[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 12, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27979-27984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09681]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-2003-0010; FRL-10008-93-Region 7]


National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan; 
National Priorities List: Partial Deletion of the Omaha Lead Superfund 
Site

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is issuing 
a Notice of Intent to Delete 117 residential parcels of the Omaha Lead 
Superfund site (Site or OLS) located in Omaha, Nebraska, from the 
National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this 
proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and 
Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the 
State of Nebraska, through the Nebraska Department of Environment and 
Energy, determined that all appropriate Response Actions under CERCLA 
were completed at the identified parcels. However, this deletion does 
not preclude future actions under CERCLA.
    This partial deletion pertains to 117 residential parcels. The 
remaining parcels will remain on the NPL and are not being considered 
for deletion as part of this action.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 11, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-
SFUND-2003-0010, by one of the following methods:
     https://www.regulations.gov. Follow on-line instructions 
for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or 
removed from Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any comment received 
to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you 
consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia 
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written 
comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and 
should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e. on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment 
policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general 
guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.
     Email: hagenmaier.elizabeth@epa.gov or 
houston.pamela@epa.gov.
     Mail: Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, 11201 
Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219 Attention: Elizabeth Hagenmaier, 
SUPR Division or Pamela Houston, ECO Office.
     Hand delivery: Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, 
11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219. Such deliveries are only 
accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday excluding 
Federal holidays and special arrangements should be made for deliveries 
of boxed information.

[[Page 27980]]

     For additional submission methods, please contact the 
persons identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-SFUND-
2003-0010. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or email. The http://www.regulations.gov website is 
an ``anonymous access'' system, which means the EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your email address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, the EPA recommends that you include your 
name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with 
any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If the EPA cannot read your comment due 
to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, the 
EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should 
avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be 
free of any defects or viruses.
    Docket: The docket contains the information that was the basis for 
the partial deletion, specifically the documentation regarding the 
results of soil cleanup activities. Information regarding the optional 
voluntary cleanup activities such as the lead-based paint stabilization 
and interior dust sampling is not provided in the docket but is 
available from the EPA on a case-by-case basis. Certain other material, 
such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in the 
hard copy.
    All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such 
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in the hard 
copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either 
electronically in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at: EPA 
Region 7 Records Center at 11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 
66219, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding 
Federal holidays and facility closures due to COVID-19. We recommend 
that you contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section before visiting the Region 7 office.
    The Omaha public libraries also have computer resources available 
to assist the public. The W. Dale Clark Library, located at 215 S. 15th 
Street, Omaha, NE 68102 is centrally located within the site boundary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Hagenmaier, Remedial Project 
Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, SUPR/LMSE, 
11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219, telephone (913) 551-7939, 
email: hagenmaier.elizabeth@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document ``we,'' ``us,'' or 
``our'' refer to the EPA. This section provides additional information 
by addressing the following:

I. Introduction
II. NPL Deletion Criteria
III. Deletion Procedures
IV. Background and Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion

I. Introduction

    The EPA Region 7 is proposing to delete 117 residential parcels of 
the Omaha Lead Superfund site (Site or OLS), from the National 
Priorities List (NPL) and is requesting public comment on this proposed 
action. The table of 117 Properties Proposed for the 2020 Partial 
Deletion of Properties from the Omaha Lead Superfund site, (EPA-HQ-
SFUND-2003-0010-1985) identifies specific properties included for this 
proposed partial deletion. The location of the 117 properties are shown 
on Figure 1 ``Map for the 2020 Partial Deletion Omaha Lead Site'' (EPA-
HQ-SFUND-2003-0010-1983). The NPL constitutes appendix B of 40 CFR part 
300, which is the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution 
Contingency Plan (NCP), which the EPA promulgated pursuant to section 
105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and 
Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended. The EPA maintains the NPL 
as those sites that appear to present a significant risk to public 
health, welfare, or the environment. Sites on the NPL may be the 
subject of remedial actions financed by the Hazardous Substance 
Superfund (Fund). This partial deletion of the Omaha Lead Superfund 
site is proposed in accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e) and is consistent 
with the Notice of Policy Change: Partial Deletion of Sites Listed on 
the National Priorities List 60 FR 55466 (November 1, 1995). As 
described in 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP, a portion of a site deleted from 
the NPL remains eligible for Fund-financed remedial action if future 
conditions warrant such actions.
    The EPA will accept comments on the proposal to partially delete 
this site for thirty (30) days after publication of this document in 
the Federal Register.
    Section II of this document explains the criteria for deleting 
sites from the NPL. Section III discusses procedures that the EPA is 
using for this action. Section IV discusses the 117 residential parcels 
of the Omaha Lead Superfund site and demonstrates how they meet the 
deletion criteria.

