FACT SHEET PROPOSED REMEDIAL ACTION DECISION West Haymarket Redevelopment Site North The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (the Department) is providing public notice of its intent to approve a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the West Haymarket Redevelopment Site North conducted under the Department s Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) by the City of Lincoln. This fact sheet provides background information on the site, a summary of contamination, a description of the proposed actions, a description of the public participation procedures, and the Department contact person. Background: The West Haymarket Redevelopment Site North (WHRSN) is located west of the historic Haymarket District in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. The legal description of the West Haymarket Redevelopment Site North is the southwest quarter of Section 23, and the northwest quarter of Section 26 in Township 10 North, Range 6 East. The geographic coordinates for the approximate center of the WHRSN are 40.0818063 degrees north latitude and 96.7142555 degrees west longitude. The WHRSN area has been divided into three areas ( Flanks ) separated by what will remain active railroad tracks: the East Flank (to contain a public arena and mixed commercial/residential structures), the North Flank (to contain festival parking and potential ice skating facility), and the West Flank (to contain green space and flood control structures). Historically, this area has operated as a railroad freight and passenger service business, with railroad operations conducted by both the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). BNSF at this time still conducts railroad operations on the site. UPRR no longer operates on the site. On-site BNSF railway operations included main line, switchyard, and various operations and maintenance structures that have been active within the area since the 1880 s. Other historic buildings associated with the BNSF property include a large roundhouse, coal and lime storage areas, powerhouse, and ice houses. A passenger depot is located on the eastern edge of the site and dates back to 1924. Currently, the train depot is also being used by retail shops and restaurants. Several historical petroleum releases have been documented from fueling operations conducted by BNSF. These petroleum releases are being addressed by the Department s Petroleum Remediation Section and are not included as part of the VCP RAP. The UPRR operated railroad tracks and a rail yard dating back to the 1880 s along the western perimeter of the WHRSN. A former Union Pacific Railroad turntable and three bay engine houses were reportedly abandoned around 1970. Materials handled during railroad operations potentially include petroleum products and minor amounts of solvents, paints, transformer oils, batteries, and detergents.
Nature and Extent of Contamination: The soil and groundwater at the site are contaminated due to previous railroad activities including fueling, locomotive/car repair, and engineering services. Soil Contamination: Soil contamination was found across the site. Some of the contaminants found to be above the direct contact residential and industrial/commercial remediation goals (RGs) include: arsenic, chromium, lead, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, and benzo(b)fluoranthene. Groundwater Contamination: Groundwater contamination was found across the site. Contaminant concentrations detected in the groundwater were compared to the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and VCP RGs to determine the significance of the contamination. MCLs are established by Nebraska Title 118 Groundwater Quality Standards and Use Classification, Chapter 4. The most common dissolved contaminants across the site found to be above MCLs and/or RGs include: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium, naphthalene, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, and hexachlorobutadiene. Groundwater contamination was also evaluated for its potential impact to Salt Creek. Groundwater Remedial Action Class: The Department assigns a Remedial Action Class (RAC) to groundwater contamination 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 designated as RAC-1 or RAC-2. When the use of groundwater in the area is more limited or of poor quality, the groundwater is generally assigned a remedial action class of RAC-3. Generally, groundwater cleanup will be less extensive for a RAC-3 designation. Groundwater in the WHRSN area is generally of poor quality with limited yield. The area has a high concentration of industrial development and no down-gradient potable or production water wells. Therefore, the groundwater contamination at the WHRSN area has been assigned a RAC-3 designation. 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 which will achieve the objectives. RAOs for the WHRSN are provided below by flank. North Flank RAOs: Eliminate the potential for human exposure via dermal contact, ingestion or dust inhalation to soils impacted by arsenic and lead above industrial RGs in the vicinity of the former BNSF Roundhouse area. impacted by arsenic and lead in the vicinity of the former BNSF Roundhouse area.
