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Fact Sheet
November 2005
Herculaneum Lead Smelter Site - Herculaneum, Missouri
QUARTERLY UPDATES
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is initiating a quarterly newsletter directed to the Herculaneum community to keep you informed about progress at the Herculaneum Lead Smelter Site. This newsletter will include information about the work conducted by the EPA, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS). The Herculaneum Community Advisory Group (CAG) will also use the newsletter to provide community members with information about their activities.
COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP MESSAGE
The following section was submitted by the CAG Core Team.
The Core Team of the Community Advisory Group is committed to the improvement of the City of Herculaneum. We want to continue to work with and support all elements of the City of Herculaneum—mainly the residents and property owners in their efforts to improve the City. We are creating a component of the Herculaneum Master Plan. We are enthusiastic about Herculaneum’s future, and we believe that the City’s progress depends on a number of factors. One of these is an informed citizenry.
Community Advisory Group Meeting
The next meeting of the Herculaneum Lead Smelter
Community Advisory Group will be held:
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Herculaneum High School
Cafeteria
Herculaneum, Missouri
We will continue to provide you with factual information about the facts relevant to your health and the efforts to reduce and maintain reduced levels of lead contamination in our City. In order to remain informed, please come to our next meeting at 7 p.m. on November 15, 2005, at Herculaneum High School’s cafeteria.
In addition to the progress that the City is making, there continue to be some troubling indicators about our physical environment. Doe Run has failed to keep its emissions in compliance with the standard for ambient air quality for the first two quarters of 2005. In addition, tests by EPA indicate that recontam-ination is continuing to occur within eight-tenths of a mile of the Doe Run facility. The lead levels of the road dust along the haul routes, including Main Street, continue to be elevated.
We are committed to the improvement of our City, and we want to continue our efforts by working with the agencies and other elements of our City. This includes our commitment to keeping our residents and property owners informed.
The CAG Core Team
Tim Meyers 636-475-3230
Greg Bieber 636-475-3441
Catherine Malugen 636-475-3665
Larry O’Leary 636-475-3310
YARD SOIL PROGRESS
EPA continued oversight of Doe Run’s replacement of contaminated
yard soils during calendar year 2005. To date, 407 yards have been replaced
and 113 home interiors have been cleaned.
QUARTERLY MONITORNING
Monitoring for lead recontamination in surface soils is being conducted
by EPA every three months. The data indicate that lead levels are trending
upward in areas within eight-tenths of a mile from the smelter. Data and
statistics collected by EPA are available on EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/region07/cleanup/superfund/major_superfund_site_reports.htm
SLAG PILE UPDATE
From March 23 through April 22, 2005, the public was invited to provide
comments on an Engineering Evaluation/ Cost Analysis (EE/CA) Report for
the Herculaneum Slag Storage Area. EPA and MDNR reviewed all comments
submitted by the public and sent revised comments on the Wetland Mitigation
Plan to Doe Run on May 3, 2005.
On October 5, 2005, EPA approved the Action Memorandum to initiate the
approved response action for the slag pile. A large berm will be constructed
around a portion of the pile to prevent off-site migration. The berm will
also serve as a shield from flood waters. Copies of the approved EE/CA,
all comments and related responses are available at the Herculaneum City
Hall and the Windsor Branch of the Jefferson County Library.
NEW JOACHIM BRIDGE
Progress continues on the design for the new south bridge over Joachim
Creek. Doe Run had asked EPA and MDNR to approve the use of lead smelter
slag as a fill material for the new bridge and road base. The agencies
approved this use of slag material but specified several environmental
safeguards to secure the material and prevent potential exposure.
LEAD SPECIATION STUDY
In September 2004, EPA requested that the Laboratory for Environmental
and Geological Studies at the University of Colorado conduct a study to
characterize soils and household dust collected from selected Herculaneum
residences. EPA has approved the final report of this study. The study
concludes that most of the lead found in samples is derived from smelter
activity. A copy of the speciation report is available for viewing with
other site documents at the Herculaneum City Hall.
BIOAVAILABILITY STUDY
EPA has also approved an EPA-financed University of Missouri School of
Veterinary Medicine bioavailability study. The bioavailability study was
conducted to determine how easily the lead from soils and dust collected
from selected Herculaneum residences is absorbed in the bodies of your
children.
Some forms of lead are more easily absorbed and present a greater danger
of lead poisoning in children. Juvenile swine were used in the study because
these animals are considered a good model for gastrointestinal absorption
in children. The study confirmed that the bioavailability of lead found
in house dust was below EPA default values and above EPA default values
in yard soils and that both posed a significant threat to public health
if cleanup actions were not undertaken for those homes and yards above
the action levels. A copy of the bioavailability study is available for
viewing with other site documents at the Herculaneum City Hall.
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY VIOLATIONS
During the first and second quarters of 2005, air emissions from the Doe
Run Herculaneum smelter exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) for lead. Doe Run has received a Notice of Violation from the
State’s Air Pollution Control Program (APCP) related to these violations.
VOLUNTARY PROPERTY PURCHASE PROGRAM
As of September 13, 2005, 126 property purchases have been closed and
141 purchase offers have been accepted by Herculaneum residents.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EPA encourages the community to review the Administrative Record file,
which is available at the following locations:
Herculaneum City Hall
1 Parkwood Court
Herculaneum, Missouri
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Dianna Whitaker
Office of External Programs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
whitaker.dianna@epa.gov
Phone: 913-551-7003 or
Toll Free: 1-800-223-0425
