NCD122263825_19891220_JFD Electronics - Channel Master_FRBCERCLA PMCI_Community Relations Plan-OCR

COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN
CHANNEL MASTER SITE
OXFORD, NORTH CAROLINA
(WORK ASSIGNMENT C04015)
Contract No. 68-W9-0005
DECEMBER 20, 1989
Prepared For
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION IV
• • COMMUNITY RELATIONS Pl.AN
TES VIII WORK ASSIGNMENT NO. C04015
CHANNEL MASTER
OXFORD, GRANVILLE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
EPA REGION: IV
CONTRACT NO. : 68-W9-005; TES VIII
443L SITE NO.:
EPA WAM:
TELEPHONE NO. :
DYNAMAC WAM:
TELEPHONE NO. :
GIEZELLE BENNETT
[phone]
DAVID J. WINGERD
[phone]
Document Control #C04015-CK-DF-003
Submitted to
GIEZELLE BENNETT
REGION IV, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
December 20, 1989
• •
PREFACE
This Community Relations Plan for the Channel Master Site is a working document
which serves as a guide to communication with the affected community. The
activities and schedules may be altered according to future circumstances.
i
• • TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 OVERVIEW
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 Site History
2.2 Community Relations History
2.3 Community Background
3.0 ISSUES AND CONCERNS
4.0 COMMUNITY REIATIONS OBJECTIVES
5.0 COMMUNITY REIATIONS TECHNIQUES
6.0 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A· LIST OF CONTACTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES
APPENDIX B -EXPLANATION OF THE SUPERFUND REMEDIAL PROCESS AND
DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
ii
1
1
3
4
5
6
7
7
8
• •
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
FIGURE 1 -SITE LOCATION MAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TABLE 1 -COMMUNITY RELATIONS TIME-LINE FOR ACTIVITIES 9
iii
• •
1,0 OVERVIEW
This Community Relations Plan (CRP) outlines the history of the Channel Master
site, including citizen involvement and the community's concerns. Techniques
and objectives recommended for addressing these concerns are provided to assist
the lead agency in establishing effective communication with the community by
informing and receiving input from public officials and citizens. A list of
interested parties is included.
2,0 BACKGROUND
The Channel Master site, also known as JFD Electronics/Channel Master site, is
located in Granville County, North Carolina, southwest of the city limits of
Oxford (see Figure 1 -Site Location Map). The site is located at the corner
of Industrial Drive and Pine Tree Road (reference Figure 1). The main building
onsite currently has two occupants: Hamilton Avnet Electronics, 620 Industrial
Drive, and Time Electronics, 613 Pine Tree Road. Time Electronics Inc. and
Hamilton Avnet Electronics are not involved in manufacturing. A second smaller
building lies about 100 feet to the east of the main building. This second
building is being leased for use as a warehouse. The site is bounded by
Industrial Drive to the east, Pine Tree Road to the north, a southwest-flowing
unnamed creek to the east, and by Southern Railroad and by property occupied by
a printing business to the south. The unnamed creek appears to accept surface
drainage from the site.
The immediate area of the site is an industrial park. However, there are
residential areas adjacent to the industrial park. An apartment complex and a
residential neighborhood are 600 feet to the northeast of the site. A U.S.
Department of Agriculture Experimental Station is 2,000 feet to the northwest
of the site. The proposed construction of a new shopping mall, at the northwest
corner of the Industrial Drive (Highway 1646) and Route 15 (Lewis Street)
intersection, will locate a commercial business area within 1,200 feet southeast
of the site.
1
.. oEPA
Figure 1: Site Location Map for Channel Master Site,
Oxford, Granville County, North Carolina (U.S.G.S.
Oxford, NC 7 .5 minute quad)
Scale: 1 • a 2,000'
The City of Oxford law~ municipal water from Kerr ii!, which is approximately
10 miles northeast of the city. Lake Devin, about 0.7 miles west of the Channel
Master site, is the emergency water source for the city (see Figure 1). Both
water sources are upgradient of the site. The Channel Master site, other
facilities in the industrial park, and residences within the city limits are
served by City of Oxford municipal water.
There are some residents within a 1-mile of the site that are not served by
Oxford city water and they depend on groundwater as their sole source of drinking
water. The nearest well identified in the Preliminary Assessment/Site
Investigation (PA/SI) performed by the North . Carolina Department of Human
Resources/Environmental Health Section (NC DHR/EHS) is a residence at the
southwest corner of the intersection of Highway 15 and Industrial Drive (Highway
1646), approximately 2,000 feet southeast of the site. North of this
intersection is another property located on the east side of Highway 15 which
has multiple trailer homes served by a single well. This property is
approximately 2,500 feet east of the Channel Master site. The well serving the
trailer homes is less than 1,000 feet from the unnamed stream which flows past
the Channel Master site. Drainage from the Channel Master site is believed to
flow towards this stream.
2.1 SITE HISTORY
From 1962 through 1979, JFD Electronics manufactured television antennas on the
site. During that time, JFD employment ranged from 200 to nearly 1,000 workers.
The plant expanded several times to accommodate production needs. A lagoon
covering approximately 23,400 square feet (see Site Location Map, Figure 1) was
built in 1964-65 for the disposal of sludge generated by treating waste water,
primarily rinse water from a chromate conversion process and copper/nickel
electroplating.
In 1980, Channel Master Satellite Systems, a division of Avnet Inc., purchased
the property. The facility was once used for the manufacture of satellite dish
antennas (Channel Master has since consolidated all their domestic manufacturing
to their Smithfield, North Carolina facility). In 1983, half of the lagoon was
filled and used as a parking lot; the remaining portion of the lagoon remained
unfilled and open.
