POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
McCutchenville Gasolline Release - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
Continuation of RP Removal Action
McCutchenville Gasolline Release
Z5MS
McCutchenville, OH
Latitude: 40.9940780 Longitude: -83.2571620
Mindy Clements, U.S. EPA
Carol Ropski, U.S. EPA
Mick Hans, U.S. EPA
| 1. Introduction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1.1 Background |
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1.1.1 Incident Category Emergency Response 1.1.2 Site Description Gasoline station leaking fuel into a storm sewer system in McCutchenville, Ohio. 1.1.2.1 Location Route 53 Service, LLC, 8910 State Route 53, McCutchenville, Seneca County, Ohio 44844 Latitude: 40.994078 Longitude: -83.257162 1.1.2.2 Description of Threat Gasoline in a storm sewer and causing a sheen in Thorn Run Ditch, which is a tributary to the Sandusky River. Petroleum in sewer system is causing elevated readings of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in residential properties. 1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results Elevated levels of VOCs (benzene) in storm drains in residential properties, gasoline in monitoring wells and storm drains at the station, and a petroleum sheen in Thorn Run Ditch. |
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| 2. Current Activities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2.1 Operations Section | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2.1.1 Narrative On Wednesday, February 5, 2014, EPA was contacted by Ohio EPA (OEPA) regarding a release of gasoline from a Gasoline Service Station in McCutchenville, Seneca County, Ohio. The gasoline caused odors in thirty-four (34) residential properties that lead to self evacuations of residents. The local fire department performed air monitoring to assess VOCs in residential properties. OEPA oversaw flushing of the storm sewer system, which resulted in a lowering of VOC readings in the residential properties. Based on the lowered readings, all residents returned to their homes for the night. On Thursday, February 6, 2014 at approximately 2330, seven (7) residents again reported gasoline odors in homes and self evacuated. The local fire department again performed air monitoring and contacted OEPA. On Friday, February 7, 2014 at approximately 0500, OEPA asked for assistance from EPA to conduct air monitoring and assist with the responsible party (RP) investigation. 2.1.2 Response Actions to Date February 8, 2014 Residential Indoor Air Monitoring & Groundwater Well Sampling EPA continued indoor air screening of residential dwellings along State Route 53 (SR53) and County Road 58 (CR58) to determine the concentration of benzene, VOCs and lower explosive limit (LEL). For indoor air monitoring, the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and local health departments established an acute exposure action level of 0.01 parts per million (ppm) for benzene. At 1015, EPA gained access to a commercial business on CR58. Indoor air measurements with the UltraRae indicated that the benzene readings on the main floor and floor drain were 0.00 ppm. At 1030, EPA gained access to a previously unoccupied residential dwelling along SR53. Benzene readings of 0.2 ppm were obtained on the first floor level and a 0.55 ppm reading in a bathroom tub drain. Ventilation measures were initiated by McCFD, which reduced the concentration of petroleum vapors throughout the house. The home owner confirmed that the bathroom drains were connected to the storm drain instead of the septic tank, which allowed petroleum vapors to migrate into the home. The property owner began taking steps to rectify the illegal connection. At 1300, EPA held a teleconference with the Wyandot & Seneca County Health Department and ATSDR to provide updates on the indoor air screening results and discussed plans for continued monitoring of the adjacent residential properties. At 1630, EPA discovered elevated concentrations of benzene (34.8 ppm), VOC (370 ppm) and LEL (17%) readings in a sump at a residential property on SR53. McCFD personnel opened basement windows and implemented ventilation measures to reduce the concentration of vapors in the sump. The cause of the elevated readings of vapors in this sump is most likely due to a vapor connection between the storm sewer line and the footer drain located outside the home, which drains to the indoor sump. The elevated readings coincide with RP contractor efforts to clean the storm sewer along SR53. EPA collected periodic indoor air measurements throughout the night. At 2333, the indoor air measurements indicated the LEL reading in the sump had returned to 0%. EPA and START will investigate further mitigation measures to prevent a re-occurrence of elevated vapors in this residential dwelling. EPA continued indoor air screening of homes along Adams Street, SR53 and Perry Street (Township Road 587). The results indicated that the ambient air concentration of benzene on the first floor and basement levels of these homes were 0.00 ppm. EPA used the UltraRae to screen the atmosphere in the storm water catch basin on the south side of Township Road 587 and the result of the screening was 0.00 ppm benzene. While air monitoring investigation was on-going, the RPs consultant collected two (2) additional groundwater well samples from the a commercial business and at a residential dwelling on SR53 for BTEX and MTBE analysis. Product Recovery