United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

On August 11, 2008, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) requested that the Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conduct a removal assessment for Vantran Electric Site to determine if an ERRB removal action is warranted.  Previous investigations conducted by the GA DNR and EPA have documented PCB contamination; however, recent investigations conducted on behalf of a prospective purchaser led to suspicions that transformers may be buried onsite.  The suspected burial location is behind the building where transformers were stored manufactured and later refurbished by Vantran Electric Corporation.  

The 11.36 acre Vantran Site (the site) is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Georgia Highway 17 and Airport Road, Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia.  The site, along with the surrounding area, is predominately used for commercial and industrial purposes, although there are private residences within a quarter mile.  The site is located less than 2,000 feet from the single airway that comprises the Louisville Municipal Airport.  The site is bounded to the south by the airport and is bounded to the north by Georgia Highway 17, to the east by Airport Road, and to the west by wooded property.  

In 1970, the property was purchased from the City of Louisville, by Vantran Electric Corporation of Waco, Texas.  From 1970 to 1973, Vantran manufactured transformers containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) onsite.  Various onsite processes related to transformer manufacturing included:  painting, baking and annealing in ovens, welding, winding of core, coils and assembly.  Transformer manufacturing ceased in 1973; although, Vantran continued to refurbish and repair transformers onsite until sometime prior to 1987 and eventually, ceased onsite operations during the mid to late 1990s.  The site is currently vacant and the property listed for sale by owner.

OSC Lloyd, START and ERRS personnel mobilized to the Vantran Electric Site on August 2, 2010 to complete abandonment of onsite monitor well, conduct additional excavation of PCB contaminated soils and begin disposal of approximately 3,400 cubic yards of stockpiled PCB contaminated soils.  

During previous site excavation activities, two french drain trenches were identified, excavated and the associated soils were stockpiled.  During the week of August 2, 2010, several attempts were made along the exterior and interior of the onsite facility building to locate the previously identified piping for the french drainage system in order to abandon the piping and alleviate the potential for any future releases to the environment.  However, no piping was located either inside the building or under the slab along the exterior of the building.
Based on previously collected analytical data, additional soil was excavated along the northwestern portion of the site behind the Vantran main facility building.  This is the same area previously documented as a storage area for PCB oil containing transformers.  During the excavation of soils it was noted that an oily substance was oozing and dripping along the wall of the excavation just below the concrete slab at approximately 1- 1.5 feet bgs.  Further excavation documented the presence of a black, oozing, oily, viscous substance directly below the concrete slab that is located behind and adjacent to the main facility building.  Additional excavation found strong odors along with the black oily substance, black stained soil, gravel, wood and charred debris potentially indicative of previously excavated burn pits across the site.  Chlor-N-Soil analysis documented PCB contaminated media above 50 ppm and soil samples have been collected and sent for analysis to facilitate disposal of stockpiled soils.  A small aluminum shed (9x 9 feet) that covered PCB contaminated soils was removed and additional excavation of PCB contaminated soil and limited demolition of the concrete slab that covers PCB impacted soil continues.    Continued excavation and stockpiling of PCB contaminated soils continues along with transport and disposal of previously analyzed and stockpiled soils.