3
• •
The major contaminants at the site are heavy metals (chromium, arsenic, and
lead), halogenated hydrocarbons, and volatile organics. Trichloroethene,
tetrachloroethene, and trans-1,2-dichloroethene were discovered in groundwater
samples from onsite monitoring wells; these compounds were apparently released
from a below ground waste oil tank and from the rinsing of waste oil truck tanks.
Because of those compounds, there is a potential threat to the aquifer supplying
groundwater to residential wells outside the city of Oxford's water distribution
system. These homes have no alternate drinking water supply. The aquifer of
concern is the overlying weathered material and the bedrock of the Carolina Slate
Belt.
Channel Master conducted a soil removal operation beginning in June 1987 under
the direction of NC DHR/EHS. Contaminated soil was excavated from the lagoon
area and disposed of at an offsite hazardous waste landfill. Soil removal
operations were completed in early 1988.
In June 1987, NC DHR/EHS prepared a Site Hazard Ranking System (HRS) report which
is used to evaluate relative risks to public health and the environment. The
Channel Master site was proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List
in June 1988 and finalized in October 1989.
2.2 COMMUNITY RELATIONS HISTORY
There appears to have been little media attention focused on the Channel Master
site. Information obtained during community interviews revealed that the
hazardous waste contamination of the groundwater never became an issue when the
site was proposed for the NPL in 1988. The overall perception of the Channel
Master site by public officials and the public is that the site was fully
remediated as a result of the soil removal operations conducted by Channel Master
and that Channel Master did not contaminate the property themselves.
4
• • NC DHR/EHS (recently reorganized and now named North Carolina Department of
Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, or NC DEHNR) officials interviewed
revealed that community interest and concern was relatively low during the soil
removal. The Oxford Public Ledger carried articles covering the soil excavation
and removal. There were no known formal community public relations implemented.
Local community officials and residents reported that a spill occurred during
the time period when JFD operated the facility. The spill, reported to have
originated from JFD' s waste oil tank, migrated down a drainage ditch into Fishing
Creek. Local landowners whose property is along the creek alerted state
officials to the spill. There was an alleged "wildlife kill" after the spill
incident, according to nearby residents, during which aquatic species inhabiting
the creek were killed.
Mr. Jack Butler, who has been the NC DHR/EHS Project Manager, stated that public
concern may have increased due to Channel Master requesting permission of other
industrial park companies to drill monitoring wells on their properties. These
wells would be used to further define the extent of groundwater contamination.
2.3 COMMUNITY BACKGROUND
Granville County is largely a rural and agricultural area. Farming and farm-
related businesses maintain a level of primary importance to the county's
economic base. In the 1950's and 1960's, it was recognized that the economy was
overly dependent upon farming and, in particular, tobacco cultivation. Although
tobacco farming is labor intensive, post-World War II mechanization had
drastically reduced the tobacco labor work force. While many areas around
Granville County were rapidly growing, the population level in Granville County
was static. Many county natives were forced to find work elsewhere.
In order to compensate for the county's lost jobs in the tobacco industry and
to diversify the economic base, a group of local business leaders formed Oxford
Future Industries in 1954 to attract new industry to the county. Similarly, in
1960, Granville Industrial Developers was formed. JFD Electronics was the second
of many new industries to move into the county.
5
! • • • 3,0 ISSUES AND CONCERNS
The local community is unaware of the contamination by halogenated hydrocarbons
and organic solvents in the groundwater. The lack of awareness of Channel Master
site being proposed for the National Priority List is a major indicator of low
community concern. The local community officials, however. are interested in
having the extent of the contamination defined and the associated health risks
determined.
Most of the residents of Oxford are more familiar with JFD Electronics than
Channel Master because of the publicity associated with JFD Electronics induction
to Granville County and the high number of people employed. The community is
aware that a contamination problem was caused by JFD Electronics and that
contaminated soil was excavated and removed by the Channel Master company in 1987
and 1988. According to NC DEHNR, there was some concern by the industrial
neighbors of Channel Master when asked if monitoring wells could be placed on
their property.
Although community concern about the Channel Master site is presently minimal,
there is growing environmental concern in the area. The condition of Fishing
Greek has been a concern to the residents living downstream of the JFD/Channel
Master facility. The oil spill on Fishing Greek, which originated from JFD
Electronics, was described as killing off wildlife for a period of time.
Additionally, the sewage treatment plant operated by the City of Oxford
discharged its treated waste water effluent to Fishing Creek. Al though the
treatment plant has recently been expanded, the plant's treatment capacity has
been at capacity or has exceeded capacity for the past several years.
6
• • 4.0 COMMUNITY RELATIONS OBJECTIVES
The community relations objectives that follow are recommended to improve
communication between the residents in the affected community and the agencies
performing remedial activities. As additional information becomes available,
these objectives should be modified to reflect changes in the degree of community
involvement. The recommended objectives are:
• To inform local citizens of the site's NPL status;
• To inform local citizens of all site activities;
• To inform citizens of planned and ongoing activities and to solicit their input on remedial activities;
• To inform the media of all site activities;
• To encourage and facilitate positive interaction among governmental
agencies, public officials, and concerned citizens; and
• To periodically reassess the community's concerns and to update this CRP accordingly.
