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.

A Time Critical Removal Action is ongoing and current activities are described in the next sections.

ERRS equipment operators continue to load trucks with small lagoon waste material, excavate small lagoon waste, and backfill excavated areas with stockpiled sandblasting material.

At total of 81 loads of small lagoon non hazardous waste with an estimated weight of 1,844 tons were shipped to Waste Management GROWS/ Tulleytown landfill in Morrisville Pennsylvania. 2,490 tons to-date.

On March 9th, PADEP approved the administrative correction in volume of waste for disposal.  The volume was requested in tons rather than yards.  The request was corrected to reflect 2500 yards of waste.

Heavy rainstorms have left the Site saturated with stormwater. On 3/6/11 over 2 inches of rain fell over a period of 24 hours, and on 3/10/11 an additional 2 inches of rain fell. Prior to the events, the crew installed berms and graded as necessary to maintain control of surface water flow.  All surface water in and immediately around the excavations was directed towards the sediment pond at the northeast side of the Site (near the railroad tracks).

EPA continues to maintain "clean" and dirty" sides of the Site to minimize the potential for cross contamination.  In an effort to meet this goal, specific traffic patterns that have been established for Site workers as well as Site tenants continue to be enforced.  

Air monitoring continued around the Site, as per the air monitoring plan,  Odors continue to be present during the excavation and truck loading.  However, air monitoring indicates no levels of concern.  

EPA continued outreach to the community through a variety of methods including the webster, email, and door to door.

EPA also continues to coordinate with appropriate regulatory agencies as needed including the Township and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

EPA will submit a request for additional waste disposal to the PADEP.

The OSC plans on submitting a "Change of Scope" Action Memorandum to address more specifically the restoration and cleaning of structures affected by the Removal Action.