II. NPL Deletion Criteria

    The NCP establishes the criteria that the EPA uses to delete sites 
from the NPL. In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), sites may be 
deleted from the NPL where no further response is appropriate. In 
making such a determination pursuant to 40 CFR 300.425(e), the EPA will 
consider, in consultation with the State, whether any of the following 
criteria have been met:
    i. Responsible parties or other persons have implemented all 
appropriate response actions required;
    ii. All appropriate Fund-financed response under CERCLA has been 
implemented, and no further response action by responsible parties is 
appropriate; or
    iii. The remedial investigation has shown that the release poses no 
significant threat to public health or the environment and, therefore, 
the taking of remedial measures is not appropriate.
    Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c) and the NCP, the EPA conducts 
five-year reviews to ensure the continued protectiveness of remedial 
actions where hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants remain 
at a site above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted 
exposure. The EPA conducts such five-year reviews even if a site is 
deleted from the NPL. The EPA may initiate further action to ensure 
continued protectiveness at a deleted site if new information becomes 
available that indicates it is appropriate. Whenever there is a 
significant release from a site deleted from the NPL, the deleted site 
may be restored to the NPL without application of the hazard ranking 
system.

[[Page 27981]]

III. Deletion Procedures

    The following procedures apply to deletion of the 117 residential 
parcels of the Site:
    (1) The EPA consulted with the State before developing this Notice 
of Intent for Partial Deletion.
    (2) The EPA has provided the State 30 working days for review of 
this document prior to publication of it today.
    (3) In accordance with the criteria discussed above, the EPA has 
determined that no further response is appropriate.
    (4) The State of Nebraska, through the Nebraska Department of 
Environment and Energy, has concurred with the deletion of the 117 
residential parcels of the Omaha Lead Superfund site, from the NPL.
    (5) Concurrently, with the publication of this Notice of Intent for 
Partial Deletion in the Federal Register, a notice is being published 
in a major local newspaper, the Omaha World Herald. The newspaper 
announces the 30-day public comment period concerning the Notice of 
Intent for Partial Deletion of the Site from the NPL.
    (6) The EPA placed copies of documents supporting the proposed 
partial deletion in the deletion docket and made these items available 
for public inspection and copying at the Site information repositories 
identified above.
    If comments are received within the 30-day comment period on this 
document, the EPA will evaluate and respond appropriately to the 
comments before making a final decision to delete the 117 residential 
parcels. If necessary, the EPA will prepare a Responsiveness Summary to 
address any significant public comments received. After the public 
comment period, if the EPA determines it is still appropriate to delete 
the 117 residential parcels of the Omaha Lead Superfund site, the 
Regional Administrator will publish a final Notice of Partial Deletion 
in the Federal Register. Public notices, public submissions and copies 
of the Responsiveness Summary, if prepared, will be made available to 
interested parties and included in the site information repositories 
listed above.
    Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not itself 
create, alter, or revoke any individual's rights or obligations. 
Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not in any way alter 
EPA's right to take enforcement actions, as appropriate. The NPL is 
designed primarily for informational purposes and to assist EPA 
management. Section 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP states that the deletion 
of a site from the NPL does not preclude eligibility for future 
response actions, should future conditions warrant such actions.

