United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IX
POLLUTION REPORT



Date:
Monday, May 8, 2006
From:
Michelle Rogow

Subject: 

Operations at Tank 12 continue, work on Tank 10 and 14 resumes
Tanapag Fuel Farm Project
Tanapag Village, Saipan, CNMI, MP
Latitude: 15.2335831
Longitude: -145.7495044


POLREP No.:
5
Site #:
09ND
Reporting Period:
5/8/2006-5/14/2006
D.O. #:
Start Date:
4/17/2006
Response Authority:
CERCLA/OPA
Mob Date:
4/10/2006
Response Type:
Time-Critical
Demob Date:
 
NPL Status:
Non NPL
Completion Date:
 
Incident Category:
Removal Action
CERCLIS ID #:
Contract #
RCRIS ID #:
Reimbursable Account #
FPN#
 

Site Description

See POLREP #1


Current Activities

May 8, 2006:  EPA - 1, START - 1, ERRS - 5, USCG - 1, DEQ - 5; CAT 330 excavator, T190 Bobcat - The manlift was called off rent, since it would not be needed for a few days.  Work in the Tank 12 area continued with management of oil and petroleum contaminated soils on site.  The material began to be removed from the bottom of the tank and the bottom of the tank began to be cut up.  Two trucks of scrap metal were loaded and tranferred off site.  START worked on correlation of test kits and GPS issues.  The OSC dropped off soil approval letters and met with DPW regarding soil disposal at Marpi landfill.  DEQ used the magnatrack to scan the Tank 13 area and located a buried metal object on the west side of the tank which may be a pipeline.

May 9 2006:  EPA - 1, START - 1, ERRS - 5, USCG - 1, DEQ - 7; CAT 330 excavator, T190 Bobcat -  Work continued in the Tank 12 area, with scraping of contaminated soils underneath the tank bottom.  DEQ used the magnatrack to scan the Tank 12 pipeline in an effort to determine how much of the pipeline remained.  The excavator was use to remove a portion of the pipeline, but after approximately 20 feet, it was decided to wait until the backhoe was on site.  The soil underneath the tank bottom was visibly stained and excavation of the soil began.  A test pit was dug and it appeared that the soil was contaminated until it reached a clay layer approximately 3 feet bgs.  It was decided to continue excavation after metal was removed to have more room for the work area.  Vegetation removal around the Tank 12 area, to clear berms for use as backfill and another pipeline was found.  Basula Producto came with a rolloff truck and loaded smaller pieces of metal for recycling.  Vegetation clearance began at Tank 4, with hand cutting around the tank.  START worked on GPS issues, data correlation and sampling plan.  START conducted paint filter test of Tank 10 disposal pile and it passed.  DEQ sent a memo to CUC regarding the water discharge.   EPA received approval from DPW to send petroleum contaminated soils to Marpi Landfill.

May 10, 2006:  EPA - 1, START - 1, ERRS - 5, USCG - 1, DEQ - 7; CAT 330 excavator, T190 Bobcat, Deere 310 backhoe -  Work in the Tank 12 area continued.  The pile of contaminated soils was relocated onto visqueen to access the remaining portion of the tank bottom, which was decontaminated and cut up.  Removal of contaminated soils from underneath the tank continued.  Basula came on site to pick up two loads of scrap metal from Tank 12, completing scrap metal removal.  The excavaor was down and the starter was replaced by Hawaiian Rock.  A backhoe was mobilized to the Tank 10 site and began to load contaminated soil for transport to Marpi landfill.  Four truckloads of soil were tansferred off site.  Once the pile of contaminated soils was removed, excavation of the contaminated footprint underneath the tank began.  START and DEQ conducted sampling of the berms in Tank 12 and the stockpiled contaminated soil at Tank 12 and 14.  START and DEQ collected water samples from Tank 13 and the oil water separator system to replace the samples which had been misplaced in the mail.  ERRS shipped the samples via USPS.  START also provided GPS training to DEQ.  EPA Islands Group was on site and was given a tour of 4 of the tanks istes by the OSC.  Also at the end of the day, the EPA Islands Office, OSC and DEQ Director and Counsel met with the governor.  The project was well received by him and he pledged continuing support.

At the end of the day, the foot of an ERRS tech ended up underneath the CAT 330 excavator bucket.  His foot hurt but he didn't believe that it was a bad injury.

