United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Piqua Hospital Site is a former medical facility located at 624 Park Avenue in Piqua, Miami County, Ohio.  The area is surrounded by residential properties, and Nicklin Elementary School to the west, immediately across the street.   Good Sheppard Presbyterian Church is located southeast from the former hospital, immediately across the street.  The site contains three buildings - the partially demolished Main Building, intact Administration Building, and the demolished Boiler Building.  

The site was operated as a hospital since the 1920s under the name of Piqua Memorial Medical Center.  The Piqua Hospital permanently ceased providing medical services in 1996.  In 2008, the current owner arranged for demolition activities which were later terminated in December 2008 when the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA) issued a stop work order pursuant to illegal asbestos removal activities associated with the demolition.  The City of Piqua issued a nuisance order to the owner in February, 2009 requiring environmental and safety issues to be resolved before further demolition will be permitted.

In March, 2009 the Ohio EPA and the City of Piqua requested U.S. EPA assistance at the Piqua Hospital Site noting abandoned hazardous waste and outdoor asbestos debris piles.

On March 17-18, 2009, a site assessment was completed by the U.S. EPA.  The assessment included, sampling of possible hazardous waste, sampling of ACM, and an inventory of possible hazardous waste.  The results of the Site Assessment were:

•The presence of substances that are characteristic of corrosivity:  
Results found on-site (pH) - <0.1 (acid) and 13.5 (caustic)

•The presence of elemental mercury found throughout the building.  The elemental mercury was found in switches and abandoned blood pressure units.

•The presence of used medical syringes and other supplies was found in biological waste containers onsite.

•The pervasive and intermingled presence of asbestos found among the other site hazards both inside and outside (parking lot) of the Main Building.

U.S. EPA approved the Phase I Stabilization Work Plan on April 3, 2009.  In addition, U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA, RAPCA, and City of Piqua representatives met with consultants hired by the Site Owner (Zeigler Environmental) to discuss the Piqua Hospital Site.  

Zeigler Environmental mobilized to the Site on April 6, 2009 and initiated work in accordance with the Phase I Work Plan (Site Stabilization).

On April 17, 2009, the U.S. EPA and the site property owner completed an Administrative Order by Consent (AOC).  The AOC required the stabilization and removal of outdoor ACM debris piles, removal of hazardous waste, air monitoring, securing the site building.  The U.S. EPA, RAPCA, and Ohio EPA will monitor removal activities.

From April 6, 2009 to May 29, 2009, Zeigler Environmental stabilized 19 outdoor debris piles and secured approximately 175 openings.  In addition, a staging area was established for the temporary storage of acids, caustics, fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, and other hazardous waste substances collected from the main building and the former boiler house.  Accumulated stormwater was collected, filtered, and contained onsite.  Waste characterization of hazardous waste materials located in the staging area was initiated.  

A Phase II Work Plan was approved by the U.S. EPA on May 27, 2009.  

Week of June 1, 2009.  Zeigler Environmental transported 24 roll off containers off site for disposal from Grids 33, 42, 49, 50, and 51.  Collection and staging of acids, caustics, fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, and other hazardous waste substances continued.  Daily perimeter air monitoring was conducted and all results were below the established standard.

Week of June 8, 2009.  Zeigler Environmental transported 31 roll off containers off site for disposal from Grids 44, 45, 46, 47, 52, 53, 54, 55, 60, 64, 65, 66, and 67.  Collection and staging of acids, caustics, fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, and other hazardous waste substances continued.  Daily perimeter air monitoring was conducted and all results were below the established standard.

Week of June 15, 2009.  Zeigler Environmental transported 24 roll off containers offsite for disposal from Grids 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43, 49, 50, 51, 57, 58, 59, and the southeast wing abatement.  The abatement of the southeast wing was completed and passed visual inspection by RAPCA.  Collection and staging of acids, caustics, fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, and other hazardous waste substances was completed.   Disposal facilities for all items located in the staging area were identified and approved by the U.S. EPA on June 19, 2009. Daily perimeter air monitoring was conducted and all results were below the established standard.

Week of June 22, 2009.  Zeigler Environmental transported 51 roll off containers off site for disposal from Grids 27, 28, 29, 30, 37, and 44.  Final clearance air samples were collected from the southeast wing.  The results were below the established air quality standard.  Collection and staging of acids, caustics, fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, and other hazardous waste substances was completed. Daily perimeter air monitoring was conducted and all results were below the established standard.