IV. Background and Basis for Intended Partial Site Deletion

    The following information provides EPA's rationale for deleting the 
117 residential parcels of the Omaha Lead Superfund site from the NPL, 
as previously identified.

Site Background and History

    The Omaha Lead Superfund site (Site or OLS [CERCLIS ID # 
NESFN0703481]) includes surface soils present at residential 
properties, child-care centers, and other residential-type properties 
in the city of Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. The properties were 
contaminated as a result of deposition of aerial emissions from 
historic lead smelting and refining operations. The OLS encompasses the 
eastern portion of the greater metropolitan area in Omaha, Nebraska. 
The site extends from the Douglas-Sarpy County line on the south, north 
to Read Street and from the Missouri River on the east to 56th Street 
on the west. The Site is centered around downtown Omaha, Nebraska, 
where two former lead-processing facilities operated. American Smelting 
and Refining Company, Inc. (ASARCO) operated a lead refinery at 500 
Douglas Street in Omaha, Nebraska, for over 120 years. Aaron Ferer & 
Sons Company (Aaron Ferer), and later Gould Electronics, Inc., (Gould) 
operated a lead battery recycling plant located at 555 Farnam Street. 
Both ASARCO and Aaron Ferer/Gould facilities released lead-containing 
particulates into the atmosphere from their smokestacks. The lead 
particles were subsequently deposited on surrounding residential 
properties.
    Beginning in 1984, the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) 
monitored ambient air quality around the ASARCO facility. This air 
monitoring routinely measured ambient air lead concentrations in excess 
of the ambient air standard. Between 1972 and 1998 the DCHD measured 
the blood lead level in children within the county. The results of the 
measurements indicated a high incidence of elevated blood lead level in 
children. Blood lead screening of children living in zip codes located 
east of 45th Street consistently exceeded 10 micrograms per deciliter 
([mu]g/dl) more frequently than children living elsewhere in the 
county.
    In 1998, the Omaha City Council requested assistance from the EPA 
to address the high incidence of children found with elevated blood 
lead levels by the DCHD. In 1999, the EPA initiated an investigation 
into the lead contamination under the authority of Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). On 
February 26, 2002, the OLS was proposed for the NPL (67 FR 8836), and 
on April 30, 2003, the OLS was listed on the NPL (68 FR 23077).
    The OLS includes those residential properties where the EPA 
determined through soil sampling that soil lead levels represent an 
unacceptable risk to human health. Residential properties where soil 
sampling indicates that lead concentrations in the soil are below a 
level that represent an unacceptable risk are not included in the Site. 
Residential properties include those with high accessibility to 
sensitive populations (children seven years of age and younger [0 to 84 
months] and pregnant or nursing women). The properties include single 
and multi-family dwellings, apartment complexes, child daycare 
facilities, vacant lots in residential areas, schools, churches, 
community centers, parks, greenways, and any other areas where children 
may be exposed to site-related contaminated media. Commercial and 
industrial properties are excluded from the definition of the Site.
    The residential properties proposed for deletion from the NPL site 
were cleaned up under both CERCLA removal and remedial authority. 
Regardless of the authority used for the remediation of yards, the 
cleanup levels for soils for all the properties proposed for deletion 
were the same.

Response Actions

    The initial EPA response was conducted under CERCLA removal 
authority. Due to the size of the site and the very large number of 
individual properties, it was necessary to prioritize sites for 
cleanup. The prioritization was based on factors such as the elevated 
blood level of children at each property and the lead concentration in 
the soil at each property. The result was a series of action levels 
that reflected the priority of categories of sites. Consequently, the 
action level for the site soils changed over time from 2500 mg/kg to 
400 mg/kg, as the highest priority sites were cleaned up first. The 
cleanup level was established using the Integrated Exposure Uptake 
Biokinetic (IEUBK) model to determine the concentration to which the 
lead is cleaned up at each property within the site. The cleanup level 
for the OLS is 400 mg/kg of lead in the soil. The cleanup level of 400 
mg/

[[Page 27982]]

kg was selected to allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. 
The cleanup level has not changed, and all properties, regardless of 
the action level, were cleaned up to 400 mg/kg.

