STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR I 900 K A NAWHA Bou L E VARD , EAs T CHAR L E STON, WV 2 5 305 (304) 558

- 2000

EARL R AY TOMBLIN GOV E RN O R January 5, 2016

Shawn M. Garvin, Regional Administrator USEPA Region 3 1650 Arch Street 

### 3RAOO Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029


### RE: StateofWest Virginia's concurrenceforUnited StatesEnvironmentalProtection Agency to addtheNorth 251h 

### StreetGlass and Zinc site to theNational Priorities List

Dear Mr. Garvin, The State of West Virginia concurs with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) that the North 25 1h Street Glass and Zinc site in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia should be added to theNational Priorities List (NPL), pursuant to authority under Section 105 ofthe Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 9605. This property is considered a high priority site requiring investigation and remediation to address contamination on-and off-site in order to protect human health and the environment. The property, located on the banks ofthe West Fork River, was used for glass·manufacturing from 1915 through 1975 and for zinc ore processing from 1911 to 1916. Harrison Warehouse Services Company, Inc. currently owns the property and uses a large warehouse for the storage ofrecycled paper for a pulp facility. Another area of the property is leased to an automobile repair service, and one parcel ofthe site containing a zinc slagpile is owned by a private citizen.
Lead, zinc and arsenic are present in onsite soils due to past glass and/or zmc manufacturing operations. The zinc slag pile is accessible to the public and is also eroding into the West Fork River which is used for drinking water, recreation and fishing. There may also have been offsite migration ofcontaminants from the site into residential areas due to historical air releases from the smokestacks during the time ofoperation. Also, the Harrison County Parks and Recreation Commission leases an area on the western boundary ofthe property for use as a rails-to-trails bike path. The site is accessiblefrom the bike path.OF F ICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Garvin January 5, 2016 Page 2Investigations by the West Virginia Department ofEnvironmental Protection (WVDEP) in 2009 determinedthe presence ofcontaminants associated withthe former glass manufacturing and zinc processing operations, both on site and along the adjacent Rails to Trails recreational trail. In 2010, USEPA performed a removal action to address the contamination along the recreational trail, clearing the trail and applying a road bed/asphaltencapsulatinglayerto the trail to prevent human exposure. Further investigation has determined that contamination remains onsite and offsite, including impacts to the West Fork River. Additional investigation and remediation is needed to mitigate these concerns. WVDEP believes that the site is eligible for proposed listing on the NPL by virtue of the nature of the heavy metal contamination that remains at the site and the potential threat this contaminationposes to the community.
Should the site be listed on the NPL, WVDEP will continue to assist USEPA in making the necessary cleanup decisions designed to protect public health and the environment in Clarksburg and on the West Fork River. West Virginia will collaborate in the development ofa Superfund contract to provide West Virginia the assurances required by CERCLA, including but not limited to, the State's statutory cost share of 10% for the remedial action and assumption of operation and maintenance responsibilities.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Patricia Hickman, Director, WVDEP Division ofLandRestoration, at (304) 926-0499, extension 1263.

Sincerely,

# ~~~~· Earl Ray Tomblin Governor