Week of June 29, 2009.  Zeigler Environmental transported 27 roll off containers off site for disposal from Grids 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36.  The rooftop abatement was completed.   A total of 512 bags of ACM rooftop gravel and membrane were transported offsite for disposal.  Abatement of the penthouse was initiated.  Daily perimeter air monitoring was conducted and all results were below the established standard.

Week of July 6, 2009.  Zeigler Environmental transported 32 roll off containers of ACM debris and soil offsite for disposal.  ACM debris removed from Grids 9, 10, 11, 25, 26, 34 and 35.  Soil excavation was conducted in Grids 1, 2, 7, 9, 13, and 23.  A total of 96 bags of ACM was removed from the penthouse and transported offsite for disposal.  Daily perimeter air monitoring was conducted and all results were below the established standard.

Week of July 13, 2009.  Zeigler Environmental transported 39 roll off containers of ACM debris and soil offsite for disposal.  ACM debris removed from Grids 20, 21 and 22.  Soil excavation was conducted in Grids 41, 42, 48, 49, 50, 51, 56, 64, 65, and 66.  A total of 88 bags of ACM was removed from the penthouse and transported offsite for disposal.  Power washing activities were conducted in Grids 1, 2, 7, 8, 13, 14, 22, 23, 24, 48, 49, 50, 51, 56, 57, 58, 59, 64, 98, and 99.  Grids 1, 2, 7, 8, 13, 14, 23, and 24 passed visual inspection by RAPCA.  Daily perimeter air monitoring was conducted and all results were below the established standard.

Week of July 20, 2009.  Zeigler Environmental transported 24 roll off containers of ACM debris and soil offsite for disposal.  ACM debris removed from Grids 29, 30, and 31.  Soil excavation was conducted in Grids 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 16, 27, 28, 29, 30, 37, 38, 39, 45, 46, 53, 54, 61, 62, 63, 67, 68, 81, 85, 88, 89, 92, 93, 95, and 96.  Power washing activities were conducted in Grids 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 27, 28, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 45, 46, 62, 63, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 81, 85, 86, 87, 88, 92, and 95.  RAPCA visually inspected Grids 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44, 48, 49, 50, 51, 56, 57, 58, 59, 64, 71, 78, 85, 92, 93, 94, 97, 98, and 99.  Microvac sampling was conducted is Grids 1, 2, 7, 8, 13, 14, 23, 24, 32, 33, 49, 50, 51, 57, 58, 59, 64, 92, and 99 and all results were below the site specific standard.    1,500 gallons of fuel oil was removed from the UST located onsite.  The securing of all openings into the main building and former boiler house was initiated.  Daily perimeter air monitoring was conducted and all results were below the established standard.

Week of July 27, 2009.  A 6,000 gallon steel UST and a 15,000 gallon fiberglass UST were removed per BUSTR and under Fire Marshal Oversight.  Any visibly contaminated soil surround the USTs was also removed.  Power washing activities were conducted in Grids 38, 39, 40, 45, 46, 47, 50, 52, 53, 55, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 83, and 84.  RAPCA visually inspected Grids 35, 65, 66, 67, 70, 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 83, 84, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91, 95, and 96.  Microvac sampling was conducted is Grids 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 27, 28, 34, 36, 37, 43, 44, 71, 78, 85, 90, 91 93, 94, 95, and 96 and all results were below the site specific standard.  All openings to the main building, including the penthouse, and the former boiler house were secured.  Zeigler Environmental initiated demobilization of personnel and equipment.  Daily perimeter air monitoring was conducted and all results were below the established standard.

Week of August 3, 2009.  Zeigler Environmental transported 1 roll off containers of ACM debris and soil offsite for disposal.  Power washing activities were conducted in Grids 53 and 61.  RAPCA visually inspected Grids 53 and 61.  Microvac sampling was conducted is Grids 53, 61, 67, 68, 74, and 81 and all results were below the site specific standard.  All storm drains were cleared of debris and soil and all covers were removed.

On August 11, 2009 a meeting was conducted with U.S. EPA, RAPCA, City of Piqua, Piqua Fire Department, Piqua Police Department, Piqua Health Department and the PRP contractors to finalize the completion of Phase II.

- Monthly building perimeter inspections to be conducted by the PRP's contractor until interior abatement is initiated.

- Monthly building perimeter inspections to be conducted by the PRP's contractor until interior abatement is initiated.

The U.S. EPA conducted oversight of a PRP lead removal of outdoor ACM debris, acids, caustics, and other hazardous waste substances located within and surrounding a former hospital.  A total of 2316.14 tons of ACM debris and soil was transported offsite for disposal.  

Excellent coordination between EPA, RAPCA, OEPA, and the City of Piqua throughout the removal action.