This purpose of this assessment project is to evaluate metals concentrations in the sediment pore water and surface water along the portion of the West Fork River adjacent to and in the vicinity of the slag pile.  This assessment attempted to determine if concentrations of inorganic consituents in the sediment pore water and/or surface water are negatively impacted by the presence of the slag pile.  The sampling event included an evaluation of the background surface water for comparison purposes. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On 09/25/2012 at 1330 hours, START mobilized to the assessment site upon EPA direction.  At approximately 1635 hours, START arrived at the site.  START used the remainder of the afternoon to scope out access the pre-determined sample locations.  These locations were determined with the assistance of a USFWS expert/representative.  START located an access point to the river and ensured that no unforseen issues or obsticles were present.  The OSC also mobilized to the site on this day.

On 09/26/2012 at 0800 hours, START met with the OSC at the site and prepared to begin sampling operations.  Following a brief health and safety discussion and plan review, the OSC and START began heading to the access point which was located at the fencing just above the slag pile, along the rails to trails recreational trail.  START prepared the push point sampling equipment, which included push point samplers, a peristaltic pump, tubing, and decontamination supplies.  At 0940 hours, START began collecting samples at location SW01.  The first sediment pore water sample was collected at 1021 hours.  Following each push point sediment pore water sample, decontamination of the push point sampler was conducted by connecting a decon sprayer with an alconox mix to the push point and allowing a flow of alconox water to flow through the push point device.  Following the alconox water, a sprayer with distilled water was connected to rinse the push point device to complete the decontamination process.  At 1345 hours, a rinsate blank was collected through the push point sampling device.  At 1415 hours, sampling operations were completed and START subsequently took a break for lunch.   At 1520 hours, START arrived back at the site to commence the collection of GPS location information utilizing an EPA owned Trimble ProXH GPS receiver.  At 1700 hours, START returned to the hotel and worked on entering information from the sampling event into the Scribe data management program.  START conducted photographic and written documentation of all pertinent sampling activities.  A total of 11 samples were collected on this day, including one duplicate pore water sample, one field blank, one rinsate blank, five discrete pore water samples, and three surface water samples.   

On 09/27/2012 at 0900 hours, START began to label and package the samples for shipment to the Contract Lab Program analytical laboratory assigned by the Region III Client Services Team (CST).  At 1130 hours, sample labeling and packaging was completed and the samples were dropped off at FedEx in Morgantown, WV, for overnight shipment to the analytical laboratory.  Following lunch, START returned to the START office in Wheeling, WV.  START provided the requisite copies of the COCs to the Sample Managment Office (SMO) via the SMO portal website.  START also provided an email notification to the CST that the sample shipment was made, and included details of the sample shipment contents.