United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Powhatan Mining Company site is the location of a former asbestos processing facility. The mill operated from approximately 1920 to 1980 primarily processing anthophyllite asbestos.  Asbestos ore for the mill was mined in Maryland until about the 1940s and later brought in from several States including California, Georgia and Alabama. The site is bordered on all sides by residential properties and the residential yards to the southwest lie within feet of the former processing facility and in the path of site runoff.  In 2006, the property to the east of the former mill was  subdivided into residential lots for new home construction. From 2006 to 2008, the residential lots were  cleared and graded and retention ponds were installed. Development ceased after only two homes were constructed.

The former processing facility is a multi-story building with a loading area on the northeast end (cement block portion) and a processing area at the southwest end (rusted metal portion).  The asbestos fiber extraction process took place inside the building complex.  Asbestos ore was reportedly received and first dried in the cement block portion of the complex.  Further processing of the rock ore is believed to have occurred in the metal portion of the facility, a multi-level, timber-framed structure with stone foundation and corrugated metal siding.  In the milling operation believed used at this facility, the asbestos ore was first crushed to a normal, even size and then dried.  Fiber extraction then occured through a series of crushing operations, each followed by vacuum aspiration of the ore running on a vibrating screen.  On the screen, the fibers were released from the ore and collected into a vacuum system.  Fibers recovered from consecutive vibrating screens were brought to cyclone separators, and the air filtered to remove the finer, suspended fibers.

The property was brought to EPA's attention by the Maryland Dept of the Environment.  After an initial assessment, a non-emergency Removal Action primarily intended to secure building openings was initiated by the OSC in a Special Bulletin dated August 11, 2009.  More recent sampling data and conditions warranted a time-critical action. A time-critical Action Memorandum for the site, concurred on by HQ, was signed on June 8, 2010. In addition, a memorandum authorizing demolition and compensation to the property owner was approved by the Region and HQ on this date.

EPA will be conducting removal activities at the site in order to deconstruct the facility and remove/cover soil which may pose a threat to public health and/or the environment.  During activities which will cause significant disturbance of interior dust or outdoor soils, air samples periodically will be collected from personal sampling devices on cleanup personnel to determine if proper levels of protection are being used at the site.  Additional air samples will be collected along the perimeter of the site to confirm that engineering controls are protective of the surrounding community.

07/18/11 - OSC at regional office to pack for office move.  He received a call from the secretary for the CANROYKIN Neighborhood Association asking when he could meet with the group.  As the group had a scheduled monthly meeting that night, and the OSC was heading to the site later in the day, he agreed to meet.  The OSC presented the site status to and answered questions for a group of approximately 12 residents/association members at 7 pm at the local police station. The OSC answered questions on soil and air sampling, work activity schedule and duration, yard cleanup approach, and existence of responsible parties.  The group was very polite and attentive.

Most days this week ~ 20 children spending the day on the lawn behind  the Emmanuel Church conducting summer activities.

07/19 - ERRS crew grading near the new garage and extending the driveway curb per the Weston engineer's design change. The OSC discussed the details of site paving and cover materials with the RM.  
DIscussed with the Field Accountant the ability to use unallocated funds to cover upcoming START expenses.  

07/20 - Grading and excavation continues. OSC Cruz arrives for site briefing/background as he will be onsite during a period when Kelly is on vacaton (OSCs Wenning and Ham also will cover). Discussed finance issues with field accountant. Discussed hour usage with Weston engineer.

07/21 - Grading continues.  Grading taking place directly adjacent to trailer in driveway area to accomodate design plans.  START here to collect two composite samples in that area before laying down warning fence and fill. START and field accountant discussed START daily work sheets. Weston engineer provided information on CAD operator hours.

- The OSC and RM met with the owner to go over proposed driveway and site covering materials and layout. The OSC plans a 12' asphalt driveway and stone in other areas. The asphalt is proposd for the area where car traffic will be frequent as this is a more protective covering for asbestos--contaminated soil. Also informed the owner to keep garage doors shut when ERRS is working to prevent site dust from entering the new building (he agreed).

07/22 - FIrst four loads of soil transported offsite for disposal.  AWM Inc. taking to the Republic/Modern Landfill in York, PA. START here to collect three perimeter air samples to ensure that truck loading is not causing emissions issues.  


Special Bulletin: The revised action memo of June 2011 calls for $987,000 additional total funding.  $500,000 was allocated to ERRS by Task Order (Mod No. 5) dated June 15, 2011 leaving $487,000 unallocated.  The action memo called for additional funding to START of $60,000 for a total ceiling of $266,000.  By this POLREP, the OSC is making $73,000 of the unallocated funding available to START thus raising the START ceiling to $339,000.

- Install trench drain when prefab material received..
- Get materials for and build micro bio retention filter
- Continue to transport and dispose of stockpiled soil.
- Grade and lay down fill over former processing facility footprint.
- Transport owner's personal items in five conex boxes to new garage.

See above

Below values are all rough estimates for

Friable and Non-Friable asbestos-containing waste (ACM) has been disposed of.  This includes porous, contaminated personal items and demolition waste. Beginning in late July, asbestos-contaminated soil will be disposed of.

Approximately twenty 30 cu yd containers of concrete were sent off for recycling to Machado Construction primarily from May 13 to June 6 after demolition.

The demolition subcontractor arranged for the recycling of approximately ten containers of scrap steel.  

Personal "white good" items that were cleaned of asbestos but identified as not needed by the owner were sent off to the local county landfill for disposal.