we Texas Commission on Environmental Quality INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM ‘To: Central Records File (MC 199) Date: May 8, 2006 ASARCO El Paso Smelter El Paso, Texas Solid Waste Registration No, 31235 Thru: Le Jason Wang, Supervisor ‘Team 4, Environmental Cleanup Section 1, Remediation Disivision From: Brad Wilkinson, P. G, Project Manager ‘Team 4, Environmental Cleanup Section I, Remediation Disivision Subject: Site Visit ASARCO El Paso Smelter ‘The Texas Commision on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Project Manager, Brad Wilkinson conducted a site visivinspection at the ASARCO Smelter on April 24 and 25” 2006. The following persons were present during the site vis Lairy Johnson ASARCO Tom Klempel ASARCO Brad Wilkinson TCEQ Representatives of ASARCO and TCEQ proceeded to inspect the areas which ASARCO identified as areas that are proposed for excavation, Photographs were taken of the different areas and are included on a disk. ‘The Plant began operations in 1887 as a lead smelter, ASARCO was formed in 1899 and the Plant ‘was brought into the new company. The ASARCO El Paso smelter primarily processed copper concentrate until it ceased operations in 1999. ‘The TCEQ has directed ASARCO 10 conduct corrective actions at the El Paso smelter. Part of the corrective action is to excavate certain areas of the smelter which ASARCO has identified as areas which may leached to groundwater and are label “Category I” materials. The TCEQ has conditionally designated ASARCO an Area of Contamination (AOC) to facilitate the excavation of the “Category 1” materials.Memo to File ASARCO El Paso May 8, 2006 ASARCO is currently excavating former Pond 1 to construct a Landfill as part of their corrective action directives. The waste excavated from Pond 1 and Pond 5 are temporarily placed in the bedding Building until the Landfill is constructed, ASARCO has not proposed concentration values for their excavation limits. ASARCO has also accepted remediated soils from the cemetery and have placed the material on the minus 50 slag pile. Additionally, ASARCO has laid the foundation in certain areas for the asphalt capping program. ‘The spent Abrasive Blasting Media site is located on the southern portion of ASARCO’s property and was created when a contractor used crushed slag (0 blast pipe to remove factory coating. The area was identified in 1995 and ARSACO followed their approved closure plan 10 remediate the area, However, the verification samples taken after the excavation failed TCLP analyses ASARCO has yet to include this area in their AOC boundary for remediation purposes. ‘The ASARCO, EPA and TCEQ discuss the future of the ASARCO El Paso smelter, ASARCO may have several options for the smelter property. However, all of the options required remediation outlined in the TCEQ corrective action directive letter. The emphasized more than once the importants of following the corrective action directives and meeting the established deadlines. Brad Wilkinson, P. G. cc: Waste Program Manager, TCEQ Region 6 Office, BI Paso AttachmentsMemo to File ASARCO El Paso May 8, 2006 Addressee: File SWRITIF: 31235 Date of lett DO NOT SEND THIS PAGE* bec list (format revised 9/1/2003) Mr. Donald Boothby, Team I Supervisor, Corrective Action Section (MC-127) Central Records (MC-199) CAS files (MC-127) For data entry: WWC COMMUNICATION ID: This letter is (Pick one): LBB (02 or 04, and number to count): Reply from facility needed? If so, give reply due date: Document Review(s) Complete? (Yes/No) WWC PROPERTY: CAS Status value changed for entire facility (Put new status or n/a)"? WWC FEATURE UPDATES (n/a, if not applicable)’: Feature Name: New Feature Status: For entry into RCRAInfo: Number of units (n/a, if not applicable): Corrective Action Codes (RFI units/areas) CA- or Closure Codes (RCRA/Interim Status units) CL- 1. Only attach bee page to the writer's copy and CAS File copy. 10M IOM NA NA NA na na 2. Iffacility will no longer be part of workload, change IHW CA 0 Fea status to Complete or Transferred, verify there are no ongoing PM-defined Features, and verify there are no outstanding Communications that need review. 3. Ifunit/area will no longer be part of workload, update appropriate Status & Characteristics for that unit/area only.