The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) held a public meeting on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. to discuss a proposal for excavation and restoration of a Hamburg site containing lead-contaminated soils and battery casings.
Lisa Kasianowitz, the department’s Community Relations Coordinator, opened the meeting and introduced Asuquo Effiong, Project Manager, to speak first on the history of the site.
Effiong explained that in March 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tested samples from the area to find out if Price Battery was part of the contamination at the site. At the time, they found that this was not the case.
Later, the owner of the residential property in the 600 block of Franklin Street in Hamburg found battery casings while cleaning his yard and called the EPA, which then came to do more sampling.
Effiong presented two charts that showed the affected areas, the first, which represented a zero to one-foot deep interval and another, which represented a one to two-feet deep interval.
“The areas were examined with x-ray fluorescence,” explained Effiong. “They found arsenic, chromium and lead, but we are really focusing on the lead.”
The evidence shows that the battery casings were likely used as fill material decades earlier, according to a department press release.
“Most likely, this occurred during the 50s, 60s and 70s, before people knew the dangers of lead poisoning,” explained John Krueger, the Program Manager for the Environmental Cleanup Program. “We cannot determine where the material came from or whether it came from any of the local factories.”
Krueger went on to explain the department’s plan for cleanup and restoration.
“The proposal is to excavate where the lead is, down to two feet,” said Krueger. “We are trying to eliminate any direct contact with the lead.”
The DEP proposed to remove the battery casings and contaminated soil. They will then restore the affected area with grading and planted grass.
“This is funded through the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act,” said Krueger. “The owner of the property will not be expected to pay for the excavation.”
Barring any complications, the project is expected to begin in early Spring 2015. According to the DEP, this project will occur in three phases: preparing the area for earthmoving, excavating impacted surface soils as well as taking additional sampling and restoring the property to pre-excavation conditions.
The Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) requires the administrative record for the proposal to remain open for review and comment until Dec. 5. It can be reviewed by appointment on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the DEP South-central Regional Office located at 909 Elmerton Ave. in Harrisburg. For an appointment, contact Stacy Burns at 717-705-4732.
For further questions about the project, contact Doug Cordelli, Section Chief for the Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields Program, at 717-705-4861, or email dcordelli@pa.gov.