National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan; National Priorities List, 41341-41345 [E9-19679]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 157 / Monday, August 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
sanctions pursuant to 40 CFR 51.31(d).
If no comments are submitted that
change our assessment, then all
sanctions and sanction clocks will be
permanently terminated on the effective
date of a final rule approval.
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with RULES
II. EPA Action
We are making an interim final
determination to stay and defer CAA
section 179 sanctions associated with
our August 1, 2007 limited disapproval
based on our concurrent proposal to
approve the State’s SIP revision as
correcting deficiencies that initiated
sanctions.
Because EPA has preliminarily
determined that the State has corrected
the deficiencies identified in EPA’s
limited disapproval action, relief from
sanctions should be provided as quickly
as possible. Therefore, EPA is invoking
the good cause exception under the
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in
not providing an opportunity for
comment before this action takes effect
(5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)). However, by this
action EPA is providing the public with
a chance to comment on EPA’s
determination after the effective date,
and EPA will consider any comments
received in determining whether to
reverse such action.
EPA believes that notice-andcomment rulemaking before the
effective date of this action is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. EPA has reviewed the State’s
submittal and, through its proposed
action, is indicating that it is more likely
than not that the State has corrected the
deficiencies that started the sanctions
clocks. Therefore, it is not in the public
interest to initially impose sanctions or
to keep applied sanctions in place when
the State has most likely done all it can
to correct the deficiencies that triggered
the sanctions clocks. Moreover, it would
be impracticable to go through noticeand-comment rulemaking on a finding
that the State has corrected the
deficiencies prior to the rulemaking
approving the State’s submittal.
Therefore, EPA believes that it is
necessary to use the interim final
rulemaking process to stay and defer
sanctions while EPA completes its
rulemaking process on the approvability
of the State’s submittal. Moreover, with
respect to the effective date of this
action, EPA is invoking the good cause
exception to the 30-day notice
requirement of the APA because the
purpose of this notice is to relieve a
restriction (5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1)).
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:15 Aug 14, 2009
Jkt 217001
III. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
This action stays and defers federal
sanctions and imposes no additional
requirements.
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR
51735, October 4, 1993), this action is
not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ and
therefore is not subject to review by the
Office of Management and Budget.
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13211, ‘‘Actions Concerning
Regulations That Significantly Affect
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use’’ (66
FR 28355, May 22, 2001) because it is
not a significant regulatory action.
The administrator certifies that this
action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities under the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601
et seq.).
This rule does not contain any
unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as
described in the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4).
This rule does not have tribal
implications because it will not have a
substantial direct effect on one or more
Indian tribes, on the relationship
between the Federal government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the
Federal government and Indian tribes,
as specified by Executive Order 13175
(65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000).
This action does not have Federalism
implications because it does not have
substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255,
August 10, 1999).
This rule is not subject to Executive
Order 13045, ‘‘Protection of Children
from Environmental Health Risks and
Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885, April 23,
1997), because it is not economically
significant.
The requirements of section 12(d) of
the National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C.
272) do not apply to this rule because
it imposes no standards.
This rule does not impose an
information collection burden under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
The Congressional Review Act, 5
U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides
that before a rule may take effect, the
agency promulgating the rule must
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
41341
submit a rule report to Congress and the
Comptroller General. However, section
808 provides that any rule for which the
issuing agency for good cause finds that
notice and public procedure thereon are
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary
to the public interest, shall take effect at
such time as the agency promulgating
the rule determines. 5 U.S.C. 808(2).
EPA has made such a good cause
finding, including the reasons therefor,
and established an effective date of
August 17, 2009. EPA will submit a
report containing this rule and other
required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United
States prior to publication of the rule in
the Federal Register. A major rule
cannot take effect until 60 days after it
is published in the Federal Register.
This rule is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA,
petitions for judicial review of this
action must be filed in the United States
Court of Appeals for the appropriate
circuit by October 16, 2009. Filing a
petition for reconsideration by the
Administrator of this final rule does not
affect the finality of this rule for the
purpose of judicial review nor does it
extend the time within which petition
for judicial review may be filed, and
shall not postpone the effectiveness of
such rule or action. This action may not
be challenged later in proceedings to
enforce its requirements. (See section
307(b)(2)).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Intergovernmental
regulations, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: August 4, 2009.
Laura Yoshii,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. E9–19654 Filed 8–14–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 300
[EPA–HQ–SFUND–2009–0227; FRL–8945–3]
National Oil and Hazardous Substance
Pollution Contingency Plan; National
Priorities List
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency.
ACTION: Direct Final Notice of Deletion
of the Island Chemical Corp/Virgin
E:\FR\FM\17AUR1.SGM
17AUR1
41342
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 157 / Monday, August 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with RULES
Islands Chemical Corp. Superfund Site
from the National Priorities List.
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Region 2 is publishing a
direct final Notice of Deletion of the
Island Chemical Corp/Virgin Islands
Chemical Corp. (Site), located in St.
Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, from the
National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL,
promulgated pursuant to section 105 of
the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is
an appendix of the National Oil and
Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct
final deletion is being published by EPA
with the concurrence of the territory of
U.S. Virgin Islands, through the Virgin
Islands Department of Planning and
Natural Resources (VIDPNR), because
EPA has determined that all appropriate
response actions under CERCLA have
been completed. However, this deletion
does not preclude future actions under
Superfund.
DATES: This direct final deletion is
effective October 16, 2009 unless EPA
receives adverse comments by
September 16, 2009. If adverse
comments are received, EPA will
publish a timely withdrawal of the
direct final deletion in the Federal
Register informing the public that the
deletion will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID no. EPA–HQ–
SFUND–2009–0227, by one of the
following methods:
• https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• E-mail: kwan.caroline@epa.gov
• Fax: (212) 637–4284
• Mail: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 2, 290
Broadway, 20th floor, New York, NY
10007–1866
• Hand delivery: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 2, 290
Broadway, 20th floor, New York, NY.
Such deliveries are only accepted
during the Docket’s normal hours of
operation, and special arrangements
should be made for deliveries of boxed
information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to
Docket ID no. EPA–HQ–SFUND–2009–
0227. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change and may be
made available online at https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:15 Aug 14, 2009
Jkt 217001
Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The
https://www.regulations.gov Web site is
an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which
means EPA will not know your identity
or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment.
