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AGREEMENTS REACHED TO ADDRESS CONTAMINATION AT TWO HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

Release Date: 09/13/1999
Contact Information: Carl Terry, EPA Media Relations, 404-562-8325

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that agreements have been reached with the City of Jacksonville, Florida, the Duval County School Board and JEA for the assessment and development and evaluation of potential cleanup alternatives at the Brown’s Dump site and the Jacksonville Ash site. The City of Jacksonville, the Duval School Board and the JEA are the respondents for Brown’s Dump and the City of Jacksonville is the respondent for the Jacksonville Ash site.

According to the terms of the Agreements, known as Administrative Orders by Consent, the respondents will investigate the nature and extent of contamination and develop and evaluate potential cleanup alternatives for each site. At the completion of the investigation and assessment, EPA will be responsible for selection of the remedy that will be implemented at each site. Additionally, the respondents have agreed to reimburse EPA for all response and oversight costs. The Agreement provides for all activities to be conducted under the authority and oversight of EPA in accordance with federal and state requirements.

The 50-acre Brown’s Dump site is located north of West 33rd Street, west of Pearce Street and southeast of Moncrief Creek in Jacksonville. The area includes Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School, an electrical substation and several single and multi-family residences. From 1949 to 1953, the site was an active landfill used for the disposal of ash from the City’s municipal solid waste incinerator. Investigations have shown elevated levels of hazardous substances that include lead and arsenic. EPA has concluded that surface soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater have been impacted by releases at the site.

The Jacksonville Ash site consists of the Forest Street incinerator, the 5th and Cleveland incinerator and Lonnie C. Miller, Sr. Park. The Forest Street incinerator, located at the corner of McCoy’s Creek Boulevard and Margaret Street, includes the Forest Park Head Start School, playgrounds, basketball courts and a garden. The 5th and Cleveland incinerator is located northeast of the intersection of 5th Street and Cleveland Street. The City of Jacksonville operated a municipal waste incinerator at the site from 1943 to 1969. Reportedly, ash was disposed of in several areas including what is now Emmett Reed Community Center. The area includes Emmett Reed Park, the community center containing a Head Start School with an associated playground, a baseball diamond and basketball courts and residential areas. Lonnie C. Miller, Sr. Park is located on Price Road near the intersection of Moncrief Road and Soutel Road. The Park includes a playground, public rest rooms and several picnic shelters. Contaminants of concern include but are not limited to lead and arsenic.