(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a plan to address contaminated soil in Manati, P.R. at the Pesticide Warehouse III Superfund Site. Historical pesticide operations at the site contaminated the soil and groundwater with pesticides including dioxins. The Pesticide Warehouse III site is a 2-acre former pesticides facility.

Pesticides have been linked to various illnesses in people, ranging from skin and eye irritation to cancer. Some pesticides may also affect the nervous system and hormones produced by the endocrine system. Dioxins are likely human carcinogens.

Residents of Manati are currently connected to safe sources of drinking water from other municipal water supplies in the region. The Puerto Rico Land Authority owned and operated the site from 1954 to 1996 to handle pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. The cleanup is being conducted and paid for by the EPA.

The EPA will hold a public meeting to explain the proposed plan on August 18, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at Manati Municipal Library, Paceo de Las Atena y Calle Mackinley. Written comments will be accepted until September 11, 2015.

The EPA proposes to excavate and treat the most heavily contaminated soil (about 8,800 cubic yards) using a technology that heats the material so that contaminants can be pulled out and captured. After treatment, the soil will be disposed of at approved facilities. The excavated areas will then be backfilled with clean fill and soil. Additionally, areas with deeper soil contamination residues, at depths greater than 10 feet, will be covered to reduce the chance of exposure. The area will be seeded so that vegetation can grow.

During soil cleanup activities, monitoring, testing and further studies will be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the cleanup. The EPA will conduct a review every five years to monitor the site. A study to address the groundwater is ongoing.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to: Luis E. Santos, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, City View Plaza II - Suite 7000, 48 RD, 165 Km. 1.2, Guaynabo, PR, 00968-8069, telephone: 787-977-5824, email: santos.luis@epa.gov.

To view the proposed plan, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/pesticide-warehouse-3-proposed-plan.pdf

Follow the EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2.

15-054