U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Halaco Structures - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IX
Subject: POLREP #3
Progress
Halaco Structures
09X6
Oxnard, CA
Latitude: 34.1401540 Longitude: -119.1839603

To: Christopher Weden, ERS
Sherry Fielding, EPA Office of Emergency Management
Harry Allen, EPA Region 9
Wayne Praskins, SFD-7
From: Christopher Weden, OSC
Date: 3/10/2010
Reporting Period: 3/8/2010-3/11/2010

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: 09X6    Contract Number: EP-W_07-022
D.O. Number: 022-0960    Action Memo Date: 1/29/2010
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Non-Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 2/8/2010    Start Date: 2/8/2010
Demob Date: 3/11/2010    Completion Date: 7/30/2010
CERCLIS ID: CAD009688052    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category

Non-Time Critical Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description

Halaco is  the site of a former secondary smelter that processed primarily magnesium, but also aluminun.  The site consists of the smelter parcel (11 acres) and the waste pile (26 acres).  The smelter originally contained multiple smelter buildings and an office building.  Only the office building remains, the other buildings have been demolished as part of this removal action.  The waste pile  and the smelter parcel are bisected by the Oxnard Industrial Drain.

1.1.2.1 Location

The site is located at 6200 Perkins Road, Oxnard, Ventura Co., CA.  The site is in a industrial area.  To the west is a POTW, to the north is a paper plant, to the east is the former Halaco Waste Pile and to the south is the Ormond Beach Wetlands, Ormond Beach and the Pacific Ocean. 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The site is on the NPL and contains heavy metal and low level radioactive contamination.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

An assessment of the smelter buildings determined they were sturcturally unsound.  The City of Oxnard condemned the smelter buildings.  The soil in the southern portion of the site has low level (up to 15 times background) radioactive contamination.  The site is currently being assessed as part of the RIFS process by the Remedial program.

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

The removal has demolished the smelter buildings (including the bag house).  Prior to demolition, asbestos abatement removed all asbestos containing materials from one of the furnaces identified as containing asbestos insulation.  While on-scene the asbestos abatement subcontractor removed other asbestos containing materials including wall mastic, and flooring.  Both buildings will be deconstructed in a controlled manner.  Dust control was a big concern and the buildings were be vacuumed and wetted prior to deconstruction.

The removal generated several waste streams, including concrete debris, metal debris, miscellaneous non-hazardous municipal waste, and a limited amount of possibly hazardous waste. The concrete debris has been broken up into small pieces and used as fill in on-site vaults. Metal debris has been salvaged and sold as scrap. Miscellaneous non-hazardous construction waste was disposed of in an appropriate landfill.  Presently, two waste streams are being analyzed to determine if material is classified as hazardous under RCRA or California Title 22.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On March 8, 2010, OSC Weden resumed lead at the site.  All that remained for removal were several loads of scrap steel, one (1) load on non-hazardous debris, one (1) load of old tires, a small oil spill contained within the smelter vault, and approximately forty (40) cubic yards of smelter residue that was high in lead and zinc. 

Although the decision to demolish the office building had not been finalized, an asbestos contractor was called on to conduct an assessment of any ACM.  Their assessment showed a marginal amount of ACM that would require removal prior to demolishing the office building and would take approximately three (3) days.

Because the metal concentrations in the smelter residue might be considered California Hazardous Waste, START arranged to have STLC and TCLP analyses done to determine the State and Federal regulatory requirements.  Further, some of the brick material within these wastestreams showed elevated levels of radiation (approximately twice background).  In order to accurately profile the wastestreams, we need to determine the isotope and activitiy in pCi.  This will take a couple of weeks.

 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

On March 2, 2010 the City of Oxnard determined that the remaining office structure met their definition of a dangerous building and issued the PRPs a Notice and Order to repair or demolish the building.  The PRPs (Clarence and John Haack) have alluded to appealing this determination.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
 ACM          
 Waste Oil          
           

 

 
  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

ERRS will demob. 3/11/2010

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Arrange for T&D of smelter residue as appropriate.  This could be combined with

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Pending results of smelter residue analyses, RPM decision on waste pile cap, and PRPs decision on the fate of the office building.

2.2.2 Issues

The City of Oxnard has requested EPA demolish the office building prior to demob.  The City has determined that the office building is a dangerous structure and ordered the PRPs (property owner) to repair or demolish the building.  The property owner denied to city permission to demolish the building.

The 26 acre waste pile, located south of the Oxnard Industrial Drain, has had it's matting damaged in several places and requires repair.  This damage is exacerbated by periodic sampling activities.  OSCs Wise and Weden have recommended repairing the matting, covering or replacing it with a growth matrix and local seed, and installing obvious road-base to the sample sites to protect the cover during future sampling activities.  RPM Praskins is considering these recommendations.
  2.3 Logistics Section
    All logistical issues are being handled by the ERRS contractor.

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
The START contractor was conducting air surveillance during the demolition activities.  Air surveillance ceased on March 1, 2010, due to the lack of dust generating activities. 

2.6 Liaison Officer
Not Applicable

2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer

The Ventura County Star has been following this site for years.  Periodic reports can be viewed at vcstar.com;  Search - Halaco.

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator

Not applicable
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
Not Applicable

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Oxnard Public Works, Oxnard Building and Safety, Oxnard Fire Department.

4. Personnel On Site
  1 OSC, 1 START, 2 ERRS RM, 1 ERRS PAS, 6 ERRS Tech/Equipment Operators.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.