United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

Chesapeake Products Site is located in a heavily industrialized area of Chesapeake, Virginia adjacent to the southern branch of the Elizabeth River.  The site is approximately 7.6 acres in size and was previously used for the production of micro-nutrient fertilizer.  Prior to 2009 several large buildings were located on site. The city of Chesapeake Fire Department deemed the buildings unsafe for occupancy in 2004.  EPA conducted site assessments at the site in 2005 and 2006.  Numerous piles of micro-nutrient fertilizer and fertilizer raw materials were located inside site buildings.  The roof of the main warehouse building had partially collapsed and almost the entire floor was flooded with water.  The building contained approximately 314,000 gallons of flood water.  Analytical results indicated that site soil, material piles, and flood water contained elevated levels of lead and other hazardous substances or pollutants and contaminants.  Chesapeake Products and Frit Industries, Inc. (Frit) entered into a Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (AOC) with EPA in August 2007.  Frit agreed to remove material piles and flood water from the site and to demolish site buildings.  All work agreed to under the AOC was completed between August 2008 and May 2009.  On November 30, 2009 EPA initiated a removal action at the site to remove lead contaminated surface soil and to decontaminate concrete surfaces.  

ERRS completed excavating soil in the center of the site between building foundations and the site access road (grids C1 - C4 and B4 - B8).  A small area was also excavated next to the former location of Building 4 (grids D3-D4). Soil was excavated to a depth of 1 -  2 feet.  START contractors used an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer to assist EPA in delineating the extent of contamination and areas that require excavation.  ERRS began removing waste material from the raised building foundation / loading dock area at the eastern end of the site (grids B8-B9).  XRF analysis indicated that this material was predominantly iron (~99%) or an iron compound that was contaminated with lead, arsenic, and copper.  A total of approximately 900 cubic yards of soil, waste material and construction debris was excavated during this reporting period and was stockpiled on a concrete pad (previous location of Building 2). Approximately 2,300 cubic yards of soil and debris have been excavated to date.

ERRS began backfilling excavated areas in grids C1 - C4 and B4 - B8 with clean fill.  Erosion and sediment controls were maintained.  Water pooling up behind sedimentation controls was pumped through a Dirtbag (geotextile sediment filter).  START conducted monitoring for airborne particulates in the area of the excavations.  No exposure limits were exceeded.

EPA will continue to excavate surface soil and waste material that contains lead at concentrations of greater than 800 parts per million (ppm).  Areas that require excavation will be identified by using an XRF analyzer and existing analytical data.  Concrete surfaces will be decontaminated in areas where lead is detected at concentrations greater than 800 ppm.  

Excavated soil and material will be shipped off site for disposal at an appropriate facility and will be replaced with clean fill.  Rail ties will be transported off site for disposal as hazardous waste.  Excess dirt will be removed from rails and they will be cut down to a manageable size.  Rails will be left on site for disposal/recycling by property owner.

Actions will be taken to stabilize approximately 50 feet of riverbank at the southwest portion of the site.  Action is needed to prevent future erosion of soil in this area.

The following tasks are planned for the next reporting period:

- Maintain erosion/sediment controls.  
- Continue excavation and stockpiling of soil/material.
- Continue filling excavations with clean fill.  
- Continue making preparations for transport and disposal of soil and debris.  
- Begin decontamination of concrete pads.