5.0 COMMUNITY RELATIONS TECHNIQUES
The community relations techniques that follow are proposed to meet the
objectives of the plan. These techniques should be revised to reflect the
changing concerns of the community and the remedial actions at the site. These
techniques are:
• To inform local citizens of the site's NPL status by:
Press Releases; and
Repository establishment with Superfund information.
• To inform local citizens of all site activities by:
Press Releases;
Telephone calls to elected officials; and
Briefings.
• To inform citizens of planned and ongoing activities and to solicit their input on remedial activities by:
Fact Sheets;
Press Releases; and
Public Meetings.
• To inform the media of all site activities by:
7
• Press Releases; and
Briefings during RI.
•
• To encourage and facilitate positive interaction among governmental
agencies, public officials, and concerned citizens by:
Telephone calls to elected officials.
• To periodically reassess the community's concerns and to update this
CRP accordingly by:
Press Releases and Fact Sheets after RI;
Press Release and Fact Sheet after FS; and
Public Meeting after development of Proposed Plan.
6.0 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Specific community relations activities that are recommended for the Channel
Master site are presented in Table 1 as they correspond to technical milestones
achieved in the Superfund process.
8
TABLE 1
COMMUNITY RELATIONS TIME-LINE FOR ACTIVITIES
Completion During Remedial During the Proposed
Community Relations of Community Investigation Completion of Feasibility Completion of Plan RA
Technique Relations Plan (RI) the RI Study (FS) the FS Announced ROD Activities • '
(1) Establish Information
Repository X update as needed X
(2) Establish Information
Contact X X
(3) Telephone Contact X as needed X X X
(4) Meetings with Local
Officials X X X X
(5) Prepare and Distribute
News Releases X X X X X X
(6) · Informal Meetings • in Community X X
(7) Fact Sheet X X X X
(8) Public Meeting X
(9) Public Comment Period X(3 weeks) X
(10) Responsiveness Summary X
(11) Revision of CRP X X
This schedule is subject to change based on changes in the technical schedule for the Channel Master site.
• •
APPENDIX A
LIST OF CONTACTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES
Federal Elected Officials
U.S. Senator Jesse Helms
Century Post Office Building
314 Fayetteville Street Mall
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
[phone]
Contact: Bob Caudle
[phone]
U.S. Senator Terry Sanford
401 West Trade Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
[phone]
Contact: John Blackburn
c/o U.S. Senator Terry Sanford
716 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
[phone]
U.S. Representative Tim Valentine
522 South Duke Street
Durham, North Carolina 27702
[phone]
Contact: A.B. Swindell, District Administrative Assistant
[phone] (0)
[phone] (H)
Federal Officials
Giezelle,Bennett, Remedial Project Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV
345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30365
[phone]
A-1
•
Suzanne Durham, Community Relations Coordinator
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV
345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30365
[phone]
State Elected Officials
State Senator Ken C. Royal, Jr.
P.O. Box 51218
Durham, North Carolina 27717-1218
[phone]
State Senator Ralph A. Hunt
433 Pilot Street
Durham, North Carolina 27707
[phone]
State Representative William T. Watkins
111 Gilliam Street
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
State Representative John T. Church
P.O. Drawer 947
Henderson, North Carolina 27536
[phone]
State Representative James W. Crawford Jr.
945 West Andrews Avenue
Henderson, North Carolina 27536
[phone]
State Officials
Jack Butler
North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, & Natural Resources Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Superfund Section
P.O. Box 2091
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-2901
[phone]
A-2
•
!&ill
J. Mike Warren, Chairman
Granville County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 3313
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (H)
[phone] (0)
Tony Y. Kozart, Councilman of District 4
Granville County Board of Commissioners
Route 3, P.O. Box 263M
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (H)
[phone] (0)
Harold Blizzard, County Manager
Granville County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 906
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (Y)
Allie G. Ellington, Mayor
City of Oxford
P.O. Box 1307
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (Y)
H. T. Ragland, Jr., City Manager
City of Oxford
P.O. Box 1307
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Dr. Charles Rollins, Director
Granville County Health Department
P.O. Box 367
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Terry Arnold, Sanitation Supervisor
Granville County Health Department
P.O. Box 367
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
A-3
•
•
Mitchell Byrd, Coordinator
Granville County Emergency Management
P.O. Box 906
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (W)
Lucille Frazier
Oxford Water Department
P.O. Box 506
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Private Citizens
Ernie B. Averette
Rt. 2, P.O. Box 1129
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Klaus Graichen, General Manager
Macra Lace Company
P.O. Box 508
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Richard A. Harth, General Manager
Alpine Engineered Products, Inc.
