00045

FINAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN

FULTZ LANDFILL SITEBYESVfLLE, OHIO

United States Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Public Affairs

Region V

May 1985

CDMtmmxvnentMl mgmtcr*. scientists.(Htnntrs. 4 management consultants

CAMP DRESSER & McKEE INC.

11 East Adam SITMI. SuiM <SOOChicago, minots 60603312786-0253

Mr. Richard BarteltRegional Project OfficerU.S. Environmental Protection Agency230 South Dearborn StreetChicago, IL 60604

Ms. Margaret McCueRegional Superfund Community Relations CoordinatorU.S. Environmental Protection Agency230 South Dearborn StreetChicago, IL 60604

Subject:

Work Assignment No.:

EPA Contract No.:

Document No.:

Final Community Relations Plan for Fultz Landfill

48-5VC6

68-01-6939

116-WP2-EP-BBMA-1

Dear Mr. Bartelt and Ms. McCue:

Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. is pleased to submit this Final Community RelationsPlan for the Fultz Landfill site.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.

Very Truly yours,

CAMP DRESSER & McKEE INC.

Hawthornei VManager

ICF INCORPORATED International Scuare. 1850 '< Street. Northwest. Washington. DC. 20006 (202! 862-'1GO

MEMORANDUM

TO:

FROM:

DATE:

John Hawthorne, REM II Regional Manager

Marion Cox, REM II Community Relations Manager

May 7, 1985

DOCUMENT NO.: 116-WP2-OP-ATUA-2

PROJECT: REM II Contract No. 68-01-6939

SUBJECT: Final Community Relations Plan for Fultz Landfill

ACTION: Transmit to EPA

The attached final community relations plan (CRP) was prepared followingreceipt of EPA comments on the February draft CRP.

/;Marion Cox, ICF IncorporatedREM II Community Relations Coordinator

/ tiate

cc: Larry Campbell, REM II Site Manager

FINAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLANFULTZ LANDFILL, GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO

This final community relations plan describes the community relationsprogram to be implemented during the remedial investigation and feasibilitystudy at the Fultz Landfill, located near Byesville, Ohio. The United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region V office will have leadresponsibility for technical and community relations work at Fultz Landfill.To be effective, however, the community relations program will require closecoordination among state, local, and federal officials.

This community relations plan for Fultz Landfill is divided into thefollowing four sections:

A. Background and Key Issues3. Objectives of the Community Relations ProgramC. Community Relations TechniquesD. Schedule and Staffing Plan

The analysis in section A through C is based on interviews withrepresentatives of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the GuernseyCounty Health Department, local officials, and Byesville residents. Theseinterviews were conducted in the Byesville area during February 1985.

The schedule and staffing plan presented in Section D provides a proposedschedule of community relations activities at the Fultz Landfill. Theseactivities coincide with the technical milestones for the site. In addition,a contact list of key officials, media representatives, interest groups, andlocal citizens has been included as Appendix A. This appendix also identifiespossible locations for public meetings scheduled in the Byesville area duringthe remedial investigation and feasibility study.

A. BACKGROUND AND KEY ISSUES

1. Site History

The Fultz Landfill is located in Guernsey County, Ohio, approximately 70miles east of Columbus, Ohio. (For location and site maps, see Exhibits 1 and2.) The sice is in Jackson Township, outside the village of Byesville(population 2,500). The town of Cambridge, located approximately 5 milesnorth of Byesville, is the main urban center in the area (population 13,000)and is the Guernsey County seat.

The landfill, owned and operated by the Fultz family since the 1950's,occupies 30 acres. It is situated on top of an area that was previouslystripmined for coal. The surrounding area consists of farmland, pastureland,and active and abandoned stripmines. The nearby hills contain numerous

PERFORMANCE OF REMEDIAL RESPONSEACTIVITIES AT UNCONTROLLED HAZARDOUS

WASTE SITES (REM II)

U.S. EPA CONTRACT NO. 68-01-6939

FINAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS- PLAN

FOR

FULT2 LANDFILL SITE

BYESVILLE. OHIO

REM II DOCUMENT NO.: 116-WP2-OP-ATUA-2

Prepared By: ! & / £/' /l^&^-.n Date: ' £ "Carol Kennedy 7 " / / /REM II Community Relations 'Specialist

Approved By: / [ _&f Oyj^ Date:Marion Cox • ' / 'REM II Community Relations/Coordinator

Approved By: SdUttf' Jt+UfOM Date:Larry/Campbell /REM II Site Manager

: //"}**• >̂ t'̂ *̂ « _______ Date: 5/fApproved By:Hawzhorne / /II ffegional Manager

-9.