Operations At 0730, the McCFD night shift lead informed EPA that during the early morning hours, the inflatable plug in the west storm water catchbasin along County Road 47 (CR47) had partially deflated and some flow of water and product sheen was noted in the next downgradient catch basin. The plug was re-inflated and will be monitored on a regular basis by EPA and McCFD. Throughout the day, the RPs contractor continued vacuum truck operations to collect product & water from catchbasins at the service station and on CR47, as needed. The RP contractor estimated that approximately 12,500 gallons of product and water have been recovered and placed in a frac-tank on the service station property for later transport and off-site disposal. A roll-off box was also delivered on-site to contain excavated soil. At 1130, the RP contractor personnel used a water jet to clear debris in the storm water line located along SR53 in front of the service station and contained the water in the frac-tank. As the storm line was cleared of debris, a camera survey was completed to determine if there were any breaches in the line or lateral tie-ins to the main storm water line. The results of the camera survey revealed two breaches in the storm line within 20 feet of the service station dispenser island. During the camera survey it was determined that a section of the storm line in front of the service station building had been crushed, preventing further advancement of the utility camera to the southwest. A second camera survey was conducted of a second storm line located to the west of the service station which is connected to catch basins on CR47. The RPs contractor was able to clean out and advance the camera survey a distance of 450 feet to the northeast of the catchbasin. The RP contractor will continue to clean out sections of this storm line to allow further advancement of the camera survey towards the service station. At 1130, the RP contractor, with the assistance of the McCFD, cut the overlying concrete pavement east of the service station dispenser island, parallel to SR53. Once the concrete was removed, the RP contractor began to excavate a trench in order to determine the source and degree of petroleum release in this area of the service station property. By the end of the day, an approximate 40 foot trench was excavated to a depth of approximately 5 feet below grade surface. Elevated concentrations of VOCs were found in the excavated soil with some water entering the trench. EPA requested that the excavation continue in this area to the same vertical horizon as the storm water line in order to determine if the product had entered the line in this area. At 2035, the RP contractor informed START that excavation and camera survey operations were being terminated for the night and would continue again on February 9, 2014. February 9, 2014 Residential Indoor Air Monitoring & Groundwater Well Sampling EPA continued to collect indoor air monitoring measurements of homes located along SR53. Repeated indoor air measurements of one affected home along SR 53 indicated that the petroleum vapors continued to decrease. At 0256, the VOC concentration by the sump was 0.56 ppm and the LEL = 0% and a reading with the UltraRae with benzene tube indicated that the concentrations of benzene in the sump was 0.05 ppm. Finally, at 2342, the indoor air measurement had a VOC reading of 0.4 ppm. At 1020, EPA collected additional indoor air measurements at the affected property along SR53. The ambient air reading on the first floor and basement was 0.10 ppm benzene and the measurement of the sump was 0.30 ppm benzene. Throughout the day, several additional residential properties were screened and the results were tabulated for dissemination to ATSDR and the local health departments. At 1300, EPA held a teleconference with ATSDR and the Seneca & Wyandot Department of Health to provide an update of the air monitoring results in the residences. At approximately 1630, EPA conducted indoor air monitoring of the service station building. The ambient air measurement was 0.25 ppm benzene. A measurement of the drain in the utility sink was 0.30 ppm benzene. From 2200, EPA and McCFD conducted air monitoring of the catch basins on CR47. The VOC concentration in the west catchbasin was 54.5 ppm, while the VOC concentration in the east catchbasin was 0.05 ppm. EPA and McCFD personnel checked the catch basins on Township Road 58. The north catch basin had a VOC concentration of 0.21 ppm while the south catch basin had a VOC concentration of 4.4 ppm. Product Recovery Operations At approximately 0800, the RP contractor continued trench excavation activities east of the service station dispenser island, parallel to SR53. The trench was expanded to a depth of approximately 10 feet deep. Throughout the trench petroleum odors were present and readings of up to 380 ppm were obtained by the RP contractor. Excavation of the trench indicated some product and water collecting in the southern end of the trench. Trenching operations also revealed the presence of three, 2 inch metal pipelines and one, 0.5 inch corrugated metal conduit for electrical wire at a depth of approximately 3 feet below grade surface. The previous owner of the service station confirmed to EPA that this piping was associated with five underground storage tanks that he had removed previously and that the dispenser island for these former USTs was originally located between SR53 and the current dispenser island. The