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EPA TO BEGIN TREATMENT OF LEAD-CONTAMINATED SOIL AT COLLEGE GROVE BATTERY CHIP SITE, COLLEGE GROVE, TENNESSEE

Release Date: 03/06/2001
Contact Information: Dawn Harris, EPA Media Relations, 404-562-8421

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it will begin treatment of stockpiled soil and debris at the College Grove Battery Chip Site, College Grove, Tennessee on Wednesday, March 7, 2001. The removal action began in June 2000. A removal is a short-term cleanup intended to stabilize or cleanup a site that poses an imminent and substantial threat to human health or the environment. The removal is taking place under the authority and direction of the Agency's Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB). More than 10,000 cubic yards of soil and debris will be treated. The soil will be mixed with a granular phosphorous mixture that chemically bonds to lead. This technique has been proven at other EPA sites and has been demonstrated during a pilot test with some of the most contaminated soil at the College Grove site. EPA estimates approximately 250 cubic yards can be treated each day. The treated soil will be taken to a landfill for disposal. The comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, also known as "Superfund") and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) authorize EPA to respond to actual or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health, welfare, or the environment. Persons interested in obtaining additional information are encouraged to contact Rick Jardine, EPA On-Scene Coordinator, at 404-562-8764 or Sherryl A. Carbonaro, Community Relations Coordinator, at 404-562-8611 or (800) 564-7577.