May 11, 2006:  EPA - 1, START - 1, ERRS - 5, USCG - 1, DEQ - 6; CAT 330 excavator, T190 Bobcat, Skysnorkel (manlift), Deere 310 backhoe -  In the morning, at Tank 10 excavation under the tank area continued  excavation at Tank 10 was ready for sampling.  START and DEQ conducted sampling and analysis of Tank 10 and determined that additional excavation was needed.  Re-excavation was conducted and the areas were re-sampled.

In the Tank 12 area, scraping under the tank pad was completed and the silt fence was installed and the excavator was relocated to the Tank 13 area.  Excavation areas at Tank 12 were secured with safety fence.  At tank 14, soils continued to be managed, preparing them for sampling and disposal.  The manlift was at Tank 13 and work began cutting the top rim of the tank.  START worked with DEQ staff on GPS.  Lost water samples were finally delivered to Region 9 Lab.

In the morning, the foot of the ERRS tech was worse and EQM sent him to the hospital.  The foot was not broken, but he had damaged some ligaments and the doctor recommended that he stay off of his foot until Monday when they would conduct a reassessment.

May 12, 2006:  EPA - 1, START - 1, ERRS - 5, USCG - 1, DEQ - 5; CAT 330 excavator, T190 Bobcat, Skysnorkel (manlift), Deere 310 backhoe -  Tank demolition work in the Tank 13 area continued.  The manlift was utilized to mobe personnel for cutting of the top portion of the tank.   A hyrdraulic hose on the manlift broke and was repaired by Marianas Repair.  In the meantime, bottom portions of the tank were cut.   Analytical using TPH and XRF was completed for samples in Tank 10 area and confirmed that area met action levels.  ERRS began restoration of the site. DPW was requested to bring coral to fill the road excavation and the material was brought in and graded.  

May 13, 2006:  EPA - 1, START - 1, ERRS - 5, USCG - 1, DEQ - 3; CAT 330 excavator, T190 Bobcat, Skysnorkel (manlift), Deere 310 backhoe -  Work continued with restoration of the Tank 10 area.  5 loads of soil were brought from the berm at Tank 14 to the Tank 10 area and used for filling and grading the excavation.  At the end of the day, there was still some work to be done, but site was almost completed.  Work today also focused on Tank 13.  Portions of the top part of the tank were cut and the excavator lifted and stockpiled them for pickup.  While the cutting work was slow, the metal did not need to be decontaminated by conducting the work this way.  

The Region 9 laboratory provided analytical data to the OSC for water samples which had been misplaced in transit.  The data revealed that samples were less than 10 times lower than the acceptable level for discharge.  Therefore, water discharge began and the first shipment of water was transported off site to Sadog Tasi Treatment Plant.  START analyzed split water samples for correlation with Region 9 lab results.  START prepared high TPH samples for shipment to Region Lab and ERRS sent them via USPS.

The families who owned the Tank 12, 13 and 14 lands held a lunch BBQ for the crew to express their appreciation to EPA for the work.  The Islands Office was also on site for the BBQ.

May 14, 2006:  Day off


Planned Removal Actions

Complete restoration at Tank 10.
Complete contaminated soil removal at Tank 12 and 14.
Conduct post tank removal sampling at Tank 12 and 14 to conduct appropriate excavation.
Continue oil water separator operations Tank 13 and begin to remove tank walls.
Move operations to Tank 13 for removal work.
Begin preparation of Tank 4 and 6 areas.


Next Steps

Complete operations at Tank 10 and 14 and 12.
Continue operations at Tank 13.
Preparation of Tank 4 and 6


Key Issues

Disposal of waste streams yet to be finalized.
Unknown size and extent of contamination in each Tank area.
Limited funding for project.
Scope of project.


Disposition of Wastes

22.46 tons of scrap metal from Tank 12
64.65 tons of petroleum contaminated soil from Tank 10
46.67 tons of landfill cover from Tank 10
960 gallons of waste water from Tank 13


Waste Stream Quantity Manifest # Disposal Facility
Tank 12 Scrap Metal  22.46  9-12  Basula Producto 
Tank 10 Disposal Soil  64.65  101-104  Marpi Landfill 
Tank 10 Cover Soil  46.67  DC001-DC003  Marpi Landfill 
Tank 13 Water  960 gallons  WC001  Sadog Tasi Treatment Plant 


response.epa.gov/TanapagFuelFarm