WELDON SPRING ORDNANCE WORKS
WELDON SPRING, ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MISSOURI
CONCLUSIONS
Weldon Spring Training Area (WSTA)
Areas onsite have soil contaminants, predominantly nitroaromatics and lead, at levels of
concern. Asbestos is also associated with derelict structures and at the site of razed buildings.
Derelict structures still represent potential physical hazards. Access to these areas is controlled by
fencing and institutional controls.
Buried wastewater pipelines are physical hazards to remedial workers because there is the
potential for explosion during excavation or handling operations.
The OU-1 Record of Decision (not finalized at the time of publication of this document)
describes incineration of contaminated soils as the preferred alternative described in the proposed
plan for soil remediation. Incineration is probably the most effective way to destroy the TNT and
DNT present. At present, insufficient information on the design, operation and location of the
proposed incinerator is available to ATSDR to estimate whether impacts may occur in the local
community. However, a properly designed and operated incinerator can be run in a manner that is
protective of public health.
Groundwater is contaminated under the WSTA. Institutional controls have eliminated the use
of contaminated groundwater as a drinking water source.
Conservation Areas
Derelict structures and disposal areas (including former burning grounds) exist in the
conservation areas; however adequate institutional controls are in place to restrict public access.
Little data is available concerning contamination of game and fish in the wildlife areas.
However, there appears to be little likelihood that game animals are exposed to or ingest
appreciable amounts of soil contaminants. Also, surface water and sediment contamination in the
wildlife areas is at such low levels, in the few cases where contaminants have been detected, that
significant exposure and uptake in fish is unlikely. For these reasons, consumption of game and
fish collected from the wildlife areas is not a public health problem.
Isolated springs within the conservation areas are contaminated with low levels of
nitroaromatic contamination. The potential for frequent and regular consumption is low,
therefore it is unlikely that the public could be exposed to contaminants at levels of concern.
Localized areas have soil contamination, predominantly nitroaromatics and lead. Access by the
public to these areas is restricted by fencing.
Offsite
Persons were exposed to small amounts of nitroaromatics in drinking water at the Twin Island
Lakes Campground in the past. For the time period prior to 1988, levels of contamination and
length of time of exposure were not documented, and it is not possible to estimate whether
adverse health effects due to exposure were possible. However, in analyses from 1988 to the
present, levels of contaminants found in this water were not high enough to be of health concern.
The contaminated wells were taken out of service when the contaminants were detected. An
alternate source of drinking water has been supplied.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA; also
known as Superfund) as amended, requires ATSDR to conduct needed follow-up health actions in
communities living near hazardous waste sites. To identify appropriate actions, ATSDR created
the Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP). HARP has evaluated the data and
information contained in the Weldon Spring Ordnance Works - Weldon Spring Training Area
Public Health Assessment for appropriate public health actions. HARP determined that health
education and health studies follow-up actions are not warranted. As discussed above, there do
not appear to have been exposures in the past which resulted in public health problems, and there
are no current exposures.
Weldon Spring Training Area (WSTA)
Nitroaromatic contamination is widespread throughout soil within WSTA. Access should be
restricted to all areas with known contamination until remediation is completed.
WSTA areas with physical hazards should continue to be evaluated for safety considerations
prior to use in troop training activities. In cases where such hazards exist, commanders should be
apprised of the locations of these hazards.
The buried pipelines and other physical hazards should be removed using appropriate safety
precautions.
Asbestos contamination is widespread in and around derelict or razed structures. The hazard
presented by this asbestos to people onsite should be thoroughly evaluated and mitigated. Proper
abatement procedures should be used in soil remediation activities in the areas considered
contaminated by asbestos.
ATSDR will work with EPA to review and comment on design and operating conditions of the
incinerator, during the remedial design process, to assure that the final conditions are protective of
public health.
Conservation Areas
Public awareness should be maintained regarding the very low levels of contamination present
in fishing lakes in the vicinity of the sites. The state should continue to educate the public,
through its state-wide advisories, concerning any information available on contamination in fish.
In light of the variation in results of the fish data existing for lakes 34, 35 and 36, ATSDR
recommends that additional fish samples be collected to confirm that there is no current metals
contamination. Metals analyses should be performed in fish collected from other heavily fished
lakes.
Since nitroaromatics are not a problem in Busch Conservation Area lakes, they are likely not a
problem in surface water to the south. However, ATSDR recommends that DOE samples
collected during ongoing remedial investigations at Little Femme Osage be analyzed for metals
and nitroaromatics contamination to confirm that there is no problem in waters to the south.
Consumption of potentially contaminated spring water within the conservation areas should be
restricted through the implementation of institutional controls, such as educational materials
provided to visitors, and warning signs at affected springs.
Nitroaromatic and lead contamination are present in localized portions of the conservation
areas. Access to all areas with known chemical contamination should continue to be restricted
until soil remediation is completed.
Measures should be continued to protect the public from the physical hazards presented by
derelict structures and debris remaining in place throughout the former WSOW areas outside
Army and DOE control.
Offsite
The state should continue to monitor private wells for site-related chemicals. The present
sampling and analysis methods are appropriate.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
The public health action plan (PHAP) for the Weldon Spring Former Army Ordnance Works NPL
site contains a description of actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or other governmental agencies
at and in the vicinity of the site subsequent to the completion of this public health assessment.
The purpose of PHAP is to ensure that this public health assessment not only identifies public
health hazards, but provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human
health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. Included is a
commitment on the part of ATSDR to followup on this plan. The public health actions to be
implemented are as follows:
Actions Planned
ATSDR will continue to coordinate with Army, EPA and state agencies to assure that
recommendations are implemented.
The state of Missouri will continue to monitor private groundwater wells in the vicinity of
WSTA.
ATSDR will review the remedial activities at WSTA, to evaluate the proposed remediations in
relation to protection of public health. ATSDR comments, and recommendations, as appropriate,
will be provided to EPA, the Army and State of Missouri.
ATSDR will continue the development of a public health assessment for public health issues
regarding the DOE NPL site facilities at Weldon Spring.
ATSDR will reevaluate and modify the Public Health Action Plan as needed. New relevant data,
or the results of implementing the above proposed actions may determine the need for additional
actions at this site.
PREPARERS OF REPORT
Jeff Kellam, M.S.
Environmental Health Scientist
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Lorna L. Bozeman, M.S.
Environmental Health Scientist
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
ATSDR Regional Representative:
David Parker
ATSDR, EPA Region VII
Kansas City, KS
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