By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
"We are getting close to being halfway done with the
Eureka Superfund site cleanup," said Paula Schmittdiel,
Remedial Project Manager U.S. EPA Region 8.
Schmittdiel, Libby Faulk, Community Involvement
Coordinator U.S. EPA Region 8, Michael Storck, Project
Manager Utah Department of Environmental Quality, all
attended a Juab County Commission meeting to discuss the
continuing plans for cleanup of the site.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in
partnership with the Utah Department of Environmental
Quality (UDEQ) has made significant progress in cleaning up
residential properties this year, Schmittdiel said.
"We increased our labor force to five crews working on
residential yards and cleaned up 136 yards by the end of the
2006 construction season," she said. "At this time last
year, EPA had cleaned up 135 yards."
More telling than the number of properties is the
square footage cleaned up this year compared with last year
at this time. The total square footage that was cleaned up
this years was 1,476,719 compared with 1,062,400 Square Feet
for the whole of the last construction season (2005).
Schmittdiel said that the EPA and UDEQ made
significant progress on cleaning up the mine waste piles
around Eureka.
"We completed the cleanup of the Eagle Bluebell mine,
transition and mine dump as well as completed the cleanup of
the Snowflake and Eureka Hill mine waste piles and the Eagle
Bluebell drainage and haul road," she said.
In addition, EPA began construction on the Open Cell
and began grading the north face of the Chief Mine No. 1
mine waste pile.
"We expect to complete cleanup of the remaining mine
waste areas in 2008 with the exception of the repository at
the western end of the Chief Mine No. 1 mine waste pile,"
Schmittdiel said. "Construction of the Open Cell should be
completed by the end of 2007."
In addition, she said, the EPA will begin a program
this year (2007) to test for lead in tap water, household
dust and paint in homes where children have been identified
as having elevated blood lead levels.
The results of the indoor sampling will provide
parents with information to reduce potential exposures in
the home.
"If lead is found in homes, EPA will provide
information on steps the homeowner may take to address the
situation," she said.
The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) continues to
offer blood lead testing for all Eureka residents. Results
of tests done over the extent of the site cleanup indicate
that blood level (BLL) in Eureka are decreasing.
"EPA recently completed the restoration of the Bullion
Beck head frame at the west entrance of Eureka," said
Schmittdiel. "Starting late in the Fall of 2006,
construction began on the Shea Building with planned
completion by the Spring.
"The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
requires federal agencies to take into account the effects
of their undertakings on historic properties," she said.
EPA will replace the roof, restore structural
integrity to the walls of the building, provide a floor to
minimize exposure to the lead contaminated soils, and seal
openings in the building to prevent further damage from rain
and snow," said Schmittdiel.
EPA has also begun an ecological risk assessments for
the Eureka Mills Superfund Site. Under the Superfund Law,
EPA is required to cleanup contamination in ways that will
protect both human health and the environment.
Schmittdiel said the cleanup began when preliminary
sampling conducted in July 2000 by the Utah Department of
Environmental Quality (UDEQ) and EPA found high levels of
lead and arsenic in area soils. The State and EPA did more
sampling on over 500 residential lots, as well as indoor
sampling at over 50 homes. The levels of lead found in
outdoor residential areas range from as low as 35 ppm (parts
per million) to as high as 22,000 ppm with an average of
1,472 ppm.
The State and EPA also sampled mine-wastepiles. Lead
concentrations in the mine dumps and adjacent areas were
fairly high, ranging from 2,000 ppm (parts per million) to
over 51,000 ppm.
In July of 2000, the Central Utah Health Department
(CUHD) conducted limited blood lead sampling of 18 children
in the community. The results of that sampling indicated
high levels of blood lead in excess of 10 micrograms per
deciliter (ug/dl) Centers for Disease Control health
standard. The high levels of blood lead triggered further
investigation by the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) in the
fall of 2000.
The UDOH did blood-lead testing on 237 Eureka
residents in September, 2000. This effort combined both
blood lead sampling and a survey on patterns of behavior
that may impact lead exposures. The tests showed that 30
residents, mainly children, had blood-lead levels above the
standard of 10 ug/dl. Studies have shown exposure to high
levels of lead and arsenic may pose a health risk to
children and other sensitive people.
EPA and UDOH responded to these results by follow-up
blood-lead testing and conducting health education in the
schools. Additional blood-lead testing done in September
2001 identified other kids with elevated blood-lead
levels.
"At present, close to 50 children have been found with
blood-lead concerns," Schmittdiel said.
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