If you send an e-mail comment directly
to EPA without going through https://
www.regulations.gov, your e-mail
address will be automatically captured
and included as part of the comment
that is placed in the public docket and
made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA
recommends that you include your
name and other contact information in
the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA
cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, EPA may not be
able to consider your comment.
Electronic files should avoid the use of
special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or
viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket
are listed in the https://
www.regulations.gov index. Although
listed in the index, some information is
not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statue. Certain other
material, such as copyrighted material,
will be publicly available only in the
hard copy. Publicly available docket
materials are available either
electronically in https://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 2, 290 Broadway, Superfund
Record, Center, Room 1828, New
York, NY 10007–1866, Hours:
Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., Telephone No. (212) 637–4308.
Department of Planning and Natural
Resources, 45 Mars Hill, Frederiksted,
U.S. Virgin Islands, 00850, Hours:
Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., Telephone No. (340) 773–1082.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Caribbean Environmental Protection
Division, Tunick Building, Suite 102,
1336 Beltjen Road, St. Thomas, VI
00801, Hours: Monday to Friday from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Telephone No. (340)
714–2333.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms.Caroline Kwan, Remedial Project
Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 2, 290 Broadway, 20th
floor, New York, NY 10007–1866, (212)
637–4275, e-mail:
kwan.caroline@epa.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Deletion Procedures
IV. Basis for Site Deletion
V. Deletion Action
I. Introduction
EPA Region 2 is publishing this direct
final Notice of Deletion of the Island
Chemical Corp/Virgin Islands Chemical
Corp. Superfund Site (Site), from the
NPL. The NPL constitutes Appendix B
of 40 CFR part 300, which is the Oil and
Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (NCP), which EPA
promulgated pursuant to section 105 of
the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability
Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended.
EPA maintains the NPL as the list of
sites that appear to present a significant
risk to public health, welfare, or the
environment. Sites on the NPL may be
the subject of remedial actions financed
by the Hazardous Substance Superfund
(Fund). As described in 300.425(e) (3) of
the NCP, sites deleted from the NPL
remain eligible for Fund-financed
remedial actions if future conditions
warrant such actions.
Because EPA considers this action to
be noncontroversial and routine, this
action will be effective October 16, 2009
unless EPA receives adverse comments
by September 16, 2009. Along with this
direct final Notice of Deletion, EPA is
co-publishing a Notice of Intent to
Delete in the ‘‘Proposed Rules’’ section
of the Federal Register. If adverse
comments are received within the 30day public comment period on this
deletion action, EPA will publish a
timely withdrawal of this direct final
Notice of Deletion before the effective
date of the deletion, and the deletion
will not take effect. EPA will, as
appropriate, prepare a response to
comments and continue with the
deletion process on the basis of the
Notice of Intent to Delete and the
comments already received. There will
be no additional opportunity to
comment.
Section II of this document explains
the criteria for deleting sites from the
NPL. Section III discusses procedures
that EPA is using for this action. Section
IV discusses the VICHEM Superfund
Site and demonstrates how it meets the
deletion criteria. Section V discusses
EPA’s action to delete the Site from the
NPL unless adverse comments are
received during the public comment
period.
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
The NCP establishes the criteria that
EPA uses to delete sites from the NPL.
E:\FR\FM\17AUR1.SGM
17AUR1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 157 / Monday, August 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with RULES
In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e),
sites may be deleted from the NPL
where no further response is
appropriate. In making such a
determination pursuant to 40 CFR
300.425(e), EPA will consider, in
consultation with the state, whether any
of the following criteria have been met:
i. Responsible parties or other persons
have implemented all appropriate
response actions required;
ii. All appropriate Fund-financed
response under CERCLA has been
implemented, and no further response
action by responsible parties is
appropriate; or
iii. The remedial investigation has
shown that the release poses no
significant threat to public health or the
environment and, therefore, the taking
of remedial measures is not appropriate.
III. Deletion Procedures
The following procedures apply to
deletion of the Site:
(1) EPA consulted with the territory of
U.S. Virgin Islands prior to developing
this direct final Notice of Deletion and
the Notice of Intent to Delete copublished today in the ‘‘Proposed
Rules’’ section of the Federal Register.
(2) EPA has provided the territory 30
working days for review of this notice
and the parallel Notice of Intent to
Delete prior to their publication today,
and the territory, through the VIDPNR
has concurred on the deletion of the Site
from the NPL.
(3) Concurrently with the publication
of this direct final Notice of Deletion, a
notice of the availability of the parallel
Notice of Intent to Delete is being
published in the Virgin Islands Daily
News. The newspaper notice announces
the 30-day public comment period
concerning the Notice of Intent to Delete
the Site from the NPL.
(4) The EPA placed copies of
documents supporting the proposed
deletion in the deletion docket and
made these items available for public
inspection and copying at the Site
information repositories identified
above.
(5) If adverse comments are received
within the 30-day public comment
period on this deletion action, EPA will
publish a timely notice of withdrawal of
this direct final Notice of Deletion
before its effective date and will prepare
a response to comments and continue
with the deletion process on the basis of
the Notice of Intent to Delete and the
comments already received.
Deletion of a site from the NPL does
not itself create, alter, or revoke any
individual’s rights or obligations.
Deletion of a site from the NPL does not
in any way alter EPA’s right to take
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:15 Aug 14, 2009
Jkt 217001
enforcement actions, as appropriate.
The NPL is designed primarily for
informational purposes and to assist
EPA management. Section 300.425(e)(3)
of the NCP states that the deletion of a
site from the NPL does not preclude
eligibility for future response actions,
should future conditions warrant such
actions.
IV. Basis for Site Deletion
The following information provides
EPA’s rationale for deleting the Site
from the NPL:
Site Background and History
The Site, EPA ID No. VID980651095,
is located on Plot 13Q of Estate
Bethlehem Middle Works in the southcentral portion of St. Croix in the U.S.
Virgin Islands. Plot 13Q is bordered to
the north and east by an intermittent
stream, the River Gut, which originates
north of the Site and drains to the
Caribbean Sea. The Site geology is
characterized by approximately 85 feet
of fill and Alluvial materials (sandy-clay
to sandy-silt and clayey sand) overlying
the clayey marl of the Kingshill
Formation. Groundwater underlying the
Site flows predominantly to the southsoutheast. Land use surrounding the
Site includes a mix of commercial and
industrial purposes and the Site is
zoned as I–2 (Light Industry).