EXHIBIT 1

LOCATION MAP

FULTZ LANDFILLByesvJIle, Ohio

-3-

EXHIBIT 2

SITE MAP

FULTZ LANDFILLByeavillt, Ohio

Q

tine

L«n«flll

-4-

abandoned and, in some instances, interconnected coal mines. These coal mines,collect rainwater and ground water; wells owned and operated by the village ofByesville are drilled into these abandoned coal shafts. These wells provide85 percent of the village residents' water needs. In addition, Wills Creek,located just west of the site, flows north and is used to supply water for thecity of Cambridge.

Disposal operations at the landfill began in 1958. The site was permittedas a sanitary landfill in 1969 by the Guernsey County Health Department. Atabout that time, the landfill began accepting industrial wastes. Little isknown about the nature or volume of wastes disposed at the site, but becauseplastics and other industries have been or are currently operating in thearea, hazardous wastes at the Fultz site are expected to include chlorinatedand nonchlorinated solvents, and plating wastes. .

Since 1969, Ohio EPA has cited the landfill several times for violationsof the site's operating plan specified in the county permit. These violationsinclude failure to cover wastes properly, presence of litter, and acceptanceof semi-solid, liquid, and potentially hazardous wastes. When Fultz requestedto expand the landfill in 1981, Ohio EPA responded with a letter stating thatit did not feel that the site was environmentally sound or suitable forfurther development as a landfill.

During a site inspection in March 1982, Ohio EPA officials observedleachate discharging from the landfill and entering nearby Wills Creek. Soonafterward, local officials became concerned about potential contamination ofByesville's water supply and initiated surface and ground water sampling.

Sampling results issued on July 2, 1982 indicated traces of methylenechloride in the Byesville well, prompting Byesville water officials to converttemporarily to an alternate water supply. Follow-up testing revealed nocontamination of the well and, in monthly testing, no contamination has beenshown since. It is not known, however, if there is a geologic connectionbetween the landfill and the coal mine reservoir that could result in eventualcontamination of the water source. In addition, several residences in closeproximity to the landfill have private wells that are primarily used to waterlivestock. These wells will be included in the remedial investigation.

2.2 History of Community Involvement

Residents near the Fultz Landfill became aware of the problems associatedwith the site when it was included on EPA's Superfund National Priorities List(NPL) in December 1982. An information meeting was held at that time, todiscuss Fultz Landfill and the need for installment of monitoring wells aroundthe site. The meeting included representatives from Ohio EPA, Guernsey CountyHealth Department, The Daily Jeffersonian, and Ross Milligan, the Mayor ofByesville at that time. The Daily Jeffersonian. a Cambridge newspaper,reported on the meeting and the inclusion of the site on the NPL.

-3-

Since the site was listed on the NPL, there has been little communityconcern about the landfill, according to local officials and residents. Theonly identifiable citizen concern was from Ross Milligan who expressed concernabout the lack of information on what is in the landfill and therefore thelack of information on potential health effects from the site. Mr. Milliganraised this concern frequently during his recent campaign for mayor ofByesville.

According to Ohio EPA, two public interest groups have expressed interestin the site. The Appalachian Ohio Public Interest Campaign (AOPIC) is activein environmental and public information issues related to southeast Ohio.This group contacted Ohio EPA when the Fultz site and others were listed onthe NPL, and researched Ohio EPA files on the site. The Ohio EnvironmentalCouncil, a statewide umbrella organization that distributes information tolocal environmental groups, also expressed interest in Ohio NPL sites,including Fultz Landfill, and reviewed Ohio EPA information on all sites.

2.3 Current Community Concerns

The current low level of community interest can be attributed in part toresidents' lack of general awareness of the potential problems that may resultfrom the site. The lack of information about the substances in the landfilland the fact that monthly testing of the Byesville water supply has notrevealed any contamination, contributes to a sense of security among residentsthat the site does not pose a health threat. The common attitude of residentsis that the Superfund actions are precautionary. However, if the remedialinvestigation reveals significant levels of contamination in the ground wateror nearby Wills Creek, interest in the site, by residents and regional publicinterest groups, may increase. Specifically, the following issues may becomethe object of greater community concern if high levels of contamination arefound at the site:

• Effect on livestock. Byesville officials and residents interviewedduring development of this community relations plan were concernedprimarily about livestock that watered along the banks of Wills Creekand the general environmental quality of the stream.

• Contamination of Cambridge water supply. If significant amounts ofheavy metals or other contaminants are found in Wills Creek, thecommunity may become concerned about potential contamination of the

. Cambridge water supply, which draws partially from the creek.

