United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

See previous POLREPS for Site description information.  

A summary of the removal site evaluation (characterization) conducted is contained in the document "Summary of Removal Site Evaluation Analytical Data", dated February 2, 2010, posted to the web at www.epaosc.org/tcca.  In general, the Site contains inorganic and organic contamination of soil (primarily sandblasting grit) and shallow underground water (contaminated by former lagoon contents and tank releases).  Additionally, the Site's ground water and surface water exiting the TCCA property contains detectable concentrations of Site-related contamination.  Finally, samples collected from residential properties adjacent to the Site and from dirt alongside the roadways leading from the Site contain detectable concentrations of inorganic and/or organic contaminants attributable to the Site.  

The TCCA Site contains a large amount of sandblasting grit contaminated by inorganic contamination (e.g., lead) and organic contamination (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)).  The Site formerly contained lagoons; the residuals in these lagoons contain high concentrations of organic contaminants such as benzene, naphthalene, and PAHs and these contaminants have entered into the subsurface soils and shallow underground water.  

The Site property continues to be used by numerous businesses for storage of equipment and materials.  

Based upon the analytical results of the samples collected during the removal site evaluation and an evaluation of the potential threats posed by the hazardous substance contamination at the Site, EPA Region III approved additional funding to conduct additional response actions at the Site. The total funding now available for response actions is $2,650,469.  The response action will generally include actions intended to consolidate onto the TCCA property those hazardous substances posing a threat which have migrated from the property and to minimize further release of hazardous substances from the Site through a combination of disposal and covering actions.

After obtaining formal access to the railroad property adjacent to the TCCA property, EPA re-initiated the response action at the Site.  Initial actions focused on characterizing the contaminants upon the railroad right of way, evaluating drainage from the TCCA property, evaluating details of the pending response action (such as erosion controls), and coordinating with the Site owner, users of the property, and State and Local government entities.  The OSC informed adjacent residents of the general nature of the pending response action and then re-initiated response activities on October 19, 2010.

Heavy rainfall occurred on Sunday, December 12th.  The sediment trap contained the water that was deposited on the Site during the storm.  Two areas of mild erosion leading to the pond were repaired and stabilized with additional #3 stone.

ERRS continued the consolidation of sand across the Site.  The sand material was segregated into two piles.  One with low or no odor or visible staining and the second with odors and/or staining.  The second pile was covered for extended absences.          

ERRS continued the removal of rail ties and other preparations for phase two of the work including road construction and other logistical efforts.  Phase two will commence after the new year and is essentially the excavation and disposal phase of the project.  
Additional loads of stone and fill were delivered to the Site to support the Site preparation process.        

ERRS boarded up the end of the paint building to limit access to vagrants.  They also installed a support beam/post along the wall to help stabilize the structure.

ERRS provided the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) with the analytical data and a preliminary plan for the shallow groundwater treatment system.  An initial email copy was sent and followed up with a hardcopy sent via fedex.  EPA will follow up in 7 days to discuss with the PWD.

PADEP visited the Site on Friday morning to see the progress.

EPA OSC Bartos was only on-site on Monday and Friday of this week. Other EPA personnel monitored the Site on midweek.

ERRS will continue to stabilize/prepare the Site for the holiday demobilization.  

EPA will ensure that a Site monitoring plan (primarily for dust control) will be implemented during the holiday break.  The goal is to reduce or eliminate the potential for off-site migration of sands.

DIsposal bids are due on December 30th.  EPA and ERRS will meet to review the options on December 31st.

Treatment and disposal will need to be evaluated.  The disposal vendors have initially indicated that it may be difficult to treat the tarry material.  EPA will evaluate options.