P.O. Box 1006
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Malenda Henderson, Resident Manager
Pine Tree Apartments
212 Greenforest Drive
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Mike Hollerman, Vice President
Weaver Realty
P.O. Box 26080
Greensboro, North Carolina
[phone]
A-4
•
•
Reggie Joyce, General Manager
Oxford Printing
8 Industry Drive
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
•
Community Organizations, Environmental Groups, and Citizens Groups
John K. Nelms, Chairman
[phone] (Office)
Oxford Industrial Commission
Oxford Chamber of Commerce
107 Williamsboro Street
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Katherine Skinner, Director
North Carolina Nature Conservacy
Carr Mill Mall
Suite 223
Carrbrough, North Carolina 27510
[phone]
Bill Thomas, State Chair
Sierra Club
Box 272
Cedar Mountain, North Carolina 28718
[phone]
Randy Schenk, Conservation Chair for State Issues
Sierra Club
1113 Virginia Avenue
Durham, North Carolina 27705
[phone]
Bill Nesmith
Sierra Club, Headwaters Group
3107 Hornbuckle Place
Durham, North Carolina 27707
[phone]
Joseph T. Hughes
Clean Water Fund of North Carolina
112 North Person Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
[phone]
A-5
•
Dr. Mike Corcoran, Executive Director
Wildlife Federation of North Carolina
1024 Washington Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
[phone]
Claudia Kadis, President
League of Women Voters of North Carolina
215 North Dawson Street
P.O. Box 28766
Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
[phone]
Michael Fawls, Staff Director
•
North Carolina Alliance for Conservation Actions
P.O. 10627
Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
[phone]
Mr. Mike Towey, Staff Manager
North Carolina Alliance for Conservation Actions
1811 East Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28203
[phone]
Media
Newspapers:
Oxford Public Ledger
P.O. Box 643
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Contact: John Beach, Editor
Deadline: Noon Friday and noon Wednesday preferable
Days of Publication: Monday and Thursday
Henderson Daily Dispatch
P.O. Box 908
Henderson, North Carolina 27536
[phone]
Contact: Gerald Fuller, City Editor
Deadline: None specified, prefer one week advance
Days of Publication: Daily except Sunday
A-6
•
Durham Morning Herald
P.O. Box 2092
Durham, North Carolina 27702
[phone]
Contact: City Desk
Deadline: Prefer one day
Days of Publication: Daily
Raleigh News and Observer
P.O. Box 191
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
[phone]
•
Contact: Kathleen Clute, Editor for Environmental Affairs
Deadline: Preferably one week
Days of Publication: Daily, morning and afternoon
Television:
WPGF-TV*
3012 Highland Boulevard
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
[phone]
[phone] (News)
* -News simulcast on Oxford's WCBQ-AM radio
Contact:
Deadline:
Scott Piches, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
WPTF-TV NBC 28
3012 Highwoods Boulevard
Raleigh, North Carolina
[phone]
Contact: News Department
Deadline: Two to three days
WRAL-TV
2619 Western Boulevard
(P.O. Box 12000 27605)
Raleigh, North Carolina 27606
[phone]
[phone] (News)
Contact:
Deadline:
News Department
One to two days
A-7
WTVD-TV ABC
P.O. 2009
•
Durham, North Carolina 27702
[phone]
[phone] (Raleigh News)
•
Contact:
Deadline:
Bonnie Boore, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
WECT TV-6
Capital News Bureau
P.O. Box 2059
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
Radio:
WCBQ 1340-AM
P.O. Box 336
John Scardino
Two to three days
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
Station Manager Al Woodlief (also City Councilman)
Two to three days
WUNC 91.5-FM
Public Radio for Central North Carolina
CB 6230/Swain Hall
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-6230
[phone]
Contact: Kevin Wolf
Deadline: Two to three days
WPTF 680-AM/WQDR 94.7-FM
3012 Highland Boulevard
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
Rene Michles, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
A-8
•
WRAL
711 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
[phone]
[phone] (News)
•
Contact:
Deadline:
News Department; Melinda Penn, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
WRDU 106-FM
4110 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27606
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
IJKIX 850-AM
News Department
Two to three days
5706 New Chapel Hill Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
[phone] (News)
Contact:
Deadline:
News Department
Two to three days
North Carolina News Network
711 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
Melinda Penn, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
Meeting Locations
Agricultural Research Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Crops Research Laboratory
P.O. Box 1555
Oxford, North Carolina 27565-1555
[phone]
FTS 672-3111
Contact: Ms. Caroline Mitchell, Administrative Officer
Meeting room accommodates 40-60 people, facility closest to site (within 2,000 ft).
A-9
• •
Richard H. Thorton.Public Library
P.O. Box 339, Corner of Main and Spring Street
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Contact: Mr. Arial Stevens, Chief Librarian
Meeting room accommodates 50-75 people, also can use the common area
of the library, which would accommodate 100 or more people.
North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service
P.O. Box 926, Corner of Wall and Spring Street
Oxford, North Carolina .27565
[phone]
Contact: Ms. Johnsie C. Cunningham
Meeting room accommodates 75-100 people.
Suggested Information Repository Location
Richard H. Thorton Public Library
P.O. Box 339, Corner of Main and Spring Street
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Contact: Mr. Arial Stevens, Chief Librarian
Ms. Violet Coats
A-10
• APPENDIX B •
EXPLANATION OF THE SUPERFUND PROCESS
U.S. EPA'S SUPERFUND PROCESS
In 1980, Congress enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act (CERCLA, more commonly known as "Superfund"). This act
authorizes U.S. EPA to investigate and respond to released of hazardous
substances that may endanger public health, welfare, and the environment. The
1980 law set up a trust fund to pay for the investigation and cleanup of sites
where parties responsible for the problems are unable or unwilling to clean up
the sites. In October 1986, Congress amended and reauthorized the Super fund law,
and also increased the size of the fund. This amendment is known as the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). For those sites where the
responsible parties are able and willing to proceed with the steps to cleanup
the site, the EPA is involved in the Superfund process in an enforcement role.
After a site initially discovered, it is inspected, usually by the State. The
State then scores the site using a system that considers the following:
• Possible health risks to the human population;
• Potential hazards (e.g. , from direct contact, inhalation, fire, or
explosion) created by the substances at the site;
• Potential for the substances at the site to contaminate the air or
drinking water supplies; and
• Potential for the substances at the site to pollute or harm the
environment.