• Threat to Byesville Water Supply. If sampling revealscontamination of the Byesville water supply, residents may become moreactively concerned about activities at the site. In addition, ifwater from Wills Creek flows back into the ground water, private wellsin the area could become contaminated.

• Shortage of Sanitary Landfills in the County. Recently, the Countywas concerned about the possibility of losing both of itsprivately-operated landfills, Fultz and Ace Landfills. The operators'lease for Ace Landfill expired in early 1983 and on March 30, 1983,

-o-

Ohio EPA recommended the suspension of the Fultz Landfill permit.Guernsey County officials found Fultz Landfill operations acceptable,however, and continued to license the Fultz Landfill. Meanwhile, AceLandfill signed a new lease thereby diverting the loss of thelandfills. The county has begun work towards developing anotherlandfill through the Guernsey County Solid Waste Disposal Board.Because of the current shortage of landfills, however, the countyremains concerned about losing the use of Fultz Landfill in the nearfuture.

B. OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM

Specific objectives of the community relations program for the Fultz Landfillsite are the following:

1) Ensure that the mayor of Byesville and officials of theGuernsey County Health Department, Jackson Township, andOhio EPA understand EPA's plans and the remedialalternatives under consideration. It is particularlyimportant that EPA maintain close communication withthese local officials to ensure that, if publicattention increases, public concerns can be identifiedas early as possible.

2) Coordinate the release of all public information withthe Ohio EPA, Guernsey County Health Department, and themayor of Byesville. Ohio EPA has a particularly activepublic affairs office that should be utilized. Ifinformation is released that is consideredcontroversial, appropriate state and federal electedrepresentatives should be notified.

3) Ensure that accurate and easily understandableinformation is disseminated to the Daily Jeffersonian,local residents, the Appalachian Ohio Public InterestCampaign, and the Ohio Environmental Council. Inparticular, information on the results of the groundwater and surface water sampling should be disseminatedby EPA as results become available.

4) Provide opportunities for public comment on and input tothe proposed remedial alternatives. To ensure thiscommunication and input, a public meeting should beconducted on the feasibility study report for Fultz, andphone contact with local officials should occur at thestart of and during the remedial investigation.

-7-

COMHUHI1Y REtATjQf jS 1 FCIJfj ! Q".L§

The following techniques are suggested for the Full/ landfil l community relations program:

Objec_t iyePommuni |.y__Relat ionsTechnique

Ms of (lech 11 iyut!

1) Meetings and/or phonecontact with state andlocal officials

Ensure that state and local o f f i c i a l sunderstand I PA'S plans and the remediala I to ilia i i ves nndur consideration.

Hie first meeting should occur as soon asthe work pliin is finalized to introduceCI'A and EHA contractor staff responsiblyfor the situ and to ensure that localo f f i c i a l s arc aware of the schedule ofwork. Other meetings and/or telephonec a l l s should be conducted p e r i o d i c a I l y toinform o f f i c i a l s of the results of theremedial i n v e s t i g a t i o n and the proposedremedial a l t e r n a t i v e s .

2) fact sheets andnews releases

fnsure that accurate and e a s i l y understoodinformation is disseminated to the localnewspaper, local residents. AOHIC, and theOhio Environmental Council.

An i n i t i a l fact sheet and news releaseshould he prepared to summarise the work-plan and to inform the community of theschedule and rationale for the ftl/FS to beundertaken. Ohio ll'A's p u b l i c a f f a i r soffice should be involved in reviewing anddistributing the fact sheets and newsreleases. A d d i t i o n a l fact sheuts and newsreleases should he prepared anddistributed to inform the community of th«results of the ft I and FS. News releasesshould be distributed to the press toannounce public meetings and the threeweek public comment period. Fact sheetsshould be distributed prior to or duringa l l p u b l i c meetings.

3) Informal ion repository Ensure that accurate and t i m e l y informationon the Fultz L a n d f i l l site is accessible tothe p u b l i c and press.

The information repository w i l l be locatedat the B y e s v i I l e Library and should includenewspaper c l i p p i n g s , h i s t o r i c a l and back-ground documents, and p u b l i c technicaldocuments.

-8-

C. COMMUNITY R E I A T I O N S TECHNIQUES (continued)

Community RelationsTechnique

Qet_aj j s of Community He la lionsfee tin i iiiio

<•) Pub)ic meeting lo f a c i l i t a t e c i t i z e n inputcomment period on the draftstudy.

