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r laud Rix'Giub Ceaicr OTiihR: WELCOME ELIZABETH MINE SITE PUBLIC MEETING FEBRUARY 23, 2000 BARRETT HALL
r laud Rix'Giub Ceaicr
O T i i h R :
WELCOME
ELIZABETH MINE SITE
PUBLIC MEETING
FEBRUARY 23, 2000
BARRETT HALL
AGENDA
I. INTRODUCTION Edward Hathaway, EPA
II. HISTORICAL REVIEW Gwenda Smith, Historical Society
III. COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP (CAG) Tom Essex, Chairperson
IV. EPA CLEANUP PLAN
Non-Time Critical Removal Action
Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
Edward Hathaway
William Lovely
V. HISTORIC PRESERVATION ISSUES Edward Hathaway
VI. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Edward Hathaway/Sarah White
VII. QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION
Key Site Contacts:
Site Contacts USEPA toll free number 1-800-372-7341
Project Managers for EPA:
Edward Hathaway ME/VT/CT Superfund Section 1 Congress Street Suite 1100, mailcode: HBT Boston, MA 02114-2023 Phone:(617)918-1372 Fax:(617)918-1291 E-mail: [email protected]
William Lovely ME/VT/CT Superfund Section 1 Congress Street Suite 1100, mailcode: HBT Boston, MA 02114-2023 Phone:(617)918-1240 Fax:(617)918-1291 E-mail: [email protected]
Community Involvement Coordinator:
Sarah White 1 Congress Street Suite 1100, mailcode: RAA Boston, MA 02114-2023 Phone:(617)918-1026 Fax:(617)918-1029 E-mail: [email protected]
EPA NEW ENGLAND WEB SITE: http://www.epa.gov/region01
add: "/remed" after "regionOl" for the Superfund web site
Site Contacts US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Project Manager:
Scott Acone 696 Virginia Road Concord, MA 01742-2751 Phone:(978)318-8162 Fax:(978)318-8064 E-mail: [email protected]
State of Vermont:
Vermont Project Manager:
Michael Young Waste Management Division 103 South Main Street/West Building Waterbury, VT 05671-0404 Phone:(802)241-3887 Fax:(802)241-3296 E-mail: [email protected]
Other contacts will be identified as the project team is developed. Contract issues still need to be resolved, however, EPA expects Arthur D. Little to be the prime contractor for the initial work. Hartgen Associates is also likely to be the historic preservation expert working for Arthur D. Little.
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EPA CLEANUP PLAN
Two Phase Cleanup Program
Q Early Cleanup Action to address currently identified threats to human health and the environment (Ed Hathaway - Lead Project Manager)
Comprehensive Investigation (Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study) of all possible human health and ecological hazards and development of long-term cleanup options (William Lovely - Lead Project Manager)
EARLY CLEANUP PLAN
Basis for Early Cleanup Action:
Q Data collected by Elizabeth Mine Study Group (EMSG), United Stated Geological Survey (USGS), Vermont DEC, and EPA supports a significant ecological threat resulting from the release of heavy metals into Copperas Brook and the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River
EARLY CLEANUP PLAN
EPA can use three types of removal actions to address more immediate concerns:
emergency, time critical, and non-time critical
Non-Time Critical Removal Action or (NTCRA):
EPA may use the NTCRA authority to address the source of contamination at a Site. A NTCRA is the appropriate removal approach when more than six months of planning time is available.
EARLY CLEANUP PLAN
Key question in deciding to use NTCRA approach:
Is there an environmental problem that should be addressed during the time period required for the comprehensive investigation program (3-7 years)?
Yes, The focus of Early Cleanup or NTCRA at the Elizabeth Mine Site will be the three tailing piles and associated surface water impacts.
EPA EARLY CLEANUP PLAN
Key Components of a NTCRA:
• Approval Memorandum: A document summarizing Site conditions that authorizes EPA to expend federal dollars for an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA);
• EE/CA: A document which better defines the environmental threats, identifies the goals of the response action, and evaluates different options for controlling the source of contamination at the Site;
• Proposed Plan: A fact sheet that summarizes the EE/CA and presents the EPA proposed early cleanup action to the public for comment;
• Action Memorandum: Following at least 30 days of public comment on the EE/CA and Proposed Plan, EPA will formalize the selection of the early cleanup plan in an Action Memorandum. A response to comment will be attached;
• Request for federal funding or PRP negotiation;
• Design and Implementation of the Cleanup.