The State usually requests that a site be put on U.S. EPA's National Priorities
List (NPL); however, the EPA may also initiate and carry out these procedures
at sites. Those sites with scores of 28.5 or greater are recommended for
placement on the NPL, a roster of the nation's highest priority waste sites.
Every site on the NPL qualifies for federal Superfund money.
Next, a Work Plan is developed and a Remedial Investigation (RI) is conducted.
The RI assesses the type of contaminants present, identifies the degree of
contamination, and characterizes potential risks to the community. Following
the RI, a Feasibility Study (FS) is conducted which examines the feasibility of
various alternative remedies. Upon completion of the FS, a public meeting and
30-day public comment period are held. A specific long-term action is then
chosen and designed. Once these activities are finished, the actual site
remediation begins.
The time needed to complete each of these steps is different for every site.
In general, an RI/FS takes from one to two years. Designing the long-term action
may take six months. The final long-term action typically takes one to two years
to put in place, although treatment of contaminated groundwater, if needed, may
take decades. It is possible, however, that the RI/FS will indicate that no
further action should be taken at the site.
On-going activities during the Superfund process include:
B-1
• • • Regular Monitoring. EPA monitors the site during the remedial activities. If a site becomes an imminent threat to public health or the environment at any point, EPA may conduct an emergency response action. Monitoring activities will usually continue long after site remediation has been completed.
• Community Relations. Throughout the Superfund process, EPA tries to keep citizens and officials informed about site activities and provide opportunities for citizens to participate in decisions made about the site. Public comment per_iods are held at certain key points in the process to provide EPA with information about citizens' questions and concerns which will be considered in making decisions about remediation activities at a site.
• Search for Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs). After being designated an NPL site, EPA undertakes a thorough investigation to identify parties who may be legally responsible for the waste contamination problem. The search for PRPs can and frequently does continue throughout the RI/FS process. If they refuse to provide funds or undertake the various phases of the RI/FS process, they may face various legal actions.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
Communities have the opportunity to apply for a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) of up to $50,000 per site. The purpose of the TAG Program is to assist community groups endeavoring to learn about the potential impact the site may have on their community. The grant provides funds to assist in hiring technical advisors or consultants who can help interpret and comment on site findings and the planned cleanup.· In addition to the Community Relations Program, the TAG Program can provide citizens the means to develop a thorough understanding of the technical issues so that they may provide thoughtful, informed comments to the government decision-makers considering proposed Superfund actions.
For further information on Technical Assistance Grants, contact:
Matt Robbins [phone]
Chief, Contracts and Grant Support Unit,
Division of Waste Management
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV 345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30365
To receive an application package, contact:
Suzanne Durham [phone]
Community Relations Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV 345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30365
B-2
'/
I • • •
345 COURTL.4.r'JO STREET. N.~
ATL.~NT,~. Gi:::•::)f~Glt\. J03i~::"
MEMORANDUM:
DATE:
SUBJE<..'I': Channel Master. Site
Oxfor.d, Nor.th car.olina
FROM: Giezelle Bennett ✓' 1 (' 2
Remedial P.r.oject Manager:_? /1" .. ,._~,, ----~
TO: ~ S~zanne-Dur.ham,~C01111!1\JI1i ty: _Re_lttions Cor.dinator.
c Jac_k B'-cltle:r., .NC..Super.fund _,---
Mary Johnson,ORC
Attached is the community Relations Plan for. the Channel Master. Site
in Oxfor.d, NC. Please r.eview it aC1d pr.ovide any comments that you
have to me no later. than October 2, 1989.
ca11 me if you have any questions.
• •
DRAFT
COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN
CHANNEL MASTER
OXFORD, GRANVILLE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
CONTRACTOR: DYNAMAC CORPORATION
CONTRACT: 68-\.19-005; TES VIII
\.I.A. NO.: C04015
TASK: COMMUNITY RELATIONS
SITE ID: 443L
EPA WAM: GIEZELLE BENNETT
TES WAM: DAVID J. WINGERD
Document Control #C04015-CM-DF-001
Submitted to
GIEZELLE BENNETT
PLAN
REGION IV, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
August 31, 1989
• •
PREFACE
This Community Relations Plan for the Channel Master Site is a working document
which serves as a guide to communication with the affected cornmuni ty. The
activities and schedules may be altered according to future circumstances.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. 0 OVERVIEW 1
2.0 BACKGROUND 1
2.1 Site History 2 2.2 Community Relations History 3 2.3 Community Background 4
3.0 ISSUES AND CONCERNS 4
4,0 COMMUNITY RELATIONS OBJECTIVES 5
5.0 COMMUNITY RELATIONS TECHNIQUES 6
6.0 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES 7
7.0 LIST OF CONTACTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES 9
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1. 0 OVERVIEW
This Community Relations Plan (CRP) outlines the history of the Channel Master
site, including citizen involvement and the community's concerns. Techniques
and objectives recommended for addressing these concerns are provided to assist
the lead agency in establishing effective communication with the community by
informing and receiving input from public officials and citizens on the hazardous
waste remedial action. A list of interested parties is included.
2.0 BACKGROUND
The Channel Master site, also known as JFD Electronics/Channel Master site, is
located in Granville County, North Carolina, southwest of the city limits of
Oxford (see Figure 1 -Site Location Map). The site is located at the corner
of Industrial Drive and Pine Tree Road. The main building onsite currently has
two occupants: Hamilton Avnet Electronics, 613 Industrial Drive, and Time
Electronics, 620 Pine tree Road. Time Electronics Inc. and Hamilton Avnet
Electronics, are not involved in manufacturing. A smaller building is bounded
by Industrial Drive to the east, Pinetree Road to the north, a southwest-flowing
creek to the east, and Southern Railroad and property occupied by a printing
business to the south.