(luring the pub I icf o a s i b i I i ty

Because of the s m a l l size of the communityand the current low level of Communityinterest in the site, p u b l i c meetingsshould be conducted judiciously, unlesscommunity concern appears to increase. Apubli c meeting should be conducted topresent and receive citizen comments onthe remedial a l t e r n a t i v e s proposed CorF u l t z l a n d f i l l . Ohio tPA staff shouldp a r t i c i p a t e in scheduling and conductingthe meeting. Other meetings can bescheduled if the need arises.

Pub Iicon thestudy

comment perioddraft f e a & i b i I i ty

To ensure that p u b l i c input and comments areincorporated into the selection of theremedial a l t e r n a t i v e for the site.

A m i n i m u m three week p u b l i c commentperiod must be provided for c i t i z e ninput and comment on the remediala l t e r n a t i v e s presented in the fS.

6) Prepare re&ponsivenesssumma ry

To ensure that public input and comments areincorporated into the selection of ther e m e d i a l a l t e r n a t i v e Tor the site.

A responsiveness summary is required aspart of the Kecord of Decision for eachsite. The summary records p u b l i c concernsand issues raised during the p u b l i ccomment period on the draft f e a s i b i l i t ystudy and documents how CPA responded tothese concerns.

-9-

o. senroyLL

Community R e l a t i o n sTechniques

Meeiimjs and/or phoneca I Is wi th ofTiciaIs

Fact Sheets (3)1) Start or Kl2) Rl results3) FS

News Releases (3)1) Start or Rl2) Avai labi I Uy of

results3) FS co«went period

In format i onKeposi tory

Pub Iic Meet ing

Pub Iic CommentPe r i od

ResponsivenessSumroa ry

CompletedWork I'Iuii

Star t orKerned i a I

Invest iyation

__jechnica l_MjDuringKuruod ia I

Investigation

Duringteas i b i I i ty

Study

O

Cumploiudt e u s i h i I j ty

Study

0

(update as needed)

Recordol

Due i s ion

X- —— -- ——— ---x(three weeks)

APPENDIX A

LIST OF CONTACTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES

A. Federal Elected Officials

Senator John GlennWashington D.C. Office503 Hart BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3353

District Office200 North High Street, Room 600Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 469-6697

Senator Howard MetzenbaumWashington D.C. Office

363 Russell BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-2315

District Office200 North High Street, Room.405Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 469-6774

Representative Douglas ApplegateWashington D.C. Office2464 Rayburn HOBWashington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-6265

District OfficeOhio Valley Towers, Room 610Steubenville, OH 43952 (614) 283-3716

B. State Elected Officials

Senator Robert NeyState SenateColumbus, OH 43215 (614) 466-8076

Representative Joe SecrestOhio House of RepresentativesColumbus, OH 43215 (614) 466-6935

C. Local Elected Officials

Art Valentine*, Byesville Mayor236 Seneca StreetByesville, OH 43723 (614) 685-6562

Dana Hayes*, Byesville Water Superintendent232 Seneca StreetByesville, OH 43723 (614) 685-SM4

A-2

Guernsey County CommissionGuernsey County CourthouseCambridge, OH 43725 (614) 432-2505

Ralph Portier, PresidentTom Colson, Vice PresidentSam Stover

Jackson Township Trustees:Dave GombedaRt ?,'!Byesville, OH 43723 (614) 439-3140

C. Stan KingRt #1Byesville, OH 43723 (614) 685-2006

J.B. Peters218 Race AvenueByesville, OH 43723 (614) 685-3143

Charlie Wilson*Byesville Board of Public Affai rs , President208 Euclid AvenueByesville, OH 43723 (614) 685-3239

D. U.S. ERA Region V Officials

Mary TysonRegional Project ManagerSite Management SectionUS EPA Region V230 South DearbornChicago, IL 60604 (312) 886-6941

Kerry StreetRegional Project ManagerCERCLA Enforcement SectionUS EPA Region V230 South DearbornChicago, IL 60604 (312) 886-4752

Margaret McCue*Superfund Community Relations CoordinatorOffice of Public AffairsUS EPA Region V230 South DearbornChicago, IL 60604 (312) 886-1728

A-3

Michael BermanOffice of Regional CounselUS EPA Region V230 South DearbornChicago, IL 60604

E. State Agency Officials

Ohio Environmental Protection AgencyMichael GreenbergPublic Participation CoordinatorDivision of Solid and HazardousWaste Management

P.O. Box 1049Columbus, OH 43216

Pat MadiganOhio Public Interest CenterP.O. Box 1049Columbus, OH 43216

Brian Blair*Inspector, Division of Solid and Hazardous

Waste ManagementOhio EPA, SE District2195 Front St.Logan, OH 43138

(312) 886-6841

(614) 466-1596

(614) 466-8508

(614) 385-8501

F. County, City, and Township Officials

Guernsey County Health Department (GCHD)John Bennett*, Administrator326 Highland AvenueCambridge, OH 43725

