Contaminates Found at Largo Nature Preserveby Bill LopezLARGO - When elevated levels of arsenic were found in isolated areas of the Largo Central Park Nature Preserve over four years ago, the City of Largo worked with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to identify safeguards to protect the public from possible exposure. Efforts included installation of clean soil and native vegetation and access restrictions using fencing and warning signs. The safeguards, known as engineering controls, were put into place before opening the Nature Preserve, and have been in place for the last four years. However, FDEP did not provide a closure letter at that time and in January 2008, the city received a letter from FDEP indicating that further action would be required for a determination of closure by the State. The first step in complying with the FDEP requirements is completion of a site assessment including soil and groundwater sampling. Findings of these samplings may require statistical analysis to determine if engineering controls are sufficient to meet residential or recreational use standards or if installation of additional engineering controls and remediation is required. Soil removal and groundwater pumping and treating and/or formalization of engineering controls through filing of a deed restriction for the site could also be required. Last June the City Commission authorized a scope and fee negotiated with Seavy & Associates, Inc. (S&A), in the amount of $98,361 to conduct the site assessment to comply with the FDEP requirements. The site assessment approach included limited soil sampling and groundwater analysis, based on previous sampling results that indicated contaminated material might be found in isolated areas. S&A initiated soil sampling in July, however only half of the samples could be taken due to high groundwater from summer rains. The delay in sampling and the results of the initial sampling require a change in the scope and schedule of the project. The initial sample results show that the material of concern is not isolated to a few locations, but indicates low levels of contaminated soil across the site. These results indicate the need for more soil sampling to meet the FDEP assessment requirements. The additional sampling and analysis, as well as the delay due to summer rains, require that the submission date for the site assessment report be extended to May 2009. On October 9, 2008, a request to extend the assessment schedule was sent to FDEP. The Largo staff negotiated a scope and fee with S&A in the amount of $53,159 for additional soil sampling and analysis. Award of additional scope and fee for this project will require a budget amendment to utilize funds from the Solid Waste fund balance. This is currently scheduled for the January 6, 2009 Commission meeting concurrent with the second and final reading of the budget amendment. Following completion of the site assessment staff will prepare a site remediation plan for presentation to the City Commission.
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