Environmental Study in Eastern Heights, Grenada, MS
The environmental study in the Eastern Heights neighborhood was prompted by ongoing work to clean up the Grenada Manufacturing, LLC facility (Facility, commonly known as Grenada Stamping and currently operated by Ice Industries) under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) program. Based on results received to date for Eastern Heights, EPA has determined that there is no immediate threat to public health in the neighborhood due to trichloroethene (TCE).
EPA is overseeing a related environmental study at the Facility property. Based on results received to date for the Facility, EPA has directed Ice Industries to notify workers of the elevated TCE concentrations and implement immediate actions at the Facility to reduce worker exposure.
Background
Between 2011 and 2015, groundwater and soil vapor collected on the edge of the neighborhood as part of the cleanup indicated a potential concern for contaminants, primarily TCE, migrating off-site. TCE is a non-flammable, colorless liquid used as a solvent for cleaning metal parts.
In a June 2015 letter, EPA directed the Facility to conduct environmental sampling in and around the Eastern Heights neighborhood. EPA approved the Facility’s work plan in September 2015, and oversaw their investigation in September 2015 that included indoor air and outdoor air sampling, as well as groundwater and limited soil sampling in the Eastern Heights neighborhood.
In a letter dated December 30, 2015, EPA requested that the Facility expand the environmental study in Eastern Heights and undertake additional on-site corrective action work.
While EPA continued negotiations with the Facility to complete additional work, EPA began its own sampling for contaminants in indoor and outdoor air, groundwater, surface water and soil in the Eastern Heights neighborhood, at the Facility property and surrounding areas.
The Facility responded on January 29, 2016 and EPA oversaw the Facility’s second investigation in March 2016, which included indoor air and outdoor air sampling in the Eastern Heights neighborhood.
Results of sampling conducted at the Facility are posted as they become available.
EPA will use the results of the environmental study in the Eastern Heights neighborhood to inform the ongoing RCRA cleanup of the contamination from the Facility. By law, the Facility is obligated to conduct and finance the investigation and cleanup of contamination from current or former operations.
The EPA is coordinating closely with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Mississippi State Department of Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.