Charles H. Steffey, Inc. (CHS, Inc.)
purchased the VICHEM Site in 1968. At
some point prior to 1969, CHS, Inc.
changed its name to CHS Holding
Corporation (CHS). From 1968 to 1982,
the Site was used for the manufacture
and blending of a variety of
pharmaceutical products. By the end of
1982, the facility was permanently
closed. CHS maintains ownership of the
Site. Between 1984 and 1991, several
investigations were conducted at the
Site by EPA and a former tenant, Island
Chemical Company, which was later
acquired by Berlex Laboratories, Inc.
(‘‘Berlex’’). This investigative work
identified six areas of potential
environmental concern:
—Laboratory and Warehouse Building;
—Above ground storage tank (AST)
area;
—Former process pit (FPP) area;
—Loading dock/former laboratory pit
area;
—Soil beneath concrete pad near ASTs;
—Concrete storage pad.
During initial stages of site
assessment, both EPA and Berlex
conducted response activities including
soil excavation with on-Site treatment
or off-Site disposal, drum removals, and
off-Site disposal of AST contents.
Between September 1989 and October
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
41343
1991, EPA conducted a removal action
at the Site. At that time, the laboratory/
warehouse building was found to
contain approximately 400 drums (some
extremely deteriorated), leaking
cylinders of chlorine and hydrogen
chloride, and over 800 containers of
laboratory reagents that included
sodium metal, potassium cyanide, and
ethyl ether. EPA removed 354 drums
containing 14,720 gallons of various
chemicals and 8,061 pounds of lab pack
chemicals from the laboratory/
warehouse building.
The Site was proposed to the NPL on
January 18, 1994 (59 FR 2568) and
subsequently added on June 17, 1996
(61 FR 30510).
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
On September 29, 1994, EPA entered
into an Administrative Order on
Consent (AOC), Index No. II CERCLA–
94–0401, with Berlex and Island
Chemical Company; Pierrel S.p.A, a
subsidiary of Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc.
(‘‘P&U’’) and also a former tenant at the
Site, was added as a respondent to the
AOC in April 1999. The AOC, pursuant
to Section 106(a) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA), as amended, 42 U.S.C.
9606(a), required the performance of a
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility
Study (RI/FS) at the Site.
The primary objectives of the RI were
to: (1) Collect the data needed to
characterize the nature and extent of
contamination and adequately support
human health and ecological baseline
risk assessments and (2) provide a basis
on which a subsequent, cost-effective,
remedial action plan would be
recommended. All six areas of potential
concern were investigated during the
initial assessment and the subsequent
RI, along with the nature and extent of
soil and groundwater contamination,
and potential off-Site sediment
contamination. Based on the data
collected, only the AST and FPP areas
were determined to require remediation.
Contaminants of concern at the Site
included ethylbenzene and xylene, in
soils and groundwater at the AST area
and chloroform in groundwater at the
FPP area. The Site posed potential
threats to human health and the
environment through ingestion
associated with contaminated soil and
groundwater.
As part of the RI/FS, the PRPs
implemented a field Pilot Test of Soil
Vapor Extraction/Air Sparging (SVE/AS)
in February 2000. Following successful
completion of the Pilot Test and with
the approval of EPA and the VIDPNR,
an SVE/AS system for the AST area was
E:\FR\FM\17AUR1.SGM
17AUR1
41344
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 157 / Monday, August 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
placed in continuous operation in June
2001 by the PRPs.
A chain link fence was installed in
the spring of 2000 along the property
line to secure the area from
unauthorized access, and in the spring
of 2002, the PRPs demolished the site
buildings and removed and disposed/
recycled all of the tanks and related
equipment.
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with RULES
Selected Remedy
Based on the human health risk
assessment, the remedial action
objectives for the Site were:
• Mitigate the toxicity, mobility, and/
or volume of VOCs (ethylbenzene and
xylene) in soils in the AST area to
minimize continued leaching to
groundwater;
• Mitigate the toxicity, mobility, and/
or volume of VOCs (ethylbenzene and
xylene) in groundwater in the AST area
and downgradient so as to achieve
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs)
and protect potential future
groundwater users;
• Mitigate the toxicity, mobility, and/
or volume of chloroform in groundwater
in the FPP area and downgradient so as
to achieve MCLs and protect future
potential groundwater users; and
• Restrict on-site groundwater use to
non-potable purposes until the water
quality is restored to MCLs.
On August 14, 2002, the Regional
Administrator signed a Record of
Decision (ROD) selecting the following
remedy:
• SVE/AS to treat contaminated
groundwater, saturated soil, and
unsaturated soil at the AST source area;
• Monitored Natural Attenuation
(MNA) to address low-level residual
contamination in groundwater at the
FPP area and downgradient areas; and
• Institutional controls (in the form of
existing VIDPNR well permitting laws
and regulations) to limit the pumping of
groundwater at the Site to prevent
interference with the selected remedy
and to also prevent human exposure to
contaminated groundwater until EPA’s
MCLs are achieved.
The ROD also selected groundwater
pump and treat as a contingency remedy
in the event that groundwater cleanup
goals were not achieved in a reasonable
time period.
Response Actions
In a Consent Decree with EPA,
entered on March 5, 2004, the PRPs
(Island Chemical Company, Berlex and
P&U and successors in interest) agreed
to perform the remedial design/remedial
action (RD/RA) specified in the ROD.
On a voluntary basis, the PRPs had been
operating the SVE/AS system in the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:15 Aug 14, 2009
Jkt 217001
SVE/System in AST Area
The SVE/AS system includes six SVE
wells, one AS well, and eleven vapor
monitoring probes, together with a
surface vapor barrier that prevents
short-circuiting of air flow and direct
contact with surface soil. A groundwater
monitoring network comprising a total
of eight wells (shallow and deep) is also
installed in the AST area. Continuous
operation of the SVE/AS system by the
PRPs from June 2001 through November
2003 removed approximately 2,030
pounds of AST area contaminants and
reached asymptotically low limits of
mass removal. Rebound testing
indicated that negligible residual mass
was left in the unsaturated zone. The
mass removed correlates well with
source mass estimates presented in the
Feasibility Study (FS) of 1,900 pounds.