Removal Activities

    Beginning in March 1999, the EPA began collecting soil samples from 
properties that provided licensed child daycare services. The initial 
removal action dated August 2, 1999, consisted of excavation and 
replacement of contaminated soil where the lead concentration exceeded 
the action levels identified in the Action Memorandum. Response actions 
were implemented at properties that met either of the following 
criteria:
     A child seven years of age or younger (0 to 84 months) 
residing at the property was identified with an elevated blood level 
(EBL) exceeding 15 [mu]g/dl (this EBL was reduced to 10 [mu]g/dl in 
August 2001) and a soil sample collected from a non-foundation quadrant 
exhibited lead concentrations greater than 400 mg/kg, or
     A property was used as a child-care facility and a soil 
sample collected from a non-foundation quadrant exhibited a lead 
concentration greater than 400 mg/kg.
    On August 22, 2002, the EPA initiated a second removal action. This 
second removal action included all other residential type properties 
where the maximum non-foundation soil lead concentration exceeded an 
action level of 2,500 mg/kg. The 2002 Action Memorandum explicitly 
identifies the possibility of lead-based paint as a potential 
contributor to lead contamination of soils within thirty inches of the 
foundation of a painted structure. Due to the potential contribution of 
deteriorating lead-based paint near the foundations of structures, a 
lead concentration greater than 400 mg/kg in the soil in the drip zone 
(areas near structure foundations) was not, in itself, sufficient to 
trigger soil removal. However, if a soil sample from any mid-yard 
quadrant exceeded the action level, soil was removed from all areas of 
the property exceeding the 400 mg/kg cleanup level, including the drip 
zone. In November 2003, the EPA amended the second removal action to 
reduce the action level to 1,200 mg/kg concentration of lead in soil. 
In March 2004, the EPA amended the second removal action to combine the 
two removal actions. In March 2005, the EPA amended the removal action 
to reduce the action level from 1200 mg/kg to 800 mg/kg.
    At properties determined to be eligible for response under either 
of the Action Memoranda, soil with lead concentrations greater than the 
cleanup level was excavated and replaced with clean soil and the 
excavated areas were revegetated.
    EPA signed an Interim Recored of Decision on December 15, 2004. 
Beginning with the construction season of 2005, the scope of the 
removal action was expanded to address the requirements of the 2004 
Interim ROD to include: (1) Stabilization of deteriorating exterior 
lead-based paint at properties where the continued effectiveness of the 
soil remediation was threatened; (2) response to interior dust at 
properties where interior dust lead levels exceeded applicable 
criteria; (3) public health education; and (4) participation in a 
comprehensive remedy with other agencies and organizations that 
addresses all identified lead hazards in the Omaha community.

Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS)--Human Health Risk 
Assessment