Rick Van Fleet*, Sanitarian326 Highland AvenueCambridge, OH 43725

Edward L. Smith*Cooperative Extension AgentOhio State University836 Steubenville Ave.Cambridge, OH 43725

(614) 439-3577

(614) 439-3577

(614) 432-7200

G. Press

The Daily Jeffersonian821 Wheeling AvenueCambridge, OH 43725 (614) 439-3531

A-4

Columbus Citizens Journal (AM Paper)Columbus Dispatch (PM Paper)34 South 3rd StreetColumbus, OH 43216 (614) 461-5000

H. Public Interest Groups

Ohio Environmental CouncilStephen Sedam, Executive Director1500 West 3rd AvenueColumbus, OH 43212 (614) 486-4055

Appalachian Ohio Public Interest CampaignLaura Yeomans, Director36 South CongressP.O. Box 2612Athens, OH 45701 (614) 593-7490

I. Other Interested Parties

Ross Milligan* (former mayor)314 South 2nd StreetByesville, OH 43723 (614) 685-6042

" These individuals were consulted about the site in February 1985.

A-5

Meeting Locations:

Meadowbrook High SchoolByesville, OH(614) 685-2413Capacity: 1,500Contact: Rich Barringer,Superintendent

(614) 685-3411

Guernsey County Health Department326 Highland AvenueCambridge, OH(614) 439-3577Capacity: 30-50Contact: John Bennett, Administrator

Byesville, Main Avenue School212 Main AvenueByesville, OH(614) 685-3113Capacity: 250Contact: Rich Barringer,Superintendent

(614) 685-3411

Information Repository:

Guernsey County District Public LibraryContact: Car la Nichols, Librarian

Main Branch:800 Steubenville AvenueCambridge, OH 43725(614) 432-5946

432-7142

Byesville Branch:100 Glass Ave.Byesville, OH 43723(614) 685-2236

FOR MAILING LABELS

Senator John Glenn503 Hart BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510

Sen. Howard Metzenbaum200 North High StreetColumbus, OH 43215

Senator Robert NeyState SenateColumbus, OH 43215

Dana Hayes232 Seneca StreetByesville, OH 43723

Sam StoverGuernsey County CourthouseCambridge, OH 43725

J.B. Peters218 Race AvenueByesville, OH 43723

Brian BlairOhio EPA, SE District2195 Front StreetLogan, OH 43138

Edward L. SmithOhio State University836 Steubenville AvenueCambridge, OH 43725

Ross Milligan314 South 2nd StreetByesville, OH 43723

Senator John Glenn200 North High StreetColumbus, OH 43215

Rep. Douglas Applegate2464 Rayburn HOBWashington, D.C. 20515

Rep. Joe SecrestOhio House ofRepresentatives

Columbus, OH 43215

Ralph PortierGuernsey CountyCourthouse

Cambridge, OH 43725

Dave GotnbedaRoute 1Byesville, OH 43723

Charlie Wilson208 Euclid AvenueByesville, OH 43723

John Bennett, GCHD326 Highland AvenueCambridge, OH 43725

The Daily Jeffersonian821 Wheeling AvenueCambridge, OH 43725

Stephen SedanOH Environmental Council1500 West 3rd AvenueColumbus, OH 43212

Senator Howard Metzenbaum363 Russell BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510

Rep. Douglas ApplegateOhio Valley TowersSteubenville, OH 43952

Art Valentine, Mayor236 Seneca StreetByesville, OH 43723

Tom CoIsonGuernsey CountyCourthouse

Cambridge, OH 43725

C. Stan KingRoute 1Byesville, OH 43723

Mary TysonU.S. EPA Region VSite Management Section230 South DearbornChicago, IL 60604

Rick Van Fleet, GCHD326 Highland AvenueCambridge, OH 43725

Columbus Citizens JournalColumbus Dispatch34 South 3rd StreetColumbus, OH 43216

Kerry StreetU.S. EPA Region VCERCLA EnforcementSection

230 South DearbornChicago, IL 60604

Laura Yeomans, DirectorAppalachian Ohio Public

Interest Campaign36 South CongressP.O. Box 2612Athens, OH 45701

Michael GreenbergOhio EPAP.O. Box 1049Columbus, Ohio 43216

Michael BermanU.S. EPA Region VOffice of RegionalCounsel

230 South DearbornChicago, IL 60604

Pat MadiganOhio EPAP.O. Box 1049Columbus, OH 43216