AST Area Groundwater Monitoring
Results
AST Area groundwater was
monitored quarterly commencing in
June 2001, when the SVE/AS system
was placed in continuous operation,
including three events subsequent to
shut down of the AS/SVE system on
November 3, 2003. Groundwater
concentrations were reduced from a
high of 176,000 μg/L of total toluene,
ethylbenzene and xylenes (TEX) in June
2001 (baseline levels) in the most
contaminated well (MW–6), to 13 μg/L
in September 2003, the last sampling
event prior to the November 2003
shutdown of the SVE/AS system. Four
other AST area groundwater monitoring
locations remained below the ROD
cleanup goals for the entire period, and
were generally at or near non-detect
levels from November 2001 onward.
Rebound and post-shut down
evaluations performed in August 2002,
December 2003, March 2004 and June
2004 indicated modest increases in
groundwater concentrations, to levels
generally below cleanup goals. Postshutdown levels in MW–1 and MW–6 in
June 2004 were reduced 88–99.99%
from baseline concentrations in June
2001, confirming the permanence of the
remediation. Concentrations in MW–6
decreased from 6,900 μg/L TEX in
December 2003 to 14 μg/L TEX in June
2004. The concentrations in MW–1,
which increased from December 2003 to
March 2004 to 21,400 μg/L, decreased to
1,270 μg/L TEX in December 2004, as
natural attenuation degraded the
residual contaminant concentrations
following source removal/treatment of
the vadose zone (2,030 pounds removed
via SVE). Wells located to the north of
the AST Area, MW–8 and MW–10, were
installed during the Remedial
Investigation (RI) to monitor the
possible off-property migration of
contaminants although the predominant
groundwater flow direction is to the
south/southeast. These wells were
sampled during the baseline event and
in the three events since December
2003. In each event, concentrations of
TEX were below 0.6 μg/L in MW–8 and
MW–10, indicating that there is no
migration of Site contaminants of
concern (COCs) to the north.
Groundwater monitoring was
performed semi-annually from 2004 to
2006. Three wells, MW–1, MW–6, and
AST–VMP–3D, were monitored in the
AST area for TEX parameters and a list
of key intrinsic biodegradation
parameters. All TEX results were below
cleanup goals except for one detection
of ethylbenzene at 1700 μg/in AST–
VMP–3D in December 2004. EPA
approved annual post remediation
monitoring in the AST Area in April
2006. TEX concentrations remained
below cleanup goals during three
rounds of post remediation monitoring
from 2006 to 2008. The highest TEX
concentration in these wells decreased
from 38 μg/L in May 2006 to non-detect
in the last round, February 2008. PostRemediation Monitoring at the AST
Area has been completed in full
satisfaction of the Consent Decree and
associated Statement of Work.
AST Area Soil Confirmatory Sampling
Results
AST Area (which was consistent with
the requirements of the ROD) since
2001, and an extensive network of
monitoring wells was already in place.
A formal remedial design phase was,
therefore, not required by the Consent
Decree, except in the event EPA
determined that supplemental activities
were required to achieve performance
standards. The PRPs submitted a
Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) in
September 2004 that detailed all
elements of the required remedial
action.
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Soil samples were collected in the
AST area on a 25 foot by 25 foot grid
pattern with vertical samples collected
every 2 feet to the water table, in
February 2004 and analyzed for site
contaminant VOCs. The results
demonstrated that contaminant levels
were below cleanup goals in all samples
analyzed. The highest depth averaged
concentration of soil samples in one
location were 369 μg/kg ethylbenzene
and 296 μg/kg xylenes, compared with
the ROD cleanup goals of 6,500 μg/kg
and 90,000 μg/kg, respectively.
E:\FR\FM\17AUR1.SGM
17AUR1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 157 / Monday, August 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with RULES
MNA in FPP Area
EPA selected MNA as the remedy for
FPP Area groundwater, and chloroform
concentrations in groundwater
decreased sharply since 1998 such that
the cleanup goal has been reached.
From 1998 to June 2004, chloroform in
MW–2, the source area of historically
highest concentrations, decreased from
2,400 μg/L to 13 μg/L. Chloroform
concentrations in the FPP Area have
been consistently below the cleanup
goal since 2000. MW–11, a
downgradient well which had an
increase in chloroform from 3J μg/L in
1998 to 40.4 μg/L in 2000, was below
cleanup goals in 2004, indicating that
chloroform has attenuated
downgradient. Chloroform was not been
detected in any of the AST Area wells,
and methylene chloride (a potential
degradation product of chloroform) was
not detected above 1.0 μg/L in any FPP
or AST wells up to June 2004.
In the FPP Area, annual postremediation groundwater monitoring
began in the 2nd quarter 2005. Three
wells, MW–2, MW–7, and MW–11, were
monitored for chloroform. Chloroform
concentrations remained below cleanup
goals during three rounds of post
remediation monitoring from 2005 to
2007. Chloroform concentrations varied
from non detect in May 2005 to 21 μg/
L in May 2007, below the cleanup goals
of 100 μg/L. Post-Remediation
Monitoring at the FPP Area has been
completed in full satisfaction of the
Consent Decree and associated
statement of work (SOW).
Based upon the soil and groundwater
data, which indicated compliance with
all cleanup goals, EPA determined that
supplemental remedial construction
activities were not necessary, and use of
the contingency remedy of groundwater
pump and treat would not be required
in either the AST Area or FPP Area.
Construction was, therefore, considered
to be complete.
The SVE system was permanently
shut down in November 2003 and the
treatment system trailer removed in
2005. The SVE wells and monitoring
wells at the Site have not been
decommissioned. The PRPs are
developing a plan to decommission
these wells in the summer of 2009. The
Remedial Action Report was submitted
in September 2004 and the Final PostRemediation Monitoring Report was
submitted in April 2008. The final site
inspection occurred on March 4, 2009.
