Public Notice Information
RAP
10523
Omaha Steel Castings
Omaha
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Remedial Action Plan Approval
October 4, 2018
November 4, 2018







PUBLIC NOTICE
PROPOSED REMEDIAL ACTION DECISION
FORMER OMAHA STEEL CASTINGS

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Land Management Division
Remediation Section

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-15, 185.01 that the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) is proposing approval of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) at the former Omaha Steel Castings (OSC) site located at 4601 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska. In addition to the OSC parcel, there are 12 adjacent properties that make up part of the Saddle Creek Redevelopment Project proposed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Nine of these parcels are covered in this RAP. The three remaining parcels will be addressed in a future RAP Addendum. The OSC site and adjacent parcels are located in the SW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 20, Township 15, Range 13, Douglas County, Nebraska.

Soil and groundwater at the Site are contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals associated with historic manufacturing, foundry, and maintenance operations. Previous interim remedial action at the Site included excavation of over 40,000 tons of impacted soil and debris from source areas, and a soil cover was placed on the former OSC parcel. The RAP proposes the following remedial action: development and implementation of a Nebraska Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA)-compliant environmental covenant placed on the property. The covenant will prevent direct exposures to contaminated soils and groundwater. These actions will prevent use of groundwater for drinking or domestic purposes and prevent direct exposure to construction/utility workers and future occupants. Petroleum hydrocarbons at the Site are currently being addressed through the NDEQ Petroleum Remediation Section’s Risk-Based Corrective Action (RBCA) process.

Any person may receive additional information, submit written comments regarding the proposed actions, or request a public hearing, in writing, on or before November 3, 2018. A request for hearing must state the nature of the issues to be raised and all arguments and factual grounds supporting such position. If the Director grants a public hearing, the hearing will be advertised by public notice at least 30 days prior to its occurrence. Comments and requests should be mailed to:


Mr. David Haldeman
Land Management Division
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
PO Box 98922
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922

The proposed RAP and supporting documents are available for inspection at the office of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, 1200 N Street, Suite 400, The Atrium, Lincoln, NE. These materials may also be viewed online at http://deq.ne.gov/ by selecting “Public Notices,” or by accessing the Enterprise Content Management Portal at https://ecmp.nebraska.gov/publicaccess/viewe.aspx?&MyQueryID=340, using NDEQ Facility Number “10523” and Program “RAP.” Individuals requiring special accommodations or alternate formats of materials should notify the Department by calling (402) 471-2186. TDD users should call (800) 833-7352 and ask the relay operator to call the Department at (402) 471-2186. Further information may be obtained from Mike Felix, Remediation Section, (402) 471-4210.




FACT SHEET
Proposed Remedial Action Decision
Former Omaha Steel Castings

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) is providing public notice of its intent to approve a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) at the former Omaha Steel Castings site conducted under the Department’s Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). This fact sheet provides background information on the site, a summary of contamination, a description of the proposed action, a description of the public participation procedures, and the NDEQ contact person.

Site Location: The former Omaha Steel Castings site is located at 4601 Farnam Street located in the SW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 20, Township 15, Range 13, Douglas County, Nebraska. The former Omaha Steel Castings site, along with 12 adjacent parcels, make up the Saddle Creek Redevelopment Project proposed by the UNMC. Nine of these parcels are covered in the RAP and include: 4525 Farnam Street; 795 South 48th Street; 708 South Saddle Creek Road; 620 South Saddle Creek Road; 606 and 608 South Saddle Creek Road; 404 South Saddle Creek Road; 412 South Saddle Creek Road; and 414 South Saddle Creek Road. Assessment and redevelopment at the three remaining parcels is deferred at this time and will be addressed in a future RAP Addendum. These parcels include: 4469 Farnam Street; 4455 Farnam Street; and 609 South 48th Street.

Nature and Extent of Contamination:

Soil and groundwater contamination is due to historical uses of the site, including bulk oil storage, manufacturing and steel foundry operations, and maintenance operations dating back to at least the early 1900s. Several underground storage tanks (USTs) served as sources for petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in underlying soils and groundwater. Petroleum related impacts are being addressed through the NDEQ’s Petroleum Remediation Section’s Risk Based Correction Action (RBCA) process.

Soil Contamination: Soil contamination was found across the site. Some of the contaminants found to be above the direct contact residential and/or industrial VCP remediation goals (RGs) include: lead, arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) including: benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, and naphthalene.