The immediate area of the site is an industrial park. However, adjacent to the
industrial park are residential areas. An apartment complex and a residential
neighborhood are 600 feet to the northeast of the site. A U.S. Department of
Agriculture Experimental Station is 2,000 feet to the northwest of the site.
New construction at the corner of Industrial Drive and Route 15 will locate a
shopping mall within 1,200 feet southeast of the site.
The City of Oxford draws municipal water from Kerr Lake, which is approximately
10 miles northeast of the city. Lake Devin, about 0.7 miles west of the Channel
Master site, is the emergency water source for the city. Both water sources are
upgradient of the site. The Channel Master site, other facilities in the
industrial park, and residences in the area are served by municipal water.
1
• •
However, some residents within one mile of the site depend on groundwater as
their sole source of drinking water. The nearest well identified in the
Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI) performed by the North Carolina
Department of Human Resources/Environmental Health Section (NC DHR/EHS) is the
residence of Mr. James M. Brooks, which is approximately 2,000 feet from the
site. Other property owned by Mr. Brooks has multiple trailer homes which are
also served by water wells. The well serving the trailer homes is approximately
1,000 feet from an unnamed stream draining the Channel Master site.
2.1 SITE HISTORY
From 1962 through 1979, JFD Electronics manufactured television antennas on the
site. During that time, JFD employment ranged from 200 to nearly 1,000 workers.
The plant expanded several times to accommodate production needs. A lagoon
covering approximately 23,400 square feet was built in 1964-65 for the disposal
of sludge generated by treating waste water, primarily rinse water from a
chromate conversion process and copper/nickel electroplating.
In 1980, Channel Master Satellite Systems, a division of Avnet Inc., purchased
the property. The facility was used for the manufacture of satellite dish
antennas. In 1983, half of the lagoon was filled and used as a parking lot.
The major contaminants at the site are heavy metals ( chromium and lead)
halogenated hydrocarbons, and volatile organics. Trichloroethane, tetrachloro-
ethylene, and trans-1,2-dichloroethane were discovered in groundwater samples
from onsite monitoring wells; these compounds were apparently released from a
below ground waste oil tank and from the rinsing of waste oil truck tanks.
The aquifer of concern is the overlying weathered material and bedrock of the
Carolina Slate Belt.
2
• •
Channel Master conducted a soil removal operation beginning in June 1987 under
the direction of NC DHR/EHS. Contaminated soil was excavated and disposed of
at an offsite hazardous waste landfill. The soil removal addressed the metal
contamination. Soil removal operations were completed in early 1988.
In June 1987, NC DHR/EHS prepared a Site Hazard Ranking System (HRS) report which
is used to evaluate relative risks to public health and the environment. Based
upon the rating (39.11), the Channel Master site was placed on the National
Priorities List in 1988.
2.2 COMMUNITY RELATIONS HISTORY
There appears to have been little media attention focused on the Channel Master
site. Information obtained during community interviews revealed that the
hazardous waste contamination of the groundwater never became an issue when the
site was placed on the National Priorities List in 1987. The overall perception
of the Channel Master site by public officials and the public is that the site
was fully remediated as a result of the soil removal operations.
NC DHR/EHS (recently reorganized and now named North Carolina Department of
Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, or NC DEHNR) officials interviews
revealed that community interest and concern was relatively low during the soil
removal. The Oxford Public Ledger carried articles covering the soil excavation
and removal. There were no known formal community public relations implemented
because the preremedial phases of the Superfund process were conducted by Channel
Master during the voluntary soil removal.
Local community officials and residents reported that a spill occurred during
the time when JFD operated the facility. The spill, reported to have originated
from JFD's waste oil tank, migrated down a drainage ditch into Fishing Creek.
Local landowners with property along the creek alerted state officials to the
spill. There was a "wildlife kill" after the spill incident.
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Mr. Jack Butler, who has been the NC DHR/EHS Project Manager, stated that public
concern may have increased due to Channel Master requesting permission of other
industrial park companies to drill monitoring wells on their properties. These
wells would be used to further define contamination extent and plume boundaries.
2.3 COMMUNITY BACKGROUND
Granville County is largely a rural and agricultural area. Farming and farm-
related businesses maintain a level of primary importance to the county's
economic base. In the 1950's and 1960 1 s 1 it was recognized that the economy was
overly dependent upon farming and, in particular, tobacco cultivation. Although
tobacco farming is labor intensive, post-World War II mechanization had
drastically reduced the tobacco labor work force. While many areas around
Granville County were rapidly growing, the population level in Granville County
was static. Many county natives were forced to find work elsewhere.
In order to compensate for the county's lost jobs in the tobacco industry and
to diversify the economic base, a group of local business leaders formed Oxford
Future Industries in 1954 to attract new industry to the county. Similarly, in
1960, Granville Industrial Developers was formed. JFD Electronics was the second
of many new industries to move into the county.
3.0 ISSUES AND CONCERNS
The local community is unaware of the contamination by halogenated hydrocarbons
and organic solvents in the groundwater. The lack of awareness of Channel Master
site being on the National Priority List is a major indicator of low community
concern. The local community officials, however, are interested in having the
extent of the contamination defined and the associated health risks determined.