EARLY CLEANUP SCHEDULE
Approval Memorandum Signed February 9, 2000
EE/CA Begins with Approval Memo, 1st draft expected in May 2000
Proposed Plan Estimated to be released July, August, or September 2000
Action Memorandum September or October 2000
Request for funding or negotiations Upon signature of Action Memorandum
NTCRA Design October 2000 - May 2001
NTCRA Cleanup Implementation Summer 2001
Notes:
Community involvement activities will occur throughout the entire process.
Historical Preservation issues will be addressed in the EE/CA, Action Memorandum, and NTCRA Design. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be developed between EPA and State of Vermont Historic Preservation Office
NTCRA Cleanup is dependent upon receipt of federal funding or PRP agreement
REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY
The goals of the RI/FS are to:
• characterize the nature and extent of the contamination at the Site;
• identify current and future potential threats to public health and the environment;
• develop a set of cleanup options that will address any unacceptable threats;
• involve the public in the selection of a long-term cleanup program; and
• sign a Record of Decision (ROD) to select the long-term cleanup action.
REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY
The major Reports that are prepared during an RI/FS include:
• Remedial Investigation Work Plan;
• Remedial Investigation Report;
• Human Health Risk Assessment;
• Ecological Risk Assessment; and
• Feasibility Study.
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REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION/FEASIBILITY STUDY
• A Record of Decision is the final output of the RI/FS
• After the Record of Decision, EPA must again seek funding for the selected cleanup action
• Design and implementation of the long-term cleanup action
• Long-term monitoring, operation, and maintenance
• RI/FS typically require 2-4 years from initial funding to Record of Decision
• Design may require 1 -3 years
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION ISSUES
EPA is aware that the Elizabeth Mine is a significant part of the local history
EPA is bound by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to minimize the adverse affect of any cleanup action on historic properties
Pursuant to NHPA, EPA will have a qualified consultant provide technical expertise to identify the historic "Site"
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION ISSUES
Initial NHPA Site meeting was held February 4, 2000
EPA, USAGE and their consultants will work closely with Vermont Historic Preservation Office contact (Giovanna Peebles) and local Historical Society
Current expectation is that NTCRA will not impact any of the buildings on-Site
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION ISSUES
Initial historical assessment is part of EE/CA
EE/CA evaluates: applicability of National Historic Preservation Act; identification of potential adverse impacts to historic; and documentation that impacts are unavoidable based upon need for cleanup
If an adverse impact will occur (this is likely) then EPA will enter into an Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the State Historic Preservation Office. Other parties may be included as consulting parties to the MOA (Town Governments, Historical Societies, Landowners, key interest groups)
Actual mitigation activities, if any, would be identified in a MOA ( most likely to be completed during design phase)
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Formal opportunities for community involvement are the public comment periods
EPA prefers ongoing and frequent communication with community to better identify concerns and provide information
Community Action Group (CAG) is a good vehicle to centralize community concerns and to provide a forum for discussions with EPA
EPA will prepare a Community Relations Plan. Interviews with local officials, residents, CAG, and others will serve as the basis for this plan
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
EPA will issue periodic fact sheets to update the community
EPA will hold public meetings as appropriate (based upon community interest)
Technical Assistance Grants (TAG) are available to provide financial resources to the community for technical support
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Community opinion is critical in the NHPA assessment
Site owners and the community provide valuable input regarding future land use issues
Feel free to contact EPA is you have any questions
EPA is looking for feedback tonight and from the CAG regarding the location, time, and frequency of public information meetings
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SUMMARY
EPA has begun the planning work for the EE/CA portion of an early cleanup
Funding is a major limitation and could extend the schedule for the EE/CA, Cleanup Implementation, and RI/FS
EPA has committed to early and substantial community involvement
Historic Preservation issues will be seriously considered in EPA cleanup evaluations
Project Team is being assembled and community outreach has begun
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