    As part of the RI/FS, the EPA developed a Human Health Risk 
Assessment (HHRA) for the Site using site-specific information 
collected during the OLS Remedial Investigation. Lead was identified as 
the primary contaminant of concern. The HHRA also identified arsenic as 
a potential contaminant of concern, but arsenic was eliminated based on 
its relatively low overall risk to residents and lack of connection to 
the release from the industrial sources being addressed by this 
Superfund action.
    The risk assessment for lead focused on young children under the 
age of seven (0 to 84 months) who are site residents. Young children 
are most susceptible to lead exposure because they have higher contact 
rates with soil or dust, absorb lead more readily than adults, and are 
more sensitive to the adverse effects of lead than are older children 
and adults. The effect of greatest concern in children is impairment of 
the nervous system, including learning deficits, reduced intelligence, 
and adverse effects on behavior. The IEUBK model for lead in children 
was used to evaluate the risks posed to young children (0 to 84 months) 
resulting from the lead contamination at the site. Because lead does 
not have a nationally-approved reference dose (RfD), cancer slope 
factor, or other accepted toxicological factor which can be used to 
assess risk, standard risk assessment methods cannot be used to 
evaluate the health risks associated with lead contamination. The 
modeling results determined that there was an unacceptable risk to 
young children from exposure to soils above 400 mg/kg.
    In October 2008, the EPA released a draft Final Remedial 
Investigation. Based on the 2008 data set, EPA established the boundary 
of the Final Focus Area for the Site. The Final Focus Area is generally 
bounded by Read Street to the north, 56th Street to the west, Harrison 
Street (Sarpy County line) to the south, and the Missouri River to the 
east, and encompasses 17,280 acres (27.0 square miles). By the time the 
Final Remedial Investigation was completed, the EPA had collected soil 
samples from 37,076 residential properties, including 34,565 properties 
within the Final Focus Area's boundary. In total, 34.2 percent of 
properties sampled through completion of the 2008 RI had at least one 
mid-yard sample with a soil lead level exceeding 400 mg/kg. In addition 
to soil sampling, the EPA collected dust samples from the interior of 
159 residences to support the OLS Human Health Risk Assessment.

Record of Decision

    The EPA completed the Final Record of Decision (ROD) for the OLS in 
May 2009. The Remedial Action Objective is to reduce the risk of 
exposure of young children to lead such that an individual child, or 
group of similarly exposed children, have no greater than a 5 percent 
chance of having a blood-lead concentration exceeding 10 [mu]g/dl. The 
selected remedy includes the following components:

 Excavation and Replacement of Soils Exceeding 400 mg/kg Lead
 Stabilization of Deteriorating Exterior Lead-Based Paint
 Response to Lead-Contaminated Interior Dust
 Health Education
 Operation of a Local Lead Hazard Registry as a type of 
Institutional Control
Each of these components is described below.

Remedial Actions

Excavation and Replacement of Soils Exceeding 400 mg/kg Lead

    Excavation of soils was accomplished using lightweight excavation 
equipment and hand tools in the portions of the yard where the 
concentration of lead in the surface soil exceeded 400 mg/kg. 
Excavation continued in all quadrants, play zones, and drip zone areas 
exceeding 400 mg/kg lead until the residual lead concentration measured 
at the exposed surface of the excavation was less than 400 mg/kg in the 
upper foot, or less than 1,200 mg/kg at depths

[[Page 27983]]

greater than one foot. Typically, soil excavation depths were between 
six and ten inches in depth. Soils in garden areas were excavated until 
reaching a residual concentration of less than 400 mg/kg in the upper 
two feet measured from the original surface, or less than 1,200 mg/kg 
at depths greater than two feet.
    After confirmation sampling verified that cleanup goals were 
achieved, the excavated areas were backfilled with clean soil to 
original grade and sod was placed over the remediated areas.
    The EPA's remediation contractors stockpiled contaminated soil in 
staging areas, collected samples, and subsequently transported soil to 
an off-site subtitle D solid waste disposal landfill for use as daily 
cover and/or disposal.

Stabilization of Deteriorating Exterior Lead-Based Paint

    The EPA used the lead-based paint assessment protocol, presented in 
the Final Lead-Based Paint Recontamination Study Report prepared for 
the OLS, to determine eligibility for exterior lead-based paint 
stabilization at those properties where soil lead concentrations 
exceeded 400 mg/kg. At those properties where the exterior lead-based 
paint assessment identified a threat from deteriorating paint to the 
continued protectiveness of the soil remedy, the owner of the property 
was offered stabilization of painted surfaces on structures located on 
the property. Exterior lead-based paint stabilization is not mandatory 
and was provided to those qualifying property owners who chose to have 
their exterior paint stabilized. Removal of loose and flaking lead-
based paint was performed using lead-safe practices as described in 
EPA's Renovate, Repair and Painting Rule. The practices include wet 
scraping, and collection of paint chips using plastic sheeting. Scraped 
areas were primed and all previously painted surfaces had two coats of 
paint applied.

