United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region III
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

Work Mission Statement:

Safely and efficiently investigate and remove Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC); Materials Potentially Possessing an Explosive Hazard (MPPEH), Munitions Debris (MD) and explosively contaminated soil(TNT) from the Elkton Farms Firehole Site, as defined in EPA's geophysical study.

During this reporting period the intrusive activities continued within grids:D-5,H-5,K-5 and E-5.  These activities included magging and flagging of all metal items and the hand shovelling of these flagged materials.

On April 3, the contractor (IPC), erected trespasser warning signs along an ATV path within the treeline along the southern boundary of the site, as requested by the OSC.  IPC's corporate health and safety officer arrived on site to perform an audit.

On April 4, a phone line was installed into the command post.  Work continued on fixing the remote camera oversite equipment.  

On April 5, weather conditions including thunderstorms hampered site activities.  In addition heavy wind masked the detection sound from the schonstedt metal detectors. Activities ceased for periods during the day.

On April 6, the OSC provided lab data (CLP data) from the initial soil sampling event performed on Feb 23.  Refer to Polrep 13.  

RBCs exceeded for antimony (1 sample – 55.6 ppm), cadmium (2 samples – 110 ppm), copper (1 sample – 21,400 ppm), iron (1 sample – 31600 ppm), lead (1 sample – 1560 ppm – no RBC for lead; 400 ppm used as residential soil number in Region 3), manganese (5 samples – 488 ppm), silver (1 sample - 127 ppm), zinc (1 sample – 33800 ppm), trinitrotoluene (5 samples – 19.6 ppm).  The post detonation sample 005-SS01-A01 recorded a substantial hit of TNT compared to the pre-detonation sample in which TNT was not detected.  No EPA Region 3 removal action levels were exceeded for any of the samples or compounds.  The laboratory did not meet the detection levels we requested for arsenic or thallium; this data cannot be evaluated against RBCs with the reported detection limits.  Sample number 003-SS17-A01 was the sample with the highest levels of contamination.  The TCLP regulatory level was exceeded for cadmium and lead in Sample 003-SS17-A01.  Sample 003-SS17-A01 was collected from the “TNT Area” near the access road south of the high tension power lines

The field test kits generally correlate to the analytical data.  The CLP TNT analytical data was at or less than 1 ppm in the samples and the field test kits did not detect TNT in any of the samples (TNT test kits detection range is 1-30 ppm; higher with dilutions).


MPPH RECOVERED DURING WEEK AND DISPOSITION: (SHA-Safe Holding Area)  
2-ea 40mm tracer elements, grid K-5a, SHA
1-ea 81mm mortar, unfuzed, grid H-5b, SHA
35-ea 40mm tracer elements, grid H-5c, SHA
2-ea 40mm tracer elements, grid K-5b, SHA
1-ea flare base, K-5a,and E-5d, SHA
1-ea slap flare portion, H-5c, SHA

Through Apr 06, 2006 the following stats apply:
Total grids - 66 (200x200)
Grids cleared - 17.25
Grids Government Qc'd - 17
Grids failed - 3.25
Total Number of digs - 16,596
Number of live MPPEH - 621
Pounds of MPPEH/MD found - 175
Pounds of non MEC scrap found - 1180

Refer to this web site for updated adobe map of site completion activities:

https://www.epaosc.net/sites/1299/files/grid%20data%20update%20map%20060407.pdf

Continue with magging, flagging and hand digging.  Rangemaster due on site to commence Phase II activities towards the end of next week (April 19).

Access agreements (ROE) have been completed and will be forwarded to property owners and power company for Rangemaster mobilization purposes.  It is anticipated that this will not hamper Phase II startup.

FOSC to conduct weekly conference calls with MDE, USACE and START contractor to facilitate site communications.