THE WHOLE STORY CONCERNING THE MIDDLE RIVER TERRACE PARK:
The Sun Sentinel article below fails to give the attempts made by citizens to address the arsenic issue prior to the EPA getting involved, leading the public to believe that local attempts were not made to the city to address the issue.
The public on the news that there was arsenic contamination up to 20 times the acceptable limit within feet of the park, requested that the city test the park for potential contamination and danger to citizens that utilize the park. The public was informed that testing was done when the park property was purchased and that the nursery was on the adjacent property only, but the EPA confirmed that the nursery did exist in the park. Unbelievably, the city reported that records for the city’s testing of the park could not be found. When the public asked again for the park to be tested by the city they were informed that the city had no plans to do so. It is sad that the city did not respond to a potential safety hazard to their citizens and the city is responsible for the EPA getting involved to address the issue. It will be a relief if the park turns out to be clean, but if not, whatever action needs to be taken, needs to be done.
A small portion of copy derived from the Environmental Protection Agency:
BLOOM’S NURSERY (FORMER)
AKA: MIDDLE RIVER TERRACE PARK
1.0 Site Description/Site History
The site, Bloom’s Nursery, is now located on a 3.6 acre park called Middle River Terrace Park
(MRTP) with open play grassy areas, a pavilion, picnic areas and walking/jogging trails. The historic Annie Beck house is also located on the Park property. The Park was constructed sometime between 2000 and 2001. It is bordered by residential properties (homes and apartments) to the east, south, southwest and west. Vacant land is located to the north (Figures 1-4). This site was brought to the attention of the Department and Broward County by a concerned citizen during the early part of 2014. To date, no soil or groundwater contamination assessment activities have taken place at the actual Arsenic was found in a number of the boring soil samples above the SCTLs. The highest levels ofarsenic at the off-site 1325 NE 7th Ave. soils ranged from 12.1 to 34.6 milligrams per kilogram [mg/kg]. These arsenic concentrations exceeded the State SCTL under a commercial or industrial scenario of 12 mg/kg. Elevated levels of arsenic have been detected in groundwater from monitor wells located on the 1325 NE 7th Ave. off-site property. The highest levels of arsenic ranged from 198 to 1,370 micrograms per liter [ug/l]. These and other arsenic detections were above theState GCTL of 10 ug/l.
The entire screening assessment can be viewed by clicking on the pdf file below……
Lee Feldman EPA letter Commission Memo 14-142 Attachment
SUN SENTINEL ARTICLE 8/31/14:
Arsenic levels to be examined
State agency to take samples from Fort Lauderdale park site
By Don Crinklaw Staff Writer
Concerns over arsenic levels in a Fort Lauderdale park have led a state agency to take action.
Middle River Terrace residents brought concerns to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection earlier this year, and the department recently announced that it will take samples from Middle River Terrace Park next month.
“We took the resident complaint seriously,” said Tiffany Cowie, the department’s press secretary. “At this time we have no data. We’re preparing to do our own sampling in early September. Normally it would take much longer, but because of the nature of the issue, they’re going to push it up.”
Arsenic soil and groundwater contamination have been documented at an off-site property adjacent to the park, according to a preliminary report issued by the department on July 14. However, that sampling was conducted in 2007, when the city considered purchasing the adjacent property to expand the park.
The park’s location, at 1329 NE Seventh Ave., was formerly a plant nursery.
David Vanlandingham, an engineer with the county’s pollution prevention division, said the adjacent property’s title is currently held by Alabaster Real Estate.
“We, Broward County, are currently overseeing assessment and cleanup of that parcel. Alabaster is the responsible party,” he said.
In a July 21 memorandum, City Manager Lee Feldman wrote: “At this point, we are unaware of any contaminants on the [park] site.”
The department has recommended that the park be listed with the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Enterprise Management System, a “database of potential or known contaminated sites.”
“The FDEP has the authority to require cleanup take place if contamination is confirmed,” Cowie said.
Don Crinklaw can be reached at .