Institutional Controls
The ROD indicated that VIDPNR, in
consultation with EPA, would utilize
institutional controls (in the form of
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:15 Aug 14, 2009
Jkt 217001
existing well permitting laws and
regulations) to limit the pumping of
groundwater at the Site, to prevent
interference with the selected remedy,
and to also prevent human exposure to
contaminated groundwater until ROD
cleanup goals were achieved. Pursuant
to the CD, on request from EPA, the
PRPs were to seek an environmental
easement/restrictive covenant to enforce
land and groundwater use controls at
the Site and other areas where VOC
contamination exceeds ROD cleanup
goals or where groundwater extraction
could negatively impact the existing
contaminant plume. The PRPs have
maintained fencing around the site and
maintained oversight of groundwater
conditions during remediation. Based
on these actions and the existence of
well permitting requirements EPA did
not require the PRPs to obtain the
environmental easement/restrictive
covenant. The Site has no hazardous
substances, associated with the NPL
release, remaining above levels that
would prevent unlimited use and
unrestricted exposure. The remedy is
completed and no other operation and
maintenance activities are required. The
final Five-Year Review was signed on
March 20, 2009.
Cleanup Goals
The cleanup goals for soils in the AST
area are 6,500 μg/kg for ethylbenzene,
and 90,000 μg/kg for xylene. For
groundwater, the cleanup goals are 700
μg/L for ethylbenzene, 10,000 μg/L for
xylene, and 100 μg/L for chloroform,
respectively.
Public participation activities for this
Site have been satisfied as required in
CERCLA § 113(k) and Section 117. As
part of the remedy selection process, the
public was invited to comment on
EPA’s proposed remedies. All other
documents and information which EPA
relied on or considered in
recommending this deletion are
available for the public to review at the
information repositories identified
above.
Determination That the Site Meets the
Criteria for Deletion in the NCP
One of the three criteria for site
deletion is when responsible parties or
other persons have implemented all
appropriate response actions required
(40 CFR 300.425(e)(1)(I)). EPA, with the
concurrence of the U.S. Virgin islands
through VIDPNR, has determined that
all required and appropriate response
actions have been implemented by the
responsible parties.
Frm 00019
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
V. Deletion Action
The EPA, with concurrence of the
U.S. Virgin Islands through the VIDPNR
has determined that all appropriate
response actions under CERCLA, have
been completed. Therefore, EPA is
deleting the Site from the NPL.
Because EPA considers this action to
be noncontroversial and routine, EPA is
taking it without prior publication. This
action will be effective October 16, 2009
unless EPA receives adverse comments
by September 16, 2009. If adverse
comments are received within the 30day public comment period, EPA will
publish a timely withdrawal of this
direct final notice of deletion before the
effective date of the deletion, and it will
not take effect. EPA will prepare a
response to comments and continue
with the deletion process on the basis of
the notice of intent to delete and the
comments already received. There will
be no additional opportunity to
comment.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Chemicals, Hazardous
waste, Hazardous substances,
Intergovernmental relations, Penalties,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Superfund, Water
pollution control, Water supply.
Dated: August 3, 2009.
George Pavlou,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 2.
For the reasons set out in this
document, 40 CFR part 300 is amended
as follows:
■
Community Involvement
PO 00000
41345
PART 300—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 300
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C.
9601–9657; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR,
1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 2923;
3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193.
2. Table 1 of Appendix B to part 300
is amended by removing the entry
‘‘Island Chemical Corp/VI Chemical
Corp’’, ‘‘Christiansted’’, ‘‘Virgin
Islands’’.
■
[FR Doc. E9–19679 Filed 8–14–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
E:\FR\FM\17AUR1.SGM
17AUR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 157 (Monday, August 17, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41341-41345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19679]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 300
[EPA-HQ-SFUND-2009-0227; FRL-8945-3]
National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan;
National Priorities List
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Direct Final Notice of Deletion of the Island Chemical Corp/
Virgin
[[Page 41342]]
Islands Chemical Corp. Superfund Site from the National Priorities
List.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 is
publishing a direct final Notice of Deletion of the Island Chemical
Corp/Virgin Islands Chemical Corp. (Site), located in St. Croix, U.S.
Virgin Islands, from the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL,
promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended,
is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct final deletion is being published
by EPA with the concurrence of the territory of U.S. Virgin Islands,
through the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources
(VIDPNR), because EPA has determined that all appropriate response
actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does
not preclude future actions under Superfund.
DATES: This direct final deletion is effective October 16, 2009 unless
EPA receives adverse comments by September 16, 2009. If adverse
comments are received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the
direct final deletion in the Federal Register informing the public that
the deletion will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-
SFUND-2009-0227, by one of the following methods:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow on-line instructions
for submitting comments.
E-mail: kwan.caroline@epa.gov
Fax: (212) 637-4284
Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, 290
Broadway, 20th floor, New York, NY 10007-1866
Hand delivery: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 2, 290 Broadway, 20th floor, New York, NY. Such deliveries are
only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and
special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed
information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-SFUND-
2009-0227. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through https://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statue. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in the hard
copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either
electronically in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, 290 Broadway, Superfund
Record, Center, Room 1828, New York, NY 10007-1866, Hours: Monday to
Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Telephone No. (212) 637-4308.
Department of Planning and Natural Resources, 45 Mars Hill,
Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands, 00850, Hours: Monday to Friday from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Telephone No. (340) 773-1082.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Caribbean Environmental
Protection Division, Tunick Building, Suite 102, 1336 Beltjen Road, St.
Thomas, VI 00801, Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Telephone No. (340) 714-2333.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.Caroline Kwan, Remedial Project
Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, 290 Broadway,
20th floor, New York, NY 10007-1866, (212) 637-4275, e-mail:
kwan.caroline@epa.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Deletion Procedures
IV. Basis for Site Deletion
V. Deletion Action
I. Introduction
EPA Region 2 is publishing this direct final Notice of Deletion of
the Island Chemical Corp/Virgin Islands Chemical Corp. Superfund Site
(Site), from the NPL. The NPL constitutes Appendix B of 40 CFR part
300, which is the Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency
Plan (NCP), which EPA promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCLA) of 1980, as amended. EPA maintains the NPL as the list of
sites that appear to present a significant risk to public health,
welfare, or the environment. Sites on the NPL may be the subject of
remedial actions financed by the Hazardous Substance Superfund (Fund).
As described in 300.425(e) (3) of the NCP, sites deleted from the NPL
remain eligible for Fund-financed remedial actions if future conditions
warrant such actions.
