HomeMy WebLinkAboutKolekoleGulchPark-Fact SheetFinal-4-28-17 April 2017
FACT SHEET
,�Lk e, Lead-Impacted Soil Response Action for Kolekole
HAWAII STATE Gulch Park
DEPARTMENT
Honomu Hawaii
OF HEALTH Honomu,
Hawaii Department of Health, HEER Office
1582 Kamehameha Avenue, TMK: (3) 2-8-015:015. Old Mamalahoa Highway,Honomu,Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4623 Island
Introduction
This fact sheet provides information on the State of Hawai`i harmful to children than adults because it can accumulate and
Department of Transportation (HDOT) Lead-Impacted Soil persist in their bodies, and young children are more sensitive
Response Action for Kolekole Gulch Park. Under the to its potentially harmful effects.
oversight of the Hawai`i Department of Health (HDOH) The grass cover in the park helps to minimize exposure, but
Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office (HEER mud that may come up through the grass on wet days and any
Office), a response action has begun for assessment of lead- dust generated on dry days would increase potential for
impacted soil found around Kolekole Stream Bridge and within exposure. Additional soil testing and risk assessment is
Kolekole Gulch Park. The County Depaitment of Parks and planned. An evaluation of potential hazards to County
Recreation closed public access to the Kolekole Gulch Park on employees based on exposures to lead in soils at the park will
April 18,2017 pending additional assessment and evaluation of also be made, and any bare soil areas discovered in the park
the lead impacted soil. will be covered.A map showing the areas that have been found
Site Description and Previous Uses to be impacted by lead(i.e. lead in soils below grass or gravel
at surface)during initial testing is provided on the next page.
The Project site is located beneath Kolekole Stream Bridge and The concentrations of lead in the soil in the park are
extends approximately 300 feet in the mauka direction. comparable to levels found along some busy roadsides in urban
Kolekole Stream runs northwest and adjacent to the Project areas, as reported in USEPA documents on lead in soil. In this
site.Access to the Project site is via Old Mamalahoa Highway. case,the lead in soil is suspected to be related to historic,lead-
Kolekole Gulch Park is located southwest and adjacent to based paint used on Kolekole Stream Bridge (during 1950-
Kolekole Stream Bridge. 2000). Lead-based paints were commonly used in the past
Kolekole Stream Bridge was originally part of a railroad that and may have been released to soil as it aged and became
was rebuilt in 1950 to be used by cars.Lead paint removal from weathered or through past maintenance activities.Accidentally
the bridge was completed in 2001. swallowing lead-impacted soil or very small lead containing
paint chips,would be the major route of potential exposure at
Characterization of Contamination the site. Harmful health effects from swallowing the lead
Initial soil sampling and analysis results showed that lead- impacted soil and lead containing paint chips will depend upon
impacted soils are present in the park area under and mauka the levels of lead in the soil and paint,the quantity of soil and
of Kolekole Stream Bridge. Lead was found in soils at paint that were ingested, and the frequency for which the soil
concentrations exceeding the 200 mg/kg lead screening action and paint were ingested.
level established in Hawai`i for residential areas(also used for
public parks)as well as the higher USEPA screening level for The stream banks will be included in the planned additional
residential areas of 400 mg/kg. The average level of lead testing however elevated lead concentrations are not expected
found in soils in the park was 465 mg/kg. Additional risk in the stream or adjacent rocky banks where flowing or rain
evaluation is needed when lead in soil is above HDOH action storm-generated waters over the years would remove any fine
levels and additional precautions are necessary to minimize soils along with very small paint chips.
exposure as cumulative lead exposure has been shown to Response Actions
adversely impact human health. Lead is especially harmful to
children who accidentally eat small amounts of lead-impacted Through HDOT-Highways coordination with the HDOH
soil or lead containing paint on a regular basis. Lead is more HEER Office, various initial response actions for the impacted
April 2017
soil were identified to minimize potential exposure of the These initial response actions are being addressed during the
public.Actions identified included: park closure,and the data collected and assessments made will
• Additional soil sampling and soil analysis of areas not yet be used to determine when the Park may be re-opened for
tested(e.g. soils on the edges of areas initially tested) and public use.
risk assessment, Long-term cleanup options will also be considered and
• Cover any identified bare soil spots with sod to reduce the evaluated in the future (to include public input) and an action
potential for exposure, plan selected and approved by the HDOH HEER Office for
• Post signs, to notify and caution the public regarding implementation.
potential lead exposure in soils below grass in the park.
• Restrict pounding of stakes into grass and any digging This fact sheet will be updated when additional assessment
activities in the Park (County staff or public) that would data is available. The public is encouraged to comment on or
expose bare soils at the surface. ask questions regarding the site response actions. Comments
• Further evaluate the potential for park maintenance staff to can be directed to John Peard(HDOH HEER Office)by email
be exposed to lead in soil during typical maintenance work at randall.peard@,doh.hawaii.gov, by mail at 1582
at the site. Kamehameha Avenue, Hilo, Hawai`i 96720, or by phone at
808-933-9921. Tim Sakahara (HDOT) can also be contacted
by email at Timothy.J.Sakahara@hawaii.gov .
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° b151ON "' Map of Lead-impacted soil from Kolekole Gulch
LOAD IMPACTCD ARCA
Park Environmental Assessment
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