(ATLANTA August 26, 2011) The U.S.β¦
(ATLANTA β August 26, 2011) The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public meeting
regarding the proposed plan for groundwater cleanup of the Sapp
Battery Superfund Site in Cottondale, Florida. The public comment
period for the proposed plan began August 25, 2011 and will extend
until midnight September 25, 2011.
The public meeting will be held on September 7, 2011 at the
Cottondale Community Center, 2666 Front Street, Cottondale,
Florida, 32437 from 6:00 pm β 8:00 pm.
The EPA is proposing changes to the cleanup because the site
conditions have changed since the EPA selected the original cleanup
strategy in 1986. Natural Attenuation is underway and has resulted
in significant improvements since the source of contamination was
removed in earlier cleanups. Based on recent data and EPA guidance,
the EPA proposes to use Monitored Natural Attenuation as the final
cleanup approach. The Proposed Plan summarizes the site
contamination, the goals of the cleanup and the cleanup approach
that the EPA proposes for the site.
Public input is important and the final cleanup approach could be
different from the proposed cleanup approach, depending upon new
information or comments the EPA may receive from the public. The
EPA's final choice of a cleanup approach will be documented in a
Record of Decision (ROD) Amendment. The EPA's response to comments
will be included with the ROD Amendment in the Responsiveness
Summary. Once the ROD Amendment is signed, work will begin on the
design of the selected remedy.
The Sapp Battery Superfund Site operated from the early 1970s until
1980. The 45-acre Site is located about five miles south of
Cottondale, Florida and about 1,000 feet west of the intersection
of State Route 231 and County Road 280 (Corbin Road). The improper
disposal of battery casings and battery acid contaminated the
groundwater, soil and surrounding wetlands. The EPA selected a
remedy for the site groundwater, soil and wetlands in September
1986. The site soils and wetlands were cleaned up by emergency
actions in 1980 and 1984-85, and by remedial actions in 1999-2001
(soils) and 2007-2009 (wetlands). The lead and battery acid from
the cracked batteries caused significant groundwater contamination
at the Site. Since the soil remedy was finished, groundwater
contamination has improved significantly.
Comments can be provided to Erik Spalvins ([email protected]),
Remedial Project Manager or to LβTonya Spencer
([email protected]), Community Involvement Coordinator by
email or mail at U.S. EPA, Superfund Remedial Branch, Atlanta
Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 or by
phone at (800) 435-9233. Oral comments may be given at the public
meeting.
The Proposed Plan can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/sf/images/nplmedia/pdfs/sapbatflpplan2011.pdf