Most of the residents of Oxford are more familiar with JFD Electronics than
Channel Master because of the publicity associated with JFD Electronics induction
to Granville County and the high number of people employed. The community is
aware that a contamination problem was caused by JFD Electronics and that
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contaminated soil was excavated and removed by the Channel Master company in 1987
and 1988. According to NC DEHNR, there was some concern by the industrial
neighbors of Channel Master when asked if monitoring wells could be place on
their property.
Although community concern about the Channel Master site is presently minimal,
there is growing environmental concern in the area. The condition of Fishing
Creek has been a concern to the residents living downstream of the JFD/Channel
Master facility. The oil spill on Fishing Creek which originated from JFD
Electronics was described as killing off wildlife for a period of time.
Additionally, the sewage treatment plant operated by the City of Oxford
discharged its treated waste water effluent to Fishing Creek. Although the
treatment plant has recently been expanded, the plant's treatment capacity has
been at capacity or has exceeded capacity for the past several years.
Another environmental issue which has caused Granville County residents to become
more environmentally aware is the midnight dumping of PCB oil along the county's
rural highways. The residents of areas where PCBs were dumped are concerned
about apparent elevated incidences of cancer, particularly noted in northern
Granville County. A medical clinic is attempting to obtain a grant to study the
problem.
4.0 COMMUNITY RELATIONS OBJECTIVES
The community relations objectives that follow are recommended to improve
communication between the residents in the affected community and the agencies
performing remedial activities. As additional information becomes available,
these objectives should be modified to reflect changes in the degree of community
involvement. The recommended objectives are:
• To inform local citizens of the site's NPL status;
• To inform local citizens of all site activities;
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• •
• To inform citizens of planned and ongoing activities and to solicit
their input on remedial activities;
• To inform the media of all site activities;
• To encourage and facilitate positive interaction among governmental
agencies, public officials, and concerned citizens; and
• To periodically reassess the community's concerns and to update this
CRP accordingly.
5.0 COMMUNITY RELATIONS TECHNIQUES
The community relations
objectives of the plan.
techniques that follow are proposed to meet the
These techniques should be revised to reflect the
changing concerns of the community and the remedial actions at the site. These
techniques are:
• To inform local citizens of the site's NPL status by
Press Releases, and
Repository establishment with Superfund information.
• To inform local citizens of all site activities by
Press Releases,
Telephone calls to elected officials, and
Briefings.
• To inform citizens of planned and ongoing activities and to solicit
their input on remedial activities by
Fact Sheets,
Press Releases, and
Public Meetings.
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• •
• To inform the media of all site activities by
Press Releases, and
Briefings during RI.
• To encourage and facilitate positive interaction among governmental
agencies, public officials, and concerned citizens by
Telephone calls to elected officials.
• To periodically reassess the community's concerns and to update this
CRP accordingly by
Press Releases and Fact Sheets after RI,
Press Release and Fact Sheet after FS, and
Public Meeting after development of Proposed Plan.
6.0 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Specific community relations activities that are recommended for the Channel
Master site are presented in Table 1 as they correspond to technical milestones
achieved in the Superfund process.
7
Community Relations
Technique
(1) Establish Information
Repository
(2) Establish Information
Contact
(3) Telephone Contact
(4) Meetings with Local
Officials
(5) Prepare and Distribute
News Releases
(6) Informal Meetings
in Community
(7) Fact Sheet
(8) Public Meeting
(9) Public Comment Period
(10) Responsiveness Summary
(11) Revision of CRP
Completion
of Community
Relations Plan
TABLE 1
COMMUNITY RELATIONS TIME-LINE FOR ACTIVITIES
During Remedial
Investigation
(RI)
Completion of
the RI
During the
Feasibility
Study (FS)
Completion of
the FS
Proposed
Plan
Announced ROD
RA
Activities
X-------------------------------------update as needed------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------X
X-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------X
X--------------(as needed)---------------X----------------------------------------------X-------------------------------------------------------X
X X X
X X X
X X
X
X
X X
X-------------------X
X
X
X
X
X (3 weeks) X
X
X
This schedule is subject to change based on changes in the technical schedule for the Channel Master site.
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7.0 LIST OF CONTACTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES
Federal Elected Officials
U.S. Senator Jesse Helms
Century Post Office Building
314 Fayetteville Street Mall
Raleigh. North Carolina 27602
[phone]
U.S. Senator Terry Sanford
401 West Trade Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
(704) 3 71-6800
Contact: John Blackburn
c/o U.S. Senator Terry Sanford
716 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
[phone]
U.S. Representative Tim Valentine
522 South Duke Street
Durham, North Carolina 27702
[phone]
Contact: A.B. Swindell, District Administrative Assistant
[phone]
[phone] (H)
Federal Officials
Giezelle Bennett, Remedial Project Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV
345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30365
[phone]
Suzanne Durham, Community Relations Coordinator
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV
345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30365
[phone]
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State Elected Officials
State Senator Ken C. Royal, Jr.
P.O. Box 51218
Durham, North Carolina 27717-1218
[phone]
State Senator Ralph A. Hunt
433 Pilot Street
Durham, North Carolina 27707
[phone]
State Representative William T. Watkins
111 Gilliam Street
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
State Representative John T. Church
P.O. Drawer 947
Henderson, North Carolina 27536
[phone]
State Representative James W. Crawford Jr.
