Oxford, AL – On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) convened a public meeting at the Oxford Civic Center to present the Proposed Plan for the cleanup of the Anniston PCB site. Running from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the session provided an in-depth overview of the remediation process and offered local residents a chance to engage directly with EPA representatives.
The meeting followed up on details initially released in a July 3rd article, which outlined the structured approach to site remediation under the Superfund program. The EPA’s proposed plan aims to address the longstanding PCB contamination that has impacted various parts of Anniston, including Chocolate Creek. The session was designed to clarify the cleanup process, discuss the proposed plan in detail, and gather public feedback.
The Cleanup Process
The proposed cleanup strategy involves several key stages:
- Remedial Investigation (RI): This initial phase involves assessing the site’s condition, including identifying potential risks and evaluating the extent of contamination. The RI aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the site’s current state.
- Feasibility Study (FS): Following the RI, a feasibility study is conducted to evaluate different cleanup options. This study assesses the effectiveness, cost, and practicality of various remediation methods to determine the most suitable approach.
- Proposed Plan and Record of Decision (ROD): Based on the feasibility study, a preferred cleanup remedy is proposed. The public is then invited to provide feedback on this proposal before the EPA finalizes the Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD outlines the specific actions to be taken and serves as the blueprint for the cleanup process.
- Remedial Design and Action: Once the ROD is finalized, the remedial design phase details the specific cleanup actions to be implemented. The actual cleanup work, known as remedial action, follows this design phase.
- Five-Year Reviews: After the cleanup, ongoing five-year reviews are conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the remedy and to make any necessary adjustments.
Details of the Proposed Plan
The current proposed plan is a continuation of efforts from previous phases, with proposed plans and decisions made in 2011 and 2017. The third phase incorporates community feedback and adjustments before finalizing the ROD and negotiating cleanup agreements with responsible parties. The proposed cleanup process includes several stages and alternatives:
- Remedial Design: This phase involves detailing the specific actions required for cleanup, such as excavation, stabilization, and disposal.
- Remedial Action: The actual cleanup work is carried out, which may include excavating contaminated soil, stabilizing creek banks, and implementing other remediation measures.
- Five-Year Reviews: These reviews assess whether the cleanup actions remain effective and if additional work is needed. They are typically published on the EPA’s website, although they do not usually include public comments.
Cleanup Alternatives
The EPA evaluated seven alternatives for sediment remediation, each with different approaches and cost implications:
- No Action: This alternative involves no remediation and is considered non-compliant with environmental protection standards, offering no protection to the public or environment.
- SCP 2: This approach stabilizes severe and moderate erosion areas, dredges high-energy areas, and places material in low-energy areas to capture contamination. It includes off-site disposal of contaminated sediment and soil and monitors natural recovery over 30 to 35 years.
- SED 3: Similar to SCP 2, but with minor erosion bank stabilization and a reduced recovery time of 20 to 30 years.
- SED 4: This alternative stabilizes erosion areas, excavates or dredges both high and low-energy areas, and treats principal threat waste. It includes off-site disposal and stabilization of excavated soil.
- SED 5: Similar to SED 4 but adds a soil cap in low-energy areas, with off-site disposal and no impact on principal threat waste.
- SED 6: This option involves dredging all contaminated sediment and disposing of it off-site. It is preferred by the EPA due to its effectiveness, although it does not include shipping material off-site.
- SED 7: This most expensive alternative involves dredging all sediment and incinerating principal threat waste off-site.
Public Discussions and Concerns
During the public question and answer session, several key topics were addressed:
- Cleanup Timeline: After the Record of Decision is finalized, expected later this year, there will be a year-long negotiation period to establish cleanup agreements with responsible parties. The design phase could take two to five years, depending on property access, with implementation expected to last another three to five years. The entire project could span up to ten years, followed by 20 to 30 years of monitoring to ensure the remedy remains effective.
- Contamination and Risks: Current advisories restrict fish consumption due to PCB and mercury contamination. The cleanup efforts will address both contaminants, though some mercury may remain if it originates from sources other than the site. Recreational use of Chocolate Creek is not expected to pose a danger, although temporary increases in fish contamination could occur.
- Five-Year Reviews: These reviews assess the effectiveness and protectiveness of cleanup actions. They typically do not include public comments but are published on the EPA’s website. The reviews evaluate whether current laws or cleanup goals necessitate additional work and outline any issues and their resolution timelines.
- Natural Methods and Challenges: Discussions also covered the use of natural methods for stabilizing creek banks and potential challenges posed by weather conditions. Public notifications about construction and cleanup activities will be communicated through various channels, including mail and community notices.
- Historical Contamination: Concerns were raised about historical contamination, such as soil from the 2007 incinerator project, and its potential impact on local areas. The EPA assured that contaminated soil is managed and disposed of properly, emphasizing ongoing monitoring and accountability for waste management.
Overall, the public meeting aimed to provide clarity on the cleanup timeline, address concerns about contamination, and outline the steps for public engagement and communication throughout the process. Public comments on the Proposed Plan are invited until July 30. For additional information, including the full proposed plan, visit Calhoun Journal.