Response to Lead-Contaminated Interior Dust

    As part of the final remedy, residents at eligible properties are 
provided the opportunity to have interior dust sampled. The interior 
dust response is not mandatory, and the resident may choose to decline. 
If the property owner agrees, the EPA collects samples of dust from 
interior surfaces. The analytical data is provided to the resident/
tenant in a letter and the letter informs them whether any HUD criteria 
are exceeded. The Douglas County Health Department conducts follow up 
activities at any residence where the concentration of lead in the 
interior dust levels exceed the HUD criteria. For those residences that 
qualify and where the resident agrees, the residents are provided with 
a high-efficiency household vacuum cleaner, training on the maintenance 
and the importance of proper usage of the vacuum, and education on 
mitigation of household lead hazards. The Douglas County Health 
Department also provides training and education regarding the need to 
mitigate interior dust.
    Exterior lead-based paint stabilization and interior dust response 
were conducted retroactively at properties where soil cleanups were 
performed under CERCLA removal authority, as well as to properties 
addressed under CERCLA remedial authority.

Health Education

    There are a number of identified lead hazards within the OLS, not 
all of which are connected to the contaminant source of the OLS. To 
better address all potential lead sources within the OLS, a health 
education program was developed and continues to be implemented to 
increase public awareness and mitigate exposure. An active educational 
program continues in cooperation with agencies and organizations that 
include Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the 
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS), DCHD, local 
non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties. The 
following, although not an exhaustive list, indicate the types of 
educational activities provided at the Site:
     Support for in-home assessments for children identified 
with elevated blood lead levels.
     Development and implementation of lead poisoning 
prevention curriculum in schools.
     Support for efforts to increase community-wide blood lead 
monitoring.
     Physicians' education for diagnosis, treatment, and 
surveillance of lead exposure.
     Operation of Public Information Centers to distribute 
information and respond to questions about the EPA response activities 
and lead hazards in the community.
     Use of mass media (television, radio, internet, print 
media, etc.) to distribute health education messages.
     Development and distribution of informational tools such 
as fact sheets, brochures, refrigerator magnets, etc., to inform the 
public about lead hazards and measures that can be taken to avoid or 
eliminate exposure.

Institutional Controls

    The Omaha Lead Registry, (available at www.omahalead.org) is a GIS 
based database that provides the public with on-line access to the 
status of the EPA investigation and response actions. The EPA notifies 
residents and property owners about the information that is available 
through the lead hazard registry as part of the transmittal sent at the 
completion of soil remediation at each individual property.

Community Involvement

    The EPA worked extensively with the Omaha community through a 
variety of communication vehicles including, but not limited to: local 
speaking engagements, participation in citizens' groups and city 
council meetings, local public access television, public service 
announcements on local cable television, coverage on radio, television, 
in local and national newspapers, mass mailings of informational 
materials, public outreach by telephone, conducting public meetings, 
and through the EPA website.
    The EPA has been performing outreach to Omaha citizens, elected 
officials, school officials, health officials, the media, nonprofit 
groups, and others since becoming involved in the project in an effort 
to convey information about the hazards of lead poisoning, particularly 
the ways that lead affects the health of children. The EPA participated 
in numerous formal and informal meetings to explain EPA's role and 
commitment in Omaha, convey information about the Superfund process, 
and provide general information about the site and lead contamination. 
The EPA responds to inquiries on a daily basis regarding the site and 
individual property owner's sampling results.
    In January 2004, a Community Advisory Group (CAG) was formed for 
the OLS site. A CAG is a committee, task force, or board made up of 
residents affected by a Superfund site. The CAG provided a public forum 
where representatives with diverse community interests could present 
and discuss their needs and concerns related to the site and the 
cleanup process. The CAG was discontinued after the last meeting was 
held in October 2011. A new group, Child Lead Poisoning Prevention 
Group, formed. The first meeting of the Child Lead Poisoning Group was 
held at City Hall in May 2012. The Group is no longer active.