impacted by metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) above MCLs or RGs. metals, VOCs, and SVOCs above MCLs or RGs. West Flank RAOs: Eliminate the potential for human exposure via dermal contact, ingestion or dust inhalation to soils impacted by arsenic, lead, and benzo(a)pyrene above industrial RGs. impacted by arsenic, lead and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). impacted by metals, VOCs, and SVOCs above MCLs or RGs. metals, VOCs, and SVOCs above MCLs or RGs. East Flank RAOs: Eliminate the potential for human exposure via dermal contact, ingestion, or dust inhalation to soils impacted by arsenic and lead above residential RGs. impacted by arsenic and lead. impacted by metals, VOCs, and SVOCs. metals, VOCs, and SVOCs. Interim Remedial Actions: Interim remedial actions performed in May 2011 over the East Flank included the removal of contaminated soils and the use of clean fill material to remove direct contact exposures to any remaining contaminated soils. Proposed Remedial Actions: To meet the RAOs provided above, a combination of remedial actions will be utilized to remove or further evaluate potential exposure pathways to contamination. These remedial actions include removal of contaminated soils, capping the area with clean fill, concrete, or asphalt, monitoring of groundwater contaminants, and use of institutional controls across the site. Specific proposed remedial actions are provided below. Soil Remedial Actions: Area-wide establishment of an environmental covenant preventing and controlling activities of construction or utility workers who may come into contact
with impacted soil across the WHRSN in accordance with the Nebraska Uniform Environmental Covenants Act {Neb. Rev. Stat. 76-2601 to 76-2613(or UECA)}; Placement of a hard surface cap/cover or soil cover in the vicinity of the former BNSF Roundhouse area of the North Flank to eliminate and/or control the potential for exposure to impacted soils. An environmental covenant restricting activity or development infringing upon the integrity of the cap/cover will be established in accordance with the UECA; Establishment of an environmental covenant preventing development of the North and West Flank of the WHRSN as residential property in accordance with the UECA; Removal of soils impacted with arsenic, lead and benzo(a)pyrene to meet Industrial RGs in the West Flank; Acceptance/confirmation of soil removal/cover operations completed within the East Flank of the WHRSN during the Arena site preparation project, along with proposed roadway improvements to eliminate all exposure pathways in the East Flank and Implementation of an area-wide Operations and Maintenance Plan to ensure compliance with the covenants and to prescribe routine inspection, maintenance, and documentation requirements to be performed to protect the integrity of all engineering controls implemented as a part of this Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the WHRSN. Groundwater Remedial Actions: Area-wide establishment of an environmental covenant preventing the installation and development of groundwater drinking water wells within the confines of the WHRSN in accordance with the UECA; Area-wide establishment of an environmental covenant preventing and controlling activities of construction or utility workers who may come into contact with groundwater across the WHRSN in accordance with the UECA; Groundwater monitoring of select monitoring wells in the North and West Flank for one year for purposes of monitoring and evaluating any threats to Salt Creek water quality due to known groundwater impacts in the WHRSN and Implementation of an area-wide Operations and Maintenance Plan to ensure compliance with the covenants and to prescribe routine inspection, maintenance, and documentation requirements to be performed to protect the integrity of all engineering controls implemented as a part of this RAP for the WHRSN. Public Participation Procedures: You may receive additional information, submit written comments regarding the proposed actions, or request a hearing, in writing, on or before May 31, 2012. If you request a hearing, you must state the nature of the issues to be raised and 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, Waste Management Division, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, PO Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922, phone (402) 471-4210. Contact: The proposed RAP and supporting material pertaining to the WHRSN site are available for inspection at the office of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, 1200 N Street, Suite 400, The Atrium, PO Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922. These materials are also located at the Bennett Martin Public Library located at 136 South 14 th Street Lincoln, Nebraska. Please notify the Department of Environmental
Quality if alternate formats of materials are needed by FIFTEEN DAYS PRIOR TO END OF PUBLIC NOTICE DATE. 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, NDEQ Remediation Section, (402) 471-4210.