945 West Andrews Avenue
Henderson, North Carolina 27536
[phone]
State Officials
Jack Butler
•
North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, & Natural Resources
Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Superfund Section
P.O. Box 2091
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-2901
[phone]
J. Mike Warren, Chairman
Granville County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 3313
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (H)
[phone] (0)
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•
Tony W. Kozart, Councilman of District 4
Granville County Board of Commissioners
Route 3, P.O. Box 263M
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (H)
[phone] (O)
Harold Blizzard, County Manager
Granville County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 906
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (W)
Allie G. Ellington, Mayor
City of Oxford
P.O. Box 1307
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (W)
H. T. Ragland, Jr., City Manager
City of Oxford
P.O. Box 1307
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Dr. Charles Rollins, Director
Granville County Health Department
P.O. Box 367
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Terry Arnold, Sanitation Supervisor
Granville County Health Department
P.O. Box 367
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
( 919) 693-2141
Mitchell Byrd, Coordinator
Granville County Emergency Management
P.O. Box 906
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone] (W)
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•
Lucille Frazier
Oxford Water Department
P.O. Box 506
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
James M. Brooks
706 Lewis Street
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Ernie B. Averette
Rt. 2, P.O. Box 1129
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Bennett L. Hightower
Durham Road, Route 15 South
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
•
Community Organizations, Environmental Groups, and Citizens Groups
Katherine Skinner, Director
North Carolina Nature Conservacy
Carr Mill Mall
Suite 223
Carrbrough, North Carolina 27510
[phone]
Bill Thomas, State Chair
Sierra Club
Box 272
Cedar Mountain, North Carolina 28718
[phone]
Randy Schenk, Conservation Chair for State Issues
Sierra Club
1113 Virginia Avenue
Durham, North Carolina 27705
[phone]
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•
Bill Nesmith
Sierra Club, Headwaters Group
3107 Hornbuckle Place
Durham, North Carolina 27707
[phone]
Joseph T. Hughes
Clean Water Fund of North Carolina
112 North Person Street
Raleigh, North Carolina
[phone]
Wildlife Federacion of North Carolina
1022 Washington Street
Raleigh, North Carolina
[phone]
League of Women Voters
215 North Dawson Street
Raleigh, North Carolina
[phone]
Media
Newspapers:
Oxford Public Ledger
P.O. Box 643
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Contact: John Beach, Editor
•
Deadline: Noon Friday and noon Wednesday preferable
Days of Publication: Monday and Thursday
Henderson Daily Dispatch
P.O. Box 908
Henderson, North Carolina 27536
[phone]
Contact: Gerald Fuller, City Editor
Deadline: None specified, prefer one week advance
Days of Publication: Daily except Sunday
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•
Durham Morning Herald
P.O. Box 2092
Durham, North Carolina 27702
[phone]
Contact: City Desk
Deadline: Prefer one day
Days of Publication: Daily
Raleigh News and Observer
P.O. Box 191
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
[phone]
•
Contact: Kathleen Clute, Editor for Environmental Affairs
Deadline: Preferably one week
Days of Publication: Daily, morning and afternoon
Television:
WPGF-TV*
3012 Highland Boulevard
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
[phone]
[phone] (News)
* -News simulcast on Oxford's WCBQ-AM radio
Contact:
Deadline:
Scott Piches, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
WPTF-TV NBC 28
3012 Highwoods Boulevard
Raleigh, North Carolina
[phone]
Contact: News Department
Deadline: Two to three days
WRAL-TV
2619 Western Boulevard
(P.O. Box 12000 27605)
Raleigh, North Carolina 27606
[phone]
[phone] (News)
Contact:
Deadline:
News Department
One to two days
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WTVD-TV ABC
P.O. 2009
•
Durham, North Carolina 27702
[phone]
[phone] (Raleigh News)
•
Contact:
Deadline:
Bonnie Boore, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
WECT TV-6
Capital News Bureau
P.O. Box 2059
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
Radio:
WCBQ 1340-AM
P.O. Box 336
John Scardino
Two to three days
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
Station Manager Al Woodlief (also City Councilman)
Two to three days
WUNG 91. 5-FM
Public Radio for Central North Carolina
CB 6230/Swain Hall
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-6230
[phone]
Contact: Kevin Wolf
Deadline: Two to three days
WPTF 680-AM/WQDR 94.7-FM
3012 Highland Boulevard
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
Rene Michles, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
15
•
WRAL
711 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
[phone]
[phone] (News)
•
Contact:
Deadline:
News Department; Melinda Penn, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
WRDU 106-FM
4110 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27606
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
WKIX 850-AM
News Department
Two to three days
5706 New Chapel Hill Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
[phone] (News)
Contact:
Deadline:
News Department
Two to three days
North Carolina News Network
711 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27605
[phone]
Contact:
Deadline:
Melinda Penn, Assignment Editor
Two to three days
Meeting Locations
Agricultural Research Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Crops Research Laboratory
P.O. Box 1555
Oxford, North Carolina 27565-1555
[phone]
FTS 672-3111
Contact: Ms. Caroline Mitchell, Administrative Officer
Meeting room accommodates 40-60 people, facility closest to site
(within 2,000 ft).
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Richard H. Thorton Public Library
P.O. Box 339, Corner of Main and Spring Street
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Contact: Mr. Arial Stevens, Chief Librarian
Meeting room accommodates 50-75 people, also can use the common area
of the library, which would accommodate 100 or more people.
North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service
P.O. Box 926, Corner of Wall and Spring Street
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Contact: Ms. Johnsie C. Cunningham
Meeting room accommodates 75-100 people.
Suggested Information Repository Location
Richard H. Thorton Public Library
P.O. Box 339, Corner of Main and Spring Street
Oxford, North Carolina 27565
[phone]
Contact: Mr. Arial Stevens, Chief Librarian
Ms. Violet Coats
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