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.

On-Site mud control and off-Site minimization efforts continue.  Trucks are directed to drive over an approximately 75 foot stone pad (with 2-3 inch stone) to knock off any mud from the tires.  The Township is aiding by sweeping the streets on a routine basis.  

Clay capping continued this week.

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

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

The final grade will divert rain water from the west and east sides of the Site to the center of it.  The center is pitched down towards the north side (tracks) and into the sediment pond.  The crew laid out a grid pattern overtop of the entire Site and used survey equipment to verify the grade of the backfilled areas of the Site. The area has been graded so water sheet flows toward the sediment pond.

Jersey barriers that were used to hold back the sand stock pile were moved to allow final grading and restoration of the area.

The sediment pond spillway was widened by approximately 8 feet, and the depth of the pond was verified to hold a maximum depth of approximately 30 inches of storm water.

Bollards surrounding onsite monitoring wells that had to be removed to access buried sand or waste were replaced this week.


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