In March 2014, the EPA performed a site walk at the Blackbird Drive Maintenance Building (MB) in Inchelium, Ferry County, Washington to evaluate whether a removal action was appropriate at an adjacent site, the Inchelium Wood Treatment Plant (IWTP). Both the MB and IWTP are located within the boundaries of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation on land held in trust by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The MB is on the same parcel of land as the IWTP site, however, business operations at the sites were not associated with one another. The MB is an approximately 9,600 square foot building constructed of wood poles and dimensional lumber and was observed to be in severe disrepair, with the roof having collapsed in and the remainder of the building in jeopardy of collapsing. The EPA observed suspected asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in the MB and in roofing material found adjacent to and in the vicinity of the building.
In May 2014, the EPA returned to the MB to conduct sampling for the presence of ACM. A total of 13 bulk samples were collected from the building and from the ground surface just outside of the MB. The bulk samples were submitted to a laboratory for the analysis of asbestos by Polarized Light Microscopy (Method EPA 600/R-93/116). Of the 13 samples submitted, four contained asbestos at concentrations ranging from 2% to 25% chrysotile. The samples that contained asbestos were collected from roofing material, floor tile, and a patching compound.
The semi-collapsed building presented a physical hazard to area residents and ACM was being released to the environment as a result of the poor condition of the building and exposure to harsh weather.
An action memo for a time-critical removal action was signed in July 2014 and EPA mobilized to conduct the removal action in September 2014.
