Koppers Site

For those keeping up with what is going on at the old Koppers wood treating site, there apparrently has been little movement on the Bright Fields project. Here is the latest report on the cleanup:

Status Report – February 2016 Former Koppers Wood-Treating Site Carbondale, Illinois Page: 2/2 Items Performed/Completed Since Previous Report:
• During the week of February 1, 2016, FTS conducted the first 2016 semiannual RCRA groundwater monitoring event (reflecting the recently revised/approved GMP). •

On February 12, 2016, Arcadis submitted to USEPA a Groundwater Monitoring Network Modifications Report, which summarized groundwater monitoring network modifications completed at the Site, and presented the analytical results for soil samples collected during drilling for certain of the new monitoring wells along the southern property boundary of the Site. USEPA issued a letter approving the report on February 18, 2016. •

 On February 26, 2016, FTS submitted to USEPA the 2015 Annual RCRA Groundwater Monitoring Report. • Beazer, USEPA and others participated in a corrective action coordination conference call on February 18, 2016.
• Beazer continued post-construction OMM activities (e.g., DNAPL thickness measurements/removal, CAMU leachate monitoring/removal, Site inspections, etc.). DNAPL removal volumes are summarized as follows: RW-23 South Trench Sump North Trench Sump February 2016 Total (gal): 48 99 0 Cumulative Total (gal): 8,046 19,503 655

 Items Anticipated to be Performed/Completed over the Next One to Two Months:
• Beazer, USEPA and others will continue to participate in corrective action coordination conference calls, including specific calls to discuss the ecological risk-based remedy, the sediment MNR scope of work/fish consumption advisory, and institutional controls.
• Beazer will propose an approach for evaluating trends in visual observations that could be used to assess the proposed probing/reconnaissance portion of the MNR program.

Items Anticipated to be Performed/Completed over the Next Two to Six Months
: • Beazer will continue to advance proposed future Site uses, including conservation land use and commercial solar energy.
• USEPA will conduct a public meeting in Carbondale. Items that May Cause Delay in Implementing Future Activities 

Koppers Update

Here's the monthly report on cleanup at the abandoned Koppers site.

Items Performed/Completed Since Previous Report:
 On November 26, 2014, Beazer submitted to USEPA a Human Health Risk Assessment that was
prepared consistent with the approach described in the October 1, 2014 Work Plan developed in
conjunction with the USEPA.
 Beazer, USEPA and others participated in a corrective action coordination conference call on
November 13, 2014.
 Beazer and USEPA participated on a conference call and WebEx on November 24, 2014 to discuss
potential modifications to the groundwater monitoring program for the Site.
 Beazer continued post-construction OMM activities (e.g., DNAPL thickness measurements/removal,
CAMU leachate monitoring/removal, Site inspections, etc.).
 Beazer collected approximately 121 gallons of DNAPL from the barrier trench and approximately 31
gallons of DNAPL from recovery well RW-23 during this reporting period. The approximate total
DNAPL volumes collected through November 2014 are 18,755 gallons from the barrier trench and
7,563 gallons from RW-23.
Items Anticipated to be Performed/Completed over the Next One to Two Months:
 Beazer and USEPA will participate in discussions regarding the Site groundwater monitoring program.
 Beazer, USEPA and others will participate in conference calls to discuss Site corrective action and
redevelopment activities.
 Brightfields will hold an additional public information session for solar land use at the Site, including
attendance by representatives of Beazer, USEPA, and the City.
 Beazer and Brightfields will continue to advance/support potential future solar land use at the Site.
Items Anticipated to be Performed/Completed over the Next Two to Six Months:
 Beazer will continue to advance proposed future Site uses, including conservation land use and solar use.

EPA Meeting About Koppers

Just a reminder that there is a meeting with the EPA tomorrow night at the Eurma C. Hayes Center.  According to the press release, representatives from Brightfield's will be there as well to answer questions

The Carbondale Community is invited to an Information Session on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., regarding the cleanup of the former Koppers Wood-Treating Site. The meeting will be held at the Eurma C. Hayes Center, 441 East Willow Street. The USEPA is the sponsor of the meeting which will feature an information session, poster session, as well as a question and answer session.

                                                       

The public is advised that although representatives from Brightfield's will be present at this meeting to answer questions that might arise regarding their proposed solar panel project, this meeting is not considered one of the two meetings required by the City of Carbondale as part Brightfield's Special Use Zoning Permit process.

More information on this meeting can be obtained by contacting Rafael Gonzalez, USEPA - Chicago, at 1-800-621-8431 or gonzalez.rafaelp@epa.gov

Koppers Meeting

In order to address concerns about the ongoing cleanup at the Koppers wood treating site, and its potential home for a solar array, the EPA will host an open meeting from 6 to 9 p.m.  on April 9th at the Eurma C. Hayes Center, 441. East Willow.

The session starts with a poster session, whatever that is and someone feel free to post a comment or email me explaining what a poster session it, then moves to presentations and Q&A at 6:45 until 7:50, followed by another poster session until 9.

Since most of the controversy over the Koppers cleanup has come from residents of the northeast side of Carbondale, I would hope there is a good turnout from that area.  I also hope those who attend come ready to ask questions in order to clarify points about the development, rather than wanting to confront the EPA in order to re-confirm their own beliefs.

Sustainability Commission

Sat in on the sustainability commission's meeting last Thursday evening. Pretty good attendance with 7 committee members there and 4 onlookers. The two major topics were a report on the Koppers wood treating plan cleanup from Kevin Beatty and a discussion of the proposed ordinance allowing city residents to keep chickens.

The cleanup continues to move along slowly. Apparently part of the reason for the slowdown is continual changes in rules and requirements from the EPA. Although the entire area covers about 10 acres in northeast Carbondale, the actual area requiring cleanup only covers about an acre, it is just spread in several locations over the property.

The proposed chicken ordinance would allow a maximum of six chickens per household for egg production only (no roosters and no raising chickens to slaughter for Sunday dinner). The committee based much of the ordinance on the current C'dale dog ordinance. Chickens have to have a license ($5 per chicken) and must stay on a leash when taken outside the back yard. Whoops, scratch that last part. They will probably have a leg band to identify licensed chickens. Chickens must stay confined to the back yard and the ordinance has specifics regarding location and construction of their coop, based on ordinances passed by other chicken friendly cities (Napierville IL and Columbia MO).

One point inserted into the ordinance after listening to community input is a provision that a dog that kills a loose chicken shall not be considered, for that reason alone, a dangerous or vicious dog. Still under discussion are regulations regarding the disposal of dead chickens, which, since people don't eat dogs, is not an issue covered under the dog ordinance.