Because EPA considers this action to be noncontroversial and
routine, this action will be effective October 16, 2009 unless EPA
receives adverse comments by September 16, 2009. Along with this direct
final Notice of Deletion, EPA is co-publishing a Notice of Intent to
Delete in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of the Federal Register. If
adverse comments are received within the 30-day public comment period
on this deletion action, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of this
direct final Notice of Deletion before the effective date of the
deletion, and the deletion will not take effect. EPA will, as
appropriate, prepare a response to comments and continue with the
deletion process on the basis of the Notice of Intent to Delete and the
comments already received. There will be no additional opportunity to
comment.
Section II of this document explains the criteria for deleting
sites from the NPL. Section III discusses procedures that EPA is using
for this action. Section IV discusses the VICHEM Superfund Site and
demonstrates how it meets the deletion criteria. Section V discusses
EPA's action to delete the Site from the NPL unless adverse comments
are received during the public comment period.
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
The NCP establishes the criteria that EPA uses to delete sites from
the NPL.
[[Page 41343]]
In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), sites may be deleted from the NPL
where no further response is appropriate. In making such a
determination pursuant to 40 CFR 300.425(e), EPA will consider, in
consultation with the state, whether any of the following criteria have
been met:
i. Responsible parties or other persons have implemented all
appropriate response actions required;
ii. All appropriate Fund-financed response under CERCLA has been
implemented, and no further response action by responsible parties is
appropriate; or
iii. The remedial investigation has shown that the release poses no
significant threat to public health or the environment and, therefore,
the taking of remedial measures is not appropriate.
III. Deletion Procedures
The following procedures apply to deletion of the Site:
(1) EPA consulted with the territory of U.S. Virgin Islands prior
to developing this direct final Notice of Deletion and the Notice of
Intent to Delete co-published today in the ``Proposed Rules'' section
of the Federal Register.
(2) EPA has provided the territory 30 working days for review of
this notice and the parallel Notice of Intent to Delete prior to their
publication today, and the territory, through the VIDPNR has concurred
on the deletion of the Site from the NPL.
(3) Concurrently with the publication of this direct final Notice
of Deletion, a notice of the availability of the parallel Notice of
Intent to Delete is being published in the Virgin Islands Daily News.
The newspaper notice announces the 30-day public comment period
concerning the Notice of Intent to Delete the Site from the NPL.
(4) The EPA placed copies of documents supporting the proposed
deletion in the deletion docket and made these items available for
public inspection and copying at the Site information repositories
identified above.
(5) If adverse comments are received within the 30-day public
comment period on this deletion action, EPA will publish a timely
notice of withdrawal of this direct final Notice of Deletion before its
effective date and will prepare a response to comments and continue
with the deletion process on the basis of the Notice of Intent to
Delete and the comments already received.
Deletion of a site from the NPL does not itself create, alter, or
revoke any individual's rights or obligations. Deletion of a site from
the NPL does not in any way alter EPA's right to take enforcement
actions, as appropriate. The NPL is designed primarily for
informational purposes and to assist EPA management. Section
300.425(e)(3) of the NCP states that the deletion of a site from the
NPL does not preclude eligibility for future response actions, should
future conditions warrant such actions.
IV. Basis for Site Deletion
The following information provides EPA's rationale for deleting the
Site from the NPL:
Site Background and History
The Site, EPA ID No. VID980651095, is located on Plot 13Q of Estate
Bethlehem Middle Works in the south-central portion of St. Croix in the
U.S. Virgin Islands. Plot 13Q is bordered to the north and east by an
intermittent stream, the River Gut, which originates north of the Site
and drains to the Caribbean Sea. The Site geology is characterized by
approximately 85 feet of fill and Alluvial materials (sandy-clay to
sandy-silt and clayey sand) overlying the clayey marl of the Kingshill
Formation. Groundwater underlying the Site flows predominantly to the
south-southeast. Land use surrounding the Site includes a mix of
commercial and industrial purposes and the Site is zoned as I-2 (Light
Industry).
Charles H. Steffey, Inc. (CHS, Inc.) purchased the VICHEM Site in
1968. At some point prior to 1969, CHS, Inc. changed its name to CHS
Holding Corporation (CHS). From 1968 to 1982, the Site was used for the
manufacture and blending of a variety of pharmaceutical products. By
the end of 1982, the facility was permanently closed. CHS maintains
ownership of the Site. Between 1984 and 1991, several investigations
were conducted at the Site by EPA and a former tenant, Island Chemical
Company, which was later acquired by Berlex Laboratories, Inc.
(``Berlex''). This investigative work identified six areas of potential
environmental concern:
--Laboratory and Warehouse Building;
--Above ground storage tank (AST) area;
--Former process pit (FPP) area;
--Loading dock/former laboratory pit area;
--Soil beneath concrete pad near ASTs;
--Concrete storage pad.
During initial stages of site assessment, both EPA and Berlex
conducted response activities including soil excavation with on-Site
treatment or off-Site disposal, drum removals, and off-Site disposal of
AST contents. Between September 1989 and October 1991, EPA conducted a
removal action at the Site. At that time, the laboratory/warehouse
building was found to contain approximately 400 drums (some extremely
deteriorated), leaking cylinders of chlorine and hydrogen chloride, and
over 800 containers of laboratory reagents that included sodium metal,
potassium cyanide, and ethyl ether. EPA removed 354 drums containing
14,720 gallons of various chemicals and 8,061 pounds of lab pack
chemicals from the laboratory/warehouse building.
The Site was proposed to the NPL on January 18, 1994 (59 FR 2568)
and subsequently added on June 17, 1996 (61 FR 30510).
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
On September 29, 1994, EPA entered into an Administrative Order on
Consent (AOC), Index No. II CERCLA-94-0401, with Berlex and Island
Chemical Company; Pierrel S.p.A, a subsidiary of Pharmacia & Upjohn,
Inc. (``P&U'') and also a former tenant at the Site, was added as a
respondent to the AOC in April 1999. The AOC, pursuant to Section
106(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9606(a), required the
performance of a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at
the Site.