Five-Year Review

    The EPA completed the second Five-Year Review for the site in 
August 2019.

[[Page 27984]]

Five-Year Reviews for the site are statutory. The triggering action for 
the Five-Year Review is the completion of the first Five-Year Review 
for the site in September 2014.
    The protectiveness of the remedy was deferred in the Five-Year 
Review because the remedy had not been completed at all of the 
properties within the site boundary. However, cleanup activities at the 
117 residential parcels included in this partial deletion action are 
complete and protective of human health. There are no issues or 
recommendations in the Five-Year Review related to these 117 
residential parcels proposed for deletion.
    The next Five-Year Review will be completed in August 2024.

Summary of EPA Work Completed

Soil Testing and Remediation

    The EPA Region 7 completed the EPA lead portion of the remedial 
action on December 29, 2015. The city of Omaha and the Douglas County 
Health Department will be performing the remaining field work. As of 
December 29, 2015, the EPA collected soil samples from 42,047 
properties. There are 489 remaining properties to be sampled. The EPA 
has obtained access to collect samples from 163 of the 489 properties.
    Based on the soil sampling results, 14,019 properties were eligible 
for soil remediation. The EPA remediated lead contaminated soil at 
13,090 properties (93 percent) of the properties that were eligible for 
remediation. There are approximately 929 remaining properties that are 
eligible for soil remediation. The EPA obtained access to remediate 
fifty-one of the remaining properties.

Lead-based Paint Testing and Stabilization

    The EPA tested 12,057 properties for the presence of lead-based 
paint (LBP). Six thousand seven hundred and eighty-two (6,782) 
properties qualify for LBP stabilization. The EPA completed LBP 
stabilization on 6,249, (92 percent) of the eligible properties.

Dust Sampling

    The EPA collected dust samples from 3,933 properties consisting of 
4,477 residences for lead contaminated dust. These numbers reflect the 
fact that some of the properties are multi-residence properties.

Continuing Remedial Action

    The EPA completed Cooperative Agreements with the city of Omaha and 
the Douglas County Health Department that provide funds to allow these 
local government agencies to continue efforts to obtain access to the 
remaining properties and conduct sampling and remediation activities at 
those properties where they obtain access.

Determination That the Criteria for Deletion Has Been Achieved

    In accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), Region 7 of the EPA finds 
that the 117 residential parcels of the Omaha Lead Superfund site (the 
subject of this deletion action) meet the substantive criteria for 
deletion from the NPL. The EPA has consulted with and has the 
concurrence of the state of Nebraska. All responsible parties or other 
persons have implemented all appropriate response actions required. All 
appropriate Fund-financed response under CERCLA was implemented, and no 
further response action by responsible parties is appropriate.
    The implemented remedy at the 117 residential parcels has achieved 
the degree of cleanup specified in the ROD for all pathways of 
exposure. All selected remedial action objectives and associated 
cleanup levels are consistent with agency policy and guidance. No 
further Superfund response is needed to protect human health and the 
environment.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300

    Environmental Protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, 
Hazardous substances, Hazardous waste, Intergovernmental relations, 
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water 
pollution control, Water supply.

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O. 
13626, 77 FR 56749, 3 CFR, 2013 Comp., p. 306; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 
54757, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 2923, 3 CFR, 
1987 Comp., p. 193.

    Dated: April 29, 2020.
James Gulliford,
Regional Administrator, Region 7.
[FR Doc. 2020-09681 Filed 5-11-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