former owner identified the location of a 12,000 gallon water cistern on the east central side of the service station building. This cistern collected water from the downspouts of the building. An overflow line runs northward from the cistern to the a storm line located on the north side of the site. EPA opened the top of the cistern to determine if product was present and there was a sheen on the water. Air monitoring results indicated that the ambient air in the cistern was 0.25 ppm benzene. The former owner also informed EPA that a drinking water well, originally 80 feet in depth, was located in the parking lot, west of the location of current USTs. The former owner was not sure if the current owner had removed the well and due to snow/ice cover and EPA was unable to determine if the well was still in place. EPA will follow-up with the Seneca County Health Department to investigate the closure of the well. The RP contractor excavated an east-west trending trench excavation which exposed the fiberglass piping going from the USTs to the metal vent risers. Excavation revealed that the pea gravel backfill around vent piping was saturated with product. EPA screened the ambient air in the pea gravel, which had a VOC reading of 100 ppm. The RP contractor then excavated a parallel trench just off the north property line. The results of the excavation revealed the presence of two clay pipes at a depth of approximately 4 feet. One clay pipe trends NW - SE, which contains product and the second pipe trends NE - SW which does not contain product. The RP contractor extended the two trenches to the west in order to trace the clay pipe. At 2000, the RP contractor continued the camera survey of the storm line by the northeast corner of the site At 2200, EPA and McCFD inspected the catchbasins at CR47 and observed that one of the inflatable plugs had deflated. The RP contractor was updated on the status of the inflatable plug. The plug was re-inflated at 0030 on February 10, 2014. 2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) The RP has been issued a Notice of Federal Interest (NOFI). The NOFI was issued to Route 53 Service, LLC, Raman Khauia (Co-Owner) and Sam Singh (Co-Owner). 2.1.4 Progress Metrics
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2.2 Planning Section |
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities - Stop the flow of gasoline from the gas station to the storm sewer system. - Continue monitoring and venting the residential properties to remove elevated benzene readings. - Sample the residential properties to obtain health data for the local, State and ATSDR. 2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities - Remove threat of release from the gasoline station. - Perform air monitoring to determine the levels of benzene in residential properties. 2.2.1.2 Next Steps - Continue RP Oversight. 2.2.2 Issues - On several occasions the RP contractor has indicated that there were issues with payment from the RP. While this issue has not resulted in a substantial delay in response efforts, it is being monitored by the OSC. |
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2.3 Logistics Section |
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N/A |
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2.4 Finance Section |
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2.4.1 Narrative On Feburary 7, 2014, an FPN was opened by Phone Duty Officer Lall for $20,000. Section Chief Clements increased the FPN to $50,000. |
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* The above accounting of expenditures is an estimate based on figures known to the OSC at the time this report was written. The OSC does not necessarily receive specific figures on final payments made to any contractor(s). Other financial data which the OSC must rely upon may not be entirely up-to-date. The cost accounting provided in this report does not necessarily represent an exact monetary figure which the government may include in any claim for cost recovery. |
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2.5 Other Command Staff |
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2.5.1 Safety Officer N/A 2.5.2 Liaison Officer N/A 2.5.3 Information Officer N/A |
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| 3. Participating Entities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3.1 Unified Command EPA OEPA McCutchenville FD (McCFD) 3.2 Cooperating Agencies ATSDR EPA-ERT Ohio EPA McCFD Tiffin FD Fostoria FD Seneca County HD Wyandot County HD |
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| 4. Personnel On Site | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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EPA - 1 START - 2 |
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| 5. Definition of Terms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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N/A |
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| 6. Additional sources of information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report www.epaosc.org/McCutchenville_Gas 6.2 Reporting Schedule N/A |
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| 7. Situational Reference Materials | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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N/A |
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| POLREP #2 Last Updated 5/12/2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||