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News Releases from Region 07

Progress Update: EPA Developing Focused Residential Sampling Plan, Provides Update for Proposing Remedy at West Lake Landfill

11/22/2016
Contact Information: 
Ben Washburn (washburn.ben@epa.gov)
913-551-7364

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EPA seal(Lenexa, Kan., Nov. 22, 2016) - EPA announced today that it is developing a focused residential sampling plan in Bridgeton, Mo., following alleged contamination in a Spanish Village home. This is part of an ongoing comprehensive approach by the agency to address potential environmental health concerns in the area, which has also included air monitoring, inspections at nearby landfills and industries, and the separate work at the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site.

“EPA takes the concerns of the community seriously,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Mark Hague. “As with any decision or actions we take, we will rely on scientifically sound data to guide our efforts. We will consider the collective data when outlining our next steps.”

EPA to Develop Focused Residential Sampling Plan

The agency is developing a focused residential sampling plan that will begin with evaluating available data and sampling at one recently alleged contaminated home in Spanish Village. If warranted, the agency will then proceed to other areas where scientific data indicate further investigation is necessary. The agency is working as quickly as possible to address community concerns, and will keep the lines of communication open with the community.

EPA Provides Update on Timeline for Proposed Remedy

In a separate decision, the agency also announced today that it will need to extend the timeline for proposing a final remedy decision for soils at the West Lake Landfill.

EPA’s decision to extend the timeline for the final remedy proposal follows delays in receiving complete technical documents from the Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs). The agency will continue to require that the PRPs produce quality work products that take into account the complexity of the site and can withstand the scrutiny of agency experts.

“We have been working very hard to achieve this goal and I know the community was expecting a decision soon. However, given the complexity of this site and potential community impacts, we must ensure that sound science is driving our decision-making,” said Hague.

USACE Agrees to Assist EPA with FUSRAP Technical Review

EPA is also announcing today that a recent meeting with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) commanders from both the St. Louis and Kansas City districts produced an agreement for the Corps to assist the agency by making available Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) experts from across the country, who will review technical documents that will allow EPA to formulate a sound final remedy decision.

“We are grateful to the Corps’ leadership and their experts for partnering with us on this critical decision,” Hague said.

Work Completed in 2016

EPA also highlighted several major West Lake Landfill accomplishments in 2016, including:

  • Completion of the Phase 1 Comprehensive Report
  • Near completion of installation of a non-combustible cover over areas of the West Lake Landfill where radiologically impacted material (RIM) is located at or near the surface
  • Isolation Barrier System:
    • Installation of additional heat extraction wells in the neck area
    • Installation of additional temperature monitoring probes in the North Quarry
    • Initiation of installation of the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) cover in the North Quarry
  • Installation of two new sulfur dioxide air monitors
  • Sediment sampling
  • Continual operation of on-site perimeter air monitoring system
  • Enhanced community engagement at three Community Dialogue meetings held in Bridgeton, and the opening of a site office at Bridgeton City Hall

As part of its broader environmental compliance assistance for the Bridgeton community, EPA also conducted multiple Clean Air Act (CAA) compliance inspections of local facilities. These inspections resulted in an enforcement action against the Champ Landfill, which agreed to install additional equipment to reduce sulfur dioxide and other emissions to bring the facility into CAA compliance.

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