Re: [CPEO-MEF] URGENT: Letter to EPA Admin. Zeldin re Region 5 "GASLIGHTING" Uniontown IEL explosive gases.

On Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 06:20:34 PM EDT, crborello@aol.com <crborello@aol.com> wrote:

Subject: URGENT letter to EPA Admin. Zeldin re. USEPA Region 5 "GASLIGHTING" Uniontown IEL Superfund SIte's explosive gases

Administer Lee Zeldin

US EPA

Washington D.C.

Dear Admin. Zeldin:

You are hopefully aware by now of Citizens' concerns regarding the explosive landfill gas situation at the Uniontown IEL Superfund Site that has languished decades. Our grassroots group, Concerned Citizens of Lake Twp ( CCLT) was involved in initially getting EPA's Emergency Response into the site back in 1984. EPA informed us that it was the first time general counsel in D.C. had ever stepped in to address explosive gases at a Superfund Site. Since that time, CCLT has done it's best in monitoring this particular aspect of IEL's toxic contamination potentially affecting our residents' health, safety and welfare through various pathways, known and unknown, especially after the ROD was changed from a cap and treat to natural attenuation of 40 acres of solvent-laden waste within a former porous sand and gravel quarry.

Important: While R5/PRPs are labeling the gas testing conducted as being simply "METHANE,it is essential for you to know that basically from day one, back in 1985, EPA Emergency Response told CCLT that the IEL was not fitting the "typical landfill" profile - i.e, generating approx. 70% Methane. " On the contrary, they said IEL was registering only around 28 % Methane, and thus ER had to bring in auxiliary fuel in order to keep the gas collection system running. EPA's Virginia contractor further admitted belatedly at a public meeting , while normally VOCs at a landfill would comprise just 0.1 %, here at Uniontown IEL, they admitted this site was registering around 8 - 9 %." Twenty four different VOCs were reported present in the gases when EPA bothered to looked for them, including carcinogenic Benzene, Vinyl Chloride, Carbon Tet, PCE, BTEX. ( High Radon Gas levels ( 3600 pico curies) were reported in 1991 and then all testing for this got halted, inexplicably). Therefore, CCLT and experts alike were shocked and outraged when public due process under Superfund Law was circumvented by R5, when it chose to bow to the wishes of the polluters, and completely shut down the system, instead of carrying out the legal ROD = expanding the system further. This was directly due to grave concerns put forth by then CDC/ATSDR's head of Risk Assessment, Dr. Mark Bashor. For nearly 30 years, no defensible testing of the gas emanating from the fill has been collected and compared (and shared with the public) to established risk-based standards to assure the public the area around the site is safe.

It came as no surprise, several years ago now, we began hearing that there was once again a problem with explosive gases ,with the PRPs in the lead doing the testing now. EPA to date has done nothing to address this potentially serious threat, other than to tell the polluters to move the chain link fence further out toward the main road, Cleveland Ave! We need comprehensive NMVOC (non Methane VOC) testing to assure compliance with the risk-based standards; testing that is shared with the public.

Mr. Zeldin, we request that you take a personal interest in our case and put a halt to R5's obfuscation which is tantamount to real "gas lighting" of our people, as R5 continues to pretend the cause of the gas explosiveness is due to Methane, that experts tell us long ago diminished at the site from being generated.

To begin to correct this very bad situation, please instruct Region 5 to provide CCLT and the public with any/all gas analysis conducted on/ or near IEL since 2016 to date, since R5 reportedly discovered the landfill was NOT IN COMPLIANCE AND THE REMEDY WAS NOT WORKING AS INTENDED. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING RELEASED AND HOW THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IS/MAY BE IMPACTED. Since the 2021 5 year review, we have waited patiently for what we feel were responsive substantive comments by USEPA by now, after closure of the public comment for the next 5 year review, we have heard nothing.

It is our understanding that simple scans for LEL are no longer adequate once out of compliance, and all VOCs, flammable and non- flamnable chlorinated hydrocarbons, and Semi Volatiles - all should be identified so that scientifically it can be properly and fully comprehended as to whether or not the Uniontown IEL is meeting RISK ASSESSMENT criteria.

CCLT requests this information be provided immediately electronically, so we may share with other concerned citizens, independent experts et al via email, and as well as assurances the recommended actions within the 2021 5 Year Review are completed and shared with the public for thoughtful review well in advance of any public meeting date.

Sincerely,

Chris Borello, spokeswoman, Concerned Citizens of Lake Twp., Uniontown IEL Superfund Site, OH

From:	"crborello@aol.com" <crborello@aol.com>
Date:	Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:43:04 -0700 (PDT)
Reply:	cpeo-military
Subject:	Re: [CPEO-MEF] URGENT: Letter to EPA Admin. Zeldin re Region 5 "GASLIGHTING" Uniontown IEL explosive gases.

On Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 06:20:34 PM EDT, crborello@aol.com <crborello@aol.com> wrote: Subject: URGENT letter to EPA Admin. Zeldin re. USEPA Region 5 "GASLIGHTING" Uniontown IEL Superfund SIte's explosive gases Administer Lee Zeldin US EPA Washington D.C. Dear Admin. Zeldin: You are hopefully aware by now of Citizens' concerns regarding the explosive landfill gas situation at the Uniontown IEL Superfund Site that has languished decades. Our grassroots group, Concerned Citizens of Lake Twp ( CCLT) was involved in initially getting EPA's Emergency Response into the site back in 1984. EPA informed us that it was the first time general counsel in D.C. had ever stepped in to address explosive gases at a Superfund Site. Since that time, CCLT has done it's best in monitoring this particular aspect of IEL's toxic contamination potentially affecting our residents' health, safety and welfare through various pathways, known and unknown, especially after the ROD was changed from a cap and treat to natural attenuation of 40 acres of solvent-laden waste within a former porous sand and gravel quarry. Important: While R5/PRPs are labeling the gas testing conducted as being simply "METHANE,it is essential for you to know that basically from day one, back in 1985, EPA Emergency Response told CCLT that the IEL was not fitting the "typical landfill" profile - i.e, generating approx. 70% Methane. " On the contrary, they said IEL was registering only around 28 % Methane, and thus ER had to bring in auxiliary fuel in order to keep the gas collection system running. EPA's Virginia contractor further admitted belatedly at a public meeting , while normally VOCs at a landfill would comprise just 0.1 %, here at Uniontown IEL, they admitted this site was registering around 8 - 9 %." Twenty four different VOCs were reported present in the gases when EPA bothered to looked for them, including carcinogenic Benzene, Vinyl Chloride, Carbon Tet, PCE, BTEX. ( High Radon Gas levels ( 3600 pico curies) were reported in 1991 and then all testing for this got halted, inexplicably). Therefore, CCLT and experts alike were shocked and outraged when public due process under Superfund Law was circumvented by R5, when it chose to bow to the wishes of the polluters, and completely shut down the system, instead of carrying out the legal ROD = expanding the system further. This was directly due to grave concerns put forth by then CDC/ATSDR's head of Risk Assessment, Dr. Mark Bashor. For nearly 30 years, no defensible testing of the gas emanating from the fill has been collected and compared (and shared with the public) to established risk-based standards to assure the public the area around the site is safe. It came as no surprise, several years ago now, we began hearing that there was once again a problem with explosive gases ,with the PRPs in the lead doing the testing now. EPA to date has done nothing to address this potentially serious threat, other than to tell the polluters to move the chain link fence further out toward the main road, Cleveland Ave! We need comprehensive NMVOC (non Methane VOC) testing to assure compliance with the risk-based standards; testing that is shared with the public. Mr. Zeldin, we request that you take a personal interest in our case and put a halt to R5's obfuscation which is tantamount to real "gas lighting" of our people, as R5 continues to pretend the cause of the gas explosiveness is due to Methane, that experts tell us long ago diminished at the site from being generated. To begin to correct this very bad situation, please instruct Region 5 to provide CCLT and the public with any/all gas analysis conducted on/ or near IEL since 2016 to date, since R5 reportedly discovered the landfill was NOT IN COMPLIANCE AND THE REMEDY WAS NOT WORKING AS INTENDED. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING RELEASED AND HOW THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IS/MAY BE IMPACTED. Since the 2021 5 year review, we have waited patiently for what we feel were responsive substantive comments by USEPA by now, after closure of the public comment for the next 5 year review, we have heard nothing. It is our understanding that simple scans for LEL are no longer adequate once out of compliance, and all VOCs, flammable and non- flamnable chlorinated hydrocarbons, and Semi Volatiles - all should be identified so that scientifically it can be properly and fully comprehended as to whether or not the Uniontown IEL is meeting RISK ASSESSMENT criteria. CCLT requests this information be provided immediately electronically, so we may share with other concerned citizens, independent experts et al via email, and as well as assurances the recommended actions within the 2021 5 Year Review are completed and shared with the public for thoughtful review well in advance of any public meeting date. Sincerely, Chris Borello, spokeswoman, Concerned Citizens of Lake Twp., Uniontown IEL Superfund Site, OH _______________________________________________ Military mailing list Military@lists.cpeo.org http://lists.cpeo.org/listinfo.cgi/military-cpeo.org
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