The primary objectives of the RI were to: (1) Collect the data
needed to characterize the nature and extent of contamination and
adequately support human health and ecological baseline risk
assessments and (2) provide a basis on which a subsequent, cost-
effective, remedial action plan would be recommended. All six areas of
potential concern were investigated during the initial assessment and
the subsequent RI, along with the nature and extent of soil and
groundwater contamination, and potential off-Site sediment
contamination. Based on the data collected, only the AST and FPP areas
were determined to require remediation. Contaminants of concern at the
Site included ethylbenzene and xylene, in soils and groundwater at the
AST area and chloroform in groundwater at the FPP area. The Site posed
potential threats to human health and the environment through ingestion
associated with contaminated soil and groundwater.
As part of the RI/FS, the PRPs implemented a field Pilot Test of
Soil Vapor Extraction/Air Sparging (SVE/AS) in February 2000. Following
successful completion of the Pilot Test and with the approval of EPA
and the VIDPNR, an SVE/AS system for the AST area was
[[Page 41344]]
placed in continuous operation in June 2001 by the PRPs.
A chain link fence was installed in the spring of 2000 along the
property line to secure the area from unauthorized access, and in the
spring of 2002, the PRPs demolished the site buildings and removed and
disposed/recycled all of the tanks and related equipment.
Selected Remedy
Based on the human health risk assessment, the remedial action
objectives for the Site were:
Mitigate the toxicity, mobility, and/or volume of VOCs
(ethylbenzene and xylene) in soils in the AST area to minimize
continued leaching to groundwater;
Mitigate the toxicity, mobility, and/or volume of VOCs
(ethylbenzene and xylene) in groundwater in the AST area and
downgradient so as to achieve Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and
protect potential future groundwater users;
Mitigate the toxicity, mobility, and/or volume of
chloroform in groundwater in the FPP area and downgradient so as to
achieve MCLs and protect future potential groundwater users; and
Restrict on-site groundwater use to non-potable purposes
until the water quality is restored to MCLs.
On August 14, 2002, the Regional Administrator signed a Record of
Decision (ROD) selecting the following remedy:
SVE/AS to treat contaminated groundwater, saturated soil,
and unsaturated soil at the AST source area;
Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) to address low-level
residual contamination in groundwater at the FPP area and downgradient
areas; and
Institutional controls (in the form of existing VIDPNR
well permitting laws and regulations) to limit the pumping of
groundwater at the Site to prevent interference with the selected
remedy and to also prevent human exposure to contaminated groundwater
until EPA's MCLs are achieved.
The ROD also selected groundwater pump and treat as a contingency
remedy in the event that groundwater cleanup goals were not achieved in
a reasonable time period.
Response Actions
In a Consent Decree with EPA, entered on March 5, 2004, the PRPs
(Island Chemical Company, Berlex and P&U and successors in interest)
agreed to perform the remedial design/remedial action (RD/RA) specified
in the ROD. On a voluntary basis, the PRPs had been operating the SVE/
AS system in the AST Area (which was consistent with the requirements
of the ROD) since 2001, and an extensive network of monitoring wells
was already in place. A formal remedial design phase was, therefore,
not required by the Consent Decree, except in the event EPA determined
that supplemental activities were required to achieve performance
standards. The PRPs submitted a Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) in
September 2004 that detailed all elements of the required remedial
action.
SVE/System in AST Area
The SVE/AS system includes six SVE wells, one AS well, and eleven
vapor monitoring probes, together with a surface vapor barrier that
prevents short-circuiting of air flow and direct contact with surface
soil. A groundwater monitoring network comprising a total of eight
wells (shallow and deep) is also installed in the AST area. Continuous
operation of the SVE/AS system by the PRPs from June 2001 through
November 2003 removed approximately 2,030 pounds of AST area
contaminants and reached asymptotically low limits of mass removal.
Rebound testing indicated that negligible residual mass was left in the
unsaturated zone. The mass removed correlates well with source mass
estimates presented in the Feasibility Study (FS) of 1,900 pounds.
AST Area Groundwater Monitoring Results
AST Area groundwater was monitored quarterly commencing in June
2001, when the SVE/AS system was placed in continuous operation,
including three events subsequent to shut down of the AS/SVE system on
November 3, 2003. Groundwater concentrations were reduced from a high
of 176,000 [micro]g/L of total toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (TEX)
in June 2001 (baseline levels) in the most contaminated well (MW-6), to
13 [micro]g/L in September 2003, the last sampling event prior to the
November 2003 shutdown of the SVE/AS system. Four other AST area
groundwater monitoring locations remained below the ROD cleanup goals
for the entire period, and were generally at or near non-detect levels
from November 2001 onward.
Rebound and post-shut down evaluations performed in August 2002,
December 2003, March 2004 and June 2004 indicated modest increases in
groundwater concentrations, to levels generally below cleanup goals.
Post-shutdown levels in MW-1 and MW-6 in June 2004 were reduced 88-
99.99% from baseline concentrations in June 2001, confirming the
permanence of the remediation. Concentrations in MW-6 decreased from
6,900 [micro]g/L TEX in December 2003 to 14 [micro]g/L TEX in June
2004. The concentrations in MW-1, which increased from December 2003 to
March 2004 to 21,400 [micro]g/L, decreased to 1,270 [micro]g/L TEX in
December 2004, as natural attenuation degraded the residual contaminant
concentrations following source removal/treatment of the vadose zone
(2,030 pounds removed via SVE). Wells located to the north of the AST
Area, MW-8 and MW-10, were installed during the Remedial Investigation
(RI) to monitor the possible off-property migration of contaminants
although the predominant groundwater flow direction is to the south/
southeast. These wells were sampled during the baseline event and in
the three events since December 2003. In each event, concentrations of
TEX were below 0.6 [micro]g/L in MW-8 and MW-10, indicating that there
is no migration of Site contaminants of concern (COCs) to the north.
Groundwater monitoring was performed semi-annually from 2004 to
2006. Three wells, MW-1, MW-6, and AST-VMP-3D, were monitored in the
AST area for TEX parameters and a list of key intrinsic biodegradation
parameters. All TEX results were below cleanup goals except for one
detection of ethylbenzene at 1700 [micro]g/in AST-VMP-3D in December
2004. EPA approved annual post remediation monitoring in the AST Area
in April 2006. TEX concentrations remained below cleanup goals during
three rounds of post remediation monitoring from 2006 to 2008. The
highest TEX concentration in these wells decreased from 38 [micro]g/L
in May 2006 to non-detect in the last round, February 2008. Post-
Remediation Monitoring at the AST Area has been completed in full
satisfaction of the Consent Decree and associated Statement of Work.
