EPA is completing Phase 3 properties where owners granted access.  Phase 3 includes residential homes where soil concentrations for arsenic and benzo[a]pyrene exceed two times the RML.  In addition, three residential properties with RML exceedances located adjacent to a Phase 3 property were also addressed. These properties include CV0256, CV0790, and CV0252.  Thirty-five properties were addressed in Phase 3.  One Phase 3 property will be addressed in Phase 4 instead of Phase 3 since property owner prefers to wait till middle of August before beginning removal activities.  

Phase 4 will address about 260 residential properties with RML exceedances for lead, arsenic, and/or benzo[a]pyrene.  Sampling for Phase 4 is ongoing.  In addition, the EPA is requesting access from about 850 residential properties owners who have not granted access yet.  Sampling access request letters were mailed to property owner's addresses in July in an effort to gain access.

On July 17, 2015, the Housing Authority Birmingham District at Collegeville (HABD) informed EPA of two children having elevated lead concentrations in their blood.  On morning of July 20, EPA went to the front yard of where the children live and sampled the soil with a X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) unit.  A small area by the sidewalk was found to have elevated levels of lead in soil (highest reading was about 2,300 ppm). In afternoon, this area was excavated, backfilled, and sodded.  EPA later learned that the two children with elevated lead concentration appear to not be on HABD's lease agreement.  A third child, whose name is on HABD's lease agreement, did not have elevated lead concentration.  EPA will continue to work with HABD and the local health agency to determine additional areas where the two children may have come in contact with lead.

EPA continues to meet with property owners on an ad hoc basis at the Command Post or at their respective properties to answer questions regarding the pending excavation efforts and respond to their concerns.  During this reporting period, the EPA attended several  public meetings in the three communities and a Birmingham Coalition meeting.  EPA also attended a Health & Career Services Fair at Hudson K-8 School on July 25 to inform the public of ongoing cleanup/access activities.

START continues to monitor site conditions including air monitoring and sampling as well as removal documentation and soil profiling as directed by the OSC.  Air sampling has included periodic personnel air sampling on a representative ground technician and an excavator operator.  To date, air monitoring indicates all operations are well controlled and have minimized blowing dusts.

EPA continues to work with AL DOT regarding soil contamination concerns involving Shuttlesworth Bridge construction in Collegeville.  AL DOT is voluntarily conducting a removal action in the bridge construction area. EPA also met with the City of Birmingham to discuss how abandoned residential buildings on potentially contaminated property and potentially containing asbestos should be handled.  

During Phases 1, 2, and 3, seven properties owners have denied the EPA access to remove contaminated soil from their properties.