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Fact Sheet

April 2006

Proposed Cleanup Plan Released for Public Comment - Union Pacific Railroad, Omaha, Nebraska

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 invites the public to comment on the proposed plan for additional cleanup of an area of the Union Pacific Railroad facility in Omaha, Nebraska. The area, known as the Saddle Creek Records project, includes a second story residential development. It is located on 13th and 14th Streets from Cumming to Webster Streets.

The proposed cleanup plan would allow the area to receive additional cleanup to support second story residential development in downtown Omaha.

The public comment period will start on April 17, 2006, and end on May 17, 2006.

BACKGROUND

EPA issued a cleanup order, officially known as an Administrative Order on Consent, to Union Pacific Railroad to investigate and cleanup releases of hazardous wastes at its facility, which is located at 9th and Webster. EPA issued the order under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) because the facility stored containers of hazardous wastes.

The cleanup order divided the investigation and cleanup into three parts that are called Operable Units (OUs) to facilitate the transfer of a portion of the facility to the City of Omaha for redevelopment into a convention center and arena complex, known as the Qwest Center. OU1 is contaminated soil in the area where the Qwest Center was built and consists of 100 acres of the facility. The Saddle Creek Records project, which includes second story residential development, is part of OU1. The second story residential development is part of the facility that was sold to the City of Omaha for the construction of the area complex and convention center.

Union Pacific Railroad submitted the RCRA Facility Investigation for OU1 in June 1999 and Corrective Measures Study in February 2000 to EPA. EPA prepared the original proposed cleanup plan, formally known as a Statement of Basis, in March 2000. After the public comment period ended in May 2000, EPA finalized its cleanup decision for the contaminated soil in June 2000.

EPA prepared the original proposed cleanup plan for OU1 with the understanding that OU1 would be redeveloped as proposed by the City of Omaha into a convention center and arena complex. The original proposed cleanup plan was designed to ensure adequate protection of construction and on-site workers and patrons who would use the facility.

The current proposed cleanup plan outlines corrective measures to protect residents of the second story residential development.

PROPOSED CLEANUP PLAN

The proposed cleanup plan for the Saddle Creek Records project/OU1 includes:

GUIDELINES FOR COMMENTING

EPA encourages the public to review the administrative record and comment on the proposed cleanup plan. Comments or requests should be submitted by May 17, 2006. Explain your views. Tell us if you support or disagree with the recommendation. Please be specific. Can you provide alternatives? Please submit your comments to:

Ken Herstowski
EPA Region 7 (ARTD/RCAP)
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7631 or
(800) 223-0425
herstowski.ken@epa.gov

Written comments will be accepted from April 17, 2006 to May 17, 2006.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EPA encourages the community to review the Administrative Record to gain a better understanding of the activities and basis for EPA’s proposal. The Administrative Record file is available at the following locations:

W. Dale Clark Public Library
215 S. 15th Street
Omaha, NE
(402) 444-4800
Hours of Operation:
Mon. -- Thurs., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Fri. – Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sun., 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.

EPA Region 7
Information Resource Center
901 N. Fifth Street
Kansas City, KS (913) 551-7241
Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

A formal public hearing has not been scheduled but will be held if there is sufficient public interest.

Requests for a public hearing must be made in writing to the EPA contact listed below and must state the nature of issues to be raised at the hearing. EPA will evaluate any request and hold a formal hearing if it finds that a hearing will contribute to the decision-making process by clarifying significant issues affecting the cleanup remedy.

EPA will make a final cleanup decision only after the public comment period ends and all comments are reviewed. EPA may modify the proposed remedy or choose another one based on any new information and comments from the public.

Questions about this fact sheet and requests for additional information should be addressed to:

Shawntell Martin
Office of External Programs
EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kan. 66101
Phone: (913) 551-7003
Toll free: (800) 223-0425
martin.shawntell@epa.gov

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