AST Area Soil Confirmatory Sampling Results
Soil samples were collected in the AST area on a 25 foot by 25 foot
grid pattern with vertical samples collected every 2 feet to the water
table, in February 2004 and analyzed for site contaminant VOCs. The
results demonstrated that contaminant levels were below cleanup goals
in all samples analyzed. The highest depth averaged concentration of
soil samples in one location were 369 [micro]g/kg ethylbenzene and 296
[micro]g/kg xylenes, compared with the ROD cleanup goals of 6,500
[micro]g/kg and 90,000 [micro]g/kg, respectively.
[[Page 41345]]
MNA in FPP Area
EPA selected MNA as the remedy for FPP Area groundwater, and
chloroform concentrations in groundwater decreased sharply since 1998
such that the cleanup goal has been reached. From 1998 to June 2004,
chloroform in MW-2, the source area of historically highest
concentrations, decreased from 2,400 [micro]g/L to 13 [micro]g/L.
Chloroform concentrations in the FPP Area have been consistently below
the cleanup goal since 2000. MW-11, a downgradient well which had an
increase in chloroform from 3J [micro]g/L in 1998 to 40.4 [micro]g/L in
2000, was below cleanup goals in 2004, indicating that chloroform has
attenuated downgradient. Chloroform was not been detected in any of the
AST Area wells, and methylene chloride (a potential degradation product
of chloroform) was not detected above 1.0 [micro]g/L in any FPP or AST
wells up to June 2004.
In the FPP Area, annual post-remediation groundwater monitoring
began in the 2nd quarter 2005. Three wells, MW-2, MW-7, and MW-11, were
monitored for chloroform. Chloroform concentrations remained below
cleanup goals during three rounds of post remediation monitoring from
2005 to 2007. Chloroform concentrations varied from non detect in May
2005 to 21 [micro]g/L in May 2007, below the cleanup goals of 100
[micro]g/L. Post-Remediation Monitoring at the FPP Area has been
completed in full satisfaction of the Consent Decree and associated
statement of work (SOW).
Based upon the soil and groundwater data, which indicated
compliance with all cleanup goals, EPA determined that supplemental
remedial construction activities were not necessary, and use of the
contingency remedy of groundwater pump and treat would not be required
in either the AST Area or FPP Area. Construction was, therefore,
considered to be complete.
The SVE system was permanently shut down in November 2003 and the
treatment system trailer removed in 2005. The SVE wells and monitoring
wells at the Site have not been decommissioned. The PRPs are developing
a plan to decommission these wells in the summer of 2009. The Remedial
Action Report was submitted in September 2004 and the Final Post-
Remediation Monitoring Report was submitted in April 2008. The final
site inspection occurred on March 4, 2009.
Institutional Controls
The ROD indicated that VIDPNR, in consultation with EPA, would
utilize institutional controls (in the form of existing well permitting
laws and regulations) to limit the pumping of groundwater at the Site,
to prevent interference with the selected remedy, and to also prevent
human exposure to contaminated groundwater until ROD cleanup goals were
achieved. Pursuant to the CD, on request from EPA, the PRPs were to
seek an environmental easement/restrictive covenant to enforce land and
groundwater use controls at the Site and other areas where VOC
contamination exceeds ROD cleanup goals or where groundwater extraction
could negatively impact the existing contaminant plume. The PRPs have
maintained fencing around the site and maintained oversight of
groundwater conditions during remediation. Based on these actions and
the existence of well permitting requirements EPA did not require the
PRPs to obtain the environmental easement/restrictive covenant. The
Site has no hazardous substances, associated with the NPL release,
remaining above levels that would prevent unlimited use and
unrestricted exposure. The remedy is completed and no other operation
and maintenance activities are required. The final Five-Year Review was
signed on March 20, 2009.
Cleanup Goals
The cleanup goals for soils in the AST area are 6,500 [micro]g/kg
for ethylbenzene, and 90,000 [micro]g/kg for xylene. For groundwater,
the cleanup goals are 700 [micro]g/L for ethylbenzene, 10,000 [micro]g/
L for xylene, and 100 [micro]g/L for chloroform, respectively.
Community Involvement
Public participation activities for this Site have been satisfied
as required in CERCLA Sec. 113(k) and Section 117. As part of the
remedy selection process, the public was invited to comment on EPA's
proposed remedies. All other documents and information which EPA relied
on or considered in recommending this deletion are available for the
public to review at the information repositories identified above.
Determination That the Site Meets the Criteria for Deletion in the NCP
One of the three criteria for site deletion is when responsible
parties or other persons have implemented all appropriate response
actions required (40 CFR 300.425(e)(1)(I)). EPA, with the concurrence
of the U.S. Virgin islands through VIDPNR, has determined that all
required and appropriate response actions have been implemented by the
responsible parties.
V. Deletion Action
The EPA, with concurrence of the U.S. Virgin Islands through the
VIDPNR has determined that all appropriate response actions under
CERCLA, have been completed. Therefore, EPA is deleting the Site from
the NPL.
Because EPA considers this action to be noncontroversial and
routine, EPA is taking it without prior publication. This action will
be effective October 16, 2009 unless EPA receives adverse comments by
September 16, 2009. If adverse comments are received within the 30-day
public comment period, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of this
direct final notice of deletion before the effective date of the
deletion, and it will not take effect. EPA will prepare a response to
comments and continue with the deletion process on the basis of the
notice of intent to delete and the comments already received. There
will be no additional opportunity to comment.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals,
Hazardous waste, Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental relations,
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water
pollution control, Water supply.
Dated: August 3, 2009.
George Pavlou,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 2.
0
For the reasons set out in this document, 40 CFR part 300 is amended as
follows:
PART 300--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for part 300 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O.
12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR
2923; 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 193.
0
2. Table 1 of Appendix B to part 300 is amended by removing the entry
``Island Chemical Corp/VI Chemical Corp'', ``Christiansted'', ``Virgin
Islands''.
[FR Doc. E9-19679 Filed 8-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P