Groundwater Contamination: Groundwater contamination was found across the site. Contaminants in groundwater were compared to the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and VCP remediation goals (RGs) to determine the significance of the contamination. Some contaminants found to be above their respective groundwater ingestion RG are: lead, cadmium, and VOCs including naphthalene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and 1,1-Dichloroethane. In one location, naphthalene exceeded the groundwater to vapor (groundwater to indoor air) VCP remediation goal. The source of the naphthalene is thought to be from petroleum impacts from the USTs removed from the site.

Groundwater Remedial Action Class: The NDEQ assigns a Remedial Action Classification (RAC) to a groundwater contamination event to determine the importance of remedial action based, in part, on the use of the groundwater in the area (Nebraska Title 118, Appendix A, Step 8). Groundwater that is being used as a public drinking water supply is assigned the highest remedial action class of RAC-1. Groundwater that has the potential to be used as drinking water is generally designated as RAC-2. The Department typically requires extensive cleanup of groundwater that is classified as RAC-1 or RAC-2. When the use of groundwater in the area is more limited, the groundwater is assigned a RAC-3 (lowest priority). Generally, groundwater cleanup will be less extensive for this classification.

The pollution event for this site has been classified as a RAC-3, due to the poor quality and the fact that the groundwater is not used as a drinking water source and it underlies an area with a high concentration of industrial development.

Interim Remedial Actions: Excavation of 40,000 tons of contaminated soil was removed during interim remedial actions. Following excavation, a protective soil cover with a minimum thickness of 12 inches was placed across the former Omaha Steel Castings parcel.

An existing City ordinance is in place to prevent exposure to contaminated groundwater. Omaha Municipal Code (Chapter 49 Sec.49-1053-Private Wells) prohibits well installation in the city’s jurisdiction without approval of the plumbing board and the Douglas County Health Department. General practice is to require City of Omaha residents and businesses to connect to the Metropolitan Utilities District public water supply system.

Remedial Action Objectives: Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs) are statements that define qualitative and quantitative goals that are to be achieved for the contaminants identified at the site. RAOs provide the framework from which potential remedial actions are evaluated to achieve the objectives. RAOs for the former Omaha Steel Castings site include:
Eliminate the potential for human exposure via dermal contact and ingestion of contaminated soil and groundwater
Eliminate the potential for dermal contact and ingestion exposure by current or future utility and construction workers to contaminated soils and groundwater
Eliminate the potential for vapor intrusion concerns for future occupants

Proposed Remedial Actions: NDEQ is proposing the following remedial actions:

Development of a Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA)-compliant environmental covenant for the Site.

Activity and Use limitations placed on the property via the environmental covenant will include maintaining any exposed protective soil cover during and after redevelopment activities and abiding by the NDEQ approved Materials Management Plan (MMP). The MMP will be used for repairs to protective barriers, including buildings and pavement, and management of any contaminated media encountered in future redevelopment activities.

Adherence to the Omaha Municipal Code preventing domestic well installation will also be emphasized.

These proposed remedial actions and completed interim actions will eliminate the potential for human exposure via dermal contact and ingestion of contaminated soils and groundwater, and prevent inhalation exposures by having measures in place to evaluate building construction plans with respect to potential vapor intrusion.

Any residual petroleum hydrocarbon contamination is currently being addressed through the NDEQ’s Petroleum Remediation Section’s Risk-Based Corrective Action (RBCA) process.

Public Participation Procedures: You may receive additional information, submit written comments regarding the proposed actions, or request a hearing, in writing, on or before November 3, 2018. If you request a hearing, you must state the nature of the issues to be raised, present your arguments, and facts to support your position in writing to the Department. If the Director grants a public hearing, the hearing will be advertised by public notice at least 30 days prior to its occurrence. Comments and requests should be mailed to David Haldeman, Land Management Division, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, PO Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922, phone (402) 471-2186.

Contact: The proposed RAP and supporting materials pertaining to the former Omaha Steel Casting site are available for inspection at the office of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, 1200 N Street, Suite 400, The Atrium, Lincoln, NE. These materials may also be viewed online at http://deq.ne.gov/ by selecting “Public Notices” at the bottom of the page and then selecting “Land: Waste management.” Please notify the Department of Environmental Quality if alternate formats of materials are needed by October 19, 2018. Contact phone number is (402) 471-2186. TDD users please call 711 and ask the relay operator to call us at (402) 471-2186. Further information may be obtained from Mike Felix, Remediation Section, (402) 471-4210.