ASARCO)
Remedial Investigation • ASARCO conducted the Phase 2 RI under EPA oversight • RI was conducted according to EPA’s workplan • Investigation includes soil, ground water, river water, storm water, and air
Remedial Investigation • Samples collected to determine the extent of contamination
Remedial Investigation Soil • Investigation covered all non-residential areas • Areas included: Tailings piles, former Kennecott smelter, Asarco concentrator, smelter, and outlying areas. • Monitoring for wind blown dust
Potential Source Areas Concentrator Smelter Tailings Other potential sources
Remedial Investigation Ground Water • Characterize metals in groundwater near Asarco’s facilities and in the surrounding areas
Well Locations Cr Se Th As Pb Se As Cd An Se
Remedial Investigation Surface Water • Collect samples in arroyos when it is raining (San Pedro, Kennecott, Powerhouse)
Stormwater map SURFACE WATER SAMPLE LOCATIONS
Remedial Investigation River Water • Collect surface water and groundwater samples to determine if tailings are impacting the river
Remedial Investigation Air • Ambient Monitoring • 10 Stations • Sample for particle size and chemical content • Source Monitoring • 20 Stations • Sample for particle size and chemical content • Two years of sampling
SOURCE AIR SAMPLE LOCATIONS
Calculate Risk Collect data and determine the levels of contamination in the soil, surface water, groundwater and air Calculate the cumulative risk from all contamination at the site
Select Cleanup Levels EPA uses the risk assessment to select clean up levels that are protective of human health and the environment An ecological risk assessment is conducted for protection of plants and animals
EPA Heather ParkerCommunity Involvement Coordinator 415-972- 3112 800-231-3075 (mssg line) Parker.Heather@epa.gov John Lucey Project Manager 415-972-3145 Lucey.John@epa.gov Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Wendy FloodCommunity Involvement Coordinator 602-771-4410 Flood.Wendy@azdeq.gov Sara Benovic Project Manager 520-209-4265 Benovic.Sara@azdeq.gov Agency Contacts
US EPA ASARCO Hayden Plant Overview of EPA’s Air Enforcement Division Consent Decree Presented on November 2, 2016
2015 Air Consent Decree • On November 3, 2015 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement that requires ASARCO to spend $150 million to install new equipment and pollution control technology to reduce emissions of toxic heavy metals at the Hayden copper smelter
History ofAir Regulatory Actions Finding Of Violation issued by EPA on November 10, 2011 and alleging that Asarco is in violation of Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) requirements at its smelter
History ofAir Regulatory Actions • Hayden was declared in nonattainment for lead by EPA in August 2014 • ADEQ must develop plan to attain air quality standards at Hayden. EPA will approve plan
2015 Air Consent DecreeRequirements • Asarco will retrofit the smelter operations to improve contaminant capture and efficiency from 95% to 99% • The retrofit will take about 3 years to complete
2015 Air Consent Decree Requirements • Asarco will retrofit of the copper converter furnaces to control particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions • Monitoring for fugitive emissions that may be escaping from facility buildings
2015 Air Consent Decree Requirements • ASARCO will develop a fugitive dust plan including installation of wind fences, concrete pads, upgrades to water sprayer systems, relocation of revert crushing operations away from the high school, and tarping of materials stored in trains and trucks
2015 Air Consent Decree Requirements • ASARCO will cover several of the large tailing piles with clean soil and a vegetative cover including the Calcium Sulfate Pond, Kennecott Ave. Tailings and Winn’s Pond • ASARCO will use earth moving equipment to reshape the surface of the piles and minimize ponded water on top of the piles
2015 Air Consent Decree • Paving of unpaved county roads that generates fugitive dust emissions close to the towns • Replace an old diesel locomotive with a new diesel-electric locomotive.
2015 Air Consent Decree Requirements • ASARCO will continue current monitoring at five ambient air monitors near the facility • ASARCO will conduct investigations and corrective actions if trigger levels are exceeded
2015 Air Consent Decree Requirements • ASARCO will provide $2 million for a new lead-based paint (LBP) abatement program for testing and abatement of lead in homes, schools, and other public buildings in Hayden and Winkelman
2015 Air Consent Decree Requirements • EPA will provide oversight for the LBP abatement program • EPA is working with ASARCO to develop a work plan for the LBP abatement program
2015 Air Consent Decree Requirements • EPA is working with ASARCO to develop a work plan for the LBP abatement program
2015 Air Consent Decree Requirements • EPA is working with ASARCO to develop a work plan for the LBP abatement program • The LBP abatement program will be coordinated with the Arizona Department of Health Services and Gila County Environmental Health Services
Heather ParkerCommunity Involvement Coordinator 415-972- 3112 800-231-3075 (mssg line) Parker.Heather@epa.gov John Lucey Project Manager 415-972-3145 Lucey.John@epa.gov EPA Contacts